Turn 32 - 2760 BC

[polarnomad]

Agriculture will take 8 turns to discover. Worker will take 4 turns to pasture pigs. Settler will be ready in 7 turns (less once the pigs are pastured).



Sarantium and Horde units before moving scout:



Scout moved 3:



Scout's next move is a toss up between 23 and 21.

[Kloreep]

It looks like 2-3 will get us more information, and will carry us toward what looks like the edge of the jungle (whereas the west side looks like it may go on further). So I'd say 2-3.

[UnOrthOdOx]

Sarantium has changed their mind and wants us to scout their area for copper. They also gave us the location of the horde.

Dear Merc's

My personal apologizes for not getting you a definitive answer to your scout copper for the location of the Horde border. I am not really leading the team, but I'm more of the OK guys let’s get some kind of answer or decision and move on kind of person, more like chairman of the board, I guess.

With that being said we had a few other folks out last week as well and are busy catching up this past week so we finally have an answer

First of all we would like to take you up on your proposed deal to scout our area for copper, In exchange here is the location of the Hordes cultural border. We do NOT have the entire border mapped but if you travel NINE-1’s from our capital you will be in the tile just outside there cultural border in the NE notch of the TEE shape of culture at this point in the game. Another point of reference would be to go 2 tiles due east of your eastern cultural border, then go 12 tiles south, you should be in the tile smack dab in the middle of the Horde’s northern cultural border. The second bearing could be off one tile in either direction but is close enough to give you there location.

In addition with our scout approaching your borders we would also be willing to give you information on the location of horses in and near your capital since we are going to enter into a phoney war anyway.

This is under the assumption that sides would keep what is inside the borders confidential from other teams.

We have a scout heading your way as we speak and could provide you the information shortly, since he is within 3 tiles of your border currently, such as there is a horse resource at 6,6,6,9,9 from your capital for example.

With all that being said we did ask Snoopy about how he would view our phony war for the purpose of scouting resources. Here was his reply:

quote:
Of course...

I thought about this when I read about it earlier. I don't like it personally, as I'm generally against any phoney war, but I don't think this would be illegal per the explicit rules agreed upon.

That said, it undoubtedly would be looked upon as sketchy by some of the others in the game - so you'd probably risk the wrath of said people if you did it. But, that's up to you; I will not prohibit this action.


With that being said some of our team is concerned about how this will be viewed, I am personally not one of them, but if this is a concern for the Merc's please let us know as soon as possible. I think it would be best if this transaction would be kept secret for the duration of the game, but that’s my opinion and I would like to hear your views on this.

If this sounds all amenable we would like to close the agreement and the deal at your earliest convenience.


Looking forward to hearing from you soon, and hope all is well in Merc Land

conmcb25
Imperial Representative of Sarantium.

[UnOrthOdOx]

Updated map with info from Sarantium:

[Kloreep]

Looks like 2-1 is the better option if we want to scout out the Horde's area, then... I'll switch my vote.

Edit: Damn, forgot that that's the unit Sarantium now wants to tie up with running back north.

[inamirrordarkly]

Originally posted by UnOrthOdOx
I think it would be best if this transaction would be kept secret for the duration of the game, but that’s my opinion and I would like to hear your views on this.

Won't The Horde (and other teams Sarantium has contact with if any) automatically know as soon as "war" is declared. If so we obviously cannot deny it if asked. Do we just have "no comment"? Or is the vague answer of "We were contracted to render a service which could only be accomplished through a 'declaration of war'" acceptable?

How does this mesh with our stated practice of being public about all contracts?

If we are to be consistant what "price" should be required to secure our secrecy?

If we take this public (at this point due to meta-game rules we could only tell The Horde) how much information would we want to divulge. Sarantium obviously doesn't want The Horde know they lack BW but we don't really want to let The Horde know we have it if we don't have to.

Also, if we do not keep this secret, what sort of fallout can we expect in Merc-Sarantium relationships?

Edit: x-posted to Team Sarantium Dipolomacy

[polarnomad]

So it looks like we'll be moving 21. Good, I'm itching to see what's on the other side of the treeline.

[polarnomad]

Playing the turn.

[polarnomad]

Scout moved 21.