Team Sarantium Diplomacy

[UnOrthOdOx]

(sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I had this drafted last Sunday, and forgot all about it.)

UnO and Team Mercenary

Thanks for your recent reply. I gather you found out where their archers went to. Sorry for the delay in getting the info to you, being Saturday and all.

We are looking to confirm the next tech that Sarantium will research - with a view to the second round of tech trading. We are thinking of HBR. Would this work for you. Please advise.

That is our understanding of the next phase in research trade, yes. Sarantium provides HBR. We will leave word if it changes, but I find it extremely unlikely the Horde will provide HBR to us.

Also, we would like to propose another deal. We can produce a workboat fairly soon in the City of Anhinga. This workboat would be of use to you immediately for the fish resource. We are proposing that we trade to you a workboat and a worker, in exchange for a settler. We will send the workboat over as soon as it is completed, and the trade will be finalized with the exchange of the worker and the settler, with some idea of the timing to be confirmed. Does this plan work for you? Please advise.

Currently, Sarantium would be providing 90 hammers (worker + boat) in exchange for 100 hammers (settler). Make up the difference, and we would be open to such an arrangement. (standard pricing thread dictates this to be 20 gold) Timing wise, it would take 6 turns (starting next turn) + transportation. So I'm guessing around 8 turns to get the settler to your border. If you could provide the worker turn after next, and we will wave the 20 gold, as 7 turns (amount early we would get it) pro-rated rental on a worker would be 21 gold. (damn that pricing thread is handy...)

UnOrthOdOx
Team Mercenary Representative.

[UnOrthOdOx]

Sarantium offers contracts:

UnO and Fellow Mercenaries

First, to confirm as we discussed yesterday, the settler deal is a go. We will need to figure out the final amout owing depending on how much in advance the work boat and settler are delivered to you in advance of the settler coming to us. And yes, for now we can make up the difference in tech points.

Secondly, we will be finished Alphabet in a few turns. (No doubt the bump in scores on the other continent is the result of one or more of them reaching alphabet and the reslting trades.) We were going to commence HBR for round two of our tech deal. Please advise as soon as you can if we should move onto HBR, or if that is part of your settlement deal with the Horde, we need to discuss an alternate tech for this part of the deal.

Thirdly, as discussed, we have declared war on the Horde. We would like to hire you for certain specific actions.

The first would be to cut the road between the two Horde cities with that small stack you have south of that road.

A second would be to demolish the copper mine.

A third would be to pressure Karakorum, but exact details would need to be worked out.

Without currency, gold payment is not possible now, but perhaps creative solutions are possible. Payment via technology and/or future payment of gold are both possible. To this end - the preferred tech route for Sarantium may be Math and Currency - thus allowing the gold payments to occur.

Please consider this proposal soon, given the current situation.

And thank you for the intel provided on Hordian archer movements.

Regards, Beta of Sarantium

UnO and Klo - I am away for the next four days. Please respond to Aidun, BF, and Rhoth. Many thanks.

This is a sticky bit here.

Having just declared peace with the Horde, there is a certain expectation that declaration should be made in game as well as by word, and thus we would not be capable of taking actions against them for 10 turns. It is, indeed, POSSIBLE to rename our units as hired and remain at war to get around this mechanic, but is this the 'right' thing to do?

Personally, in their position, I would see doing so as a violation of the peace by not making it formal in game. And if there is an argument to be made, I am of the opinion we should avoid that situation.

[UnOrthOdOx]

A little back story.

There was a flurry of PM's between Beta and I over the settler deal while I was playing the turn and chatting with Plato, and didn't have time to post them all right then. (yeah, it was a bit of a confusing afternoon)

I can post them all if you really want, most are short little 1 sentence jobs where we're bickering over the difference in the cost of a settler and the workboat/worker they were giving.

They were arguing getting the workboat soon would cover the 20 gold, so I used the format in the pricing thread to show that would only be worth 9 or so. They agree to make up the remaining through either tech points or getting the worker early.

So, we provide a settler, Sarantium provides a workboat in 4 turns a worker later, and covers whatever ends up being the difference with tech points.

[UnOrthOdOx]

UnO and Team Merc

Thanks for your recent response.

First - glad that that the settler-workboat/worker deal is a go.

Secondly - after discussion here at Sarantium, we concur that math and construction make more sense for us - and probably for you. That represents a longer commitment research wise on our part, but Sarantium would still be interested. Can we reach a deal on this?

Thirdly - understood regarding the timing and the grey area. We would not want you to compromise your integrity in this regard. We can wait the ten turns, and in the meantime, if it is Ok with you, we can discuss possible options at that time.

Regards ....Beta of Sarantium

[UnOrthOdOx]

We are still committed to Masonry/Sailing. I don't know the tech costs off top of my head, but perhaps Masonry/Sailing for Math with compensation for tech points, then we'll make a second deal for Construction. We could go after currency, or continue on the lower side of the tree towards machinery, but I need the builderers to input on that.

We can discuss, we can make a deal that on turn ten we attack x...

UnO and Team Merc

Greetings from Sarantium.

On the tech front, alphabet is completed on the turn after next, so we wil start the swap of the initial techs.

We will then be pursuing math and construction, and the basics of the deal, as you outlined in your last message would work well.

Our worker is finishing his last tasks as a Sarantine citizen, and will be coming over to you in a few turns.

The workboat is also finished the turn after next, and we will move it directly to the resource tile and gift it. We can work out the timing of the three transactions associated with this deal and figure out who owes what when the settler comes over. Also - can you tell us where the settler will be delivered to.

We are indeed interested in a future contract for Mercenary business when the 10 turns are up, and it is currently under discussion in Sarantium. If you have any ideas along this line, we are all ears.

Also, by any chance would you be interested in pillaging roads in the wHorde area BEFORE the 10 turn "cool down period"? We are not offering an "official deal" but exploring the waters a bit to see what would be possible (if anything) before those 10 turns are up.

As to the war in the south, well, you have a front row seat. Set up your lawn chairs and pop open the case of beer.

Cheers ..Beta of Sarantium.

[UnOrthOdOx]

UnO and Team Merc

Greetings from Sarantium.

On the tech front, alphabet is completed on the turn after next, so we wil start the swap of the initial techs.

We will then be pursuing math and construction, and the basics of the deal, as you outlined in your last message would work well.

We have Metal Casting currently finished and are ready for all tech trades to begin.

Our worker is finishing his last tasks as a Sarantine citizen, and will be coming over to you in a few turns.

Building a cottage there, huh?

The workboat is also finished the turn after next, and we will move it directly to the resource tile and gift it. We can work out the timing of the three transactions associated with this deal and figure out who owes what when the settler comes over. Also - can you tell us where the settler will be delivered to.

The quickest route for the settler would be where your worker presently is, I believe. If you would like him somewhere else, please advise. It is entirely possible for us to get him where you may be wanting quicker with our road network. It MIGHT, and I emphasize might, be possible to even build then gift a city if it's quicker for you (would require verification of game rules, I can't recall if city swapping was allowed or not).

We are indeed interested in a future contract for Mercenary business when the 10 turns are up, and it is currently under discussion in Sarantium. If you have any ideas along this line, we are all ears.

We would vastly prefer to leave this to the standard format located in the pricing thread here: http://www.apolyton.net/forums/showt...hreadid=155125

Price is negotiable, but we want to stay in the format of we deliver units to square x, and rename them 'Axeman - Sarantium', and have you issue movement orders for them each turn while under contract.

Also, by any chance would you be interested in pillaging roads in the wHorde area BEFORE the 10 turn "cool down period"? We are not offering an "official deal" but exploring the waters a bit to see what would be possible (if anything) before those 10 turns are up.

I'll try to get a feeling from the team, but my gut says 'if it looks like an act of war, it is'. And this certainly qualifies in my book. Now that in-game peace was accepted I'm very hesitant to accept anything that may appear as though it might possibly at some time vaguely resemble breaking the deal. I'm extremely serious about keeping our track record clean an not breaking anything.

Sorry for delay, and if the tone is wierd, I am heavily medicated with a sinus infection, the wife and baby are sick, my wife may be developing a secondary infection from the surgery, and I generally am not sleeping these days as a result.

-UnOrthOdOx
Team mercenary representative

[Kloreep]

I agree we MUST stand by the in-game clock. Our confirmation of peace with the Horde was unfortunately clauseless, so it is somewhat open to interpretation - but I think that makes it all the more important we stick by the in-game countdown on what would constitute a breach of the treaty.

[Kloreep]

Sent to Sarantium. Tried to CC Beta but it appears my e-mail for him is out of date (it bounced immediately).

We did not receive the rest of the tech trade this turn. (Alphabet and Mysticism were not included last turn since we needed the prereqs first.) Please advise on when they will be sent.

-Kloreep of Team Merc

[Kloreep]

PMed Beta with the same message.

[polarnomad]

Received from Sarantium:

Hi UnO and fellow Mercenaries

Just to confirm that you still have two techs coming. Provi and I are not sure why we could not send them this turn. We figure it is a function of game mechanics, but I don't understand why, if you accept the deal on your turn, that we can't send the next turn. It will be done next turn.

Also, any idea on the timing of the settler? We are trying to gauge the timing of delivery of the worker.

Workboat was gifted this turn.

And as discussed earlier, we are now researching math.

Looking to hear back from Team Mercenary regarding phase 3 of the tech deal, and our proposed contract for units.

We have iron hooked up so we don't need the copper anymore. We will cancel the copper trade during our next turn.

Beta and proviisori of team Sarantium

[Kloreep]

Sent a quick response. Note that I did not address all their questions (re: further tech deal & proposed contracts).

Okay, next turn then. That is a strange mechanic.

Thanks for the workboat. I think we can deliver your settler in 5 turns, arriving at the hill 7-7 of Anhinga in 4 turns and then moving 3 & gifting on the 5th turn.

-Kloreep

[UnOrthOdOx]

Wow, I completely missed this PM all together. I had a 'cancelled message' from Beta popup, but never got the 'new pm' popup on this one.

UnO and Team Merc

Greetings from Sarantium.

Phase 1 of the long-awaited tech deal is now underway. We have offered a trade of all techs available on the tech screen, which leave us needing to supply to you Alphabet and Meditation next turn to complete the transaction.

Team Mercenary and Sarantium have also agreed to Phase 2 as follows. We are now researching Mathematics to this end.

Phase 2:

Team Mercenary supplies:
Masonry 114
Sailing 143
and previous credit of 69
TOTAL 326

Sarantium supplies:
Mathematics 357
Iron Working research credit 12
TOTAL 369

This leaves a credit to Sarantium of 43, and any plus or minus from the timing of the work-boat for settler deal to be included.

Our teams have also agreed in principle to Phase 3, as follows:

Team Mercenary supplies:
to be determined

Sarantium supplies:
Construction 500
Phase 2 credit of 43
TOTAL 543

Trust this is your understanding as well, and Sarantium thanks Team mercenary for such a mutually-beneficial arrangement.

As to the workboat deal, we moved the workboat to the fishes, but as an oversight, failed to gift it to you. (We didn't realize that you could gift a unit with no movement points left.) We will do this next turn, so that should be the turn of record for gold calculation. The worker should be available in two or three turns or so. We have discussed the delivery of the settler, and the tile next to Anhinga where the worker is, or Anhinga itself, will be fine.

And, to a more standard Mercenary contract, we would like to hire the stack of two axemen and a spear that were recently engaged down south, along with an additional spearman. We would like the contract to start at the end of your 10 turn peace deal with The Horde, and we would like to take possession of the units close to their current location - if that is possible. Our understanding from the pricing thread is that rental of four 35 hammer units would be 17.5 times 4 equals 70 gold.

Cheers and regards, Beta of Sarantium

I think the only question would be whether we could get the second spear there on time.

The question is, do we want to commit to a specific tech on phase 3? We need to determine whether we're trying for Literature, or going to go down a different path. Maybe heading for calendar or currency after they trade us math?

[UnOrthOdOx]

UnO and Team Merc

Greetings. The game allowed us to send the other two techs this turn. It would appear that the tech prerequisite and trade mechanics are somewhat different than what I remember of civ3.

Looking for confirmation on phase 3 of the tech deal. Not urgent, but would be nice to know what you plan on researching.

Also looking for feedback on the unit rental proposal.

And, noticed that a Horde scout popped up on Anhinga's southern border. It would be appreciated if you could provide information on any sightings of Horde troops, similar to what we provided during your war with them.

Thanks and regards....Beta of Sarantium

We're still debating the research path. I'll let you know when we make a firm decision. HBR is a distinct possibility, seeing the local situation.

Speaking of, can you give me an ETA on math?

Rental contract was being polled, but as it's unanimous right now, we can say it's accepted.

I hadn't looked at saves the last few turns, I'll relay the message on Horde units. I can say with certainty there's not a mass of em we can see anywhere you wouldn't see.

[polarnomad]

Has anyone contacted Sarantium about the worker that was never delivered to us?

[UnOrthOdOx]

"It will be there next turn"

Which is impossible, due to mechanics. It may be inside our border next turn, but can't be gifted till the following.