[SPOILERS] Team EggHeads: DMOC and TeddyKGB (Now Lurker-Friendly!)

[DMOC]

And btw, I think our research path is set now with Agri after BW and Writing before Sailing. There could be some changes on Mining<->Fishing and Archery could be included in rare situations if we need it.
So, as I think right now, our techs will be Hunt>AH>?Mining>Fishing?>BW>Agri>Pottery>Writing>?Sailing?

And thats a suspicious looking tiles with desert and ice. I'd guess copper on desert and/or iron on ice?
Obv, we can settle on top of it freely, cuz desert/ice copper/iron possible mine isnt that great after all. And we would save some worker turns as well.

I like this tech path. After Sailing, we should probably consider either (1) Mathematics or (2) beelining to Monarchy.

I rly like you planning ahead and get a template already!

I agree with you, that we should be open and honest at first. Maybe add some screenshots of 2-4 tiles in advance, so other team don't need to scout it. Set up for more screenshots exchange in the future, so both our teams could explore different areas of map and get maximum info.

As for talking about our leader traits and UU, I dont like it much.
If they are competent enough, they'll understand it by themselfs. If they not, no need to teach them about our strategy.
Lets keep this till next exchange, not the first one, imo.

Since there are 7 FIN civs on the map, and there is a good chance our contact will be FIN, I would like we talk about their strong sides, not ours. Like talk about reseach in NTT game, not expansion and UU.

One more thing, I like your msg style, but someone else could see it different. We should think about adapt our diplo msg style to our current neighbour. As if their reply short, we should avoid long msg too. If they roleplay diplo, we could do a roleplay a bit. All I'm saying, we could adapt for ceirtain opponent, for better results in diplo.

Another thing we can offer, could be EP spending agreement. Its not important early, but we could mention it.

I wouldn't add in a screenshot right away ... probably need to wait until we build up our trust wiht each other. Or are you saying send those as a sign of our trust and willingness to work together? We'll definitely be cropping them.

The espionage agreement is fine. I would say that for now we'll spend enough to see your demographics, then reevaluate from there. (And allow them to spend the same in return.) We do need to keep track of espionage allocation carefully.

I would not put so many of our cards on the table at once and try to speak in ways that don't reveal too much emotion or personality. Better to ask questions, and try to glean information from answers.

For example, something I would send would be along the lines of

Dear [team member] of the honourable [civilization],

As you may have noticed, we have met ingame. While we don't have a huge amount to say right now given the early stage of the game, we would like to send you this short note in advance of more serious diplomatic overtures.

For now, we are curious as to your intentions. We know your civilization benefits from [something about their unique unit or maybe their traits, eg Aggressive civ benefit from war], and we have our own preferences for the path this game would take. We would welcome cooperation, of course, when the opportunity for it arises.

Regards,

Team EggHeads.

Yeah, this letter definitely gives less away. However, I'm not sure if we need to delay asking for a NAP until the next set of exchanges. Might as well get it now when they have little information about the map, and it avoids the unlikely scenario of anyone sending in 2 chariots to rush us. Of course, others could think of our strategy and decline the NAP, but that's just playing some mind games.

I agree that you agree with me .

We are not strong now. We are very weak now in fact, as I see it. Its a long time till knights and we may not survive it well.
Our UU is one of the best in the game, as well as our traits. But we are starting behind and up against 7 FIN, its not looking good.

Back to domestics, these pics are made me rly sad somehow:

One thing we might need to do is provide reasons why it would be best for other teams to work with us. And that's the gist of what I was hoping to capture with my longer email draft. But yeah, I probably should wait until after our first contact.