[SPOILERS] Twinkletoes - Deutschland, Deutschland über alles!

[Twinkletoes89]

[SIZE="3"]With Sandover[/SIZE]

I got this today:

Dear Chancellor,

I have just found out that larger city garrisons will make my people happier. Marvellous, isn't it?

After some consideration I've come to the conclusion that now would be a good time to pursue another wonder. Would you say you have any interest in building any wonders from the Aestetics/Literature/Calendar group of techs? I fully remember you saying you aren't planning any wonder builds at this time, but things can change, and I guess what I'm looking for is some sort of confirmation. (Or knowledge of where your current tech path is taking you, though I figure you're still unwilling to share that information with foreign civilizations.)

It would mean a lot to me if we can start to share more of what we know, and of what we intend to do. A truthful answer will earn my gratitude and further increase my desire to remain at peace with Germany.

Regards,

He is turning on the aggression it sounds like. It is annoying that he thinks I lie to him and that he wants me to start giving him reasons to stay at peace. He may be role-playing, but either way I need to look to my defences to be sure of my security as soon as settler 2 is out.

I sent this response after taking a few deep breaths.

Dear Pharaoh,

As you have in the past criticised my foreign policy, I would like to say that I am disappointed that you are already seeking reasons to stay at peace with my nation, and that you suspect my answer could be less than truthful. My people are honest and straightforward, and I hope that soon you shall realise this.

I would like our civilisations to be friends, and as such I shall tell you that currently I am working solely on appointing a monarch to handle the ceremonial duties of my position and after that I am not so sure what my plans will be. Ideally I would hope to be investing in some new art to build up the cultural diversity of my nation but I have other plans in the pipeline should the need arise.

However, I have no plans to build any wonders at this time.

I hope you will not doubt the honesty of this disclosure,

Chancellor Twinkletoes of the Germano-British Republic.

[Twinkletoes89]

[SIZE="3"]With SleepingMoogle[/SIZE]

I received this interesting message from him today.

Greetings Chancellor Twinkletoes,

We would like to thank you for your kind words. These are troubling times, with many a barbarian warband advancing on our lands, doubtlessly seeking to plunder the hard-earned riches of Celtica. The founding of a new religion will likely lift the spirit of our citizenry, and assist our brave defenders in fighting off this threat. These barbarian incursions would make travel of our priests to spread the faith require an escort, which is something we find difficult to spare at this time. We would happily discuss this matter when the opportunity arises though.

Our diplomatic efforts with Pharaoh Sandover seem to have hit a bit of an obstacle recently, although from what we understand from our communications, German-Egypt relations have similarly seen some issues. While we do not mean to pry into matters that you may consider confidential, we wonder if this impression has been correct. While we are working to overcome said obstacle, it is worrying that the source of the matter has been due to a simple, and minor, misunderstanding, and we feel that perhaps the Pharaoh may be rather quick to jump to conclusions. Is this something which you have recognized in your communications as well?

Again, if you prefer not to answer this, then we won't hold it against you and won't bring up the matter again.

On behalf of Brennus the Great
-SleepingMoogle

Seems like Sandover is not just getting to me right now! He has offered to spread religion to me, which is a nice offer to make, though I may not take it up if my hindu friend Bob decides to be friends with me and scooter.

I sent this reply:

Exalted Brennus.

Many thanks for the suggestion of a shared 'enlightenment' at a later date - my pagan priests are sometimes so disappointing. It is something we shall consider highly when circumstances are more amenable.

Reading your words regarding diplomacy with Sandover brought back sharp memories of our experiences with the Pharaoh. He is remarkably quick to jump to conclusions and intensely inquisitive with little equal feedback in return. I have already received criticism of my foreign policy, casting aspersions about my honesty and truthfulness alongside a remarkably poorly veiled threat. I see an Egyptian invasion as an inevitability in the future, rather than a possibility. There is always some hope for change before the first blow is struck, but I am well prepared for the worst. Therefore I sympathise with your predicament and am happy to share my experience with you as a token of my respect for both your civilisation and your diplomacy.

I am much more straight up with my diplomacy, I am upfront and honest and genuinely want to play an honourable game, I hope that we can work together.

Yours sincerely,

Chancellor Twinkletoes of the Germano-British Republic

Friendly and forthcoming (I hope), which is the way I want to treat as many people as I can in this game. Though Sandover is pushing it already.

[Twinkletoes89]

[SIZE="3"]With scooter[/SIZE]

A friendly message:

Twinkletoes,

Ouch, sounds like a rocky relationship with Sandover. I hope you're able to either work it out or survive! War chariots are a pain, but they're nothing a few whipped spears can't handle .

Thanks for the info about Moogle and Bob... I just got the okay from Sandover to contact Bob, so I'll probably shoot him a greeting message after I send this to you. What did Bob have to say about your diplomacy plan?

Thanks for letting me know about the Pyramids, but I don't have any plans to build them... I don't see tons of value in the Pyramids given the map, so I decided not to build them... Plus I didn't want to be sinking MORE hammers into yet another wonder when settlers is what I need.

Don't worry about the length - I don't mind! I find it easier to trust who are sharing rather than those who are hyper paranoid about giving out too much information... So thanks!

scooter

About the Pyramids; Bob is after it and wanted to try and make sure noone else was, ans scooter has stone.

scooter seems like a good guy to me and we are frank and friendly in our exchanges, which is the kind of relationship I have with bob, and the way I want things to be.

I sent this reply,

scooter,

Indeed Sandover is not making our relationship easy to deal with, I have now received another communication from him questioning by integrity with no basis, and asking me to give him reason to stay at peace with him. He is either a bad diplomat, or showing poorly veiled hostility. I am not afraid of him however, his power rating is still low and I am hoping to research Construction soon for extra defensive assurances.

Bob seemed to receive my diplomatic plan well, we are building up a strong rapport and now you can contact him I am hoping that we can build on the foundations we have constructed and work towards a harmonious future. Not being interested in the Pyramids is a good start ;-)! He was also happy to spread his religion to you at a later date when they can be transported via sea or a safe escorted route, should you wish that at some point, given the fact that only Bob and Moogle have religions at this point.

It goes without saying that if you have any plans to build wonders in the future, or if you need any kind of help/information, then do not hesitate to contact me.

Twinkletoes

[Twinkletoes89]

My life has been incredibly hectic recently - from extra work, uni stuff all the way through to my first cricket match of the season. I hadn't bowled in 5 years and ended up with 2-28 off 4 overs - which isn't that bad really!

Well since I last updated, I have now settled the two cities I analysed and had a big rush on forge building, but diplo has been slow so nothing much to report on that front.

Inside Cha Cha Cha



Cracking on well with the forge here, using the mines to speed up the build and keep the city from growing into unhappiness right now, until I hook the furs up at Quickstep. Great person due next turn.

Inside Jive



Forge complete next turn and then onto another worker until furs are hooked up for 1 extra pop (without unhappiness) to work the cottage.

Inside Quickstep



Forge completed here, next up a Barracks before I start churning out promoted military to explore the front with Sandover.

Now for your first look in my two new cities:

Inside Foxtrot



Starting to grow nicely, but it looks like I will have to whip the granary out as it will be a little while before the mines get up and running, as the food needs to be hooked up first. Workers en-route.

Inside Charleston



Only just founded last turn. Worker already building horse pasture to start growth with some added hammers to get a Granary and Monument built asap.

[novice]

I hadn't bowled in 5 years and ended up with 2-28 off 4 overs - which isn't that bad really!

Yeah I have no idea what that means.

[pocketbeetle]

Yeah I have no idea what that means.

It means he hurled a lump of leather at a caveman with a club 24 times.

22 of those times the lump of leather went in wildly different directions, partly due to TT's aim, partly due to the caveman hitting it with his club, and in total the caveman scored 28 points.

The remaining 2 times TT got incredibly jammy, hitting a precariously placed piece of wood and starting a landslide. This forced the caveman to trudge home with no food for the evening, to be laughed at by his buddies.

Make more sense now? [FONT=&quot][/FONT]

In a word, no.

Why 2-(28 off 4) ? Why not 2-24? What does the off 4 signify? Why did the caveman score 28 points from 22 hits?

There are 6 balls in an over. TT said he scored 2-28 off 4 overs.

So that's 24 balls in total, from which 28 points were scored.
2 of those balls were guaranteed 0 points, as they got a caveman out.
So that leaves 22 balls, from which the 28 points were scored.

And no, don't ask me why there's 6 balls in an over, or why it's called an over!

[novice]

In a word, no.

Why 2-(28 off 4) ? Why not 2-24? What does the off 4 signify? Why did the caveman score 28 points from 22 hits?

[Whosit]

Yeah, I don't know what the hell you're going on about, either. And I don't want to know. :neenernee

What I do want to know is how many Workers you currently have, and where they are. And if Barbarians are still being a problem.

[Twinkletoes89]

Lol I should make cricket references more often if it gets this many lurker comments! And I'd just like to say that pocketbeetle is much too close to reality for my liking - though my two wickets weren't that jammy!

Also, it is not guaranteed for there to be no runs scored off a wicket ball - as the batsman could have been stumped/hit wicket off a wide where a run would be scored but also a wicket taken. Enough cricket stuff for now though...

[Twinkletoes89]

To answer Whosit's questions:

I currently have 4 workers (not enough but pushed back due to necessity of quicker expansion - will have some built at Jive after forge is complete) and they are positioned thusly:

1 improving Horses at Charleston
1 improving Furs at Quickstep
1 roading from Jive to Charleston
1 recovering from finishing the mine at Quickstep, will start heading towards Foxtrot to improve food resources.

Barbarians are not appearing as much as before, as my forest 2 axe is killing all comers east of Jive, and I have two axes west of Quickstep to stop them spawning and heading towards Sandover for scouting purposes.