RB Pitboss #1 SPOILER - Hatshepsut / India

[Dantski]

good good, as long as I feel important!

[regoarrarr]

Email exchange with Kalin

Hi Rego,

Can you please confirm where Krill's capital is exactly located. I am
still not 100% sure. Also any news from his lands? I would be
interested in his defenses for the city at the choke point.

Thanks,
Kalin

It is 8N and 7NW of the city center of the barbarian city of Hun.

As for the choke city of Demon Dirt, it is currently in the fog, but appears to have no garrison (though there is a quechua nearby).

I have seen 4 quechuas (named Wandering Minstrel 5, 7, 8 and 9 though I think he is not being "fair" with his naming conventions) and one chariot, named "Death"

[regoarrarr]

So more crazy stuff happening - ruff has declared on ZPV and stolen 2 workers.

Emails from within the G5

Kalin

Hi ZPV etal.,

I just saw in game that Ruff declared war on you! Can you please give
any details. We will help you in any way we can, so let us know.

ZPV (2 notes)

Hi everyone,

I can report that ruff has stolen not one but two of my workers, which I had left unguarded due to an oversight (the escort was one tile away fogbusting).

He has a woodsman II warrior, and if he chooses to choke one of my cities, I will have a very hard time dislodging it.

The workers were in neutral territory, building a road towards my latest city, which will have horses once my borders pop. Obviously, I won't be able to connect them as soon as I would have hoped.

There hasn't been any diplomatic contact from ruff, but I will send him an email. I suspect he has been in contact with krill, though.

Ruff doesn't share any borders with me, nay, he is half a world away, so there won't be a prolonged threat from him once his current unit has been dispatched.

Sam aka ZPV

and

Hello again,

I've had a short diplomatic message from Ruff now - in short, he isn't telling me anything, and is being vaguely threatening in completely unclear terms:

We are the Borg. Resistance is futile. Your culture will adapt to service ours. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own.

I am currently negotiating with shadyforce to borrow his horses for a few turns (I now have HBR and Archery, but probably can't connect my own horses for a little while, since I am now a couple of workers short.



Once (if!) that deal goes through, would the rest of you be willing to participate in a show-of-force against Ruff? Either we could have a trade embargo, or we could all DoW at once against him. I haven't really thought this through, but if it is clear that I have support, he should back down.



ZPV

Broker

If we all DOW it confirms the existance of the group which Krill is most likely trying to convince them of.

Also if we do Ruff is in striking distance of me so I may need some assistance if he sends praets my way. It will take them awhile to get here and I hope to have a defensive city up by then.

Kalin

We are happy to participate in any team action we decide to go on. I
am not sure that DOW-ing by all members would be effective, but will
do so if the other members agree on this.

We can build and send a vulture, but would take close to 30T to
arrive. We will do it if you think it's a good idea.

I had a weird idea. One of us (the league maybe) could contact Ruff,
and pretend we wanted to attack ZPV as well, and ask for coordination
etc. Maybe we can learn something this way...

We should try and have some war council. This attack by Ruff is
strange given that he has so little to gain.

Kalin

Broker again

I have a couple thoughts here. Krill recently met others (shady has met everybody)

In the last few turns Krill has been dragging out the time. Why? Planing attack. Diplo? Something.

In the last few turns I have not received any communication from any of the other civs. Used to chat it up with Kodi,shady and dsp every now and again. Now silence or if I initiate a conversation very well measured comments.

Ruff never communicated much. Borg mentality
Imhotep has not even responded to my hello message.

What to make of this. Has Krill managed to convince them of the big bad wolf tech group. Are they forming their own and planing to keep pace and possible attack to slow us down? I think something is up and that we should have military in place soon to turn back an attack.

Only credible threat I have is Ruff/Kodi on my side and the Ind group seems to be building wonders so it is Ruff.

I will begin pushing out defensive cities in the Tundra to deter that Attack.

The days of paper military are over I believe.

Oh and if you think I am being paranoid just remember the good thing about Paranoia. You only have to be right once.

ZPV

There is no point sending units to my aid, unless intelligence reports can confirm that ruff is preparing an attack on me. I agree - no unified DoW

I have received another message from him, confirming that this is a mission to opportunistically hamper my growth. He also let slip something about diplomacy, which I am now pressing in as circumspect a way as I can manage.

I'll keep you all posted.

ZPV

Sunrise

ZPV,

I will certainly participate in any joint show of force or other diplo action that you request. If Ruff continues to act aggressively we can always kill him in the Guilds era after we kill Krill

Good call getting the 'ol UU horse archer. Obviously, all you need to be on guard about is horse archers from Ruff. As you know, Numidians will do fine 2v1 against Praetorians on open ground.

Finally, if Krill did orchestrate this attack be flattered - we already know he doesn't consider the the Lins or me a threat.

-sunrise

Kalin

Broker,

I don't believe you are paranoid, I also think that something is amiss
here. In particular given his delays in playing his turns.

I think it's a very wise idea to have a defensive city, and I would
also suggest sending a warrior or other unit in the direction that
ruff could come from! Ideally you'd want something like a sentry
chariot.

I am thinking that at this point we should make sure we are as secure
as possible defensively and the most important thing is to stick
together. The other teams will realize we are collaborating but we
should never confirm, and I strongly suggest we send whenever possible
mixed messages. I am sure there will be attempts to lure some of us
out of our alliance, but I think we should resist temptations. Again,
the key is for us to stick together!

Thanks for the update. I would suggest that you don't confirm anything
about our deals with Ruff. Let us know if you learn anything. Ruff is
definitely next on the list here, but meanwhile I would make peace if
possible and see if he's willing to declare on someone else... we
could even give him some incentive to do so...

Kalin

[regoarrarr]

Email exchanges between ZPV and ruff

Hi Ruff and TAD,

What's going on? Did you really have to steal my workers? Could you at least drop me a message?
Know that my words are backed by nuclear weapons.

Sam aka ZPV

We are the Borg. Resistance is futile. Your culture will adapt to service ours. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own.

I guess if you are going to be uninformative (or at least not going to send me a message in plain English), then this fight will have to end with the eventual destruction of the Roman Empire. Praets or no praets, this can only finish with Carthagian victory.

I do have some more specific questions for you:

What do you hope to gain from this war? Are you just trying to hold me up? In that case, why?
If you are looking for personal gain from my land, then good luck to you. You'll not get what you are looking for, and it seems completely irresponsible to fight an offensive war so far from home.

Obviously this isn't a war to destroy Carthage. As you say, you are half a world away. As such, this is a tactical encounter purely designed to slow your growth. Effectively, you made a mistake by walking unprotected workers (and settlers) around knowing that opponents were in the area. I had the opportunity to punish that mistake and I took it.

Look at it from my point of view ....

Gain: You lost 2 workers
Loss: potentially 1 warrior and a diplo hit

Given the current state of play in the world, the diplo hit is nothing and a 15 hammer warrior is pretty minimal.

Fair enough. I suppose keeping my escorting unit ahead of the worker pair was definitely a mistake - although since you didn't attack when you had the chance earlier, I am still at a loss as to why you did so now.

What do you mean about the current state of play in the world and the diplo hit?
I haven't loaded up the game in a while - do you suggest a peace treaty?

ZPV

I'm just back from vacation and TAD was playing earlier. He did suggest knocking off your settler but other macro-game considerations occurred between then and now to change our thinking.

I haven't proposed a cease-fire or peace treaty. I'll look at the game when I play tonight.

Ruff

Well, I suppose that explains that. I still question the lack of a diplo hit - if you go around stealing workers, then presumably I can convince others (my neigbours, since you have a Woody II warrior in the area, and your neighbours, because of your proximity) that you are a threat, and should be treated as such.

Would you like to clear this up for me?

ZPV

[regoarrarr]

Email sent to ruff

Hey borg,

You are the Borg. Resistance is futile. My culture will adapt to service yours. You will add my biological and technological distinctiveness to your own.


(Just thought I'd get that out of the way for you) :-D


So I hear you have a rogue Woody 2 warrior in the area, rustlin workers and such?

I assume that I should watch myself should I head down to my south?

Though taking other people's workers is the mark of an enemy and I did not think that you and I were enemies. On the contrary, I thought that my culture is adapting to service yours and you were adding my biological and technological distinctiveness to your own? You know, buds and such?

Hope to hear from you soon

[regoarrarr]

Chat with ruff

ruff.tad: Dan - are you in a team with anyone?
Sent at 11:46 AM on Tuesday
me: i am in a team with dantski
why?
ruff.tad: just trying to get it straight in my head how you fit into the pitboss game before I respond
too many people
me: heh
he is mostly a silent partnetr
Sent at 11:49 AM on Tuesday
me: so what's up?
Sent at 11:53 AM on Tuesday
ruff.tad: ok - I have you straight now ... you are Species #7
oops - #8
I'm not even sure that I know where you live
me: i am north of zpv
where your rogue woody warrior is roamin around
ruff.tad: oh - the purple with the 2 dyes
me: yup
ruff.tad: and I told you about your iron
me: yes
that is me
i mean, that is my sub-species
i mean that is species #8
:-D
ruff.tad: well - I am assuming that you don't let 3 workers wander around unprotected do you?
me: that is my intent yes
ruff.tad: well then - send them South so that I can dispense some more lessons
me: no i mean it is my intent to not let them wander around
ruff.tad: oh - then my job here is done
Sent at 11:56 AM on Tuesday
ruff.tad: to be honest - an opportunity arose to crimp ZPV's development and I took it
me: tis the dangers of being in first place with a size 8 city already....
Sent at 11:59 AM on Tuesday
ruff.tad: yep
Sent at 12:00 PM on Tuesday
ruff.tad: do you know who else ZPV has complained to about my Woodie II warrior?
me: no
i would assume his other neighbors?
ruff.tad: ok
me: do you plan on signing peace or trying to choke
(not tha tyou have to tell me of course)
ruff.tad: well - current thinking is that the WII warrior will be heading further South so you should have nothing to worry about
me: cool
let me know if you find dsp
he's my last civ to meet
ruff.tad: unless he mixes up his orders and heads North
ZPV - you haven't met him?
and he is next door
me: no i've met zpv
ruff.tad: I have sunrise to go
me: i haven't met dsp
ruff.tad: oh - DSP - I know him
not sure where on the map he is relative to you
me: i believe he is south of zpv
Sent at 12:05 PM on Tuesday
me: (sorry for the dropped connection - missed what you said if anything)
ruff.tad: me: if I haven't mixed up my species ...
I think he is South of Shady
yeah - that makes sense ... Shady is Species #6 and Dsp is #7
me: yes
that is my understanding
zpv is to my SW, shady is to my SE and dsp is somewhere to the south of both of them
(i think)
ruff.tad: ok - time for me to sign off - assimilate you later
me: later

[LiPing]

Email sent to ruff

Hey borg,

You are the Borg. Resistance is futile. My culture will adapt to service yours. You will add my biological and technological distinctiveness to your own.

I like it.

[regoarrarr]

Yeah I figured since he kept putting that in there, that it might give him a laugh and make him more open to chatting. Seemed to work as he gave a few useful nuggets.

[regoarrarr]

Chat with Kalin

me: what's the alpha eta again?
Dreylin: T77
me: ok
Dreylin: have maths?
me: came in this turn
Dreylin: cool, so 4 more turns...
this war against ZPV is quite bad
me: yeah
it looks to be just opportunistic more than anything
i was chatting up ruff today
Dreylin: I am concerned about his statement on the diplo situation
me: hmm
yeah i forgot to ask him about that
though it migh tbe odd fo rme to know that
he asked who else ZPV had told and i was vague
Dreylin: good
I wonder if we should respond to this somehow...
like "we heard about the ZPV's workers, if we see your warrior around our borders we'll attack them.
...
me: i would lean towards playing it looser
like you were saying - downplaying our alliance
ruff said that the warrior is heading south (towards zpv's core)
Dreylin: I think you are right...
me: i'm sure zpv can take care of him
Dreylin: he has no horses...
me: (and guarding your workers :-D)
Dreylin: does he have meta?
me: i'm not sure
but he asked if he could borrow mine if he needed to and i said yes
Dreylin: re: workers, by all means
cool, re: borrow
so you have horses...
that's good
are they connected already?
me: no i don't have horses
i have metal
(copper)
Sent at 12:22 PM on Tuesday
Dreylin: sorry, misread
ok that's good
ok afk now
laters
Sent at 12:24 PM on Tuesday

and chat with zpv

(11:56) ZPVCSPLFUIFDPEF: Last try. I've gotten two undeliverables. Hello. Are you there?
(11:56) me: yes
(11:56) ZPVCSPLFUIFDPEF: I think ruff's warrior is 3SW of my new city
(11:56) me: first msg i saw
(11:57) me: ah so on the other side
(11:57) ZPVCSPLFUIFDPEF: yeah
(11:57) ZPVCSPLFUIFDPEF: He captured a pair of workers building a road
(11:57) me: annoying
(11:58) ZPVCSPLFUIFDPEF: That city is connected to my trade network, so we should get trade routes, at least as soon as I explore the coast as far as you
(11:58) me: right - my galley should see it this turn
(11:58) me: which i think should at least give me trade routes to you
(12:00) ZPVCSPLFUIFDPEF: I already have enough foreign trade routes atm, so I don't need the routes straight away.
(12:00) ZPVCSPLFUIFDPEF: Do you have any horses hooked up?
(12:01) me: no
(12:01) me: i do have copper
(12:02) ZPVCSPLFUIFDPEF: doesn't matter that much - if ruff does continue the war by choking me, and shadyforce doesn't give me his horses, can I borrow it? (not needed for a couple of turns yet)
(12:02) me: yes
(12:02) ZPVCSPLFUIFDPEF: thanks
(12:03) me: so i assume this delays operation shadyforce
(12:03) me: how are you for other workers?
(12:03) ZPVCSPLFUIFDPEF: not by more than a couple of turns
(12:04) ZPVCSPLFUIFDPEF: My other workers aren't under threat - and since I am EXP, I can get some more quite quickly.
(12:04) me: ok
(12:04) me: i'm talking to ruff right now
(12:04) me: he says that his current though tis the w2 warrior will be heaidng further south
(12:05) ZPVCSPLFUIFDPEF: that's directly towards my core
(12:06) me: right
(12:06) ZPVCSPLFUIFDPEF: I'll give him a buzz - so I can see what his intentions are wrt me
(12:06) me: he asked who else you told about his w2 warrior
(12:06) me: i said i wasn't sure
(12:08) ZPVCSPLFUIFDPEF: that's fine. Given the message I sent to him about forming an embargo (my neighbours + his neighbours vs ruff), it would seem fair that I tell you about the dangerous unit near your borders
(12:08) me: right
(12:08) me: i said something like "i assume his other neighbors"
(12:08) ZPVCSPLFUIFDPEF: that's great
(12:08) me: just wanted to amke sure you and i were on the same page
(12:08) ZPVCSPLFUIFDPEF: thanks
(12:16) ZPVCSPLFUIFDPEF: oh, and can you let me know if you find anything out?
(12:16) me: he didn't say much
(12:17) me: besides he was sending the warrior south
(12:17) ZPVCSPLFUIFDPEF: oh. He isn't responding to my hails
(12:17) ZPVCSPLFUIFDPEF: so I guess we'll see how this goes
(12:17) me: he just signe doff
(12:18) ZPVCSPLFUIFDPEF: that's odd. My client thinks he's still online
(12:18) me: hmm
(12:18) me: we were chatting in google
(12:18) ZPVCSPLFUIFDPEF: oh - I sent him a message on his yahoo addy

[regoarrarr]

Exchange between Kalin and I, copied to the G5

first me

> The problem with taking a NAP with them is that it allows them to expand
> like weeds (they are eXp/Imp). Not having a NAP at least keeps them
> honest. Only you guys know if that is worth the downside of them
> potentially harassing you. Personally I think they would not want a war
> because they want to expand but it's up to you

Kalin:

I am aware, but I cannot really take them 1v1 at this point as they
are ahead of the development curve... Can we count on your help? You
never quite replied to sunrise's email on the case for military
intervention. You should of course do what you think it's best for
your civ, but I'd like to know where you stand on that...

Krill's power took another jump last turn, any interpretations on
that? IW? Troops? HBR?

Thanks,
Kalin

Then me again

Sure. I guess the thing to think about is that there is a non-zero chance that, without the NAP, that they will attack you. It's up to you to figure out how high that chance is. Personally, I think that it is pretty low but it's easy for me to say, sitting all the way over there :-) It would be my opinion that they would want to expand as fast as possible (As they are Exp/Imp).

So my assumption would be that with a few spears and your existing vultures, they're not going ot attack you any time soon. And since several of us have his demogs, we should be able to see that coming if it does happen. We'll be able to better tell how things go once Alpha is in and we can see exactly what techs he has.

As for the military intervention, I remain committed to our group. If I'm leery of committing 15 troops 20 turns or so from now, it's only because I want to make sure that's still what we as a group want to do. For all we know, Imhotep will attack me, or dsp will attack broker, or shady will attack zpv before then. But I remain committed to supporting the will of the group.