[SPOILERS] Catherine of China

[plako]

It was conditioned in the secret pact that we can and should make people think we hate each other so we can basically attack our neighbors.

That's how he put it anyway. If you really wanted to abuse that clause, we can tip LP off so he knows its coming and has to garrison his western coast. Same general effect as I don't think galley invasions will actually do anything.

Planting the seeds is definately ok. Btw. LP built UoS, shrine and Parthenon last turn. 1st ones are highly useful combined with AP the last one pretty useless at this point of the game.

[antisocialmunky]

Man, lots of activity in the Zulu thread.

You're a pretty good unintentionally troll if I do say so myself (which I do).

[plako]

Man, lots of activity in the Zulu thread.

You're a pretty good unintentionally troll if I do say so myself (which I do).

No messages from Rego to us though. He is doing lots of whipping. I'm also considering, if I should write something in UN thread about Rego's actions against us. I'm hesitant though since it probably would not give much sympathy points for us (we're too powerful) and probably alienate Rego even more from us.

LP is really trying to convince us to prolong his NAP. Within couple of days he has opened up chat 3 times. He didn't go directly to the point, but I felt that NAP was his main point in every chat.

I sent Nakor this:

T225 sounds alright. EP points allocation shouldn't be increased although the one with lower count can catch up the other.

So do we've a deal?

[antisocialmunky]

We should demand his gem cities if he tries to convince us 5 times.

We should mail Adlain or SM about the development as well.

[antisocialmunky]

I think at this point we need to go and talk to Rego again if he does intend on attacking us. :\

Also, do we have a accepted agreement with Nakor about an NAP or is it still pending?

Nakor and DMOC did something similar to Spullla IIRC.

[plako]

NAP is still pending and we got message from Rego. I'm thinking how to react.

I accept that you have closed your borders and fully allow that you have the right to spend your EPs however you want. I think that I will have to decline your offer for the 10-20 gpt plus gems for you to re-open your borders. I don't think that would be worth the benefit that we'd get from having OB with you.

As for us "initiating" the "plako problem", I don't know who talked to you and what they told you, but I'm not embarrassed about what we actually did (whether whoever told you the whole truth or put their own spin on it I don't know). I'm not sure why you are surprised - I thought I was pretty clear when we were talking a few weeks ago that I wasn't excited about you seizing twice the land of everyone else. So sure I talked to other players about that. I'd be surprised if I was the only one - it's my impression that these kinds of talks (about various players) go on all the time.

But having said that, I meant what I said when we first talked with you about this - I have no problem allying with a strong player - there are a lot of benefits there to someone that truly wants an alliance with equals. The impression I got from you guys when we talked was that you were more interested in just using the threat of your military to grab as much land as you could. Maybe that was not the impression you meant to give but that's how sunrise and I took it.

In any case, what's done is done. You are upset with us and so you've taken the actions to close borders and spend all your EPs against us. I'm not sure whether you mean them to be hostile, but it is prudent that we spend our gold and hammers on our military. If you do have hostile intentions, I think you will find it much harder to attack a foe with an up-to-date military.

As for the other part of your offer (regarding a NAP or other arrangement), we are interested in discussing it, if you have specific ideas. I worry that if we do not continue talks, that things will only escalate further, which I think is in neither of our best interests. I think we both would prefer some time to consolidate and grow our newer cities, do you agree?

Hope to hear from you soon.

[plako]

Some thoughts about the response. I don't quite understand why he thinks he should be embarrased and I really haven't tried to bully him since that definately isn't my way. I don't remember I would even once threatened him that is way less than his threats when we negotiated about our border. I'm just stating facts and act. Of course the real reason to close borders weren't the "the Plako problem" iniative, but the quite recent endeavour to collect a dogpile group against us. Not sure, if I want to reveal that to him though.

I also not intrested in fighting a war against him. They don't have a good chance on winning this.

[plako]

Nakor accepted OB until T225. I'll try to salvage situation with Rego. LP is running dangerously fast so we really can't afford to fight another war at this point, if we want to have even some chances. So I sent this to Rego:

First of all I've no intrest to fight with you so I'm definately ok with the idea of a NAP. That would had to be pretty long so that I can really recover from the previous war.

I wasn't too bothered by your earlier iniatives and threatening me while we negotiated about our border although it had a some part why I reacted the way I did. The main reason was that I had also heard rumours about your latest attempt to collect a dogpile group against us. It might be that I've been totally fooled so I would appreaciate your version of things.

I can also consider OB and reassignment of my EP, if I get something out of that. I just made a ridiculous first offer and expected you to make counter offer, but I really need something to justify helping you assuming the rumors are true.

[plako]

T150

Little bit larger report this time. 1st shots from all of my cities.

One might wonder why I'm building Courthouse in my capital, but it is worth 3 gold and 2 EP that is good enough for me.

[plako]

Demographics and some graphs: