[SPOILERS] Catherine of China

[antisocialmunky]

You can forward the diplomessages to me if that makes it easier for you.

Definitely get archers ASAP. Dunno if we want to get it before mono though. If we want the vikings to suicide on BrB with us fighting a defensive war, archery is probably all we need. I'm somewhat split on HBR. We may need it eventually to fight WarriorKnight in the next war but I don't see the advantage of it right now.

I think we should start signing long term staggered NAPs with the immediate neighbors T100, T110, T120 and get some sort of agreements with neighbor of neighbors so they hopefully don't join in the first round of beat us up.

We should get a boat to scout Nakor's southern coast as well.

Diplo Assessment:

Nakor - I think he's gunning for us... eventually but the settling stuff is betraying his intentions. Is he trying to just tie us up with pointless negotiating and then striking at an opportune time? I don't know, it doesn't make 100% sense. Early warring is pretty hard to do until catapults and mostly counter productive unless you get really lucky or one player gets blind sighted. I guess if he does intend to attack us, he thinks he has an overwhelming advantage which means he's bringing friends, probably from the north since we have a long NAP with WarriorKnight assuming WarriorKnight keeps his own NAP.

Suggested action: We should try and mention a long term extension to NAP to him and see what happens. He might just be building up so he can use the units to keep us from expanding to the pass.... which I guess justifies that expenditure? It'll give him a better position to attack us later but it'll make his position much weaker once we take the north.

Parkin - We need to keep tabs on Parkin. He talks a lot, especially about us so its on his mind. Dunno what he's planning exactly though. Need to figure out more.

Suggested Action: Rego seems to know something so we might as well as around and try and get a second confirmation on his intentions.

Vikings - They seem to be on the level but I don't 100% trust them. The free intel they are offering seems to be a sincere effort to hinder Nakor - but a war between Nakor and us only favors them... I guess they just don't like Nakor. :\

Suggested Action: If Nakor is actually planning an attack instead of trying to intimidate us, do you think we could try and get the Vikings to faux join the anti-us coalition as a spy for us?

Rego - Seems like they are playing the game to try and get the #2 position. Any alliance with them will at best be temporarily. They are hoping to help us survive a massive attack so it'll weaken both us and our enemies. At the same time, they'll get some free swag from us. Then afterwards, they'll hope to pull into a mid-game lead and snowball to an untouchable state. Basically its a similar type of game to what Athlete played except he's helping the #1 instead of helping #1's neighbors.

Suggestion Action: Not sure, I guess we should just play along and try and come out on top of a dog pile. We should get in touch with someone who doesn't like Rego too so we can keep tabs on them. I'm sure they'll just play both sides to whatever is best for them in the long run.

[plako]

Message from Locke. I had also a chat with him after this. He told e.g. that Nakor has just hooked up horses so most likely their cuurrent forces are mainly Axes. That is great since the mobility of the Chariots make them ususally more dangerous. He also promised to send me a screenshot where we can see the positioning of the Nakor's horse city.

We also agreed to have NAP until T130.

OK well Nakor wanted NAP to Turn 110 and so we accept. That is useful to know that you have deal ending Turn 80. It is reassuring to us but I think it is maybe trouble for you. Cause it sound like he want deal with us to attack you. That's pretty much what you said and I agree.

OK so with military. We been watching Nakor Power chart for long time. He was first team we get charts on. So we have pretty good idea of his military. Also he only just plant city for horses. Nakor connect them just last turn. Now he has copper and hrose but only just got horses so no chariots yet I think. Our best guess is he has 7 axes and some warriors. Will prbably build some chariots next. We have not seen any spears so far but maybe he has one. There is one axe in horse city by our border. Saw a second axe near our border earlier not sure where it is now.

We have heard nothing about coalition against you. Maybe it exist but we not hear anything. I swear.

I think we are fine with NAP, dont think we are going to be in conflict anytime soon. Maybe a little shorter than turn 130? Feels a little long.

OK I send message now so you can read it LOL.
Locke

[antisocialmunky]

Do we have a defense plan for the north? We're probably going to have the most problems up there if there is a coalition.

I guess Nakor may just be building up to posture. Isn't this something similar to what he did to squeeze Dantski in PB2, plako? The message from Locke is very useful, must thank him and maybe make a deal for Nakor's charts.

[plako]

More info from the Locke front. There is a screenshot below they sent to me. Nakor has been settling very aggressively towards them and has earlier demanded all the land east from the Locke's easternmost city. However Locke told that their agreement gives Nakor a city in the north (apparently there is Fish that doesn't show up in the shot) and they get to settle city in the south. I'm a bit stunned that they've accepted this, but I guess they fear Nakor's current power. No wonder Locke seems pretty intrested in dealing with us.

[plako]

Do we have a defense plan for the north? We're probably going to have the most problems up there if there is a coalition.

I guess Nakor may just be building up to posture. Isn't this something similar to what he did to squeeze Dantski in PB2, plako? The message from Locke is very useful, must thank him and maybe make a deal for Nakor's charts.

No plans other than settle some choke point on hill and fill it with Archers . We have a NAP until 1AD though with Lord Parkin.

[plako]

You can forward the diplomessages to me if that makes it easier for you.

Definitely get archers ASAP. Dunno if we want to get it before mono though. If we want the vikings to suicide on BrB with us fighting a defensive war, archery is probably all we need. I'm somewhat split on HBR. We may need it eventually to fight WarriorKnight in the next war but I don't see the advantage of it right now.

I think we should start signing long term staggered NAPs with the immediate neighbors T100, T110, T120 and get some sort of agreements with neighbor of neighbors so they hopefully don't join in the first round of beat us up.

We should get a boat to scout Nakor's southern coast as well.

Diplo Assessment:

Nakor - I think he's gunning for us... eventually but the settling stuff is betraying his intentions. Is he trying to just tie us up with pointless negotiating and then striking at an opportune time? I don't know, it doesn't make 100% sense. Early warring is pretty hard to do until catapults and mostly counter productive unless you get really lucky or one player gets blind sighted. I guess if he does intend to attack us, he thinks he has an overwhelming advantage which means he's bringing friends, probably from the north since we have a long NAP with WarriorKnight assuming WarriorKnight keeps his own NAP.

Suggested action: We should try and mention a long term extension to NAP to him and see what happens. He might just be building up so he can use the units to keep us from expanding to the pass.... which I guess justifies that expenditure? It'll give him a better position to attack us later but it'll make his position much weaker once we take the north.

Parkin - We need to keep tabs on Parkin. He talks a lot, especially about us so its on his mind. Dunno what he's planning exactly though. Need to figure out more.

Suggested Action: Rego seems to know something so we might as well as around and try and get a second confirmation on his intentions.

Vikings - They seem to be on the level but I don't 100% trust them. The free intel they are offering seems to be a sincere effort to hinder Nakor - but a war between Nakor and us only favors them... I guess they just don't like Nakor. :\

Suggested Action: If Nakor is actually planning an attack instead of trying to intimidate us, do you think we could try and get the Vikings to faux join the anti-us coalition as a spy for us?

Rego - Seems like they are playing the game to try and get the #2 position. Any alliance with them will at best be temporarily. They are hoping to help us survive a massive attack so it'll weaken both us and our enemies. At the same time, they'll get some free swag from us. Then afterwards, they'll hope to pull into a mid-game lead and snowball to an untouchable state. Basically its a similar type of game to what Athlete played except he's helping the #1 instead of helping #1's neighbors.

Suggestion Action: Not sure, I guess we should just play along and try and come out on top of a dog pile. We should get in touch with someone who doesn't like Rego too so we can keep tabs on them. I'm sure they'll just play both sides to whatever is best for them in the long run.

Thank you for the offer ot help out. If things are as busy as today, I'll definately let you handle some of the action.

Concerning your nation list here are few comments:
Nakor: I've basically offered NAP extension, but I'm pretty certain that without revised border agreement we won't get extension. Ball is currently on their corner so I won't be active before they send me a response.

Parkin: He is good at diplo and also very fast to write his messages. I'm sure most players are getting similar messages from him. We've a NAP, but he is exactly the type of player that can talk lot of niceties, but behind the scenes do the opposite.

Vikings: I think you mean Barbs. Nakor and Gaspar are the Vikings: I think we've found a pretty good friend from him.

Rego: Well we know him very well and I agree with your assesment. Very analytical player so you can reason with him. However he is also capable diplomat that also might lie and give misinformation, if he feels it gets him benefits.

[antisocialmunky]

Huh, I'm going to work to stitch their screenshot together with one of ours later today. We can send it back to them as a gift.

I would be somewhat afraid as well if I didn't have the luxury of being able to pile units into a single hill city too. On the other hand, we might be able to launch a fairly devastating 2 front war against Nakor if that's in the cards.

[plako]

Huh, I'm going to work to stitch their screenshot together with one of ours later today. We can send it back to them as a gift.

I would be somewhat afraid as well if I didn't have the luxury of being able to pile units into a single hill city too. On the other hand, we might be able to launch a fairly devastating 2 front war against Nakor if that's in the cards.

Good idea. However Please don't include our core cities to the map yet. Areas west from our borders would be alright.

FYI I already sent them a small screenshot from the border area.

[antisocialmunky]

Do you want me to photoshop in a chariot or anything incase it ends up in NAkor's hands?

[plako]

Do you want me to photoshop in a chariot or anything incase it ends up in NAkor's hands?

based on the chat and general friendliness level of Locke I highly doubt he sends it to Nakor.

Here is message from Rego. If you want, I wouldn't mind if you start handling diplo with him. btw. Also Lord Parkin has 6 cities already.

Sounds good on 8=) - is there anywhere / anyone you'd like to meet? We may be able to help with directions if that is the case.

As for the grand anti-plako conspiracy, I don't want to make this out to be anything bigger than it is. It's not like I have a ton of people contacting me all the time talking about how you're a huge runaway. It's more like just something to talk about as we shoot the breeze - hey did you see plako founded his 6th city?!?!

Now let's take Lord Parkin for an example. I certainly understand that he (who is in what I'd call 3rd place) has a vested interest in trying to make the person or persons in front of him into this monster runaway. And I'd be lying if I said I didn't at least share SOME of those concerns about you being tops in food and production (especially as we sit here in 10th and 10th!!!). Again, please don't take this as my saying that LP is some sort of giant anti-plako agitator.

But like you said, I'm sure that we can and will find ways to cooperate that work out for both of us. I know that if I were in your position, I'd certainly be looking for ways!

Anything else going on?

dan.
regoarrarr
zulu