Diplomacy Master Thread- Helping Your Opponents Beat Themselves

[Ceiliazul]

-I don't think this was a considered request from their whole team, they are probably infighting about it right now
-They likely asked for a 10t grace period so they could tech something pointy.
-we can't spare 300g but can we spare something less for a reasonable rate of interest.

Even a paltry counteroffer is better than crying 'EXPANSION MODE'. To those who say CFC is no ally, hey, diplo is even more important with your enemies.

[T-hawk]

Can we ask them to provide something real now, as compared to an uncertain promise of gold in the future? Would they be willing to sell a worker or two, perhaps?

[NobleHelium]

Buying fast workers might be worth it. 300g would have to be like...3 FWs though. It might need to be 4 for it to really be worthwhile since it benefits us for CFC to get punched in the face by the Spanish.

[Sullla]

Why do we care about helping CFC here? We want them to take as much damage from the Spanish as possible. We've got peace with them for the next 70 turns, they can't do jack to affect us until some impossibly remote date in the future. Hey, do you guys remember what we were talking about on Turn 35? Yeah, me neither.

We need that gold for ourselves. The answer is no. I'm not lifting a finger to help the team that went and planted this city in our faces:



It would be one thing if CFC were an actual friend, but they're just another Imperio who doesn't give a crap about anyone other than themselves.

[Shoot the Moon]

Why do we care about helping CFC here? We want them to take as much damage from the Spanish as possible. We've got peace with them for the next 70 turns, they can't do jack to affect us until some impossibly remote date in the future. Hey, do you guys remember what we were talking about on Turn 35? Yeah, me neither.

We need that gold for ourselves. The answer is no. I'm not lifting a finger to help the team that went and planted this city in our faces:

It would be one thing if CFC were an actual friend, but they're just another Imperio who doesn't give a crap about anyone other than themselves.

I agree with all of this, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't at least approach saying no in the most diplomatic way possible. The important question here at this point, at least from my perspective, isn't whether to say no--obviously we should--but how we should say no. If we at least first reply essentially asking what the payment will be, or in some other way making it seem like we are interested in helping them but just can't right now, that would be better than simply saying no I think. Even just saying something along the lines of we don't want to get involved/potentially piss off a team by them realizing that we gifted gold is way better than just saying no or doing something like demanding Delhi. Sure it was a stupid request, but that doesn't mean responding stupidly and needlessly antagonizing one of our neighbors (and the one we are most concerned about organizing a dogpile against us!) actually helps us.

[kalin]

Caledorn: great it looks as if the spot we intend to settle is 1S of the rice
I hope that's not going to be a big problem. it's clearly within our hemisphere

"Our team carefully considered your request. Sorry, but we would have to decline your request. I hope that's not going to be a big problem. Best of luck."

Kalin

[Brian Shanahan]

Remind them that our free gift of gold is going to probably save them ~300g worth of hammers for the duration of the war. Then, tell them no, go die in a fire.

Or, just send this:



Or, this:

I prefer this clip myself:

[novice]

I agree with Shoot that our diplomacy team should try to be diplomatic.

[Azoth]

I think the best response would be simply:

We are sorry but we cannot forward you the gold.
When it comes to wars between other teams, our policy is neutrality.
Naturally, we will refuse any loan requests from Spanish Apolyton as well.
Best of luck.

Or something along those lines.
Let's not pretend to be interested in their offer, or pretend that we might accept if the terms were right, or pretend that any assistance on our part might be forthcoming.

[Fintourist]

Well, I believe that the best policy would be to tell CFC that we need our gold (sorry!), but add that we of course consider the trade if they come up with a more concrete suggestion (with the tone that we are willing to help but that it seems impossible now).