Diplomacy Master Thread- Helping Your Opponents Beat Themselves

[novice]

If we ask, I think I"d rather just flat-out state we have multiple NAPs ending that turn, and we would prefer not to stack them. We could say we'd prefer 170 or 180 better, their choice?

I like that too.

[Boldly Going Nowhere]

Scooter, can you ask them to do T180? I think it's pretty clear they would sign a NAP so why not try. We can say we prefer round numbers

Kalin

We already asked 185, so I'm not sure we can wiggle that much. If we ask, I think I"d rather just flat-out state we have multiple NAPs ending that turn, and we would prefer not to stack them. We could say we'd prefer 170 or 180 better, their choice?

Scooter, I like that. It gives a good reason for us wanting that and allow us to renegotiate around T160 when our military should be significant.

I am curious to hear other opinions fwiw.

Kalin

They have proposed T175, so they are in agreement to a NAP in principle. If we can push them on that date then we may have some flexibility in the relationship going forward. If they are inflexible, we have our answer and a defined beginning to the dogpile era. Best guess is that they agree to shorten it to 170, which is also telegraphing their intentions.

kjn has the tactics down. Our surviving German annexation army will be highly promoted and at the Apolyton border around that time (hopefully). This will either induce some diplomatic efforts by Apolyton to prevent us taking the next logical conquest option (them), or we fight on two fronts, holding a narrow front at our draft camp/culture city. Let's DO THIS!

[scooter]

Ok I took that as a thumbs up and went ahead and sent this:

Hey, we totally understand. One thing - we have multiple NAPs ending on T175 right now, and we prefer to space them out a bit as a precaution. We'd prefer either T170 or T180. If that's acceptable to you, we'll let you choose which term you'd like to agree to since we're the ones being a little picky here.

Thanks,
scooter - Team RB

[scooter]

Well, then let it be t170 for now as it was our team's original proposition.

Confirmed.

[Sullla]

That message is a gigantic flashing warning sign that CFC and Apolyton are working together. We'd better devour the Germans quickly and be prepared for a two-front war on Turn 175. Hopefully we'll have mass drafted rifles by then, and that combined with Statue of Zeus will make any attempted invasion of our territory an absolute bloodbath.

[Fintourist]

Yeah, and let's not forget renegotiating those NAPs around T155. Stalling, ignoring and of course direct no answers should give us a fair warning..

EDIT: And let's be prepared that the attack will start with an annoying civic swap that puts us out of Nationhood. Possibly even before the NAP actually ends..

[NobleHelium]

Can we kill CFC yet?

[Fintourist]

Can we kill CFC yet?

Pretty please....

[kalin]

Since we have OB, we should set a couple of sentry units in the territories of Apolyton/CFC. That should give us good warning.

Kalin

[scooter]

Generally agreed. I don't think it's a guarantee, but it's something we should just assume at this point.

The other potential wrench is CivPlayers. Our NAP with them runs through T160, with a 10T cooldown so it's also effectively T170. They also don't like to sign extensions far in advance. Nothing we could do about this really.

However, all is not lost. First off, plan of attack on "Operation Stave Off Dogpile" goes like this:

1) Try to negotiate extension through T190 with CivPlayers when the date gets a little closer. I think they are by far the least likely to be in on a possible dogpile, so they may sign it straight-up. Be willing to pay a little bit for the NAP, but I think we may not have to. They'll see us drafting too, which should carry a biiiit of weight.

2) Try to corner either CFC or Apolyton into signing a NAP. This is the NAP we may have to pay for. Try Apolyton first and see if they'll do it without paying, otherwise we discuss and decide who we would prefer to buy out.

3) Try to see if we can line up a defense pact or two. This may very well not work, but it's worth trying. WPC may sign it with us, but they're not exactly scary to anyone. Idea being here - make the idea of a dogpile on us sound scarier, even if it's a paper threat. Might help us in our quest to buy a NAP.



It's highly possible this is not actually happening. Remember something - Apolyton does not know we will be neighbors when the NAP expires. Let's assume we won't be, which is what they are assuming. They do not gain much from a 2v1 on us, because they don't get to keep any land. It's the typical Dogpile Flaw, they don't gain as much as CFC. So it does seem unlikely to me that any hypothetical plans they have are significant. If there are plans, it's not super hard to point out their lack of gain and offer them something better in return.