Diplomacy Master Thread- Helping Your Opponents Beat Themselves

[Lewwyn]

A loan to a team that is very likely to be dead? Go ahead and ask how much it would take and how long but I do not think its worth it if it is a substantial amount. The likelihood of being repaid is miniscule IMO.

[Tyrmith]

A loan to a team that is very likely to be dead? Go ahead and ask how much it would take and how long but I do not think its worth it if it is a substantial amount. The likelihood of being repaid is miniscule IMO.

And even if not dead, very unlikely to have the cash to spare to pay us back.

[antisocialmunky]

You should stop thinking about this as a loan and start thinking about this as literally buying time against CFC. How much production and commerce of CFC's can pay to remove from the game for X amount of cost, is that cost prohibitively expensive, and do the Spanish give you the best deal?

[kjn]

You should stop thinking about this as a loan and start thinking about this as literally buying time against CFC. How much production and commerce of CFC's can pay to remove from the game for X amount of cost, is that cost prohibitively expensive, and do the Spanish give you the best deal?

Exactly. I think we can easily say that each turn at war footing costs CFC at least 100 beakers per turn from the loss of Representation bonus beakers and whipped specialists - and that's a low estimate. Then add in unit supply costs, war weariness, economic buildings delayed...

Here is their graph GNP graph:



Part of it is due to them stockpiling gold, but all of it? With them likely still running specialists, a decent part of their beaker output is still independent of the slider.

[antisocialmunky]

Now if we could only quantify how many resources we need to spend to extend the Spanish war by a turn, then we could figure out the other part of this equation. That is, how many resources can we spend before #3 catches up to both us and CFC?

[Lord Parkin]

From the Germans:

Well, then let extend our NAP-agreement until R200, as this is more comfortable for you and us as well. Regarding your question on any attack plannings of your neighbors, we have no informations on this issue.

The wise men of the inca

[kjn]

Now if we could only quantify how many resources we need to spend to extend the Spanish war by a turn, then we could figure out the other part of this equation. That is, how many resources can we spend before #3 catches up to both us and CFC?

Ugh. That'd be nearly impossible to quantify, especially since which team is #3 can be viewed as either Apolyton or CivFr, and they follow different strategies, and then there is Univers which is starting to speed up as well.

However, one thing I really think we should consider is that if the Spanish team is still holding out on T175, we really should declare on CFC, and do so in the most blatantly possible way - make them see it coming from several turns away. Either they switch veteran units from the Spanish front to us (making the Spanish bleed CFC even longer), or they have to keep their core cities in wartime mode by whipping and drafting. Either way we win.

As for the German note, I think we should answer with a courteous note that we are coming for them. With their build switches, a wall in Wasserburg, and new catapults, I think we have nothing to lose by giving a formal war declaration now. They know, and we know they know, so there is little reason for subterfuge now.

[Sullla]

We say nothing to the Germans. Why remove all doubt in their minds for no reason?

[Oxyphenbutazone]

Well saying nothing will remove all doubt in their minds irregardless. Even if they're bad at civ, it doesn't take a lot to figure out what a spike on a power graph+refusal to resign a NAP means. A letter would just be a good gesture because they seems like nice enough people and also it may make them hate us less so they'd be willing to sign peace should the unthinkable happen and we're still slogging through their territory turn 170.

[pindicator]

From the Germans:

Well, then let extend our NAP-agreement until R200, as this is more comfortable for you and us as well. Regarding your question on any attack plannings of your neighbors, we have no informations on this issue.

The wise men of the inca

I think we've found out how to get teams to respond to us in a timely manner.