[SPOILERS - PBEM17] novice and spaceman - Suryavarman of India

[spacemanmf]

Played and sent on. Not much to report apart from a lot of civic-changing action.

[spacemanmf]

What's the tech path, by the way?

[novice]

What's the tech path, by the way?

I queued some techs, don't remember which...

[spacemanmf]

I queued some techs, don't remember which...

Heh, ok. I didn't even check when I ended turn.

[spacemanmf]

Right, I played the turn. Evidently, Literature was next, followed by Steam Power then Railroad.

There have been some interesting but not entirely unexpected diplomatic developments, but more on this shortly. Here is the power graph.



Demos.



F1 screen.





We continue to build infrastructure. I whipped the settler, which can settle the marble tile in a couple of turns.

I stuck a missionary on a galleon, which can head to Offshore Account. I started on another for our to-be-founded city, but the Natonal Epic needs to be started next turn.

[spacemanmf]

Ok, so we got the following email from Rego.

Well apparently last turn was "National cancel your NAP with regoarrarr" day :-(

Well technically it was 2 civs (Shoot and darrell) giving their cool down notice and the 3rd (oledavy) declined to sign one.

You will see before me if he (Dave) declared war on me.

My military is not non-existent - I just got Rifling and I am in Nationhood, so I won't be a patsy, but with 2-3 folks also drafting rifles, it's not going to be pretty.

So basically I wanted to catch up with you and see if you were going to pile on too! I guess I couldn't blame you since after all, I did it to you early on, right? ON the other hand, I know that you and Shoot have been somewhat at odds and you and I are also somewhat far away.

So if you are not going to pile on, might I suggest some aid on our part? I could certainly see if you'd prefer to just sit on the sidelines while the #1 guy in score gets beat on a bit (I think this is what darrell plans to do). On the other hand, this is probably Shoot's last gasp. Tech and land-wise, if he doesn't make a move now, he's going to be pretty irrelevant (which is what he alluded to me as his main reason for attacking now in a chat last night).

I know that you guys have made some talks about feeling like you need some more land too. So maybe we could work something out? That was the kinds of details that I wanted to chat about.

Anyways hope to see you around soon and enjoy your holiday

dan.
regoarrarr
inca

I then opened up chat with rego, meanwhile Dave also wanted to chat. I managed to stay out of it as much as possible, although there are some possibilities for helping out rego. Probably with cash is the best option. Units would be provocative, and iron is out. Cash donations might be more discreet.

Chat with rego.

18:50 me: hey

Dan: hey

space?

me: yup

just read your email

haven't played the turn yet

Dan: good times!

me: heh

well we vaguely know what it feels like...

but we won't be joining in

Dan: yeah

18:51 that's good

me: dog piles are so passé

Dan: yeah i briefly had a talk with shoot about that

just about dogpiles in general

and how they're annoying

but on the other hand how do you stop the snowball

me: yeah

Dan: i know i've talked with darrell about that too

me: it's just civ innit

Dan: i think it's got to be tech trading but with some way to stop blocs

18:52 maybe it's no out of game contact

or maybe delayed tech trading (enabled at paper?)

anyways that's neither here nor there

me: yeah they are doing that in PBEM20 or something?

Dan: not sure

18:53 me: a modded version

and no back trading

possible some adjusted known tech bonuses too

Dan: oh yeah

that's pbem20 i think

18:55 me: so what are the cooldown notice periods?

i'm guessing short

given the policy you've had this game

Dan: 5 for shoot and 10 for darrell

oledavy can attack this turn

me: oh that's longer than i expected

18:56 i guess the more powerful nations, shoot in particular, were going to pick on someone

just glad it's not us (yet)

18:57 as you said - it's shoot's last chance

Dan: so my question would be, do you have any interest in joining in on my side

18:58 and what can i get you

to incentivize you

me: i'll have a beer

cheers for asking

well what would help you out?

and how could you repay us?

and, for both of those, how could they be undetectable

Dan: well let's hold off on the answer to the first question because i don't know currently

18:59 2nd would probably be land

me: bear in mind our military is pretty weak too

Dan: you do have steel

me: er yes i think we got that recently

we have a cannon too i think

19:00 so maybe not that recently

we have frigates

in fact that's pretty much it for "advanced" units

a cannon and a bunch of frigates

19:01 we have gambled somewhat on us not doing well enough in this game to be a worthy target

Dan: i've heard taht you feel like shoot that you also need more land to be competitive?

19:02 me: i dunno

more land is always nice, obviously

but there's a clear risk to us in you handing us land that they were going to share amongst them

Dan: sure

19:03 true

me: i suppose it means little if we're the next target anyway

19:04 Dan: i wish i hadn't revolted out of slavery

me: dohhh

that was good timing for a war declaration

what are you in?

19:06 actually, i did take a pic of that last turn

in my less than thorough turn report

19:07 FR, SP, CS and NH

and - what? US?

19:08 bit of a mix, basically

19:10 i guess one option is cash now for upgrades in return for cash later (or a GP)

anyway, off to make the tea (evening meal) - catch you later

20:14 Dan: hey

20:15 me: hi

no war declaration

i've just opened the save

Dan: cool

20:16 cash could be good

frigates

the geography favors me vs. shoot

especially as he (for now) lacks astro

20:17 me: i take it that you have no GPs lying around

Dan: no

20:18 i'll have another one in 10ish turns?

me: ok so we could spread payments over that period possibly

20:19 to avoid being detected as easily

or perhaps spread them over 5 turns, since that is the more relevant period for you

Dan: so don't you want me to get hurt?

20:20 me: well, as i say, it's a balance between the four of you wasting resources, vs us angering the collective and becoming the next target

Dan: right

so as long as i am being dogpiled

20:21 you want to prop me up

without attracting attention

me: yeah something like that

Dan: fair?

but you wouldn't want to help me to actually succeed?

20:22 me: i don't mind you surviving

nothing wrong with that

:-)

Dan: but you wouldn't want me to say take out shoot

me: i'm actually not too fussed

he's the biggest threat to us right now

NAP notwithstanding

20:23 because he has rifles and is very close at lots of points

darrell is probably the biggest future threat

Dan: you guys have an active NAP?

me: yeah

we have one with everyone

Dan: what's the terms

me: ummm 7-10 turns with everyone but you, which is 3?

Dan: okay

me: i can't remember who has how many but they are all in that range

20:24 Dan: any interest in giving notice to shoot to keep him honest?

me: heh, not realy

*l

Dan: yeah

me: if he called our bliuff...

Dan: what i want to get is how darrell

whose power is miniscule

20:25 convinced the #4 and #5 score folks to attack me

while he sits back and techs like crazy

me: yeah he's not in military techs, that's for certain

unless he buys everything

20:26 Dan: well he does have kremlin

and he's in a GA so he'll probably swap to stuff at the end

me: hmm yeah

and he has 10t to play with i suppose

20:28 Dan: yeah i'm sure he'll be drafting rifles for awhile

at least for the next 5t

i kind of think that he will not actively attack

and btw oledavy plays after you so of course no war dec yet ;-)

me: he's not in NH, so won't be drafting them just yet

20:29 ah righ tok

Dan: i thought darrell did go to NH

me: no, he's in bureau

20:30 Dan: what if you funded me to get RR for MGs

me: how far away from that are you?

Dan: steam / steel / RR

20:31 i kind of wanted to get physics next for airship scouts

20:33 me: so how many turns at max science do your reckon?/

you'd have to revolt to slavery too presumably

20:36 Dan: yeah

which i can't do for another 4t

20:36 Dan: are you anywhere near airships?

me: not sure - we abandoned going for physics

20:37 and i've just finished the turn, forwarded the save and closed civ down

Dan: heh

me: i'll post our chat in our thread and see if novice has any thoughts/ideas

Dan: well you have the pre-reqs

you're just going somewhere else i assume

20:38 i would estimate 6-8t at max sci

i could also pay you back by railroading in your lands

(not as complete payment of course)

but that gets you good movement and 1h on some tiles

20:41 me: sorry - internet connection disappeared temporarily

Chat with Dave.

20:04 David: Hey

Novice or Spaceman?

20:05 me: hi

space

David: Have a sec to talk?

me: sure

fire away

20:06 David: has Rego spoken to you guys recently?

20:07 me: he mentioned NAP cancellations and asked if we were going to join in

i said we weren't

David: alrighty, was curious if he had come to you yet

20:08 me: i got the impression he hasn't seen the save yet

but you haven't declared war

20:09 David: nope, I haven't

I'm surprised he didn't

but with the NAP cancellations, good as done

all three of us are closing borders with him this turn

me: heh, welcome to the club

took your time

20:10 David: lol, on that note

I know you guys are in Mercantilism, but in the event you switch civics

are you interested in opening borders?

20:11 me: sure, that's something we could consider

David: I speak for Darrell as well on this

Shoot probably as well, though he's really not legitimately interested in this game any longer, even with a war :P

me: will be interesting to see what darrell contributes to this

his power is nothing

heh

20:12 David: I'm interested as well

I fully expect Darrell to win unless he is dogpiled sometime in the future

me: he's in US so can cash rush an army

David: either that or you guys just building while the four of us kill each other :D

20:13 yes, and he has the kremlin

me: he's not in slavery or nationhood

David: am aware

me: although he is in golden age

and he has 10 turns left to run on his NAP

according to rego

so perhaps there is time

we will see

20:14 David: 10t cooldown, ending on turn 133

I don't doubt his comittment though, he has the juicy target of PIndicator on his doorstep, no love for Rego's diplomacy and just lost the SOL to Rego

20:15 me: heh

20:16 David: anyway, came to you wanted to inquire if you plan on trading iron to Rego at any point

the three of us would have an easier time if you didn't :D

presuming we even manage to raze his source

20:17 me: we won't be giving him iron

we had to fight for it enough

David: lol, fair point

I take it you don't plan on coming in on his side either?

me: heh

with what?

David: cannons and frigates :D

20:18 me: yeah

David: idk, lol

me: that's it

fear our cannons and frigatges

-g

David: fair point

20:19 just would rather not fight a 3v2

taking down the board leader will be hard enough

me: i understand that

we're staying out of it

David: okey dokey

oh on that note of iron

Darrell has your uranium

20:20 they're all on the tentacle arms

however, you have Shoot's

barely

me: hmm interesting

bloody map maker

:-)

20:21 David: the southernmost purple tile of Hostile Takeover

well wait, without nukes enabled, is there anything you need uranium for that you can't build with oil?

beside nuclear power plants

I haven't played a modern game in so long

me: hmm someone could annoying settle one south of that

20:22 i think you need fission maybe to use it anyway

20:23 David: okay, just a heads up

I love that Kyan popped that extra iron :D

me: very useful

on the tile he scared us from

20:24 well on the island

David: O.o

scared from you?

me: we were going to settle

he threatened axes

we couldn't defend against axes so had to withdraw

20:25 David: island was a bit of a reach, I think Shoot could have had a solid claim to it too

me: indeed

it's that kind of map

20:26 David: like Overexposure :D lol

20:27 At any rate, just wanted to inquire what Rego was trying to do

me: save is coming your way shortly, btw

20:28 don't know if now is a good time

David: last I heard from Shoot and Darrell, he was desperately trying to get them out

not particularly, am in class, but will be able to play it later this afternoon

20:29 me: ok

catch you later then

20:30 David: later!

[novice]

I suppose we could fund Rego a bit. If we dip to breakeven research and gift some gold every turn it will look like we're at max sci.

[novice]

I suppose we could fund Rego a bit. If we dip to breakeven research and gift some gold every turn it will look like we're at max sci.

Maybe we'd want to tie it in with a long NAP too? And a game-long "no razing capital" pact, or something? How do we plan to win this thing?

[novice]

I stuck a missionary on a galleon, which can head to Offshore Account. I started on another for our to-be-founded city, but the Natonal Epic needs to be started next turn.

Finishing the missionary while waiting for marble sounds good, too.

[spacemanmf]

I suppose we could fund Rego a bit. If we dip to breakeven research and gift some gold every turn it will look like we're at max sci.

I'll lob him some cash then - maybe 200/turn.

Maybe we'd want to tie it in with a long NAP too? And a game-long "no razing capital" pact, or something? How do we plan to win this thing?

I'll mention that. As for winning - who the hell knows. Space may be the only option but also very difficult to defend against.

Finishing the missionary while waiting for marble sounds good, too.

Ah yes, good plan.