Diplomacy Master Thread- Helping Your Opponents Beat Themselves

[darrelljs]

I suppose they could bomb the city, but that (also) doesn't seem likely. Maybe the problem is I'm trying to correlate likely with intelligent.

Darrell

[Sullla]

A city in that location will control its inner nine-tile radius; even with our cities surrounding it, we would not be able to control that first ring. It would make defending this corner of our territory a nightmare, and it would inevitably lead to conflict with CFC. It actually is a big problem in the long run, as it makes defending Starfall, Eastern Dealers, and even Forbidden Fruit a much more difficult task. A city on that spot is not something we should be brushing off like it's nothing.

I have no idea what they're thinking with regards to the stone resource. CFC doesn't have an aqueduct in any cities, which means they have no chance of landing Hanging Gardens. (We complete our own aqueduct this turn and Hanging Gardens next turn.) They cannot beat us to the wonder. It's impossible. Perhaps they are trying something involving Pyramids or Great Wall is all I can imagine.

[Cyneheard]

I have no idea what they're thinking with regards to the stone resource. CFC doesn't have an aqueduct in any cities, which means they have no chance of landing Hanging Gardens. (We complete our own aqueduct this turn and Hanging Gardens next turn.) They cannot beat us to the wonder. It's impossible. Perhaps they are trying something involving Pyramids or Great Wall is all I can imagine.

Pyramids. In which case we should be able to work something out. How many hammers are in the box for their core cities?

[scooter]

What in the world. Ok. I see Caledorn on, so I'm going to chat with him right away and see what's up. This has to be a Pyramids play or something.

If they wanted stone so bad, why on earth did they not settled it FIFTY TURNS AGO like they said they were going to.

[kjn]

Even more strangely, look at their units. That settler is bare.

The axe is up in the northeast (1NW of the horses) with the workers that roaded to us, and then there are two unprotected workers on the westernmost wine.

Settling into the teeth of a team with War Chariots and with only a single axe to defend is stupid, but this?!?

[scooter]

Alright guys. Typing quickly - this is about the stone for CFC. They REALLY want it fast. He's sort of indirectly admitted it's a wonder thing and they're racing for it.

What is the absolute fastest we can get the stone hooked? I think slowing Starfall development to help them hook the stone is the only way we can quickly talk them down from planting that city.

[Sullla]

Starfall borders pop T107. Theoretically, we could have the stone hooked up on that turn and ready to go. That's the fastest we can possible get the stone connected there.

But we only need our own stone until Great Wall completes eot 105, so we can just send them our own stone on T106. Because we don't care SUPER hard about Great Wall, we could gift them stone on T105 if it's ABSOLUTELY critical, but we cannot give stone earlier than that. We need stone next turn (T104) for Hanging Gardens, and that's not up for debate.

scotter, if you need me in that chat, send me a fast PM or something and I can help you out with any info.

[Sullla]

In other words, we can probably trade them stone faster than they can get it even if they plant that assinine city. (T105 or T106.) Tell them that.

[Ceiliazul]

Not interested in slowing growth. Tell them that city placement will stop all NAP extension talks. Also, if they're going to HG they must not know of others who are close... we could simply tell them we have HG due in (say) less than 4 turns.

edit: I agree we could offer our only source of stone on t106. If this doesn't communicate that they have no shot at the Gardens, then they aren't paying attention.

[scooter]

In other words, we can probably trade them stone faster than they can get it even if they plant that assinine city. (T105 or T106.) Tell them that.

That's what I just told Caledorn. I'll have a full log up when the chat is over (still ongoing). But the short is that I told him we can gift him our stone on T106, MAYBE T105 but more likely T106. I also noted that's probably about when they would finish hooking the stone anyways. Their team discussion is heavily ongoing he says.