[Spoiler] RB Pitboss #2 - Shaka of Rome

[Whosit]

If the only 2 options you are considering now are sailing the praet back or still going after spullla, you could always start by boarding them all, they will still ba able to land next to F next trun, OR sail back depending on your decision and/or Spullla peace/war situation.

Yeah, that's what I'm planning to do if nothing pops up. Though I don't think I'll be going back to Fredericksburg. If the war doesn't end, I'll sail to Jowy's territory and link up with him and the Rebels there. Hopefully Dantski hasn't sunk so low as to Open Borders with Killer Angels. If he keeps them closed, Nakor will be safe from counter-attack.

I'd better check the diplo screen to make sure everything is peachy-keen on that front.

[Whosit]

Argh!! Dantski, you snake! He did sign Open Borders with the Killer Angels! Well, I just wrote to him telling him to stop it! If he doesn't agree, I'll get everyone else to sanction him . . . . I also wrote to plako and Broker. I was hoping to have a response from Sullla by now, but . . . . Basically, I told them to close borders with K.A. In return, I'd open borders and would agree to an extension of our NAP if they wanted.

I also suggested that they could give troops to Nakor if they wanted to covertly participate in the war.

I also said that I'd be willing to buy units off of them if they wanted to deal.

I doubt that they do, but it's worth a shot.

[Whosit]

Where did Sullla put that giant smiley face? At least plako can still give me a good laugh.

Dear Whosit,

I'm glad we're back on trading table again. I'm still considering your suggestions and come back to them a bit later. However I find it hard to convince Korean people to join you as long as 2 of our former cities are under your ruling. Giving these cities back would definately give a good starting point for a future as brothers in arms.

Best regards,
plako

"Back on the trading table again," indeed.

It will be a cold day in Hell, and there will be baby-eating contests in Heaven before I give those cities back. I strongly suspect that plako made an offer so absurd that I could never agree. Giving up those cities would basically remove my economic core. So I don't think that he really wants to deal, but he's just being snarky about it.

I'll . . . have to think about how to appropriately respond to this.

[Whosit]

I'm actually pretty pleased with what I came up with. Mostly for how it sounds, but I think I make a clear point:

Dear plako,

Having reviewed your most recent missive, I can only assume that you are not actually interested in dealing with me, otherwise you would have not made such an absurd request. The Empire will not, under any circumstances, hand over Nar Shaddaa or Ryloth; they are, and will continue to be, an integral part of the Galactic Empire. Giving these cities to Korea can never be the basis of a trading relationship.

We are willing to consider any reasonable offer that you make, and again urge you to deny the Killer Angels the benefits of your trade routes. There are many exchanges we could make that would benefit both parties, but your last request has shaken our belief that you wish to deal with us in good faith. Please prove us wrong.

Best regards,

Whosit, Galactic Emperor

How he responds will be telling, I think. If he refuses to be reasonable, well . . . . I actually made a mistake, the other day. I told Nakor that I was planning to hit the Inca. Aside from it just being stupid to let someone know that, I'm not sure that it's set in stone. I don't know if plako realizes it, but my first letter to him was basically an offer to not kill him. If he makes it clear that he's just going to waste my time, I'll have no choice but to eliminate him first. If he really pisses me off, I might even pursue him to his islands.

Now, I'll need Nakor's help to deal with Korea, I think, since I won't have siege units. I'll have to talk to him again. I think that he's trying to decide between Construction and Feudalism. I think. I definitely need Currency before Construction, but having Catapults available would be nice.

Of course, if Spullla never accepts peace with us, this is all moot. Dantski is definitely going to pay, sooner or later.

But, yeah, I shouldn't set my next target in stone. The Inca are the bigger threat to me, but Korea could be dangerous if left alone, especially since they have a grudge. I feel like I've said this all a million times already. Anyway, I don't know if plako thought his request was "just worth a shot," or if he knew I would decline. Doesn't matter. He can either get a new lease on life, or hang himself. I hope he realizes the situation he's in.

I hope I realize the situation I'm in. But I'm not going to let him get the drop on me.

[Whosit]

Been rather busy lately, so sorry about the lack of good updates. I'll get some pictures soonish.

I think I'll giving Jowy my 8 Praetorians. It'll kill my power rating, but it will free up some gold. I'll have spread Confucianism to Carida next turn. I think I will convert very soon to raise the happy caps in Imperial Center, Carida, and Nar Shaddaa. I've done some very rough calculations, and I think that I'll be better off growing Carida to size 7 (and 20 spt). It probably won't change the time it takes to build the Parthenon (about 13 turns) because I'll be focusing on food, but it will get Praets out slightly faster after that.

Nakor has asked for Praetorians, as well. I'm going to see if he'll give me a Settler in exchange, which will let Kuat build troops uninterrupted. Otherwise, I'll have to slot that Settler in.

Growing I.C. will let it work the grassland Iron, so it can build troops a bit faster, as well, and Nar Shaddaa can work more commerce, or even hammers, I suppose. Maybe work the hammers to get missionaries out a bit faster.

I'll do the hard calculations when I get home.

I've seen spreadsheets posted. Are those basically screen captures, or is there another way to do that on this forum?

Other news: Nakor/DMOC have been invited into the Alliance. We're pretty sure that India isn't going to accept peace, and that Dantski is now allied with them and is planning a strike on Nakor. Hopefully Korea will honor our NAP, and hopefully the Inca are content to just do whatever . . . . I'm getting a bit worried about my position in the world. The Rebels have Currency already. I suppose my tech detours are partly to blame, though I think that the Parthenon will be worth having--considering my total lack of good economic traits, I think I need it. Going for Math/Currency now, then I'll either do Metal Casting, or maybe even Poly/Literature to snag the Great Library (if Spullla doesn't get there first!).

I dunno. I'm not sure how to remain a world player. All I've really got going for me is my army, but it looks like I'll be gifting that all away. Worrisome.

Alternative plan: I don't gift troops to Nakor. I build 6-8 Praetorians and launch a surprise attack on Dantski, burn a town, maybe 2 if I'm REALLY lucky, and just raise some hell, otherwise. Unfortunately, that probably won't work.

[banshee]

What promotions do those Praets on your galleys have?

[novice]

I've seen spreadsheets posted. Are those basically screen captures, or is there another way to do that on this forum?

You can zip it and attach it to a post. Or you can upload it to some other server and provide a link. Or you can use google docs.

[m4gill4]

lol whosit you have so many wars looming on the horizon you just can't decide who to attack Every other time you post it's Death to Inca! Korea Must Die! Danstki shall pay! You play with all the finesse of a hippo on meth with severe ADD.

[novice]

You play with all the finesse of a hippo on meth with severe ADD.

...and he means that in a good way.

[MWIN]

Isn't killing everybody else one of the ways to win civilization?

lol whosit you have so many wars looming on the horizon you just can't decide who to attack Every other time you post it's Death to Inca! Korea Must Die! Danstki shall pay! You play with all the finesse of a hippo on meth with severe ADD.