RB PBEM #1 - Gandhi [spoilers]

[Ruff_Hi]

I had an interesting chat with Athlete ...

Taylor: Hey Ruff,
Just so I understand your most recent e-mail...I give you construction and get 350B from Dreylin
?

me: hi Athlete
yeah - you trade me contruction, then turn around and shop for techs from Dreylin
if you can see techs that Dreylin has that you like

Taylor: ya give me a few I'll go have a look now...

me: np
and I end up owing Dreylin 350b instead of you

Taylor: At this time no he does not have anything I could get that I want for that 350b

me: ok - fair enough
how are you going on Feudalism?
have you set up any trades for it yet?

Taylor: I have 4 turns left I believe is what it was
Currently I'm expecting to trade it with you for paper as I believed that was part of the deal for getting you to switch (I don't know the beaker values at this point so if they mismatch we'll work it out + that 53b credit for switching).
Apart from that I have nothing concrete

me: 700 f v 600 paper
so I will need to throw in some $ to balance it out

Taylor: What are you currently researching?

me: oh - and the 53b ... forgot about that
just finished paper - collecting $ while I look at my options

Taylor: damn...too bad I'm honest :-)...lol
right on

me: I'll take a look at my techs v yours and see if I can offer you anything for construction

Taylor: Is paper a prereq for anything?

me: looking at CFC now
education and printing press (with mechinery)
do you have the pre-req for paper?
need theology or civil service

Taylor: hmm at the moment no i do not

me: that is going to make the Feud / Paper deal a little difficult

Taylor: I know Dreylin has it...& Sooo or MH is researching it to finish about the same time as Feudalism...cant remember which one at this time

me: I have Theology that I can trade you - but I am not sure that you even have the pre-req for that
writing and mono

Taylor: no I don't have mono...nor do I want it or Theology

me: why is sooo/mh researching CS when they could trade for it? doesn't make sense in my book

Taylor: Looks like I will be trading for CS with Feud...just with who is still to be determined...

me: ok, that is pretty much a straight swap (700 v 800)

Taylor: Well It's my understanding you and Dreylin are pretty tight and MH and Soooo have become not allies but atleast cooperative associates

me: ahhhhhhh
and you?

Taylor: I'm still trying to figure that one out...
I'm being seriously out teched

me: we could set up North v South

Taylor: and I'm not much of a general
so it doesn't seem like my chances are good either way :-)
lol

me: I have almost reached the end of my land (re expansion)
have a few desert ridden filler sights but that is about it
oh - you interested in trading maps?

Taylor: Dreylin seems to think he's got a few more to go...
me I've got atleast 3 but again I'm behind
ya sure - maps

me: yeah - and mh and soooo have all of that land in the north
cold - but it is land

Taylor: I haven't seen any of Sooo's lands apart from some borders

me: re Maps: I will send you an offer when the game comes back to me

Taylor: do you have it mapped out...might save my scout some time
sure

me: well - trade maps with me and you will get a good look see
some of it - haven't traded maps with sooooo
have traded with Dreylin and mh
if you are being out teched - then try to stay tight with both groups (ie dreylin / me and mh / soooo)
that way you can get 4-fors for your techs while we only get 2-fors
that should catch you up some
do a Switzerland

Taylor: lol...I'll hopefully do so...I'm more concerned with MH or Dreylin seeing an opportunity though Dreylin is assuring me he doesn't want war...

me: and, in the mean time - build up some expansion options and see what happens between Dreylin and mh (not that I know anything about their, or your, relationships)
do you have NAPs with either?

Taylor: Looks like he's positioning himself for a culltural victory...

me: I cannot see anyone letting a cultural victory get through
it would turn into a 4v1 pretty quickly

Taylor: I currently have an NAP with MH that was set early on but that won't be around much longer, there has not been much discussion on extending it yet..
Dreylin has an interesting proposal put forth but I think I need to make some adjustments/conditions...
me: well - see if you can keep in everyone's good books

Taylor: Ya I couldn't see how a cultural vic would get through in MP...do you see this coming down to a space race? or will a warring victory take place? I'm assuming that's how usual MP games work

me: this map and game speed is not ideal for a war - would lead to a slug vest
space is an option, but that would also get very dicey
don't really see how victory will turn out

Taylor: Well once I sort out my Feud for CS trade form whomever I'll do it with you for Paper
and if you can offer the map trade when it comes your go that would be good

me: hey - suggest you look at mono and ask dreylin for missionary to boot - that would give your cities a hammer boost at least
ok - will talk later
see ya

Taylor: lata

So I have confirmation of a mh+sooooo alliance against a ruff+Dreylin. No idea where Athlete is positioning himself but I shared with him my view (if it was me).

With how Dreylin is reporting the Dreylin / Athlete relationship, I wouldn't be surprised if Athlete ends up with sooooo and mh. That said, Dreylin does over complicate some things (his worry about being overrun by mh). Seriously, he should see if he can do some quick damage over there with the person that he doesn't have a NAP with.

[Ruff_Hi]

• FF - Hagia Sophia [3], chop
  
• LQ - courthouse [4]
  
• DV - Conf Monestory [4] - it wanted to grow again in 1 turn - had to let it
  
• BH - Courthouse [40], Barracks [32] delayed
  
• BS - Granary [12]
  
• AC - Fishing Boat [2], border pop in 2
  
• TN - Granary [9]
  
• Thing #1 - farm at BH
  
• Thing #2 - farm at BH
  
• Thing #3 - plantain on dye
  
• Thing #4 - plantain on dye
  
• Thing #5 - farm at BH
  
• Thing #6 - chop at FF
  
• Scout (Dead Man Walking) - exploring sooooo's North
  
• Scout (Live Man Walking) - exploring Athlete's land
  
• Chariot XP=4 - heading back home
  
• Tech - Education [176]
  
• GP - 100% Scientist [3]
  

I offered a map trade to Athlete. Dreylin and I also agreed that all barbs are now his. He has an Archer at 7XPs so I am leaving the barbs to him. Once that archer is level 4 (10XPs), he will gift it to me, I will gift it straight back but it will unlock the Heroic Epic for me (Block Head).

Sooooo's settler is heading West.

Only 4 turns to a Turn 80 wrap up - really looking forward to going through everything.

[Kylearan]

Once that archer is level 4 (10XPs), he will gift it to me, I will gift it straight back but it will unlock the Heroic Epic for me

Nice idea!

[Ruff_Hi]

• FF - Hagia Sophia [2]
  
• LQ - courthouse [4]
  
• DV - worker [4]
  
• BH - Courthouse [39], Barracks [32] delayed
  
• BS - Granary [11]
  
• AC - Fishing Boat [1], border pop in 2
  
• TN - Granary [9]
  
• Thing #1 - farm at BH
  
• Thing #2 - farm at BH
  
• Thing #3 - plantain on dye
  
• Thing #4 - plantain on dye
  
• Thing #5 - farm at BH
  
• Thing #6 - farm at FF
  
• Scout (Dead Man Walking) - exploring sooooo's North
  
• Scout (Live Man Walking) - heading back home
  
• Chariot XP=4 - heading back home
  
• Tech - Education [175]
  
• GP - 100% Scientist [2]
  

map trade with Athlete went through. I sent the updated information to Dreylin. Sooooo got a GS - I will have to look next turn to see what he did with it.

Sooooo - Mechinary [3]
Mostly Harmless - Civil Service [4]
Athlete - Feudalism [4 ish] - cannot see his research this turn

[Ruff_Hi]

• FF - Hagia Sophia [1]
  
• LQ - courthouse [2]
  
• DV - worker [2]
  
• BH - Courthouse [16], Barracks [32] delayed
  
• BS - Granary [10]
  
• AC - Granary [10]
  
• TN - Granary [7]
  
• Thing #1 - farm at BH
  
• Thing #2 - mine at BH
  
• Thing #3 - plantain on dye
  
• Thing #4 - plantain on dye
  
• Thing #5 - farm at BH
  
• Thing #6 - farm at FF
  
• Scout (Dead Man Walking) - exploring sooooo's North
  
• Scout (Live Man Walking) - heading back home
  
• Chariot XP=4 - heading back home
  
• Tech - Education [174]
  
• GP - 100% Scientist [1]
  
• Opponent Current Tech Research
  • athlete - Feudalism [2]
    
  • mostly harmless - Civil Service [1]
    
  • sooooo - Mechinary [1]
    

I got a map trade request from sooooo - so now I have total map knowledge. I'll try and get you guys a screenshot. Other important news ...

• I landed Hagia Sophia and got in trouble from Dreylin - apparently he was building it too - I was trying to trade Theology to mh and Athlete and get them to build it (anyone but sooooo) and no one was biting - as such, I decided to build it myself
  
• this actually was a little bad as it caused a slight wrinkly in my relationship with Dreylin (see Dreylin's thread - maybe later today), I said sorry and offered him a fast worker to compensate
  
• Australia lost the 2nd test - so I own sooooo 40g
  
• however, I have enough cash to take a run at Education - I should finish it in 4 to 6 turns, will know more next time I see the save
  
• landed a GS that I was planning to use for an academy but now ... (see below)
  
• sooooo is building cats - are they defensive or offensive?
  

Dreylin and I have entered into a tech sharing agreement. It became apparent that sooooo, mh and athlete have also entered into such an agreement.

email this morning from sooooo

Hi Ruff, just keeping in touch.

I've agreed to your map trade and have offered it in-game.

I nudged mh about MC again. He says he wants to trade it to you but there's still no agreement?

Interesting developments in the cricket!

sooooo

Sooooo's plan is that I trade Paper to mh for Metal casting, he gets CS from mh and that enables our agreed Paper / Machinery trade to go through (we have agreed that the the Paper / Mach trade will only go through once we have both got the pre-req - no fronting of techs).

Now, Dreylin has been begging MC from mh and getting no joy there. So he has decided to research it himself. As such, he and I have agreed to trade Paper for Metal Casting once he gets it.

Unfortunately , I cannot control when Dreylin actually researches MC so I don't know when I will be able to trade Paper to sooooo. In the mean time, I should finish Edu in about 5 turns and I wouldn't be surprised to see Dreylin turn up with Philo in about 5 turns - a few quick trades later and Dreylin should be all ready to take a run at Liberalism.

[Ruff_Hi]

my reply to sooooo's email ...

Sooooo,

Well done England! I have the 40g for you - ask for it in-game next time it cycles back to you.

You map should be basically full knowledge as I had previously traded with Dreylin, ath and mh.

I asked mh about a MC deal back on July 14/15, offering Calendar or Paper and never got an agreement in place. I know that Dreylin has been talking to mh about MC but has had no luck either. My understanding is that Dreylin is currently researching it and I have a trade agreement with him for MC.

Ruff

[Ruff_Hi]

email back from sooooo

Alright, that's good that you have a trade agreement with Dreylin. Hopefully it should lessen his complaints about setting up a trade embargo against him. He seems to think it's my fault that mh is researching CS instead of trading with him. I guess it might be my fault indirectly (agreeing to trade with him if he researched it).

Therefore, what's your MC eta? Dreylin has lots of gold so it shouldn't take too long I expect. I think my eta for CS from mh is about 2-3 turns.

I am pleased about the cricket but now we have to withstand the Aussie backlash at Headingley. Two exciting test matches gone and the last three promise to be just as good.

sooooo

[Ruff_Hi]

Dreylin and I signed this today ...

We, the undersigned, formally acknowledge and agree the following:

• An alliance (hereafter referred to as DeTOG - Death to The Other Guys) between the Indian Kingdom of Ruff and the Ottoman Empire of Dreylin II.
  
• Whereupon on this day, t78 (120AD) the two nations enter into a long-term alliance until such time as the other nations are destroyed, or mutual agreement is reached that they no-longer pose any threat.
  
• For the duration of DeTOG, technology will be traded freely between the members - regardless of beaker cost - upon request / necessity. When possible, a reasonable attempt will be made to obscure the level of cooperation from the other nations by making roughly equal trades, while recognising that some projects may require obviously lop-sided trades to take place.
  
• Any technology deals with nations outside DeTOG will be by mutual agreement.
  
• In matters of Defense and Offense, the DeTOG members shall cooperate as necessary to ensure mutual benefit and safety. All offensive actions will be agreed to by all members before commencement.
  
• Natural coordination of Research, Wonders and military builds will ensure maximum benefit to DeTOG.
  

Dreylin II for the Ottoman Empire
Ruff_Hi for the Indian Kingdom

[Ruff_Hi]

email from Dreylin ...

Further to the clauses of DeTOG, Dreylin II acknowledges the existing
trade agreements signed by Ruff_Hi:

A trade of Machinery from sooooo for Paper.
A tarde of Feudalism from athlete for TBD.

Dreylin II.

my reply

Thankyou. However, I am not sure what a tarde is but I will strive to complete it.

[ZPVCSPLFUIFDPEF]

email back from sooooo

I am pleased about the cricket but now we have to withstand the Aussie backlash at Headingley.

If there is no Aussie backlash before Headingley, we're laughing!
The next test is at Edgbaston. :neenernee