195 - Forum Diplomacy Steel Rex

[HeadHoncho]

GN-DW

King Oban,

Both you and the Ancient Ones are making large assumptions about the nature of this precious Wizard artifact.

But I'll tell you what. Here are two different proposals, please feel free to choose either, but in light of the shortness of time, we likely have little time to negotiate much further.

1) We race, and if you win, and it turns out to be something other than the Stone of All Minds, then my original offer of 25,000 gold for the artifact at the end of autumn stands. If it is the Stone of All Minds, the sale price at the end of autumn would increase to 75,000 gold. It is really no skin off of my (rather prodigious) nose. But I do need to have a sum certain in order to make my plans. In either case, I would cover the intermediary's costs.

If I win the race, please feel free to scout my group, and if it is the Stone of All Minds, I will agree to loan it to you (without charge except that you would pay the fee for any intermediary) for a full season, which will end up being five months due to the need for an intermediary, provided that you request it by no later than the end of this year [i.e. before T19]. With preparation and planning, you could certainly maximize that three month period to great effect.

In light of the complexities of the above, we would need to have a non-aggression pact in place, if you win the race until the end of the year [i.e. end-of-T19], or if I win the race until the later of the end of the year or the end of the loan period.

2) For exclusive rights to explore the sighting and your departure this month, I would indeed agree to sell you the Demon Dagger through an intermediary, but only in exchange for the minimum 10,000 gold that such artifacts typically fetch. You would also cover the costs for that intermediary's services. After all, an artifact is an artifact, on some levels, and they carry with them prestige and status that impress all of Alamaze.

The mark of a fair agreement is ambivalence about whether it is reached or not, and I am at that point. We Gnomes are reasonable traders, but I should also remind you that none of this debate would have arisen had you simply accepted, in friendship, my well-meant offer a number of months ago of a non-aggression pact... had you done so, we would be required to race, and let the chips fall where they may.

Sincerely,
Bottlenose, for the Gnomes

[mafmiller]

OOC: Not worked up over it, but I do think it defeats the purpose of this format. For example, if I were to say to attack the PC that is 3 north and 4 west of the place where the 3GN is, there is at least the chance that somebody else could know or figure it out. With this, there is no other way for somebody else to figure it out.
I will say that if I saw one of the code options was 'Attack the TR' - I would simply assume that it was the right one and attack myself. And I would encourage all others on the possible attack list to do the same.

OOC

Yes, the rule for this particular game was all communication was to take place solely on this public forum. A message such as the one suggested is communication, so should not be allowed.
... it really is a very clever idea though!

[HeadHoncho]

OOC: At this point, I think it sounds like a consensus not to do the (clever) trade message idea.

[Drogo]

OOC: So shall it be written. I'll make other, more overt, plans with the BL

[Drogo]

Where then do we stand about using coordinates of groups (or sightings or PC's) as reference points? Yea or nay?

Note I can do a lot of damage with this too.

If BL and I both know that the 3GN (for instance) is at HL (or was on a previous turn who's knowledge we both know and now reference) then I can tell him we should attack the kingdom whose name begins with the letter closest to the vertical axis of the 3GN coordinate for instance....

We can also establish one single reference point early in the game and use that to give exact coordinates for the entire rest of game (8N 3E of established reference point).

With an elaborate enough code and unlimited ability to give other information/explanation in this forum I can convey recons, emissary names, troop strength, PC defense, artifact names etc.

So, we might have to forgo this as well even though we have already been using it accepted. What do people think?

[HeadHoncho]

OOC: I think the thought is that coordinates are fair game because people at least have the chance to break the code.

[mafmiller]

OOC-

I agree.

[HeadHoncho]

GN-DW

King Oban,

One final deal sweetener that just occurred to me, if you desire option 2, I could humbly ask my friends, the Giants, to be the intermediary without charge, in exchange for an undisclosed increase in my upcoming bid for his influence, which you could perhaps also agree to support on the High Council if it comes to a vote.

So in such a case, that transaction would only cost you the standard 10,000 gold for the artifact, a charge which is difficult to eliminate logistically in any event, in light of Alamaze traditions, obstacles to our trade, and the need to involve an intermediary in the first instance.

Just a Thought,
Bottlenose, for the Gnomes

[Drogo]

GI ----> GN & DW

Happy to help in any way.

[Drogo]

OOC: I think the thought is that coordinates are fair game because people at least have the chance to break the code.

I think you may regret this because there will be a TON of coded messages being passed by all combinations of kingdoms but ok, I will treat that as allowable.