(02-18-2016, 04:41 PM)HeadHoncho Wrote: DW-WA
Puissant Scarlett,
As one of his best customers, I am sympathetic to the plight of the Underworld. It appears you have now exacted a healthy measure of retribution for his blackmail of your predecessor. Additionally, you yourself appear to have been in a similar position to him just a month or two ago, with an unexpected move against you, only to be able to negotiate a mutually satisfactory peace. So my hope is that you will have some empathy for his situation.
Although he may be an easier target than some, due to his lack of experience and Kingdom's lack of a strong military, I am actually somewhat sensitive to those factors, and accordingly have had a desire to help him.
Would you consider relenting? His starting offer is a fine one, for any Wizard Kingdom who does not specialize in the dark magics of undeath, and perhaps you could even extract some future services as well.
I would consider it a personal favor, and would also be willing to help negotiate or mediate or whatever you might be interested in.
Warmly (but not as warm as you),
Grundun, Chief Diplomat for the Dwarves
DE
I find it interesting that none of the hubris and blackmail is on display anymore from the UN. If I recall correctly, earlier in the game after they released the list of my pop centers in Arcania and I relented to giving up a village (and then a further town) - they clearly stated that if I did not they would attack me for the rest of the game. I calculated that this would be less valuable to me than a village and a town so relented. Now I see that those threats were without teeth, and after losing a few pop centers the UN is offering game long protection from any agent actions. Who would the UN actually be able to act against as they seem to have made deals with pretty much everyone on the board except the Ranger.
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RA -> DW
Lord Grundun,
I represent his royal Regent, the Iron Duke. He has asked me to convey the following to you:
You do put me in a difficult dilemma as my Queen expressly forbid diplomatic communications with either the Red Dragons or the Dwarves and while I wish to honor her wishes even though she now resides in an Underworld holding facility, I'm beholden to the Ranger people in her absence and must do what I feel is best for the kingdom; though quite frankly, I may lose my head upon her return if this agreement is solidified.
While on the surface, the agreement is quite generous on your part, without the consent of the RD and UN to also halt all aggressions and honor an equivalent agreement, the moment we concluded our business they would simply resume violations against the RA state. You would have what you wanted and we would have really gained nothing, for the UN would once again have our reclaimed prisoners dead or in chains and the RD all our PCs.
So I am receptive to your offer but it would require additional negotiations involving the UN and RD. I'm willing to work towards a more detailed agreement in good faith in the meantime but without their buy-in, we would have to decline, as I'm sure I would lose my head otherwise.
So I look forward to seeing if with your expert diplomatic skills, you can move the RD and UN out of hostilities against my people as quickly and deftly as you helped push them into those hostilities in the first place.
Envoy to the Iron Duke
Loyal Subject to Queen Alexis Steelhawk, Snow Queen of the Synisvanian Rangers
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OOC: Pretty sure this has been mentioned a few times in this thread, but aside from some tweaks and enhancements, UN in this game is pretty much following the same textbook that Thudargh wrote in game 195 for the UN. As for deals, you're right, UN just offered game-long protection from agents here, which is unprecedented so far in this game, but not in game 195, where Thudargh also agreed to it a while back. So to the extent UN here is learning from UN there, then it makes sense (more so if a person has been following both games, and I totally get that you haven't... 195 is a LONG thread, after all).
Regardless, aside from the offer to WA, the other deals that UN has only protect against independent actions by UN, and not against other people hiring him out. That has been crystal clear from the beginning. (I guess there are also a couple of five-turn NAPs with you and EL protecting both of you universally during that time, but that period may have expired already.)
As a new player, I actually think UN has done extremely well. We've seen certain levels of hubris all over the place in this game, and blackmail just comes along with the UN territory, if it's well-played, anyway.
(02-18-2016, 06:39 PM)HeadHoncho Wrote: OOC: Pretty sure this has been mentioned a few times in this thread, but aside from some tweaks and enhancements, UN in this game is pretty much following the same textbook that Thudargh wrote in game 195 for the UN. As for deals, you're right, UN just offered game-long protection from agents here, which is unprecedented so far in this game, but not in game 195, where Thudargh also agreed to it a while back. So to the extent UN here is learning from UN there, then it makes sense (more so if a person has been following both games, and I totally get that you haven't... 195 is a LONG thread, after all).
Regardless, aside from the offer to WA, the other deals that UN has only protect against independent actions by UN, and not against other people hiring him out. That has been crystal clear from the beginning. (I guess there are also a couple of five-turn NAPs with you and EL protecting both of you universally during that time, but that period may have expired already.)
As a new player, I actually think UN has done extremely well. We've seen certain levels of hubris all over the place in this game, and blackmail just comes along with the UN territory, if it's well-played, anyway.
No real disagreement, just interesting. I haven't paid any attention to 195- don't really see the point but there are a lot of nuances to this format. I'd say the UN has done quite well also. Very first game? Probably learning quite a bit now in the later stages with the full developed power of wizards on display.
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DW - RD & UN
Lords,
Please see the recent correspondence between the Rangers and me.
I am aware that my suggestion may cut against early enmity (in the case of the Tremendous Majesty) and against business model (in the case of the Mysterious Yoda, although I know that business model is not ironclad, given the recent offer to the Warlock).
But in light of the fact that you both appear to have other fish to fry, so to speak, would you be willing to join a peace treaty through the end of the current struggle (i.e. through the end of the 40th month, when the final festival occurs) with me and the Rangers?
Please let me know, many thanks!
Best,
Grundun
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Quote:Very first game? Probably learning quite a bit now in the later stages with the full developed power of wizards on display.
OOC: Yup, and I could totally see how that would put just about anyone into a panic. 
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UN-DW
Agreed, we are. And for peace, to RA, I will suggest.
UN-WA
Noticed, I have, Thudargh, you are. Thank you, we do, for 195 model! And for advice, before WA, this game, you took over.
UN-RA
For peace plan, this, how about? My lost village, forget about, I will. And credit, for one village, you will receive, so against you, no actions we take, unless hired. And half price missions, no more. But no outbidding, will you receive, unless one village, in future you offer. And 5 turn NAP, I will also give.
UN-BL
Correct, DW is. Smells bad, your hypocrisy does. But obviously, about community, about other people, you care not. So bring it. Just a game, we know, after all. But not sure, if that you know, because too personally, everything you take. More fun, games are, when relaxing, people do.
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02-19-2016, 06:43 PM
(This post was last modified: 02-19-2016, 06:49 PM by HeadHoncho.)
DW-RA
Iron Duke,
I'm encouraged by the initial response of the Underworld, but now we wait for the Reds. Given his busy schedule on other matters of state, I wonder if we should negotiate a temporary detente, without compromising our respective positions, to allow him more time to respond?
What I would propose is that for this upcoming month, we each commence siege, and not engage each other's groups either militarily or magically (i.e. my patrol will not seek to slay any of your expert military leaders, and my group at your capital will not attack your brigades, and vice versa).
We also will not bring additional troops or groups to bear against each other offensively at those locations, but neither will we depart from them. (Well, I suppose you could try to depart from your capital with your brigades, if you want, but be aware that we plan to be Sea Patrolling in Drowning this turn, so you do so at your own risk, whereas a month's delay might allow for free passage.)
Political skirmishing would continue as normal, and other groups of ours might well decide to move and prepare to engage other population centers... we simply would not bring additional troops or groups to bear against each other offensively at your capital and my city.
I will even go a step further and say that I would be willing to agree to halt covert activity (including hirings) against each other, which would clearly be to your benefit, given our respective agent strength at this time.
If you want, we could even declare each other neutral this month, in preparation for the possibility of a prisoner exchange the following month, if things continue to go well.
With this proposal, we preserve our strategic positions, begin the baby steps of building trust, and hope for the best. And if the Reds decide not to agree, then we can resume with the war the following month. And if they do agree, we can stop the sieges and figure out a peaceful distribution.
Thoughts?
Best,
Grundun
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OCC: Still no responses? Oh well. Someone else said before it feels like an old boys network around here and that sounds about right. Will keep fighting until my month subscription runs out but without help or WA bothering even speaking to me I won't last more than a few turns anyways. It was fun for awhile but some people are just too intense and others don't seem to want to talk...
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OOC: Would really hate to see you go, but I get where you're coming from. It's a tough game, and sometimes people do fall into comfortable patterns, perhaps not even deliberately.
I'd venture a guess that some of the people you want to hear from just aren't all that active due to other obligations. Thudargh (WA) hasn't signed on here for three days, as an example. VBM (EL) has been around more recently, but I know he's also been busy with the new game that he's captaining.
Anyway, I've done my best to help as much as possible, and I know people like JF and others try to do the same. But again, sometimes it's just tough.
On the bright side, you've lasted about twice as long as many newbies, and getting control of a region as the UN is a huge accomplishment! So be encouraged. And not even the best UN players could hold out against an experienced BL and an experienced (and leveled-up) WA, anyway, whether they were coordinating or not.
Hope you stick around but will understand if you don't. All my best.
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