Conniving Multiplayer - Game 3

[MercantileInterest]

Revolution Sweeps Spartan Federation
Thought for the Day: Nothing to lose but our Chains

Many Spartan citizens have protested their government's inability to protect them from the alien menace. What, they ask, is the point of all the elaborate weapons programs, if the paramilitary can't keep them safe? Instead of answering this question, Colonel Santiago violently repressed the protests. In Sparta Command, brave workers threw up barricades. Fierce battles engulfed the city for a week, resulting in its complete destruction. The Spartan pig paramilitary ridiculously blamed this on the Steel Driving Men.

Beware, Santiago. We will defend ourselves against all aggression.

[Nevill]

The Spartans will never surrender to the alien menace, neither will they compromise with the traitors to the human cause. We may be going down, but we are going down in history as the vanguard of humankind who took the first blow upon themselves!

[Nevill]

10. Perform an act of aggression against a player and complete pending negotiations in the same turn

I've made my turn and then I realized that the rules are somewhat different from what I am used to and that I might be in violation of that particular point depending on the intention of the rule.

Normally that rule exists so that you can't commit hostile action and then accept the pact/truce/whatever, as it absolves you of consequences and does not work that way in Single Player (there are no 'pending' negotiations there). In SP, you can accept the agreement and then break it, and it has consequences as pretty much any act of betrayal (your integrity goes down, Pact Brothers of the victim of aggression call Vendetta upon you etc). But the wording in the OP is ambiguous and it could mean that any such acts are prohibited regardless of the order in which you do them.

If I am breaking the rule by accepting a Treaty from Drones and then immediately violating the truce, I'll replay my turn. It does not make much difference to me.

[MercantileInterest]

We could replay the turn but we'll save time if you just return the 25 credit bribe. In multiplayer, it's possible to trade during war.

[Nevill]

That would be 18 credits.

If I capture your HQ without accepting a treaty, I get 45 creds.
If I do it after the treaty when you have 25 credits less, I get 38 creds, 7 credits less.

That's if my actions violate the rule in the first place, which I am not sure of since it is not an exploit if done in that order.

Anyway, you guys decide that one. If no consensus is reached, we can just replay the turn.

[MercantileInterest]

The wording is ambiguous. I'd interpreted it the way which favored me, which was why I pressed accept. You're right, it would be eighteen credits. It's not a big deal either way. We should keep the game moving.

[Nevill]

Hereby we confirm that Glorious Spartan Federation has received your refund request and will be returning the money shortly.

[Buster's Uncle]

Your host is always pleased to see MP disputes work themselves out quietly.  We've got a lot of good mature people where that's usually the case.  Way to go.

As you were, men.

[Nevill]

Here's why going to an early war with Sparta might not be the best of ideas unless you are Gaia...

[MercantileInterest]

"My fellow laborers,

We have come under attack by militants of the Spartan Federation. Unable to deal with the alien incursion into their territory, they instead blamed the raids on our people and responded with devastating force. The Steel Driving Men are a peaceful coalition with no weapons. They butchered our folk with wanton cruelty. So, like the great proletarian hero Themistocles, we have soldered and welded together a great flotilla. The sea will shelter us from this jingoistic aggression."

 - Foreman Domai
       The Great Endeavor

Propaganda off:

(click to show/hide)

That went well. Having gotten the idea into my head that Nevill meant to attack me, and knowing that he hadn't built any garrisons, I launched a preemptive strike, eliminating Sparta Command and another city. Unfortunately, he immediately blasted my attack force with rovers and then used his higher mineral supply to rapidly construct a retialiation force. I was, of course, annihilated.

[MercantileInterest]

Strategic Update: AD 2140

Still recovering from the great catastrophe. Only two cities but should be able to spit out a couple colony pods in a few turns. In the meantime, we have access to mines, forests and monoliths. Plus, each of our cities hosts a recycling tanks. The working class deserves a higher living standard! On the old map, we are tracking significant Spartan expansion. Oddly enough, we still have datalink access to the factions who were our allies before the catastrophe but we can't talk to them.

[MercantileInterest]

Union Bulletin Update: New opportunities for all! Nea Calcutta Mine brings thousands of jobs to Cibola mountain.

[Nevill]

Glorious Spartan Federation offers a steal bargain: 50 credits for a tech

Additional 25 credits are offered if a tech is relevant to our interests, like Centauri Seafaring and that-thingie-with-las0rs.

[MercantileInterest]

Smugglers Initiate Black Market
Thought for the Day: Raise Tariffs

Recently, non-Union products have begun to appear in our markets. While at first concerned these new goods might be part of an attempt to privatize the means of production, the Commerce Council soon determined that they originate outside of the Steel Driving Men. Although the Communications Bureau has not recontacted any other survivors of the Unity, low level trade has recommenced. Enjoy the fruits of your labors! Sample the luxuries produced by the hedonistic factions but don't forget to try our first ever digital recreation node!

[Buster's Uncle]

I love the story you're telling as you go and the associated art, just so you know.  Keep up the good work.

-Actually, when this game concludes, would you like if I moved this thread into the AAR folder?