Greetings from Kaikosru of the Turks

[askthepizzaguy]

Welcome to the meeting place for the sacred order of the Coalition of Peace. Rather than sending each other multiple private messages in the Org, we can communicate with all other members directly. Anything top secret should remain in private message only.

The Sultanate of the Turks, Kingdoms of Armenia and Georgia, the Seljuk Empire, Imamate of Oman, the Ghaznavid Shah, and the Hindu Rajputs are all Member States with full voting rights and veto power. Until further notice there will be no password to get into this thread, so post as if the entire world is watching. If we should get security breaches, we will add a password.

For now, I am opening the floor to our members. If you have any suggestions regarding the allocation of troops, funds, or strategic plans, or any other matters of state, please make your voices heard.

I currently have 4 turns remaining until the next election, and the status of the Coalition is "on alert". Everyone should keep a lookout for possible further acts of aggression, especially from neutral or hostile member states.

Currently the Coalition has only two declared enemies, Rome and Jerusalem. The Status of Rome is at war with the Turks and Armenia, and the Status of Jerusalem is at war with the Turks.

Keep a watchful eye on the Ghorid Sultanate, they seem hostile. I've heard rumors about the Khwarezm, but they are unconfirmed. The Ayyubids and the Abassids seem quite friendly at this time, and all other states are neutral, or barbarians to be conquered.

Let the meeting of the Coalition come to order

:gavel:

[Flax]

Georgia also welcomes all other members of the Coalition of Peace and stands ready to discuss on any topic.

Perhaps all members should expose clearly their intentions regarding the Eastern Roman Empire and the Kingdom of Jerusalem? This way we might be better able to coordinate our efforts.

[zim]

The Shah of Ghazni wishes to express how honered he is to be included in this group.

A lack of money and recent military disaster at Herat (lost most of my starting army) make it difficult for him to directly participate in the Anatolian war, but the Shah has nothing but contempt for the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Romans.

Meanwhile are building up our army. Being so close to the very powerful and possibly hostile Ghorids, we will be keeping a fairly large standing army. At some point in the future when they are less of a threat, we will be able to send much of our standing military to aid out brothers in the alliance, should they find themselves in a righteous war.

[askthepizzaguy]

Welcome Georgian king and the Ghazni Shah. The Turks thank you both for your kind words and support against the aggressor states.

I had a suggestion for the Shah of Ghazni... if possible, you could focus more on recruitment buildings than standing armies. Should you be attacked by the Ghorids, and your emissary is near a meeting place for our diplomats, any florins we can spare for recruitment will allow you to mass an army at a moment's notice and also free up florins you could have been spending on a standing army the whole time.

It might also goad the Ghorids into a war to see that you're relatively defenseless. How shocked would they be when the rajputs counterattack, and a large and powerful army is suddenly raised by your main recruitment center?

But for now, pressuring them with troops might be a good idea.

At some point I would like to institute a Lean Armed Forces policy, purely voluntary, among coalition members. Because we have allies, we can amass a large amount of gold if we reduce our standing forces. Then if any of us are attacked, that state can recieve a huge payment and create a grand defensive army of elite troops.

Using this plan, we can create the illusion of weakness while actually greatly building our strength. Any hostile powers will be exposed for the traitors that they are and it will give us the moral authority to declare war. Then we can eliminate the dogs with allied support and force of arms.

What does everyone think of this plan? For now it may be premature as we have rebels to conquer and not many recruitment facilities.

With more territories and more recruitment facilities, we can have many bases of power which can become active, supported by the entire coalition network, rather than have too many redundant standing armies draining our collective coffers.

[askthepizzaguy]

To elaborate:

If you have rare, experienced, or otherwise uncommon and kickass troops, save these and disband much of the riffraff or send them off to die taking rebel provinces.

When only your elite forces remain, you can damage them in battle and keep the remaining forces inside your main recruitment center... then you can quickly retrain them in a single turn and reduce their current expenses.

Example:

Turks have access to Ghulam cavalry, but they are powerful, expensive, and rare. We also have access to ghazis, which are crappy, cheap, and common.

I've eliminated most of my non-garrison ghazis in battles and all that remain are my elite forces. I pay little upkeep, but I have a massive and powerful army ready for battle.

Master your budgets, friends. Use spies wisely... check forests constantly and monitor enemy movements. Be prepared for attack but dont waste money fielding massive amounts of troops unless your empire is huge or at war.

Thousands of gold saved per turn will be your reward.

If, like the Ghazis, your empire isn't exactly huge and you're right next to the enemy who threatens you, I advise a network of forts for defense to delay any attacks... then you can disband troops or go after rebels.

Any objections, suggestions, additions, or other thoughts?

Remember it's not standard policy yet, and it's voluntary, and it may not apply to your specific situation.

If I remember correctly, it may apply mostly to states like the Rajputs who have few rebels remaining to conquer and have a main recruitment center that's far away from the enemy.

They could easily delay the Ghorid attack... raise an army quickly.

I'd advise the Rajputs to consider this policy when they feel it is the right time. Much money saved will be able to grow their nation, or amass a stockpile in case of war.

[askthepizzaguy]

Also.... where exactly are our delegates meeting?

I advise against Baghdad because it isn't secure. Let's try for the Seljuk capital, Rayy. It's within reach of most of our diplomats already.

[zim]

I like ATPG's idea, although in the short run, while I only have one decent castle, I may go for a large army. Once Ghazni is a bit more developed, I'll cut it back again to save the florins (and pass our enemies in development).

Rayy is fine with me, and a good central position in a large empire (where the diplomats can get lost in the size of the Seljuk territories). I might suggest keeping diplomats one turn away from Rayy, so they can march that direction at a moment's notice. They won't attract as much attention scattered as they would all in one place. They'll also be harder to target with assassinations if spread out a bit.

I also wouldn't object to Tbilisi being the center for diplomats instead. It is reasonably close ot the center of the map, if further than Rayy. It is also further out of the way of non-members, and surrounded by coalition members, making agent infiltration harder.

[askthepizzaguy]

While I like the idea of Tbilisi.... I dont know if Ramses II CP would. His poor diplomat is quite a way's off yet

[ramsesiicp]

Don't be concerned about my lad, he'll be along in due time. If ATPG needs cash this season he can come out and meet my diplomat, who'll be about a quarter turn northeast of Baghdad after I do my current movement.

For my armies and such, I definitely intend to have a strong economic base. The only trouble I see is that the power of mercenaries in Broken Crescent favors the aggressor. If the Ghorids planned to attack me and bought up the local mercenaries it would be a substantial advantage for him.

...but maybe EF doesn't know that. We'll see. It's almost inevitable that he's going to attack me, as the recent nonsense about that teeny town north of Delhi illustrates.

[askthepizzaguy]

Then Ramses, I would keep your florins for now, buy up as many mercs as possible, and prepare to receive the Ghorid's attack. I'm actually closer to you than your diplomat is now, and I have to double back to even meet you. Then I'm heading into the Omani territory, the Ghazni, and then Rayy. My second diplomat is en route to rayy.

Do you feel you have the forces necessary to take on the Ghorid's attack and survive? I think the Ghaznis might be able to send you aid, or the Seljuk in the form of florins, but the Omanis at this point are not ready for combat or gift giving.

(Apologies to Deguerra if this assessment is inaccurate. Keep building your empire, my friend, as your strength gives us strength. I doubt the Caliph would declare war on you, as that would be suicidal, and the Ghorids are far too busy elsewhere to be a threat. So bulk up, my friend.)

I would suspect that the Seljuks would make the best candidate for the Lean Forces policy, as their borders are secure to the south, west, and east... what do they need arms for anymore? Time to build your economy, Barcamartin, or nab whatever rebels remain and ship your troops off to help with the Anatolian war.

It's peacetime and no one is under any obligation to follow my advice. Do what you feel strengthens yourselves to the maximum, so that whatever states that get eliminated first are NOT Coalition members.

When most of the map has been conquered, I would be willing to accept peaceful secession from the Coalition from any member, as the alliance will no longer be a necessity. I would ask that any member who wishes to secede give us at least 5 turns notice so that we can withdraw merchants, agents, standing armies, and prepare defenses in case you wish to attack.

It's the honourable way to leave, and will ensure that people will want to ally with you in the future. Reputation is everything in these games.

[askthepizzaguy]

The Shah of Khwarezmid has offered us his services as a mercenary army of the Coalition. If you wish, at some point we can utilize his services in the destruction of a declared Enemy of the Coalition. I am thinking the Rajputs could use his assistance...

Here is a copy of his terms:

"Such an intressting offer Amir Yavarianfar;

We would consider serving as mercinaries, our projected growth rates indicate that the earliest this could be done is in 3 years (9 turns-ish)

Terms we propose,
Coalition is to pay the upkeep costs on whatever army is under the coalitions command, every turn from being hired till when the army is either defeated or back in the shahdoms provinces (we will keep you aprised if upkeep changes due to losses/new recruits).
Coalition is to pay, up front, twice the cost of recruiting the army.
Coalition is to pay in full the ransom for any troops of the mercinary army captured in combat.
the Shahdom may keep the randsom of soilders captured in service of hostiles.
the Shahdom may keep loot from captured cities
All captured cities are to be turned over to coalition command.
Shahdom will not destroy infastructure of captured cities
Mercinary army will cease attacks when coalition agrees upon peace turns
mercinary army has free movement through coalition provinces to complete its objectives
Mercinary army will be lead by a commander
Mercinary army is at the command of the Amir Yavarianfar (supreme commander) of coalition forces and is to obey his orders
Shahdom may refuse service of mercinary army should it wish so.


what do you think of these?"

[askthepizzaguy]

If the Rajput ambassador is closer to Tbilisi than I am, I see no reason now for us not to send all our delegates there. But I need to make a quick stop in Omani territory first.

[tristan]

So what should be the final meeting place of our emissaries ?

As for the Khwrezm mercenaries, I find their terms a bit harsh and without real guarantee that they will serve honorably...

We'll fund their army but it could as soon bite us back if it so wishes...

Too much risk, but it should be kept as a last chance solution...

[ramsesiicp]

My man is currently due east of Hama (Something) on the east bank of the lake south of Rayy. He could reach Baghdad or Rayy next season, or Tblisi in (estimated) 3 seasons. I am not in immediate need of aid and I would quite prefer the Ghorids to go ahead and attack as at the moment I have all the local elephant mercenaries.

If they hold off I expect I will rapidly establish a powerful economy. I put a number of grain exchanges in the pipeline this year, and once I get those merchants out the other end it'll start the upward spiral. If anyone has taken a look at the Rajput start, I'm one of the weakest nations at first (One territory, and it's a castle, and roughly a half stack of starting troops) but once I get rolling I'll be unstoppable.

I will certainly keep the Kwaz's mercenary offer in mind. It is set so far in the future, however, that I am uncertain how reliable the offer will be. Time will tell.

[barcamartin]

I agree with Tristan. That deal should not be accepted. I have two reasons for that:

- The terms are not very favourable to us. We have no use of that deal as it is.

- I have other plans in motion for the Shah. Stay tuned for details.