Mongoose - Starting (at last!)

[llamabeast]

Guys, the important thing to remember in a situation like this is that the same situation can seem _extraordinarily_ different to the two parties. It might seem completely certain, cast in stone, to both parties that the other is telling untruths, while both think they are honest. You really have to bear this in mind, particularly in a mature community like this where pretty much everyone is honest by inclination.

Now, clearly the nation of Ermor feels that it has been horrifically wronged by Caelum, and therefore it's entirely reasonable that it do its utmost to take them down. And similarly Caelum can fight to the death for its right to expand. So long as you're roleplaying as the nations, you can be as vicious as you want - but no personal attacks on the players please. Also bear in mind that even if the other player has been telling untruths, that's not disallowed so long as they do it in character. Dominions players tend to play a straightforward game but there is no rule against weasel tactics.

To me though, this looks like a case of a very common issue. It goes like this. Player one proposes peace. Player two responds in a friendly way, and discusses other things. He is deliberately not explicitly agreeing to the peace treaty because he doesn't want it, but he is friendly anyway either to divert suspicion or simply because he's not sure he wants war either. But at this stage, because of the lack of an explicit refusal, player 1 believes that peace has been agreed on. Later on, when player 2 attacks, player 1 cries foul. I have seen this happen quite a few times.

So I suspect something along these lines has happened. But even if not - no personal attacks in my games, please. If you want to write propaganda on the boards please do, it's a good tactic - but do it in character (sign off as your nation not your player name).

Enough said - the diplomats of Ermor and Caelum have talked at cross purposes, misunderstandings of occurred and the blood of the peoples of both nations is boiling. Is war inevitable? Who will win? Only time will tell...