NAP

[BigDaddy]

Hey,

If I was C'tis and my eventual enemy was Caelum, I doubt that I would be able to accept them having what I considered MY global spell. . . While it might make them somewhat angry, they shouldn't be suprised. They're just using the NAP to cast an otherwise infeasible spell. You can't really expect C'tis to let Caelum have WOM, just because they cast it first. C'tis might consider Caelums casting of WOM unacceptable as part of the NAP, and it really should have been discussed BEFORE anything was cast. Again, Caelum shuould have known better. . .

[Verjigorm]

Perhaps a standard NAP should be drawn up and (maybe) stickied in the MP Forum for general use. In my opinion, Global enchantments should be considered on a NAP by NAP basis using some generic pre-arranged scheme. A sample of such a scheme:

1. A nation in an NAP may not use any Globals that would cause the death/destruction of another participants units/economy (e.g. Utterdark, Wrath of God, etc.) without prior permission.

2. Gems derived from globals shall be divided amongst the participants of the NAP excepting that the initial cost of the enchantment shall be redeemed by the caster prior to dividend.

3. All other globals should be considered "up for grabs" at all times unless specifically ear-marked for a particular nation as the result of a special clause in the pact.

Note that clause 2 is more appropriate for an Alliance rather than a non-agression pact. One must also consider Sun-Tzu's advice:

"We cannot enter into an alliance until we are acquainted with the designs of our neighbors" -- In practice, before agreeing to a NAP, nations should share information on their plans. Only the shared plans should be considered "protected" by the NAP--If C'tis stated during the NAP that it was planning to cast WOM and Caelum did not so state and subsequently agreed to the NAP, Caelum's casting of WOM could be considered a violation. If C'tis knew of Caelum's plan to cast WOM, it may not have agreed to the treaty on that basis. Of course "All warfare is based on deception" is also a good one, so in the stating of your plans, you might do well to indicate a plan which is deliberately designed to "lock out" your adversary. For example, a turn-15 NAP between Arco and Pyth with Arco laying claim on "Mother Oak by turn 35"--neither nation has a specific claim to the spell, but Arco's uncontested claim to it will lead to Pythium's plans being steered in a direction away from MO since, by the NAP, it is not allowed to cast it until turn 36. This allows Arco to plan for attacks against Pythium under the assumption that Pyth will keep it's word.

[johan osterman]

Verjigorm said:
Perhaps a standard NAP should be drawn up and (maybe) stickied in the MP Forum for general use. ...

Not sure putting up and stickying standard treaties on this forum is such a hot idea. Since it might appear to lend some sort of official sanction to certain forms of diplomacy and not others. Possibly stifling the varities of treaties people enter into as well.

[Grey]

I have not played any MP yet (still learning to walk in SP), so when I first saw 'NAP' I thought "but did you wake them up? If so they might be mad." Anyway bad pun aside; I have played SEIV (and other games of similiar nature) and note that usually several grades of diplomacy. For example: Non-Agression Pacts, Mutual Trade Agreements, Mutual Defense Agreements, "You're my Slave and give me everything of yours" Agreement, etc...

Both Johan and Verjigorm have valid points about not stifling the variety of treaties. Or setting an official standard. But I do see some value in a definition list of some type that would give general guidelines while disclaiming that at anytime any and all points could be dropped during a game => posted on one of the fansite webpages (so it would not be official). At least this way you would not have to draft a laundry list each time as Tuidjy seems to do, but could quote a community standard starting point (i.e. NAP + Artifact Agreement + No Surprises) or (i.e. NAP + Global + Surprises) or ( ad infinitum ). Any thoughts on this???

[Ironhawk]

In my opionion NAPs are actually composed of two parts, one explicit, the other implicit:

Part 1) Rules: The actual rules of the NAP, which both players agree on. The default NAP stating only that players may not militarily attack each other.

Part 2) Courtesy: The process of staying away from (or informing before taking) actions which will irritate your NAP-partner. Taking globals, stealth preaching, supporting thier enemies, etc...

Of course if someone violates the rules of the NAP it is immediately terminated. But the situation is far more murky if the NAP-partner is just being discourteous and must be handled on a case-by-case basis. If I do feel that if a NAP-partner abuses the common courtesies in a seriously bad way that screws up my plans (or if I detect a pattern of interference on thier part) that I will void the NAP.

[FrankTrollman]

Putting up globals or taking them down is in no way a violation of a non-aggression pact. If I put up Wrath of God or Burden of Time, that's going to kill a lot of people who work for the guy I have a NAP with. That's not a violation of the NAP because it's not targetted against them.

Similarly, if my NAP buddy decides to save his own worshippers by dispelling my enchantment, that's not a violation of the NAP either.

Both acts are entirely self-oriented and not "aggressive". You're well within your rights to be annoyed with an "ally" who puts up Darkness or Foul Air, but they didn't actually violate any treaties by doing so. You're welcome to be ticked off at an ally who steals your Lure of the Deep - but again they didn't violate treaties by doing that.

-Frank

[Verjigorm]

That is your opinion of a NAP. Thus the reason I stated that a standard NAP "form" should be decided upon rather than simply assuming that my NAP is the same as yours I certainly would consider your casting of BoT to be a violation esp provided you were Ermor and I Man... If I cannot counter via Dispulsion, my only recourse is to destroy you, but you necessitated the destruction by casting a spell which hinders me and not yourself

This is why treaties are generally designed on a situational basis (as I suggested). Simply spamming "NAP" into your opponent's message screen and assuming you're both on the same page is disingenuous.

[The_Tauren13]

Speaking of the Well of Misery, does it heal battle afflictions all over the world or something? My tartarians are mysteriously losing afflictions... not that im complaining

[Verjigorm]

WoM increases all provinces income. It is not stated that it does anything like that. Are you sure you didn't "forget" that you built the Chalice?