Trade Federation Role Play for Neutral non AI Player

[Gryphin]

I guess I’m a bit naïve.
The best “protection” for the Trade Federation would be a “Invitation Only” game where the players knew each other by reputation if naught else.

the other ideas are great! I'll re-write them and add them to the page. (um, that is not violating copy write here?). I will repost the full set when I am finished.

[geoschmo]

Originally posted by The High Gryphin:
I guess I’m a bit naïve.
The best “protection” for the Trade Federation would be a “Invitation Only” game where the players knew each other by reputation if naught else.

By all means Gryph, if there was a house rule that the TF was not to be attacked, then it would be poor sportsmanship for anyone to do so. What I was trying to suggest were some rules of engagment whereby the TF would not be strictly immune from attack, or so powerful that any attack were irrelevant. I was thinking that this would give more of an uncertainty to the game, and keep it more interesting for the TF player. Hopefully thereby increasing the attractivesness of what could otherwise be a bit of a drudgery. Of course in real life, the guy with all the money has lots of fun, but who would want to play a game of Monopoly and just be the banker for example?

Geoschmo

[Gryphin]

“who would want to play a game of Monopoly and just be the banker for example?”
Good point geoschmo.

I can think of a few options for the TF in the event of an attack. None of them would ensure survival.
No matter what stage of the game, militarily the FT is likely to be at a disadvantage.
It would behoove the other players not to let the TF fall into the hands of an “Evil Empire”.
The possibility of the TF giving free Tech and Resources to Allied empires should be cause for caution on the part of a predatory player. Then again, it could be a “Feint with in a Feint” and the TF could end up giving Tech to a “pre planned’ future Ally of the EE.
Destroying / Capturing the FT would be like “Killing the Goose that Laid the Golden Egg”
Yes, I like the uncertainty.

Business Ideas Section:
I could also see an initial “Transaction Fee” for opening an account such as Gifting a planet.
I personally would not do it but I could see an FT player running a “Slave Trade” where they would trade in “Atmosphere Breathing Types”. I would never “sell” my population for any reason. Come to think of it. Ethics was sorta what got this thread started. What to do with out of supply ships => what to do ethically => dmm’s idea of a Trade Federation.
Which generates another thought.
The FT could play more than one race. That would
Avoid the modding issues
Make them a formidable opponent
There would be a lot of interesting Ramifications.

[geoschmo]

Dont' think of it as a Slave Trade, think of it as a Employee Placement Service.

"Need Workers for that airless moon mine colony your empire just established? Call 1-800-TRADE-FED and we will get you in contact with the workers you need. The increased production will pay for itself before you know it."

[dmm]

THG suggested "The TF player could play more than one race."
That's a great idea! That would spread them across the galaxy right away, and essentially give the TF several turns for everyone else's one turn. That would also help with complicated deals. (Example: TFa receives gifted ship from EEE. Refuels it. Gifts it to TFb. TFb receives gifted ship from TFb. Gifts it to EEE. So EEE can get its ship refueled and returned in 1 turn instead of two.)

Plus, gives them twice the return from TR alliances. Although everyone else would also get 2X return from the TF, it wouldn't help them reciprocally because the TF wouldn't be producing as much. (Example: Let R stand for "research points." Suppose TFa has 100 R, TFb has 100 R, 5 other races allied with the TF [but not each other] each have 1000 R. With 20% research sharing, TFa+TFb gets [200+200]*5 R = 2000 R, but each of those races only gets [20+20] R = 40 R from the TF. If there were only one TF race, then TF would get 1000 R and other races would get 20 R.

BUT!!! This makes it even more imperative that TF's victory condition be radically different from everyone else's!

[dmm]

How about this suggestion for a possible TF deal? A player "gifts" the TF a ship. The TF then takes it across hostile territory to a predetermined location, and trades it back for a big profit. The TF-immunity courier service! Use it for all your warzone shipping needs!

Geoschmo: My strange child likes playing only the banker in Monopoly! But if the banker could make all kinds of deals like this, I might want to be the banker too!

[geoschmo]

Oooo. Player A gifts a CLOAKED fleet to TF, who then moves it into position over Player B's homeworld, bypassing minefields. OUCH!

Each game will want to set some guidlines on that sort of thing I think.

Geoschmo

[Gryphin]

dmm, geoschmo,
You guys are reading my mind. My sweetheart is standing here appauled (and wearring a big grin).

Looks like we are thining along the same lines and yes there would have to be a self imposed agreement not to use / abuse the TF's "Diplomatic Imunity" to move through war zones. The TF could however deliver said ships to a clients "Zone of Control" even if this meant moving through said warzone.

[geoschmo]

Of course if an empire were extermely paranoid, they could simply cancel their treaty with the TF during the war.

Geoschmo

[Krsqk]

(Example: TFa receives gifted ship from EEE. Refuels it. Gifts it to TFb. TFb receives gifted ship from TFb. Gifts it to EEE. So EEE can get its ship refueled and returned in 1 turn instead of two.)

In simultaneous (PBW) games, won't this take two turns per gifting?
[edit--fix quote code]

[ June 12, 2002, 02:29: Message edited by: Krsqk ]