31-03-2003 22:13									#1
	Lego Land Longterm deaL? Put an end to popups!

Okay, let's start this to discuss options with Legoland. I think most will agree that it would be good to have a stable tech partner, (far) away from all the tension, so this thread is not about that. It's more about trying to start on a rough proposal between us, and how far we are willing to go, or demanding of Lego to go on this.

1. Unequal partners
The current deal with Vox, which we want to leave and they are stalling to renegotiate is a good example of why we should perhaps more clearly state some things, and why we need to foresee that in the future, one of our teams is going to need to save cash, or get behind on research, or anything else in that nature. At that time, neither of us should feel any bad feeling about this, it should be an option on this deal to have unequal partners involved.

2. Gold value
Further, we need some way of, from time to time, offsetting a difference in beaker costs by gold. If we would be a lot faster in our research, we would expect money from Lego, but the other way around is just as likely.

So, in practice this means we have to set a gold / beaker price which works both ways. E.g. 1 gold / 4 beakers (it should be fairly low)

Further, we need to do some bookkeeping, keeping a nice list of who researched what. And some way of making it clear that if a difference in beakers is present for 10 or 20 turns, it is expected to be compensated. Exceptions are always possible (like a big tech coming up), but in principle the team in front gets timely downpayments

3. Tech reselling
tech reselling should be possible, although I would think that it would be best if everyone tries to sell it's own techs at first. But, we should most likely be open here between lego and usself, and split the profits to make it fair. Or at least have some clause that will value techs not only to their first time research costs, but also for subsequent (when traded) cost, and include this in our bookkeeping.
One things is clear: having 10-turn NDAs on all techs both Lego and usself research will be the best option if we want to race ahead in tech, or at least make our deals profitable.

4. Embargo
We should have some way of discussing possible embargos, if Bob gets too powerful, and depending on our techs. If we keep some kind of bookkeeping, this should mean that one civ denying trade of a tech is not disadvantaged that much, as the other team -- if they can trade (by agreement) - will pay part of the loss.

5. Tech planning
rather obvious, but just in case we might forget: if we want a good relation, we should disclose al tech information. Be it future plans, research rates, deals with others, etc. Tech planning should be discussed, and always be an agreement between the two (but that won't cause much problems, we complement)

6. End of Proposal
We need to include a possible end-the-deal clause, which one team can, unilateral, decide to take. It should be included now, so that we do not get in problems: if we have a 20-turn cool down period, we could say: "from this turn on, we declare our tech-deal void. Please meet with us to discuss a possible replacement.". This would mean there is no option for them to stall us, like Vox has been doing for the past 5 turns with us.

7. NAP
Some kind of military coordination should maybe also included in the deal. Something like: we will consider you our allies, in that we will defend your position in secret negotiations to other teams, and we wil keep you informed of any military plans we have (vague, of course, in general terms). Further, a NAP is rather obvious to include in the tech deal.

Most likely there are more points, but this is it for now. Any one have something to add / discuss? Any serious loopholes?

DeepO