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General Tips

  • Remember that you’re on a timer!
  • When in doubt on details, call the GM
  • Remember what the scale of the game is and what is and is not in scope: the system is strategic, not tactical.
    • If minutiae don’t have a material effect on economic, military or major cultural/social items, let them go (consult your GM if in doubt)
  • Some “boilerplate” quantifications to help construct a deal:
    • Parity of savings/deployment/etc., 1.5:1, 2:1 or 3:1
    • Proportional savings/deployment/etc. to resources
    • Increments of 10 econ are best for rough deals and agreements
  • Roleplaying is encouraged, but keep in mind system limitations – your partners need to know the mechanics, and orders need to get written!
  • Be Succinct
  • Sometimes there isn’t a deal to be made: it’s ok to walk away (and might save time…)

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What Can You Negotiate On? �A Non-Exhaustive List

Quantifiable:

  • Trade exposure
  • Direct Cash Payments, Debts, Streams of Payment
  • Project Development
  • Economic Investments
  • Troop Deployments
  • Ethernet Connections

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Non-Quantifiable:

  • Navigational Rights
  • Individual, Group Rights (e.g. Freedom of Assembly)
  • Religious, Political Bans

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A Suggested Structure for Overall Discussions

  • Going into a meeting:
    • Agree on your agenda: discussing off-agenda items should be a different meeting if possible
    • Agree on how long you will talk before writing an agreement or dissolving
      • Agree on time per agenda item (e.g. 5 to 10 minutes per item per power) – if you run out of time, move on to the next item if possible!
      • Once all agenda items have been given their allotted time, the group may collectively decide to go back to items for further detail.
    • Agree on how long you plan to allot for writing an agreement (suggested time is 5-10 minutes).
    • When an agreement is written, email it to the GM with a list of signatories!

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A Suggested Structure of Discussion of an Agenda Item

  • Proposer of agenda item defines the item in a brief statement (1 minute) – other powers should react to definition with either assent or brief correction.
  • Every attending power defines their interest in the item, and their starting position (2 minutes each)
  • Proposals and solutions are offered round-table style (2 minutes for each power). Each “round” is complete when all powers have either made a proposal or explicitly waived their right to make a proposal for that round.
  • Once a full round of proposals/solutions has been offered, each power will react to the proposals made (2 minutes per power). If no agreement is reached, move on to a new round of proposals/solutions (which can include responses to reactions).
  • As much as possible, let each power finish their points within the time allotted.

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A Suggested Structure of An Agreement

  • Who Signed this Agreement? Which parts (if applicable)?

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  • What Changes Because of this Agreement?

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  • Are there Provisions or Contingencies?

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  • What Actions (Mechanically) Does Each State Take?

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