Hey I've been thinking lately, negotiating terms with someone in the game is pretty hard when you have nothing to bargain with. So I started thinking we need some kind of medium that players can trade between each other to get deals worked out, but what? Players who aren't in the same alliance can't send resources to each other, so what can two people negotiate to get a deal through? And then it hit me outposts. Think about it, outposts are like a savings bond, razing one net's you resources from all four categories. Here's an example.

Let's say I want to grab an warp gate that's in a strategic point for me. But that Warp Gate belongs to someone from a blue alliance, so I can't just simply take it. So what I can do is I can pm that person and tell them I will build them another outpost for them wherever they want. Or build several outposts for them for which they can capture and raze to compensate for the loss of the warp gate.

See how it works. The tools for this concept are already in the game. Some people probably already do this. I just thought I should post it, to make the idea public. I had a hard time deciding where to put this because technically this isn't a suggestion, since it doesn't involve any physical changes to the game. If it doesn't belong in the veteran forums I apologize, and if someone already thought of this before I did I apologize. But I thought this was a good idea so I decided to share it.

I like saying, "excuse me but I'll be borrowing your gate, thanks" approach best. Besides alliance built upon bribes? Won't last long if you ask me. I do think this is a highly ineffective method.

Besides you CAN send ppl red tokens

Not a bribe, a transaction. If you go to the store to buy some milk, the store expects you to pay for that milk right? This is no different.

And ppl don't "bribe" politicians or security officials or judges. There is just a transaction of a form of currency in exchange for services that benefit the person offering the currency

And one more thing, what you said about sending people red tokens, what about those who don't/can't buy tokens. Then they're left at somewhat of disadvantage then aren't they. If we start using outposts like this then EVERYONE can do it.

Precisely my point.

What an excellent use of euphemisms That made my day

Farming? What's that? And how does this make you look suspicious?

Farming is gifting resources to other players. It's like making a colony in a world just so your friend can conquer you and get resources.