Thread: need motivation to lose weight? <kinda NOT safe work>

*Takes a deep breath*

First things first, we don't have nearly enough people to RP to a very high quality. More nations equals a better game. For instance, it's pointless having ideological alliances with only like two people in each. We have the ability to pull people in, what with an existing community and everything, we just need to advertise and restructure.

Also, our nations aren't of a high standard. There's a shortage of moderate democracies out there, which are necessary in a fun RP. Furthermore, some of us (especially me), have given their nations somewhat odd names. People don't want to join RP's with nations called X-1 and Flying Monkey Poo...

Even though I'm completely going against the crowd, I'd move away from space RP's and the like, and would concentrate on creating a technologically realistic RP. It's not difficult to regulate, and it makes it far more immersive. I might even go so far as to suggest a past-themed RP.

Map-wise I'd still propose scrapping the whole expansion system in favour of players selecting a single plot of land and sticking to it, although to be honest I doubt it's that important. The same for downsizing.

I'd definitely expand this to have more forums. One area isn't really enough to breed a versatile RP. I'd especially recommend adding in a News section, with each nation having its own news thread. This really breeds discussion.

*Exhales*

Originally Posted by Nuke

I do actually want to put heavier restrictions on nuclear weapons. There's a system another RP site uses where the usage of nuclear weapons requires the authorization of both a moderator and the targeted nation (again, the respect system comes into play with the victim). I'm thinking that might be better if we had more control over everything (because the simple fact is it really irritates people when someone consistently threatens to nuke the world in order to get their way).

Hey, I was bored.

Just for fun, we could add in mechs or something, but nothing like space ships

Originally Posted by Nuke

That reminds me. I need to finish that warfare guidebook I promised I'd write I don't know how far back.

Would doing so still help anyone here?

I'd be interested in reading it.

Originally Posted by Nuke

What specifically would you like to take part in that isn't offered or very well put together in the current RP?

I really can't think of anything that I would want to add but I'm willingly to try anything that anyone here comes up with (perhaps even the Space RP this time around).

Originally Posted by Nuke

In a sense, yes. For starters it would do wonders for organization and would help unclutter the jumble of threads and stickies we have now (one of the most important factors I'd like to keep constant throughout all of this is simplicity; I'd prefer not to complicate the hell out of everything, as it comes off as a bit discouraging to anyone who wants to take part). You would have your "Main RP" forums: let's say, a forum for the Regional Council, one for International Incidents, some kind of "general forum" where pretty much anything can take place, and a diplomacy forum perhaps. Further, I'd like to add forums for the various alliances we have set up (at this stage, one for NATO and one for the LFS), with separate usergroups for the use of only the members of those alliances.

In addition to the "main" forums, you'd have what I'd guess you'd call "off-shoots" -- that is to say, forums that are related to Nationstates and the RP, but don't have any effect upon the main RP. Pretty generally, this would be the Space RP and any other one that we come up with that wouldn't unbalance or overall just not fit well into the main RP. It would all be optional and completely separate.

Sounds good to me. I really like the usergroups idea. :Y:

Originally Posted by Nuke

I concur. Looking at some of the other NS sites, I've noticed that there is a lot of emphasis on character development. AlphaZero gave the best example of this with when he was involved with the LM RP. I'm beginning to think that it is important for everyone to develop a set of characters that have various personalities. It adds flavor to the RP, and lets everyone become accustomed to the other nations.

I think it would be a challenge but fun too.

Originally Posted by Nuke

I assume that you would need many different kinds of diplomacy: arms agreements, border disputes, crime, and so on.

Aye, I suppose variety is the key.

Originally Posted by Nuke

Going off the different kinds of diplomacy I talked about above, I suppose that you could have council discussions on those various topics.

Yeah, I'm having a hard time thinking of hypothetical threads that I could create along those lines. I think I need to browse some sites to see how others are initiating things.

Originally Posted by Nuke

I'm beginning to think the same. Borders cause tension, and given how spread-out everyone is, there just isn't any tension. There's also no competition, which is also a major factor in the modern world that would contribute heavily to any RP.

Perhaps we ought to re-make the map.

Originally Posted by Mr Psi

Map-wise I'd still propose scrapping the whole expansion system in favour of players selecting a single plot of land and sticking to it, although to be honest I doubt it's that important. The same for downsizing.

I suppose we could give it a shot. If it doesn't work out, the current map will still be there for us to go back to.

Originally Posted by Mr Psi

First things first, we don't have nearly enough people to RP to a very high quality. More nations equals a better game. For instance, it's pointless having ideological alliances with only like two people in each. We have the ability to pull people in, what with an existing community and everything, we just need to advertise and restructure.

Yeah, it would be nice to have more people. Hopefully some of our currently busy RP ers will get more free time to take more active roles in the near future and the organizational changes will encourage others to join in.

Originally Posted by Mr Psi

Also, our nations aren't of a high standard. There's a shortage of moderate democracies out there, which are necessary in a fun RP. Furthermore, some of us (especially me), have given their nations somewhat odd names. People don't want to join RP's with nations called X-1 and Flying Monkey Poo...

The problem with NationStates is that most of the normal names are taken. It took me like twenty minutes to create my last nation because everything I wanted was taken.

Originally Posted by Mr Psi

Even though I'm completely going against the crowd, I'd move away from space RP's and the like, and would concentrate on creating a technologically realistic RP. It's not difficult to regulate, and it makes it far more immersive. I might even go so far as to suggest a past-themed RP.

I like realism but I also liked the alien, super virus, and other more fantasy-like story lines of the past.

Originally Posted by Mr Psi

I'd definitely expand this to have more forums. One area isn't really enough to breed a versatile RP. I'd especially recommend adding in a News section, with each nation having its own news thread. This really breeds discussion.

What are examples of things that someone would mention in a News thread?

Originally Posted by Mr Psi

*Takes a deep breath*

Yeah, I'm going to have to take one, too. But, this is what I wanted: heavy discussion.

First things first, we don't have nearly enough people to RP to a very high quality. More nations equals a better game. For instance, it's pointless having ideological alliances with only like two people in each. We have the ability to pull people in, what with an existing community and everything, we just need to advertise and restructure.

Advertise here, or on other forums, or both?

Also, our nations aren't of a high standard. There's a shortage of moderate democracies out there, which are necessary in a fun RP. Furthermore, some of us (especially me), have given their nations somewhat odd names. People don't want to join RP's with nations called X-1 and Flying Monkey Poo...

Evil already explained one of the problems with this, but I do have a possible solution: you would use your NS Nation as the basis for all of the numeric information that would be needed, but the "player," if you will, could re-name their nation in the RP. We would make a note of their original name in NS, but they could have a unique one for the RP. Given that I plan on having a "organization forum" where we'd put all of the critical information for the RP, we would simply need to keep a thread listing this information.

Even though I'm completely going against the crowd, I'd move away from space RP's and the like, and would concentrate on creating a technologically realistic RP. It's not difficult to regulate, and it makes it far more immersive. I might even go so far as to suggest a past-themed RP.

We already learned that one the hard way. What I meant with the proposal was to keep it separate from the main RP, which would retain all of its modern qualities (unless the community wants something different, although personally I feel that the modern era is much easier to work with when it comes to finding data and the like). Think of it as a subforum, like how the Venue has "The Specialists." It wouldn't be a part of anything, but it'd just be there for anyone who wants to use it.

But I most certainly agree that space should have no part in a regular RP. I mean, satellites and maybe an international space station, but that's all.

Map-wise I'd still propose scrapping the whole expansion system in favour of players selecting a single plot of land and sticking to it, although to be honest I doubt it's that important. The same for downsizing.

I'm thinking we should just switch to expansion through military conquest or diplomatic agreements. Would that not cause activity and interaction amongst nations to flare up, I think so.

I'd definitely expand this to have more forums. One area isn't really enough to breed a versatile RP. I'd especially recommend adding in a News section, with each nation having its own news thread. This really breeds discussion.

Interesting idea.

Originally Posted by Evil

I'd be interested in reading it.

It'll take some time. I intend to be as comprehensive as I possibly can, so that everyone will only have to look to this one document to find what they need (and so that I don't have to keep updating it with more and more info). It'll be three parts (discussing the ground, air, and sea aspects of war), in three separate MS Word documents (I plan to include pictures and diagrams that would otherwise be a bitch to add to the forums (40 icons representing units types? Fuck uploading those as attachments)).

Yeah, I'm having a hard time thinking of hypothetical threads that I could create along those lines. I think I need to browse some sites to see how others are initiating things.

I'm going to have to do the same. Thread ideas have never been a strongsuit of mine.

From reading everyone's ideas in this thread, here's a proposal for reform and expansion:

General

• Remove all links to Nationstates itself apart from for calculating economic factors.
• One nation per person. I know this pretty much only applies to me at the moment, but if we get more people in it simplifies things.
• Formally regulate the military system.
• Nukes and other major events should be mod-approved.
• People determine their own losses.
• A space RP will be available for those interested.
• Usergroups will be available for the various alliances.
• The time system is dumped in favour of a more relaxed system.
  

Map

• Change the map to one which is smaller in terms of the in-game area, but has almost as many territories.
• Players select one spot on the map, and stick to it. Further expansion has to be through war or diplomatic concessions.

Sections

The forum is split into a series of sections, including General RP, News (example), Wiki, Alliances and Organisations (including the RC), Economic Deals (example), etc.

Advertisement

We're an existing RP with a good number of active members. If we can get our systems sorted out, we could pull in members with ease. Advertisement could take place in a number of places, most notably the NS Forums and the Nationstates site itself (telegrams to new members, etc.). Advertisement here could also be done, although to be honest we've probably gotten everyone we're going to get from here.

Anything else anyone wants to add? Mr Psi pretty much summed up everything in his last post. So, if there's nothing else (and I do hope that people have more ideas), perhaps we should move on to the specifics.

I have a possible map to use, using Mr Psi's earlier European proposal:

->Open Spoiler<-

Attachment 1794

I like how this one includes the major rivers and lakes. Those would make for excellent borders between nations.

I figure if we were to go with a map of Europe, we ought to include Northern Africa, Asia Minor, and good 'ol Phoenicia. It would place a slightly greater emphasis on trade and naval development for the Mediterranean nations, and opens up some more land for us to use.

Also note that it would be very easy to dispose of the Caspian Sea and all the land East of it if we don't want to go that far over.

What do you think?

sounds good nuke

That map looks great, and the rivers cut it up nicely. It's also around about the right size.

Oh, that reminds me. This is very important regarding the NS figures.

We should defiantly take only 10% of our population. The economy I think we can leave untouched (either that or reduce the values in the Government Budget Details section in NSEconomy by some value).