84
Dispatch → Meta → Reference
EPNS Edition 39, September 2024
Want to promote your dispatches? Join TEP Discord Server, look for #upnouncements and post your dispatch there! The channel is open to everyone from all around NationStates!
⤆ ⤇ ↺ ☖ | 🔒 Secure | https://epns.mon.gov.caek/issue/2024/9.html
Edition Summary || A Year of Many, Nukes a Plenty
By: Rosari/Rosartemis
In this monthly edition of EPNS, the Delegate's Update offers a heartfelt farewell as our outgoing Delegate concludes a successful 12-month term and wraps up a landmark agreement with the Money Heist Accords alongside TRTHNBB. The section on legislation summarizes recent activities, including a notable Concordat Amendment and the passing of the treaty with TRTHNBB. In Culture, Minister Tommo elaborates on a fruitful year in service, while introducing a busy autumn schedule and placing renewed emphasis on on-site community engagement. In The Foreign Newsstand, we cover Picairn’s election as Delegate of The North Pacific, the repealing of The Black Hawks’ condemns, the successful Commendation of Yodle, and many more. Celebrating the one-year anniversary of TFN, Aivintis takes us through the past year’s journey and the evolution of the news' series. Sokala gives an article about a intricate Discord-based nation RP system and examining how this model can be further applied, while N-Day 11 describes the chaotic nuclear war between the major factions JEFF, ANAL, KHAN, and HotA, concluding with HotA securing the top leaderboard spot.
Back to Top
Delegate's Update
By: Merlovich
Hello everyone, and welcome to another edition of the EPNS! This Delegate’s Update will be my last, and I hope to cap off the end of a whirlwind 12 months with a few nice words.
While I would have loved to have continued on as TEP’s delegate, maybe broken the record for longest tenure, life, as always, has other plans. With so much going on, I simply didn’t feel I could continue to give the role and the region the time and energy it needed. I am confident my successor, whoever that may be, will give the region the kick it needs to spring back into form. I have thoroughly enjoyed my three terms as delegate, and hope to return to the role someday should life allow. I’m proud of the things we’ve been able to achieve as a region during these 12 months, and this will likely forever remain the highlight of my time on NationStates. Had you told me in 2018, heck, even 14 months ago that I’d be the Delegate someday, I’d probably have believed you… sorry to subvert your expectations like that. I would have been surprised though! I really never saw myself entering that sort of role, and I’m so glad I jumped at the opportunity.
I’m thankful for my cabinets, colleagues (if you can call them that) and friends who served with me along the way, and I’m looking forward to working with future governments to continue to make TEP the very best it can be.
In terms of regional happenings, as you will read below, we are IMMENSELY happy to announce we’ve signed a treaty with our friends in TRTHNBB. This is something I really wanted to get done before I left office, and I’m super glad we’ve got pen to paper and have made this happen. Massive credit on our end should be given to MoFA Altys, who was instrumental in ensuring this could happen. Altys, my predecessor in the delegacy served as a wonderful FA Minister for this last year.
With little else to update you on, I’ll simply leave this as more of a goodbye speech than a boring update. Thank you all very much for your hospitality over the last twelve months, and I hope future delegates updates are way more exciting for both our sakes.
Thank you as always for reading the EPNS, whether you’re from TEP or abroad, we’re glad to have your patronage. Enjoy the edition, and farewell for now.
By: Altys
Back to Top
The Money Heist Accords Signed
By: Altys
In a world overrun by faceless corporations and monstrous financial empires, two daring regions--The East Pacific and The Region That Has No Big Banks--have joined forces in a defiant stand against the banking elite. Today, we unveil The Money Heist Accords, a pact forged in shared rebellion and a mutual mission to tear down the institutions of greed.
Our regions, bound by a common opposition to the likes of the Royal Potato Bakery, the Horsemen Kitchen Tent, and the Kingly Palace Estates, will now collaborate more closely than ever before. The foundation of this alliance? Defensive Obligations. The East Pacific Sovereign Armada (EPSA) and The Bankless Liberation Force (BLF) pledge to work hand-in-hand, strategising and striking at the heart of the banking system whenever the opportunity arises. Should either region catch wind of an impending bank merger or corporate coup, we will share this intelligence swiftly and take decisive action.
But our battle extends beyond the frontlines. Culturally, we will ignite the flames of resistance through coordinated anti-corporate propaganda across our media outlets. In the World Assembly, we invite the anti-bank movement to take up the pen and write articles, draft proposals, and build a global alliance against the oppressors of the financial system.
And let it be known—our cause will be fueled by the spoils of our victories. The proceeds from every bank takedown, every class action lawsuit, every heist on the vaults of the elite, will be reinvested into joint cultural projects that strengthen the bond between our regions.
Together, we will take down the banks, brick by brick.
Treaty in its entirety:
Seeking to formalise relations between the two regions and provide for even greater cooperation,
The East Pacific and The Region That Has No Big Banks hereby jointly enact the following:
Article I - Mutual Recognition
(1) The Confederated East Pacific, as instituted by the Concordat of The East Pacific, and any legal successor to it, is hereby recognized as the legitimate government of The East Pacific by all signatories.
(2) The Government of The Region That Has No Big Banks, as established by the Constitution of The Region That Has No Big Banks, and any legal successor to it, is hereby recognized as the legitimate government of The Region That Has No Big Banks by all signatories.
(3) No Signatory may cede sovereign control of their territorial holdings to another entity.
(a) The territorial holdings of signatories shall include jump points, event regions, affiliate regions, and colonies.
(b) Sovereign control does not encompass regions whose founder nation do not belong to any signatory in any capacity.
Article II - Diplomatic Relations
(1) Each signatory shall establish and maintain in-game embassies with one another.
(2) Each signatory shall maintain off-site embassies with each other, consistent with facilities provided to other treatied allies.
(3) Each signatory will strive to keep the other updated on their regional happenings.
Article III - Defence and Intelligence Obligations
(1) The signatories will not invade or assist in a third-party invasion of the other signatory's home region or territories. The signatories also agree never to support, encourage or engage in any attempted subversion against the other. It is agreed upon that participating on the opposite sides of a battlefield in a third-party region will not constitute a violation of the treaty.
(2) Should any of the signatories come under military attack against their legitimate government, the other signatories must provide military assistance.
(3) The signatories must provide military assistance for one another in delegacy transitions, if requested by the transitioning signatory.
(4) Both Parties agree never to engage in any form of espionage against each other. For the purposes of this Treaty, "espionage" means engaging a person to act under false pretences in a signatory region without the authorization of the legitimate government of that region.
(5) If a signatory comes into possession of significant information which could threaten the interests or security of the other signatory, they will share it.
(6) This treaty encourages the organisation and execution of joint military operations where possible between signatories in order to further their regional interests and their common alignment.
Article IV - Cultural Agreements
(1) The signatories will agree to encourage and support cultural exchanges and joint cultural events. The signatories agree to fully commit to promoting joint cultural events, particularly video game-related events, and are encouraged to collaborate on the organisation of such events.
(2) The signatories agree to encourage cooperation in outlets of regional news. This cooperation may include sharing regional updates with one another, highlighting news from each fellow signatory’s region within each signatory’s own official news outlet, contributing articles to one another’s news outlet, or authoring joint articles.
(3) The signatories agree to collaborate on the drafting, editing, and advertising of World Assembly proposals.
(4) All signatories hereby declare intent to further cooperate and associate outside of the terms of this treaty.
Article V - General Provisions
(1) This Treaty shall enter into force on the date of its ratification by both Parties in accordance with their respective procedures. It may be amended when both parties agree to an amendment.
(2) This treaty may be amended when all parties agree to an amendment; at any time a signatory may propose amendments to this Treaty.
(3) Any signatory may exit this treaty via their own internal processes; they shall endeavour to give a week's notice before withdrawal and will make all reasonable efforts to seek a diplomatic solution before withdrawal.
(4) The repeal of this treaty shall not necessarily be seen as an act of hostility by any signatory, and shall not necessarily dictate closure of relations between the repealing party and any signatory, and shall not preclude cooperation between the repealing party and any of the remaining signatories.
Back to Top
September Magisterium Update
By: Pauline Bonaparte/Hlenderia
September was the last month of the 62nd Magisterium, and its slowest. Two bills were passed before elections began at the end of the month.
We ended September with 26 total Magisters. 22 are active, 3 are suspended, and 1 is on a leave-of-absence.
• [A-2024-36] An Amendment to the Concordat was passed with 15 ayes, 1 nay, and 1 abstain and sent to the Conclave to schedule a referendum. This amendment would add a seat to the Conclave. The referendum passed the region-wide vote.
• [T-2024-37] The Money Heist Accords, a proposed treaty with The Region That Has No Big Banks, was introduced in September. Voting began on October 1, and looks likely to pass.
• Elections for the Provost of the 63rd Magisterium began in the last week of September. Running are the incumbent Pauline Bonaparte/Hlenderia, American-Cascadia, The Clockwork Multiverse, and Arleat.
Back to Top
September 2024 Culture Feature
By: Tommo
Culture hit a bit of a lull over the last few months, as I’m sure many people are aware - for now, we’ve kept ourselves busy with… 1) the summer flag contest, and 2) ensuring our monthly hunger games run smoothly!
I’m pleased to say that as we now head into the autumn months, culture will begin to pick up in activity again - we are planning some events for the halloween period, and with the Delegate elections coming up, we are likely to see some changes out of the ministry as we reach the end of 2024. Hopefully, moving in the right direction, culture will begin to see a shift where we focus more on our members on-site as well as offsite. In short, we’re looking to get the RMB and general on-site NS community more involved in cultural events as much as we can, and our upcoming events for halloween will certainly help us kick this off! I am looking forward to what this month brings :3
As we head into October, this month marks ONE WHOLE YEAR since I was appointed culture minister, and I just wanted to say what an honour it has been and how much fun I’ve had serving this wonderful family we’ve helped build here in The East Pacific. While it will always be down to the discretion of the next delegate, I’d happily serve another one, two, five, however many years in this position. It’s helped me learn and adapt to so much that this community offers, and I hope for that to continue for as long as I can see it through :) So a thank you to everybody who has made the last year so worthwhile!
That’s all for now, I look forward to seeing so many of you participate in what we have planned for… SPOOKY SEASON!!! 🎃🎃
Tommo <3
Back to Top
The Foreign Newsstand: Delegate Picairn, Commend Yodle, and TBH Repeals
By: Aivintis
Hello and welcome to The Foreign Newsstand (TFN).
We in The East Pacific’s FA Watch are tasked with discussing and debating news of global significance within NationStates Gameplay. With an eye on the forums and the news reports of our allies, we see discussion on a wide range of interregional political topics, and I have used this perspective to create the Newsstand, summarizing the goings-on of NSGP.
TFN is fact-checked by TEP’s Foreign Minister, but nevertheless, I am human, and make mistakes. As such, I encourage people to reach out if there are factual errors, and I invite any NSer to reply in this thread adding any events I may have missed. It can help me figure out what my blind spots are, and ensure accountable, factual reporting. Furthermore, readers are encouraged to direct opinion statements to the threads relating to individual events.
Without further ado, here are the major events of September 2024:
After 585 days as The League & Concord’s Director of Foreign Affairs, New San Antonio has been re-assigned to the Internal Affairs position. Bootyswana has been chosen as the new Director of Foreign Affairs, and promised in their opening statement to expand relations with Independent regions. (Sept 4)
Kantrias has celebrated the one year anniversary of its current form of government, the Empire. In its one year anniversary post, the Empire went over its diplomatic, military, and internal victories and evolutions over the past year. (Sept 5)
Elections have concluded in The Region That Has No Big Banks, with America the Greater re-elected as Prime Minister. ATG’s cabinet was appointed shortly after. (Sept 10)
The New Pacific Order and Lone Wolves United have signed “The Infiltrators Make the Best Workers Wolfpact,” a closer treaty replacing the previously held Non-Aggression Pact. (Sept 10)
The United Royal Islands of Euramathania has been elected Delegate of 10000 Islands, after Tactical Officer and sole opposing candidate Elite dropped out to endorse them. Euramathania replaces Astrobolt, who has held the Delegacy for a year. (Sept 18)
Picairn has been elected Delegate of The North Pacific. Their opponents were Dreadton, Evil Wolf, and former Delegate Pallaith. (Sept 20)
Elections in Forest have concluded, with Garbelia elected as Forest Keeper. Jutsa will continue as Minister of Foreign Affairs. (Sept 21)
The newly founded region Eruditio has released its government overview. (Sept 21)
Commend Yodle has passed the Security Council with 93.8% of the vote in favor. (Sept 22)
Avaldonia has broken into the NSGP sphere with the creation of a forum embassy thread. Avaldonia was founded one year ago and its members include multiple East Pacifican cosmopolitans. (Sept 23)
The New Pacific Order has appointed Callisto has their new Senator of Diplomatic Affairs. She replaces Syberis, who will continue to serve as Regent. (Sept 26)
Delegate Merlovich has proposed the Money Heist Accords, a treaty alliance between The East Pacific and The Region That Has No Big Banks. (Sept 26)
The Wellspring has successfully transitioned into a Stronghold, citing the need for inward development and a structure suiting the governmental model it has chosen. (Sept 28)
Without forum drafting, both condemnations of The Black Hawks have been repealed. (Sept 28)
References:
- Read dispatchThe Infiltrators Make The Best Workers Wolfpact
Pledge of Friendship:We, the good people of the New Pacific Order, and the Wolfist movement of Lone Wolves United, hereby declare our ever-lasting friendship built on the same mutual respect we have operated under for many years and shared rejection of the unjust tyranny of the General Assembly. We are united against the persecution of those who just want a little drink before operating a moving WA vehicle. Together, we will strive to valiantly combat these scourges and similar societal issues such as digital piracy against struggling artists, laws against making children do their fair share of the regional paperwork that their peers unfairly endured alone, and all those puppets and other undesired nations that somehow can't manage to find their way to TRR on their own.
Article I: Recognition of Legitimate Native Governance
(a) Lone Wolves United recognizes the New Pacific Order, as represented by the Emperor, their appointed successors, and their Senate, as the sole legitimate government of The Pacific and its territories.
(b) The New Pacific Order recognizes the leadership of Lone Wolves United and their chosen successors as the legitimate government of Lone Wolves United and its founded territories.
(c) Both regions agree to respect the other’s artistic and aesthetic preferences regarding the presentation of animals.
Article II: For Your Protection
(a) The signatories agree to not engage in offensive maneuvers of any sort against the home region of the other signatory, nor any of their founded and maintained territories.
(b) The signatories will not undermine, destabilize or attempt to overthrow the mutually recognized governments codified in this document, nor aid any third party in attempting to do so regardless of any preexisting relations with said third party.
(c) In the event of a hostile action against the founded and maintained properties of the signatories, both signatories will support the other in any way necessary upon request, including political, military, diplomatic, or World Assembly means.
(d) Joint military operations that respect the alignment and existing policies of both regional militaries may be undertaken with the consent of the other party. Any such operations will be fully detailed to the relevant command of the other signatory to ensure this obligation is met. If the operation is declined, the details may not be shared with external sources.
(e) Neither signatory will publicly censure the other for participation on an opposing side of an operation if such occurs, nor will either signatory pressure the other for support of an operation against the policy or alignment of its military.
(f) The signatories will provide upon request one another military assistance for delegacy transitions in their home regions.
(g) Neither signatory will be requested to engage in operations that are directly hostile to their existing allies by the other signatory.
Article III: Sharing Is Caring
(a) The signatories agree not to promote, encourage, authorize, or engage in espionage against the other. Awareness of an attempt thereof by an ally of either signatory will be shared with the other party.
(b) Should a signatory come into possession of information that may threaten the other party’s regional security, they will share this information without delay. If the information obtained does not pose an immediate threat to the other but may be of interest to the other party, the signatories may share it if they see it appropriate to do so.
(c) Neither signatory will share information with the other that involves hostility against the treatied allies of that signatory with the expectation that it be kept from those allies against the law of the relevant existing treaties.
(d) Information shared by one party that poses no threat to allied entities of either signatory will not be shared without the express and explicit consent of the other party.
Article IV: Real Diplomacy Isn’t Selectively Applied
(a) Both parties agree to keep one another informed of their regional happenings to a healthy and reasonable extent as allowed by regional law.
(b) Each signatory agrees to respect the legal drinking and tobacco consumption ages of the other party, to the least restrictive extent, while holding any interregional events in a neutral location. Each region’s laws will be respected within their founded and maintained properties.
(c) Each signatory will endeavor, where appropriate and possible, to discuss and collaborate on World Assembly votes, and will work towards mutual interests in the World Assembly when possible. Neither signatory will be forced to vote against their own interests. If reasonable concern/purpose exists in regards to a proposal, the other signatory may be asked to refrain from voting those proposals that could impact the other or their interests.
(d) World Assembly proposals targeting the regional badges of one signatory that are authored by an individual or individuals with malicious intent and against the will of that signatory will be opposed by both parties with any means determined appropriate.
Article V: Generic Treaty Provisions
(a) This pact will come into effect upon ratification by both parties according to their respective legal procedures.
(b) This pact may be amended by mutual agreement of both parties according to their respective legal procedures.
(c) Should a signatory see it necessary to withdraw from the treaty, they shall begin formal discussion with the other signatory with notice of the intent to withdraw. Should their decision remain unchanged at the end of a seven-day discussion period, this pact will be considered terminated.
Signed,
Anerastreia
Il-Khan of Lone Wolves United
Xoriet
Empress of the New Pacific OrderSyberis
Regent of the New Pacific OrderChef Big Dog
Khan of Lone Wolves United - Read dispatch]
Stats of the Month:
August-September 202410000 Islands | Population: 706 nations | Delegate Endorsements: 205 endorsements
A Taco Paradise | Population: 520 nations | Delegate Endorsements: 62 endorsementsThe Breaking Wave
and Monthly Emissary Report
All the latest news from 10000 Islands: August-September 2024September 9, 2024
by Chelsea Boots
Republic of Pantso
XKI Liaison OfficerGovernment
10,000 Islands is governed by the Council of Nine, made up of a Chief Executive, an elected Delegate and four elected Senators, and three appointed Ministers. The Council votes on legislation, embassy openings and closures, and other matters as required by the Chief Executive.Discussions over most legislation take place in the Non-Secure Chamber.
Chief Executive: Aschente Office
Delegate: AstroboltOfficeSenators
Lyonesse East (Houses): Keswickholt (Senior Senator)Office
New Republica South (Debates and Discussions): The World Defense OrganizationOffice
Himes West (Role Play): AxeCapital Office
Blue Canaria North (Emissary Report): PantsoOfficeMinisters
Education: LiberdonOffice
Culture: Wille-Harlia Office
Immigration: JabberwockyOfficeInformation about other government officials of 10000 Islands can be found here.
The third quarter election season kicked off with a bang when both Elite and The United Royal Islands of Euramathania declared their candidacy for Delegate. Both contestants are respected, decorated TITO knights with a long history of service to the Islands and the region’s residents. Elite is currently serving as Tactical Officer as well as an Ambassador to The South Pacific and Emissary to The Region That Has No Big Banks. Elite has also previously been a Foreign Affairs Secretary and on the Council of Nine as a Senator. United Royal Islands is currently sitting in the Regional Reserve Chair (editor’s note: heh, heh, little joke). In the past she has served as Delegate, Senator for Lyonnesse East, Casino Manager, and Minister of Education.
Update: As of this morning Eastern Time, September 14, Elite has dropped out of the race and endorsed United Royal Islands.
The XKI Delegate, as a non-Executive Delegate, holds our vote for the World Assembly and represents us to our allies, friends, and rivals. As a member of the Council of Nine, the Delegate also weighs in on regional legislation. This prestigious role commands a great deal of respect and requires dedication and responsibility on the Delegate’s part.
In addition to the Delegate election, XKI will see a contest for the Senator New Republica South seat between The World Defense Organization (WDO) and newcomer to the political scene, Gashia. WDO has served in that capacity for several full terms now, having been appointed to fill a vacancy and then winning in March against Wazeww. While this is Gashia’s first foray into politics, they have already published an election speech on the forum and appears to be an energetic and enthusiastic competitor.
The Senator for New Republica South is responsible for running debates, especially the Delegate Straw Poll which informs potential delegates of their eligibility and potential support. As a member of the Council of Nine, the Senator will also vote on legislation and act on other official business as the Chief Executive needs.
Your humble editor, Pantso, is running unopposed for the Blue Canaria North seat. The Senator for Blue Canaria North is responsible for putting together the Delegate’s Monthly Report, as well as voting on legislation..
Elite’s election speech
URI’s election speechFor those of you interested in the debate, the questions and answers are posted here!
Gashia’s election speech
WDO’s election speechThe Cultural Office has a full schedule this month, with riddles, Saturday matinees with Europeia, and game nights with Chief Executive Aschente! The calendar is published here:
page=dispatch/id=2549047This month the staff at the Breaking Wave was able to get a two-for-one special on Goodest Boys and Bestest Girls, and is pleased to present Tigger and Tasha, two Maine Coon mix kittens!
The kittens were adopted from a family living in an apartment already full of cute furry critters by Pantso’s own mother. Tasha, the female, is the more adventurous and courageous. She was the first to climb out of their pen, the first to explore their new home, and is the first to wander off on her own. Her brother Tigger is an attention-seeking cuddlebug and a masterful purr-er who never saw a lap he didn’t want to sleep in.
The family is hoping the kittens will provide some comfort and company to the family’s aging cat Marvin (not pictured) and believes they will begin to bond in front of the wood stove this winter.
XKI Financials
~ September 2024 Mortimer reportThe Mortimer Report is a summary of financial activity, including payouts for Islander investments, stocks, and any events that may have impacted these investments. It is released by the Regional Reserve each month and covers the previous month’s activities.
The Rich List is a ranking of the most valuable Islander accounts, in Tacos, including both terrestrial and celestial assets. To make the rich list, start earning Tacos by taking a job that pays Tacos, participating in contests, and taking advantage of Taco Islands Charities generous incentives for new nations. Buy properties from the bank, invest in stocks, or start a business in the Marketplace, and watch your pile of Tacos grow!
Nations interested learning more about XKI’s economy can learn more in the Regional Reserve Office
Rotunda Rap
The Paffnia Rotunda is a sub-board on our Proboards forum dedicated to discussing potential legislation and ways to improve the Islands. Since the forum is public, this is a way for the XKI public to bring up their own ideas for new legislation to the Council.~ Markanite is seeking feedback on a dispatch to help residents of A Taco Paradise, XKI’s frontier, understand the laws governing their region. The thread is here if you’d like to read the dispatch and help him improve it!
~ There is a fair amount of discussion on the future of A Taco Paradise, given the declining NationStates population. This thread, started by Elite, is available for comment in the Rotunda here
No new legislation has been introduced, however there are several ongoing discussions ongoing:
~ Generating a Buzz in Taco Paradise
Classifieds
~ Recruiters are always needed! Recruiters bring new nations into the region and for their efforts, become eligible for awards, badges, and Tacos. Nations interested in joining the recruiting team should check out this thread~ Astrobolt needs an emissary to Middle Earth.
~ AxeCapital has an open req for Role Play Commissioner, responsible for enforcing RP rules and orderly behavior in the RP regions. This position comes with a generous monthly stipend.
~ Aschente is also looking for a Cartographer-General to update and manage the official Map of the 10,000 Islands.
~ Astrobolt is looking for a TIBOE Secretary. The Taco Island Brigade of Endorsers is responsible for keeping endorsement counts high, and the TIBOE Secretary reports to the Delegate on those counts. This position comes with a generous monthly stipend.
Other jobs may be available on the Jobs Bulletin Board. Most jobs pay monthly in Tacos, XKI’s regional currency.
About the Emissary Report
The 10KI Update is a monthly report about the regional happenings of XKI made by the Blue Canaria North Senator and the Deputy BCN Senator. Stay tuned for any updates!More XKI!Forum: 10000islands.proboards.com
Discord: discord.gg/4uWZbNSInterested in XKI? All of our Foreign Affairs dispatches will be published by 10000 Islands Foreign Affairs, and posted in our embassy thread!
https://forum.thenorthpacific.org/topic/9198700/
https://forum.theeastpacific.com/t/treaty-proposal-the-money-heist-accords/18367
Back to Top
One Year of The Foreign Newsstand
By: Aivintis
In this edition of EPNS, you can see the 13th edition of The Foreign Newsstand to be published. The first edition was posted a year ago, in September 2023. In the past year, EPNS and TFN have both seen various changes. To celebrate a full year of the most successful news series I have created, I will discuss the changes that have come to pass, as well as the process for creating TFN and the reactions I have received.
The most obvious change I have made to The Foreign Newsstand is the title shift. Before July 2024, the monthly editions of The Foreign Newsstands were distinguished in title solely by an indicator of what month they were released. This, I felt, lacked character and identity. In July, I changed the naming scheme to highlight three major events of the month, which made each edition more unique and identified at the top of the article major highlights of breaking news for skimmers to see.
Another major change was the addition of references. Before March 2024, the bulleted list of events had no citations to support those claims. I knew I was telling the truth, because I was doing the work of finding those events, but there could be no fact checking. Furthermore, if a particular event interested a reader, they’d have to do their own digging to find out more about it. In the March 2024 edition, I introduced references, linking dispatches or forum posts on the major events.
Notably, a reference was not applied to every event. It stayed that way for April and May, but in June 2024, I ensured that every single event that was listed in The Foreign Newsstand had a proper reference citation corresponding to a dispatch, forum post, or, rarely, an RMB post. This ensured the integrity of the news reporting, and wasn’t actually that difficult to do – I did not have to hunt for these sources because for the most part those links were exactly how I learned about the events.
Once I had a citation for every entry, I decided to make another major change, which was implemented in July. This was with regards to BBCode. It was primarily experimental, and I’m still not entirely sure it is better than before, but instead of a bullet point list and a references section marked by numbers in brackets, I put both the events and references in a numbered list. Event number one corresponds to reference number one, etc. This seemed like a logical simplification, but I still hold aesthetic reservations.
Throughout the physical evolution of The Foreign Newsstand, the behind-the-scenes work has largely remained the same. At the end of the month – or, periodically throughout the month, to lower the workload in each individual session – I read through the recent posts on every major region’s NSGP embassy, consult the reports from ambassadors to TEP and to other regions to which I have access, and I add things I personally know from being around. This gives me a strong base of news.
Recently, however, I’ve found it difficult to maintain. For one, news and statements are not always posted to the forums, at least not immediately. In July, the North Pacific Army raided the Confederation of Corrupt Dictators. As a general rule, I avoided reporting on CCD’s events, so I ignored their thread, but I did check TNP’s embassy thread and found nothing. There was, however, a dispatch. This highlights a weakness in my methods – sometimes regions do not advertise important news to the world. Starting in August, I started checking the dispatch leaderboard as well.
I can always expand my sphere of research, but each new task is more work for comparatively little benefit, so a balance must be maintained. I could look at the WFEs and forums of every major region, or at least every region with an East Pacifican embassy, but at what point does it become too much? I think I’ve struck a good balance with the construction of The Foreign Newsstand, and I am very proud of what I have built. Even with university starting up again, I’m working on my own corner of EPNS and it brings me great joy to see a passion project of mine find such popularity with so many people. So here’s to a year of TFN! I’m looking forward to the next one.
Back to Top
Discord Nation Roleplay: A Strategy Game in Your Discord
By: Sokala
Discord Nation Roleplay (DNRP), like many forms of nation roleplay, is one of the most common ways to play Hearts of Iron 4 without actually needing a PC. There hundreds of Discord servers which host a myriad of scenarios from classic historical scenarios such as WW1, WW2, Cold War and even Modern Day roleplay, to alternate history scenarios such as Kaiserreich. As someone from the The East Pacific’s own Urth RP, I was looking for a break in writing and planning for my long form roleplay. I wanted roleplaty that was a bit more persistent. I used to play in a 2100 alternative Earth roleplay that was held in a Discord server so I wanted to search for a DNRP like that but set in the Modern day. One common difference between DNRP and the roleplay you see here in NationStates is that DNRP has a bit more reach. DNRP isn’t just advertised in Discord’s own Discover hub. DNRP is advertised on sites such as Disboard, Reddit and even alternate history forums. As I looked for a modern day DNRP, I stumbled upon one and joined it.
There was a clear difference in how both operated. DNRP had persistent time, meaning that time always moves. Events happen at the time that it happens. Some employ manual posting of time, others employ Discord bots to notify players of the time.
Another thing is that, at least for this particular server, the economy and military are very important and are tracked. Here, I was roleplaying in the Philippines. As a player, you get to micro-manage your budget and it affects not just your GDP growth but also your nation’s quality of life and even population growth.
I went and negotiated treaties for the Philippines, racking me investment and GDP growth. The growth is not automatic, it’s determined by Economy game masters which determine feasibility and realism. Sometimes, you even get affected for things you had no place in because it would’ve made sense for you to be affected. In one instance, I had negative GDP growth after Oman had blockaded Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia had supplied the Philippines with a lot of its oil so I took negative GDP growth.
As for the military, you have to coordinate with allies and produce or procure better or more gear with the money you get from your economy. While you can just put 60% of your economy in the military, it would lessen your funding for healthcare and other things. It would mean less GDP growth or even quality of life.
For the roleplay proper, it is common for DNRP servers to have two types of events. Self events and international events. Self events are events that happen exclusively and only affect your nation. Elections, national happenings, law passing, and even more. In this server, any self event are allowed without the intervention of a game master except for a coup or a civil war.
For international events, these are events that can encompass war, blockades, and other events that affect and can be affected by other nations. Direct, or even indirect participation, by you or other nations, is needed in these kinds of events. These events, in this server’s case, are written by a GM who decides what and how things happen depending on your actions. We had to submit our events on a form and then the game masters decide if the event is realistic and what was going to happen.
For example, in this case Italy wanted to launch missiles to strike Iraq. The event was submitted for approval then posted in the international news for all to see and be able to react to.
So what are the pros and cons of this type of roleplay? I like the persistence method of running the game. It instills a somewhat sense of agency in the players. The world continues moving with or without their input which is something I like. I also like the economic and military sheets as planning your economy and military rewards a military nerd like me who keeps a sheet just so I can plan modernization and such. One downside I’ve seen so far is that some people may not like that you have to trust the judgment of game masters for a lot of things. You have to trust that they will fairly write your event, judge your economic plans, and even write war casualties. It’s certainly not for everyone. It plays more like a strategy game than a roleplaying method but I feel like it is for the some that likes a more active role in the roleplay.
Back to Top
Hay Day: How to feed Horses
By: Altys
The eleventh N-Day began with a bug preventing nations from accumulating production, an all-too-familiar event the players of NationStates. Another glitch also temporarily blocked nations from launching nuclear strikes. This took 40 minutes to be resolved, after which the production race began in earnest.
Twenty minutes later, the war between major factions began. The factions Anime Nations Against Liberals (ANAL) and the Jellyfish Elite Fighting Force (JEFF) coordinated their efforts, focusing their initial barrage on The Horsemen of the Apocalypse (HotA). The early exchanges between factions yielded limited success for the attackers.
At the two-and-a-half-hour mark, JEFF and ANAL shifted targets to HotA's ally, Kingly Heathens Asserting Neighborliness (KHAN), whose defenses and counteroffensives were critical in shielding HotA, at the time burdened by captchas (disabled site-wide around a hour later), and retaliating against their adversaries. For the next two and a half hours, volleys of nuclear strikes and retaliations ensued, with both sides accumulating similar levels of radiation from repeated exchanges.
Five hours into the conflict, with KHAN absorbing over 50% radiation, JEFF and ANAL resumed their assault on HotA. HotA retaliated, targeting JEFF, which had managed to avoid any significant radiation exposure until now. HotA would then alternate its attacks between JEFF and ANAL, trying to keep them both on the defensive. As the conflict wore on, it became evident that HotA had gained the upper hand. ANAL’s radiation levels climbed perilously close to 50%, while JEFF appeared to struggle with making use its massive stockpile of nukes, reportedly “failing to utilize [its] production,” according to one of their commanders.
At the ten-hour mark, the JEFF-ANAL alliance was dissolved following a last ditch attempt to target KHAN for additional score. Both factions abandoned their cooperative efforts and shifted focus to preserving their score in the positives. This would later on go on to spark further controversy as multiple JEFF commanders ejected over 3,000 of their own faction's nations, deliberately avoiding the score loss a massive impending HotA-KHAN would’ve inflicted on them. HotA engaged in similar tactics, reportedly sending puppet nations to ANAL to attack them and drive their faction off the leaderboard.
While this was going on, KHAN would slowly make a comeback, exploiting the remaining survivors in JEFF and ANAL, as well as smaller factions, to secure points.
The final leaderboard recorded HotA in first place with a total score of 1 074 435, followed by KHAN at 138 821, and JEFF at 105 592; with ANAL in 14th place at 16 177.
title credit goes to Evil Mother
Back to Top