by Max Barry

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Chief Moderator (Governor): The Republic of Heaveria

WA Delegate (non-executive): The Federal Republic of The Earths people (elected )

Founder: Crystalsummer

Last WA Update:

Maps Board Activity History Admin Rank

Most Influential: 12th Most World Assembly Endorsements: 180th Most Nations: 323rd+25
Most Valuable International Artwork: 437th Largest Black Market: 1,320th Most Devout: 1,498th Most Extensive Public Healthcare: 1,503rd Most Eco-Friendly Governments: 1,708th Most Inclusive: 1,886th Most Beautiful Environments: 2,004th Highest Food Quality: 2,119th Most Advanced Public Education: 2,212th Largest Welfare Programs: 2,227th Highest Poor Incomes: 2,237th Most Subsidized Industry: 2,263rd Best Weather: 2,293rd Most Cultured: 2,369th Healthiest Citizens: 2,378th Smartest Citizens: 2,432nd Lowest Crime Rates: 2,455th Nicest Citizens: 2,457th Most Secular: 2,480th Largest Information Technology Sector: 2,499th Largest Governments: 2,509th Most Advanced Public Transport: 2,549th Largest Publishing Industry: 2,577th Most Compassionate Citizens: 2,581st Highest Average Incomes: 2,777th
World Factbook Entry

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Welcome to The Free Nations Region!

Founded January 15, 2016
Featured June 29, 2020 & November 20, 2023
Federated July 15, 2023
Archived January 27, 2024


LinkDiscord | Master Dispatch | Equiterra (Stronghold) | Hive (Frontier)


The Free Nations Region is the birthplace of the Free Nations Federation, a region representing the fond past of our great Federation and collecting our memories to view even as we move on, towards the future of our community.

The Free Nations Region is a part of the Free Nations Federation. Freedom Prevails!

All residents are requested to move their main nation to Equiterra.



  1. 2,630

    NationStates Guide

    MetaReference by Amerion . 117,213 reads.

  2. 36

    FNF | Master Dispatch

    FactbookOverview by FNR . 5,094 reads.

  3. 24

    Equiterra | Beginner's Guide

    MetaReference by FNR . 6,265 reads.

  4. 4

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Embassies: Equiterra, Hive, The Free Nations Realm, The Earth Kingdom, Partnership for Sovereignty, Antifa, The East Pacific, Thaecia, The Glorious Nations of Iwaku, Eientei Gensokyo, Yggdrasil, Japan, the South Pacific, The Union of Democratic States, The League, The Democratic Republic, and 17 others.the Rejected Realms, 10000 Islands, The Order of the Grey Wardens, Spiritus, The North Pacific, Lazarus, Conch Kingdom, Lands End, Europe, Violetia, United Kingdom, Democratic Socialist Assembly, The Region That Has No Big Banks, The Kingdom of Great Britain, Commonwealth of Liberty, Atlantis, and NSToday.

Tags: Anti-Fascist, Casual, Defender, Democratic, Eco-Friendly, Egalitarian, Featured, Feminist, Free Trade, Game Player, General Assembly, Industrial, and 15 others.Issues Player, LGBT, Large, Map, Modern Tech, Offsite Chat, Past Tech, Regional Government, Role Player, Security Council, Serious, Social, Sports, Video Game, and World Assembly.

Regional Power: Very High

The Free Nations Region contains 91 nations, the 323rd most in the world.

Today's World Census Report

The Most Stationary in The Free Nations Region

Long-term World Census surveillance revealed which nations have been resident in their current region for the longest time.

As a region, The Free Nations Region is ranked 13,461st in the world for Most Stationary.

NationWA CategoryMotto
1.The Democratic States of Middle South HillFather Knows Best State“Unity, Discipline, Work”
2.The Mossad of The Nazi HunterCorporate Police State“No Matter Where You Hide We Will Find You”
3.The Republic of New Vivia AndCorporate Police State“You Can't Stop Progress”
4.The Fedəration of My NationLiberal Democratic Socialists“non erit tibi hoc”
5.The Na na na na na na na BATMAN of North NibuCivil Rights Lovefest“Feel the warm thrill of confusion That space cadet glow”
6.The Allied States of MarshempiaInoffensive Centrist Democracy“Nice restaurants are a scam”
7.The Holy Clearwater Republic of Grand AbacoFather Knows Best State“Honoring Those Who Have Fought for Ukraine”
8.The United States of EmahaLeft-wing Utopia“By The People For The People”
9.The Republic of AtlaptumeInoffensive Centrist Democracy“Unity, Discipline, Work”
10.The Theocracy of KonrosPsychotic Dictatorship“No time to apologise”
1234. . .910»

Regional Happenings

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The Free Nations Region Regional Message Board

I have the best plumage in all the land

Ah, yet another nice day of tax collecting in the sun!

And it isn't rain with a side of depression!

Hello Everyone!
A reminder to y'all to move your main nations in Equiterra.

Just thought I would say hope everyone has had a good weekend!

Hello friends! I thought I'd spice up the way I deliver news from The East Pacific a little by posting on some RMBs, so here I am! The Eastern Pacific News Service's February 2024 edition is out, with many articles to read! Including Castenor (Aivintis)'s Foreign Newsstand synthesising all import Foreign Affairs event of last month. You can read it here:


⤆ ⤇ ↺ ☖ | 🔒 Secure | https://epns.mon.gov.caek/issue/2024/2.html

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EPNS February 2024 Edition

HOME | LATEST | ARCHIVES | STAFF



Delegate's Update
By: Merlovich | Edited by Altys

Hello hello! What a month we’ve had here in TEP, hey?

Let’s start with the biggest event of all, the heartless nuclear apocalypse that is N-Day. You’ll get a full rundown later in the edition, courtesy of your wonderful commander Altys, but hoo-boy do you guys deserve one massive round of applause for your efforts. It is immensely satisfying to come out on top, and I can't think of anyone more deserving. TEP obviously must give a massive thank you to those regions who fought alongside us this N-Day.

To our friends from The Black Hawks, Warzone Trinidad, The Free Nations Region, Sparkalia, Kantrias, Astoria, The Communist Bloc, The Leftist Assembly, Atlanticana, Karma, Lair of the Dragon, Lazarus and Alstromerian Commonwealths, thank you! We’re immensely proud to work alongside you on N-Day, and we hope to continue working together for many N-Days to come.

I was very proud to hand out several awards this month, many of which were related to our victory in N-Day. Of course, Altys was awarded our highest N-Day honour, the Gold Order of Annihilation, for his tremendous work and effort not just this N-Day, but for many N-Days previous. Vulbania was awarded the Silver Order of Annihilation for their outstanding performance in the event, and Eastern Alksearia, Gemeinschaftsland, The spinoff, Eshgh and Rosari were all awarded the Bronze Order of Annihilation for their efforts. Not to be left out, our former Minister of News and tirelessly working executive staffer Vussul was awarded the Silver Order of Maintenance for their hard work building, organizing and maintaining our region's dispatch framework.

In the Executive, we've been hard at work over the last few weeks. We've had a couple things take up a lot of our time, notably the nuclear apocalypse, as well as our NEST repeal, which I'll touch on shortly. Our EPSA rework is coming along nicely, we've made steps forward on a questionnaire to be sent out in the coming weeks, as well as a lot of brainstorming of potential themes, structures and general operations. We're also looking to get started on porting over UTEP works to the new framework under Chancellor Aivintis. Our FA rework was put on hold while we handled the NEST repeal, but we'll be getting back to work this week. Our Culture Ministry has been running quite well, with Valentines Day events this month, as well as the upcoming Rogue Rendezvous event alongside TNP, NPO and Carcassonne. We're looking forward to more events in the near future, as well as the continuation of the Hunger Games. In FA News, TEP took part in Operation: Midnight Hour to secure our friends in Atlanticana this month. More can be read here.

Our Foreign Affairs Council and Magisterium have been the hardest workers this month, as discussions with TNP reached their finale. We've made the difficult decision to repeal our nearly decade-old NEST [North-East Security Treaty] agreement with The North Pacific. Both sides have agreed irreconcilable differences exist, and TEP remained unsatisfied with TNP's lack of interest in repairing the relationship. TEP and TNP have had a rocky relationship for the better part of two years, and this week marked an unfortunate breaking point, where we felt things could continue at this pace no longer. Our FA Council has released a statement that delves further into the matter, however for those who may not see it, I figured it should be noted here also. TEP looks forward to furthering our existing friendships, as well as creating new friendships in the future. More can be read here.

That's all from me this month. Thank you all again for a tremendous effort this N-Day, and I look forward to writing to you all again in next months edition.


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NDay10, A Tale of Darkhorses
By: Altys

From February 24th 2200 GMT to February 25th 2200 GMT, the tenth edition of N-Day unfolded, revealing a battlefield fraught with unforeseen dynamics. Notably absent were two stalwart competitors, The Potato Alliance and the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, casting a shadow over the event. Left in their wake were factions which we could've qualified of darkhorses: Kingly Heathens Asserting Neighborliness (as Cosmic Corsairs in February 2023), Anime Nations Against Liberals (in 2022), Jellyfish Elite Fighting Force (in September 2023), and the Starlight Brigade (in September 2023).

However this battlefield was not one all factions expected the way it ended up looking. Several foresaw the return of the Potato Alliance and the Horsemen, with some expecting the Horsemen to rise in formidable strength compared to September 2023. A few even speculated that the remaining factions would surpass their prowess from the previous edition. However, the most astonishing twist unfolded with the merger of Kingly Heathens Asserting Neighborliness and the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, birthing the massive Kingly Horsemen Asserting Neighborliness. This merger held the potential to ascend into a megafaction, altering the dynamics of the event in ways unseen since the sixth edition of NDay.

Read more about NDay here!


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Magisterium and Culture Updates
By: Dremaur and Cappedore | Edited by Altys

Hello reader. You will find below a small update on activity within TEP's legislature, the Magisterium, as well as an announcement from the Ministry of culture. Both were condensed due to the amount of articles within this edition!

Magisterium Update
February had four legislative amendments which passed the Magisterium, listed below. We also saw a new magister join us this month, Langburn. Alongside these votes, lots of legislative discussions have arisen, leading to a renewal in legislative activity as opposed to the recent lull.

Culture Update
It’s been a busy one here at the Ministry of Culture! This month we’ve been planning and preparing for our upcoming interregional event: Rogue Rondezvous, normally starting on Friday 15th March!

During the course of this event, we will be hosting many activities, including a treasure hunt, watch parties, a night of chess, a board games arena, and even the regional favourite… Hunger Games! We will also be hosting game nights of Jackbox, Skribbl.io, and “Secret Hitler”, with some fun spam games along the side.

We would love to see you there! More details will be announced soon and I am planning many many more events and activities for the coming spring and summer periods, so make sure to watch out!


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Praesidium Update
By: Aivintis

Over the course of February, Grand Vizier Aivintis granted citizenship to 8 residents of The East Pacific and processed 1 clerical change to the citizenship roster. In order to ensure the integrity of the February 2024 Delegate Elections, Grand Vizier Aivintis initiated a citizenship audit to confirm that all voters in the election were indeed residents of TEP with a valid WA nation on record, or a confirmed claim to EPSA exception.

At the beginning of the audit, 12 citizenships were flagged as invalid. Two citizens corrected their citizenship within the legal 48 hour period, leading nine citizenships to be immediately removed at the end, with a tenth maintained pending Conclave action. Regarding this last invalid citizenship, the citizen in question filed a lawsuit against the Citizenship Office during the period in which correction was requested. When this Civil Trial was rejected by the Conclave At Large for lack of need and a lack of merit.

Citizens are reminded to ensure that their resident nation remains alive and in TEP, and that their WA nation remains alive as well, or else that their EPSA exception is filed – the Grand Vizier will reach out to the Overseeing Officer to confirm this. Pending citizenship applications and clerical changes remain awaiting telegram confirmation. The Grand Vizier once again encourages all residents to apply for citizenship so that they may exercise their right to vote in Delegate elections and Concordat referendums.

As per the Standing Orders of the Praesidium, the elections for the Grand Vizier and Eastern Pacific Police Service Commissioner were begun in January, though a delay was incurred due to the fault of the Grand Vizier himself. Once corrected, however, the elections continued. At the beginning of February, Grand Vizier Aivintis and Eastern Pacific Police Commissioner Marrabuk were both re-elected unopposed, with the unanimous consent of the Praesidium At Large. The Praesidium leadership is elected to six month terms with no term limits.


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Interview with Eastern Alksearia
By: Aivintis
And now, a message from the Westmorian Ministry of Cultural Outreach...

Song of the Month (Reborn)
By New Westmore
Last year, I did a little thing on westmore.gov.wm called "Song of the Month," where I would put a song I liked and elaborated on why I liked it so much. While I don't do it anymore for my nation, having replaced its allocated space on the factbook with news articles from the Dalesburg Chronicle, I have however decided to revive it, except this time for EPNS. As before, the general idea is that I will post a song I personally like, and then explain why it's a good song or write some philosophical rant in relation to it or NationStates. If this does well, and if I'm motivated to do it again for the March issue, I may take input from the TEP server next time to decide which song will be the next hot thing, but anyways, without further ado, here is the Song of the Month!


Bittersweet Poetry
Kanye West ft. John Mayer

Link

Artist: Kanye West
Featured Artists: John Mayer (and in some versions Keyshia Cole)
Album: Graduation
Genre: Rap
Released: 2007
Runtime: 4:02

You can accuse me of being biased towards Kanye, but I don't care much! One of Kanye's lesser-known songs thanks to its extremely small release scope, "Bittersweet Poetry" is a song about a man's bittersweet relationship with his partner, which can also be best described as borderline dysfunctional based on how Kanye speaks of the relationship in the lyrics. Originally written for Late Registration, West did not believe that this song fit with LR's soundscape, and as such it was shelved for quite a while before being added to Graduation as a bonus track for the Japanese release of his 2006 album. From its cutesy Animal Crossing-esque beat to its raw lyrics of a love that he can't let go of, even if it hurts him, this song and many others that Kanye has written is truly a special gem that I will hold on to all my life.

Other versions on the internet feature backing vocals by Keyshia Cole singing alongside Mayer's voice.


I recently had the pleasure of speaking with the Overseeing Officer, Eastern Alksearia, otherwise known as Shadow. A former Delegate, Shadow is a prominent figure in East Pacifican politics, and is currently executing a plan to reform the Eastern Pacific Sovereign Army, our regional military.

Aivintis: Thanks for agreeing to be interviewed for EPNS. I know you're a very busy person, as the Overseeing Officer and an Arbiter of the Conclave. And not even that, but you also hold positions in other regions, yes?

Shadow: I do. I'm the Supreme Harbinger (note: Chief Justice) in Astoria, I'm the Speaker of the House of Commons in Thaecia, I do work for the Warzone Trinidad Mafia as well. It's a busy schedule, but I find fun in it.

Aivintis: Busy schedule indeed. How do you find a way balance your different regional associations? I know I, for one, very much struggle.

Shadow: Very simple. The way I interact in a region is similar to an RP, at least on the government level. I'm always myself in public channels where I'm just chatting with people. But in government, I don a different "persona". Astoria/Kantrias I have a specific image, in WZT I have a different persona, and even in TEP. Though, my persona in TEP is probably what is the most similar to me irl. Otherwise I'm on top of things because of pings or because people reach out to me in my DMs.

Aivintis: Right, yeah, pings and DMs are really all I need, too. You mentioned your personas across different regions, would you mind expanding on what kind of persona you’ve cultivated in TEP, and why?

Shadow: In TEP, my persona -as stated previously - is very much just my morals and ideals from irl and put into TEP. Though there are some tweaks. I am unabashedly me. I will not let someone ruin that. Plus. I take being in TEP government as fun. There's nothing happening in TEP that should make or break my day.

Aivintis: That’s totally fair. How have your experiences in TEP been so far — you’ve been here coming up on four years now, I think?

Shadow: Yup, April 28th will be 4 years. It's crazy to think that I've been doing this for 4 years. But I think TEP is becoming a second home to me.

Aivintis: I think a lot of us can relate to that. Getting into the meat of the interview, I was wondering what your duties are as Overseeing Officer. Obviously, you’re the leader of our Army, but what does that entail?

Shadow: As Overseeing Officer, i usually cordinate with other militaries for EPSA to join in on. During this term it's been a bunch of fashbashes, but there have been a few liberations and even a couple tag raids. I am also responsible for keeping track of how many operations people participate in and promoting people.

Aivintis: How has EPSA been, activity-wise, throughout your tenure?

Shadow: We have done a bunch. We went Fash bashing with WZT during Operation Cabaret and then during its sequel Sacrumterra. We help liberate WZT a couple times. But mainly, we aren't doing our own ops currently. Mainly, it's my own fault. I havent gotten a time to sit down and plan operations for EPSA. I want to. I'm currently planning something (but no spoilers).

Aivintis: Ooh. I’m looking forward to see what you’re planning. Moving backwards from talk of the future to talk of the past, what accomplishments are you most proud of within the last term?

Shadow: Within the last term, I'm very proud of our soldiers bashing the Fash with old friends and new friends. The most proud one is Sacrumterra as I got to be the point and I now hold the keys to Eden.

Aivintis: That was definitely a prominent moment, and a point of regional pride for me, although I wasn't able to attend due to being WA-locked. Apart from fash bashes, what other kinds of operations has EPSA seen in the past few months?

Shadow: I remember the days when I was WA locked. Fond memories. Speaking of fond memories, I also have fond memories of liberating WZT both times. Our Army has some people assist with the siege of UEPU.

Aivintis: Our allies in WZT have definitely faced a lot of attacks, and it’s heartening to see our military support our friends. Especially from the perspective of a civilian Foreign Councillor. How do you see the relationship between FA and EPSA? How do they influence each other?

Shadow: A and the entirety of R/D go hand in hand. They influence both. It's a delicate dance and balance between the two. EPSA is definitely heavily influenced by our FA. I wouldn't conduct an operation for EPSA if it jeopardized our FA.

Aivintis: Understandable. Now, I was curious. Would you say EPSA is often overlooked or underrated? I mean, it's a somewhat detached Executive department from my observations.

Shadow: I wouldn't say EPSA is overlooked. I think it is a little underrated. I think people don't see us doing as much and thinking we aren't there, but I assure you, we are there. We are going to go through a rebrand which will help breathe life into EPSA.

Aivintis: Rebranding is a huge thing, but I’m also wondering, what other changes do you hope to last beyond your term?

Shadow: I would love to see the Command team lead ops on their own, and maybe have EPSA start to lead their own ops in general.

Aivintis: Well thank you so much for your time. Before we go, is there anything else you’d like to say to the citizens of TEP?

Shadow: Thank you all for reading this article, y'all are amazing, and keep doing what you're doing.

Aivintis: Alright. Thank you again for your time!

Shadow: My pleasure!


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The Foreign Newsstand
By: Aivintis & Altys

Hello and welcome to the Foreign Newsstand. We in The East Pacific’s FA Watch are tasked with discussing and debating news of global significance within NationStates Gameplay (NSGP). With an eye on the forums and the news reports of our allies, we see discussion on a wide range of interregional political topics. For the purposes of sharing interregional news, I’ve developed this quick Newsstand to summarize the goings-on of our diplomatic partners and other regions. Here are the major events of February 2024:

  • George Stewart was elected Prime Minister of the region United Kingdom (NSUK), alongside the election of a new Parliament and the appointment of a new Cabinet.

  • After a quick period of internal instability which spilled over to the public realms through a statement of former Prime Minister Snalland, Thaecia has voted through a referendum with a 94% majority to abolish its constitution and all legal resolutions, replacing the government with a Constitutional Convention. Elections for the Convention are ongoing.

  • The Red Fleet, a major anti-fascist military coalition, has signed a treaty with Atlanticana, a neutral region which maintains an embassy with TEP.

  • A Taco Paradise, a region under the control of 10000 Islands, has been converted into a Frontier.

  • Europe was raided by VULPINE, a coalition of invader militaries. Though the invading forces were repelled, it was done too late to prevent any damage to the region. As a stronghold, a raiding force cannot fully capture Europe, but the Delegate does hold Executive powers to appoint and dismiss Regional Officers, the necessary element of any raid. Over the course of this one, mass ejections were undertaken, reducing the region’s population by more than half. Statements by the European government reaffirm the region’s neutrality and denounce the raid as well as criticism of their security system, committing to moving forward with their “endorsement happy” culture.

  • Shortly after the raid on Europe, The Amaranthine Isles, the frontier region of The Order of the Grey Wardens, began the process of converting into a Stronghold. The Amaranthine Isles was made a frontier originally in May 2023. TGW cites stagnating spawn rates, a lack of integration staff, and urgency following the raid on Europe as the causes of the transition.

  • The Grey Wardens have reworked their faction system, which is based on the Dragon Age series. Factions who do the best in TGW’s internal competition will be honored in the region’s flag and World Factbook Entry, as well as through cosmetic perks. Additionally, points can now be earned through games such as Wordle and Tetris, documented on the newly created Quest Calendar.

  • After the deletion of a known fascist and homophobic founder of a significant number of regions, including The Raxulan Empire, a massive anti-fascist operation involving Astoria, Warzone Trinidad, Voidcall, and The Shadows seized 150 fascist regions.

  • The Order of the Grey Wardens has appointed Tim Stark as First Warden once again, after a period of inactivity. Tim denounces the treatment of some members by others and suggests he may be bringing back “the old TGW”.

  • The Treaty of the Isles has been signed between Sparkalia and Sophia. As Sophia remains a demilitarized region, the Treaty largely focused on World Assembly cooperation.

  • In response to the Europe raid, The Modern Gameplay Compact, now containing the regions Balder, The North Pacific, Europeia, and The League & Concord, strengthened sanctions on raider regions, including the explicit addition of the region Sparkalia to the sanctions, as well as the expansion of sanction conditions, which now applies such sanctions to Caer Sidi, Kantrias, Atlanticana, and Astoria, among others. Kantrias and Atlanticana have issued statements in response to these sanctions – Atlanticana used the phrase “irrelevant sanctions by a decaying compact”, whereas Kantrias described them as “frivolous and ineffectual”.

  • Founder of The League Quebecshire underwent a covert espionage operation in the Brotherhood of Malice, which ended anticlimactically without much shift in the war or the balance of power.

  • The Treaty of Divine Treasures was signed between Astoria and The Lair of the Dragon, two newcomer raider regions which have quickly entered the gameplay sphere. The treaty is a non-aggression pact with information sharing elements.

  • Quebecshire has been appointed Deputy Minister of War in Balder.

  • Astoria has undergone a massive retheme, branding themselves as the Celestial Order, with angelic imagery reminiscent of the theme used by Archkeeper Rosartemis in the anti-fascist Operation Eden. With the former theme being a Crowned Republic, Astoria has now distinguished itself from other regions quite strongly.

  • In Operation Cinder, Kantrias executed the griefing of the fascist and racist region Ardenia, alongside the Red Fleet, Antifa, Sparkalia, Astoria, The Communist Bloc, Osiris, The Brotherhood of Malice, The Black Hawks, and Lair of the Dragon.

  • Atlanticana released a joint statement regarding Operation Midnight Hour, a military operation aimed at guaranteeing the security of Atlanticana. The statement denounced threats of attack, and was signed by allied and associated regions, including The East Pacific.


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Analysis: How Activity in The East Pacific changed throughout 2023
By: Altys

Throughout the year 2023, The East Pacific experienced a dynamic landscape characterized by numerous departures and arrivals within its community, the introduction of the impactful Frontiers/Strongholds game update, and shifts in its network of Discord servers. As the year concluded, we saw the RMB Cafeteria Discord server attaining official status as a TEP server and previous publications in this newspaper featuring opinion articles suggesting a decline in activity within TEP. Motivated by these observations, I set out to compile and analyze activity data, aiming to discern patterns and make predictions about the future trajectory of the region's community.

DEFINITIONS

Before we begin I will list and define here a number of terms used in this paper:

  • Subcommunity - One of the three "groups" under the TEP umbrella. Where TEP is the overarching community, each of these group is referred to as subcommunity.

  • Valsora - Roleplay setting of the Regional Message Board Roleplay (RMB RP), Also used to refer to the RMB RP subcommunity.

  • RMB Cafetaria - Discord server housing the RMB RP Community and the Valsora Cartography Council (elected body with authority over Valsora).

  • Urth - Roleplay setting of the Forum Roleplay. Can also be used to refer to the subcommunity of the same.

  • Retirement Home - Discord server where past and current Delegates, Ministers, Government members interact, generally to meme about random stuff or talk about IRL.

STATISTICAL BIAS
In analyzing the activity within TEP, our method focuses on aggregating messages exclusively from TEP's official discussion centers, namely the RMB and its official Discord servers. It's crucial to note that this approach omits data from group chats, direct messages between TEP members, voice chat discussions, and conversations on non-official TEP Discord servers (such as the NDay server, festival Discord servers, etc.). Consequently, while the presented statistics are not inaccurate, they fall short of complete precision. This limitation is particularly noteworthy for Urth, where we did not include forum or wiki activity, leading to a slight underrepresentation in raw numbers; and TEP Main, where we did not include forum activity either.

STATISTICS
The examination of TEP's activity statistics involves a comparative analysis between the first and second semesters of 2023 across all official TEP Discords and the RMB. This will be achieved by considering the total number of messages sent on each platform, excluding any messages sent in moderation log channels for Discord servers.

First Semester of 2023

During the initial six months of 2023, a total of 533 627 posts were observed in The East Pacific across all official Discords and the RMB. An intriguing observation arises when we categorize these posts based on their respective occurrence areas and color them according to the subcommunities they belong to (Green for the Main server, the Government, and affiliates; Yellow for the RMB RP and affiliates; and Blue for the Forum RP). Notably, Valsora emerges as the primary contributor to regional activity, generating 296 348 posts, which accounts for 60% of the entire recorded activity in the first semester.

There are different ways to explain these numbers.

  • The Executive's activity during the period from January to early May can be contextualized as a recovery phase from a preceding period of inactivity. Headquartered in a separate server due to the demands of the COVID era, the Executive saw limited engagement until March. With much of the legwork falling on the Delegate or Ministers and a scarcity of staffers, the resulting decrease in interactions translated to fewer posted messages.

  • The Main server, akin to the RMB Cafeteria or TEP Urth Roleplay, functions as a community hub. However, considering the aforementioned recovery period, it lacks the additional layer of activity found in roleplay or overarching discussions. Topics discussed here could often find equivalent platforms for discussion in the RMB Cafe or Urth RP.

  • The RMB, particularly the RMB Cafeteria, serves as the primary entry point into the region, acting as a showcase. This prominence results in a higher likelihood of new players interacting and posting there first, contributing to an increased number of posts from this subgroup.

  • In contrast, the Forum RP serves as an endpoint in TEP, attracting retired TEPers. Given the typical entry route through the main server or the RMB, there is a reduced likelihood of posts from new players in this subcommunity.

  • Notably, Urth and Valsora, representing two nation roleplays, operate with distinct dynamics. Valsora, characterized by live-action roleplay set in the present, fosters frequent interaction, multiple posts about the same events, and increased player engagement. Conversely, Urth, centered on worldbuilding roleplay spanning centuries or millennia within the same timeline, encourages detailed engagement with the same event over an extended period in a comprehensive wiki page or forum thread, resulting in less player engagement.

With the points made above the numbers we get make more sense. Now to see whether the F/S update, the summer slump and other events will see them change for the next six months!

Second Semester of 2023

During the final six months of 2023, a total of 350 493 posts were recorded in The East Pacific across all official Discords and the RMB, marking a notable 34.3% decrease in overall activity. Intriguingly, this decline affected all official TEP discussion centers, except the main TEP Discord server, which actually witnessed an 11.1% increase in activity.

Among the other major centers, the RMB Cafeteria experienced a substantial 65.8% drop in activity, the RMB itself saw a 33.8% decrease, and TEP Urth Roleplay observed a 25.5% decline. A closer examination of subcommunity activity shares in TEP reveals a significant shift, with Valsora's share dropping from 60% to 39.1%. In contrast, the main server + Government experienced a rise in its share from 31.1% to 45.8%, establishing itself as the most active subcommunity within TEP. The Urth subcommunity remained relatively stable, with its share changing marginally from 13.4% to 15.1%.

The extrapolation from these numerical trends indicates a discernible pattern: Valsora experienced a contraction in size, Urth exhibited stagnation, and the Main/Government subcommunity demonstrated growth.

  • The Summer Slump, a period from July to late September, contributed to reduced activity across TEP, impacting engagement levels across the region.

  • The relocation of The East Pacific's Government back to the main TEP server resulted in increased activity over time, introducing a previously unseen level of engagement.

  • The Main TEP server witnessed a surge in new members during the two terms under the former Delegate Altys, fostering additional activity that had not been observed previously.

  • The monthly Hunger Games initiative gained traction from July 2023 onwards, attracting over 50 sign-ups for each event and generating substantial activity during the event nights—a new source of engagement.

  • The Frontiers/Stronghold update reduced Feeders' spawns, including TEP's spawns, by half. The RMB, being the primary beneficiary in terms of activity and membership from newly founded nations, lost 50% of the activity coming from these overnight.

  • The retirement of several prominent and highly active members of Valsora in late June/early July led to a disappearance of previously observed huge amounts of activity on the RMB and RMB Cafeteria.

  • Unlike the aforementioned changes, Urth remained stable, with no significant retirements or major additions to its ecosystem, maintaining relatively consistent activity levels.

Now seeing those shifts in activity dynamic between the first and last six months in TEP, what can we expect of 2024? For that we can take a peak at January's statistics and extrapolate...

Projections for 2024

The data from the first month of 2024 indicates a substantial increase in overall activity compared to the same period in 2023. With a total of 91 803 posts observed across all official Discords and the RMB, this represents a notable 60% surge from the estimated 55 000 posts in January 2023. A particularly striking shift is the change in the distribution of posts among various subcommunities. Urth, which accounted for approximately 41% of the total posts in January 2023, has experienced a significant decrease, now contributing only 11.3%. In contrast, Cafe + RMB and TEP Main have seen an increase in their share of posts, reflecting a notable shift in activity patterns.

Considering these trends, projections for 2024 suggest that Valsora is likely to regain a more active status compared to the second half of 2023. TEP Main is expected to maintain its positive activity trend established throughout 2023. On the other hand, Urth may either remain stagnant or experience a decline in activity over time, as evidenced by its reduced contribution in January 2024 compared to the same month the previous year.


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Valentine's Day Article
By: Yukkira
"Welcome to the East Pacific" - Or Not?

Ah, getting back into the grind of writing for the EPNS is fun. As I have not caught up with politics in Valsora as of recent, I instead will be focusing on something else for this month's issue: the Welcome Telegram composed by none other than our lovely delegate, Merlovich.

If you don't know what a Welcome Telegram is, it is basically an automated message composed by the Delegate that users receive when they arrive in The East Pacific. Since it is an automated message, all people who arrive here, regardless of who they are, will receive a warm message from the Delegate wishing them a great time in the region, even if they don't plan on staying or even if they are not exactly the nicest of people.

Because of the automated nature of the Welcome Telegram, a number of interesting responses to it have accumulated over the few months of its existence. And today, I'll be covering some of them. So strap in, I guess. Let's have a look at the rude, the wacky and even the strangely polite of the responses Merlo have been kind enough to share with us.

Now, before I begin, I will this once and only once: don't take this as an invitation to be rude to him just to get a spot on this column. Please. Merlovich and the regional government work tirelessly to maintain order around here, and the least we can do is respect them. So don't be an ass.

Want to see more weird shenanigans like this? Join the East Pacific's official Discord server and head on down to #nationstates today!


Link
How nice of them to respect a ban and not attempt to evade it. We all really need to be like this user.

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Unfortunately, Merlo can't really join you. For him to do that he would have to abdicate, and that would suck for a lot of us if he did. Thanks for the offer though.

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Clearly, this man hasn't seen the vibrant roleplay community of TEP, even though that is literally the heart and soul of this region. Ignorance, am I right?

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That isn't very nice of you! The Canada flag certainly doesn't help your case much either, since by wearing it you are obliged to be kind 24/7.

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This is some sovereign citizen type of bulldust. Shatterhorn probably got his "law degree" from a McDonald's bathroom if he thinks the Welcome Telegram is unlawful.

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Yikes... what do you reckon this man is a Nazi...

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Wow. That's just rude. Take a lesson in being kind, will you?

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That's very lovely! TEP always appreciates having new members in the community!

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That's quite curt of you. But why, oh why would you want a desert of red sand? There isn't a lot to take from the Australian outback... unless you're like those Yanks and you want to steal all of our oil and coal...

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Aivintis... is that you?

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Typical fledgling activity, declaring war on everyone they have an immediate bridge of contact to. Don't be like this guy.

Link
Nope. Straight to the incinerator. Go to hell. If I ever see anyone use "UwU" unironically I swear to God almighty I will SEND YOU TO THE BEACHES OF NORMANDY-



That's all from me for now. If I don't write a Valsora feature for next month's issue, you might see another one of these. Bye for now!


"If I grew up here, I don't think I'd ever leave." - Anakin Skywalker, circa 32 BBY

Ah, Naboo, gem of the Chommell Sector. A peaceful planet by nature, Naboo is home to humans known as the Naboo, as well as a species of reptilian-like humanoids called the Gungan. Naboo's surface is full of vast oceans, pristine green plains, and expansive swamplands, with fauna as unassuming as the gentle Shaak of the endless plains, to the large and terrifying sea creatures that dwell deep beneath the waves of the oceans, near the planet's core.

During the tumultuous period known as The Clone Wars, the period was foreshadowed with an invasion by the Trade Federation leading an army of droids, which posed an existential threat to the planet. However, due to the timely intervention of two Jedi by the name of Obi Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn, as well as the stalwart leadership of recently elected 14-year-old Queen Padme Amidala, the Naboo with great assistance from the native Gungans, managed to repel the Trade Federation's invasion, ensuring Naboo's independence.


"It's beautiful."
"Yes, it absolutely is."
―Shara Bey and Leia Organa, about Naboo

During this year's Valentine's Day Events, Naboo was offered to the TEP community as one of several choices to take a would-be date on, and while during the initial few days, there was fierce competition from supporters of The Shire, by the end of day 4, it was clear, that Naboo was the place to be. It's honestly not too hard to see why.

Ladies and gentlemen, reptilians and insectoids, it is hard to understate the psychological impact vast green plains have on your psyche. Imagine you, with the people that you loved, surrounded by an endless ocean of green, sheltered under a clear blue sky. Breath that sweet morning air in. Take in the sounds of the birds singing their love songs into the pristine summer sunrise.

It's just you, your significant others, and the world. Let all your worries wash away into the light playful breeze that sweeps through your hair. Time seems to stop, as the world watches you, as you watch it in return. What incredible peace. What a beautiful life. How fortunate are you to be alive right now?


"Naboo" by nidhi-rathish on LinkDeviantArt

This Valentine's Day, let the region's choice of Naboo be a calm and gentle reminder that it's okay to disconnect once in a while. Find the time- no, MAKE the time to run away from live for a day. Go pack your bags, rent a cabin for a weekend on a distant shore, and just leave your worries at the door. Go take that badly-needed, much earned break, and live in the moment, for now.

It's no exaggeration to say that as the world got smaller, it got quicker. We've become so busy with trying to earn that degree, trying to earn that pay raise, trying to keep up with that next big thing, that the art of stopping, taking stock, and breathing, is becoming more and more rare. The largest reason however, is because we've forgotten potentially, as a society, just what disconnecting can do for us, not just mentally, but physically.

If you feel good, then you'll act good, so in essence, you'll be good.

Take care of yourselves, Kings, Queens, and Monarchs of TEP.

Until next year.

Yukki
Staffer - Event Lead
Ministry of Culture

Valentine's Day Poetry Contest
This year's Valentine's Day Poetry Contest had some incredible entries. As I was unable to pick which of them was my favorite, I have decided to feature all of them. To read them, click here.

The first poem up is styxprincess's "last dance." These are her thoughts on her inspiration for the piece:

The inspiration for “last dance” was that feeling of being invisible and immobile - feeling like everyone around you is moving faster than you are, and none of them can see (or care to see) that you’re falling behind. I also draw from the age-old idea that someone only dies once they’re truly forgotten, and tie it in as a self-justification for a fear of attachment that stems from being uncomfortable with actually moving forward, despite hating where you are.

“last dance” uses a lot of techniques that are typical of my poetry, such as significant use of the second person and the use of capitalization as a tool for emphasizing important words and themes and telling a visual story to supplement the lack of dynamic pacing and tone when read from the page. However, it is significantly less prescriptive than my other poems, instead putting the impetus on the reader and asking them to make a decision.

Other more specific acknowledgements go to my own personal failures with romance, the visual setting of “On My Own” from Les Miserables, the song “Prodigal” by David Wirsig, The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan, the fairy tale of the little match girl, Travis Kelce’s impending retirement, my best friend forever Ms. Sams, the liminal feeling of being all alone in an empty bar, and of course, Arthur Murray Dance Studio.

Yukki's thoughts:
I genuinely loved this piece. Not only could I relate to it but I love the unique style of poetry that this exposes readers to. While definitely free verse, there are many deliberate choices that I think create a wonderful eye into the writer's intent. Specifically, when styxprincess capitalizes the word "Broken," I can feel a pang of anguish well up in my breast. I feel a sorrow that I hope to never feel again in my current relationship. Most importantly, I believe that in this piece, not only is styxprincess's poem on-point for this Valentine's Day, but I believe she wishes to impart to all of us, a lesson in love lost and in that melancholy, a hope for new love to be found.

Next up is daneson's "The Universe." Rather than a traditional comment on their inspiration for the piece, they instead gave simply, these two pictures:

Yukki's thoughts:
Deceptively simple in both rhythm and scripture, daneson sits in awe of the universe that he is beholden to. However, they neglect to say whether or not such a universe is "the universe" that we are all part of. I think that this is intentional. Daneson could be alluding to the idea that their universe is their significant other, in which case, the universe of his description takes on a whole new meaning. He could be marveling at how beautiful they are, how intelligent they seem to be, at how incredible they are as a person. As a classic song once went, "How great thou art!" And that is what daneson's poem is. It is a simple piece with a picture as small as a photograph that one might keep in their wallet. But in that little photo is a whole universe which means the world to daneson, and hopefully, to their readers. Good job daneson. Thank you for sharing your words with us.

And now we have the meme submission of hyde's "5 horrible things you should never say to a girl this Valentine's Day." When asked about what their inspiration was for the piece, they said:

So, for inspiration, I kinda made it as a low-effort sh*tpost and as a mix of genuine advice for things you should never say to a girl if you are trying to get a date. I pulled many of the lines from it from quotes I either made up with real life friends or from terrible rizz lines I've read on the internet, such is why it is so, so ass.

Yukki's thoughts:
Well, considering that their username is kanye west and that this is a meme entry… everything checks out. Also, obligatory screaming about how they unironically used the slang term "rizz" in a sentence. Merlo, I plead the fifth.

Now we have "Grapes" by the rat-pope themself, interimname. When asked about their piece, they said:
I just happened to be thinking about doing something out of the ordinary, participating in my regions events. I saw the poetry contest and I thought I'd write something for it basically on impulse because of how many people were here on NationStates and lamenting "Singles Appreciation Day" so I thought I'd write something short and silly to give them a laugh, but then I realized the reason why I don't write poetry, and it basically all just went downhill from there.

Yukki's thoughts:
This is definitely less a poem and more a treatise on love. I personally don't mind and here's the funny thing, I actually appreciate this piece for a reason unlike any of the others. They mention the idea that Valentine's Day is not just for couples, but for singles as well. The meme idea of Valentine's Day also being called Single's Awareness Day is a meme rooted in the idea that self-love and couple-love are simply two sides of the same coin. Granted, that is most definitely not the true root of this rebranding attempt, but I digress.

I truly appreciate the fact that of all the entries that I've had the privilege of reading this year, that I am able to view a piece that gets to the root of why I volunteered to put on this year's festivities at the very last minute. I believe that as a purveyor of chronic geek memes, that the meme of a geek being unable to find another geek to love is rooted in the idea that self-appreciation leads to the coincidental success thereof relational love. While I give credence to the fact that styxprincess's piece touches on the idea of self-love as well, her piece is wrapped in thoughtful melancholy, while the rat-pope's piece knocks on hardwood.

Yukki's final thoughts:
I find myself reflecting here silently on the idea of what I could've done better to try and better appreciate the theme of self-love. Unable to find the willingness to admit that I am probably not the best expert thereon, I think that what can be ultimately surmised is that such an endeavor is a perpetual work-in-progress. Self-love is a love akin to perfection. As we are humble humans, and humans are incredibly fallible, I am confident in saying that we will always struggle to love ourselves in the best way possible. Much like how we struggle to accept how tomatoes are a fruit or that pineapples do not belong on pizza, the idea that you can simply love yourself in such a wholistic and satisfying way one morning by thinking the thought is a folly not worth entertaining. Instead, to love one's self, you must work hard, have a laugh, maybe cry a little, and ultimately confront the problem head-on.

This is what I've taken from these poems and I thank each and every writer for their thoughtful, sometimes funny, sometimes sad, always incredible pictures that they painted.

Until next year.


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Expectations and Confusion: How NDay10 came to be
Written By: Altys

Leading up to the event, each faction had their own, different, expectations for the event. The field we ended up getting was by and large decided by them however true or false they were. So let's discuss them!

Initial Expectations

Inside KHAN (Kingly Heathens Asserting Neighborliness -- later Kingly Horsemen Asserting Neighborliness) awareness dawned early on regarding the non-reformation of the Potato Alliance. Notably, the addition of Icarus Moreaux and 9003, former Potato Generals and de facto leaders in September 2023, fueled expectations of a rerun from the previous edition without the Potato Alliance. KHAN then expected a fight to happen between them and the other major factions, where it would stand at a disadvantage.

Inside A.N.A.L (Anime Nations Against Liberals) Command there was the expectation for a re-run of the previous edition (September 2023). The faction and its allies would first team with KHAN and the Potato alliance to kill the Horsemen of the Apocalypse (HotA). Subsequently, the event was expected to transform into a clash between A.N.A.L & Allies versus KHAN & Potato Alliance, placing the former at a strategic disadvantage. Consequently, ANAL took proactive measures, extending invitations to more regions, crafting strategies, and training new members as puppetmasters.

Inside JEFF (Jellyfish Elite Fighting Force, Commaders shared a parallel outlook with A.N.A.L Command, envisioning a rerun of the alliance against HotA from the previous edition. The possibility of Potato and KHAN aligning was also considered, with no knowledge of Potato's dissolution. In preparation, JEFF expanded its ranks by inviting additional regions and working to transform existing members into puppetmasters.

Inside Starlight (Starlight Brigade) Command, there was the anticipation of a shifting battlefield while retaining similarities to the previous event. Foreseeing an alliance against HotA, identifying Potato as a definite adversary, and anticipating a potential conflict between A.N.A.L & KHAN were the expectations held.

Potato's Dissolution

The official dissolution of the Potato Alliance, declared by its Commanders four days before the even, dramatically altered the landscape from the previous edition. Major factions braced for a tougher confrontation against HotA, given the softening of captchas and the absence of Potato's numerical support. Moreover, the expectation emerged that, even if victorious against HotA, the ensuing landscape would not favor KHAN. This expectation materialized into a stark reality when JEFF started assimilating regions once aligned with the Potato Alliance.

With JEFF's rapid expansion, A.N.A.L and KHAN standing neck-and-neck in nation count, and HotA yet to appear on the board, some within A.N.A.L Command questioned the relevance of the previously agreed Mutual Defense Pact against a potential KHAN-Potato alliance. Doubts persisted until KHAN clarified that HotA was "not forming as a separate entity."

KHAN and HotA merging

The revelation shattered burgeoning hopes in A.N.A.L Command of clinching victory. The merger of KHAN and HotA mirrored the historic alliance between CARD and HotA in NDay6 of 2021, reaching a horrifying 16 000 nations. A.N.A.L, JEFF, Starlight, and later the Motokata Defense Coalition (MDC) swiftly devised strategies to overcome these overwhelming odds. At that time, their combined strength barely surpassed 5,000 (eventually reaching around 13 000), paling in comparison to HotA's 2021 peak. All factions unified under a single command structure aimed at enhanced coordination against KHAN, initially agreeing to defend each other's WA nations and to carry coordinate strikes.

However, unbeknownst to them, not the entirety of HotA would align with KHAN. Despite the potential for a "megafaction," the merger did not fully materialize, rendering the event more even than the coalition initially believed, if not actually favoring KHAN's adversaries.

The Eight Hours War
Written By: Altys

NDay began like any other, with factions stockpiling. Though a notable divergence unfolded as A.N.A.L intensified its nuclear production, nearly amassing a stockpile Linksurpassing that of the two following factions combined within the first 20 minutes of the event. This stark departure from its historical emphasis on a defensive stance and shield production caught KHAN Command off guard, defying their expectations.

One the 30th minute, the storm unfurled. JEFF, accompanied by A.N.A.L's puppetmasters, honed in on KHAN. Targets multiplied, the earliest first strike to reach over 150k targets had it not been for JEFF's premature firing orders, 40 minutes into the event instead of 50. ANAL, in order to not weaken the attack, followed suit. Yet the initial salvo faltered due to sluggish pageloads and an untimely fire order limiting the firepower of A.N.A.L's puppetmasters. Undeterred, a second barrage ensued 45 minutes later—this time composed of Starlight, MDC, and A.N.A.L's non-puppetmasters. KHAN remained steadfast in defense, but teetered on the brink, succumbing to negative scores.

Around the two-hour mark, the tides shifted as KHAN retaliated, unleashing barrages upon JEFF. What unfolded was an hour of relentless back-and-forth, where JEFF fell into the negative as their aggressor rose to the podium.

As the clock struck the three-hour mark, a revelation dawned upon the anti-KHAN coalition. JEFF, caught in the ceaseless dance of attack and defense, showed signs of fatigue. Puppetmasters, doubling as commanders, strained to redirect their focus to shields and nukes, let alone oversee their troops. Internal morale also crumbled in tandem with the dwindling score and the never-ending deluge of enemy nukes. Adding to the chaos, the recent NDay updates saw the coalition's shared tech malfunctioning, diverting part of their nuke targeting to nations outside the KHAN fray. Worse, more often than not those targets were aimed at their own allies. A strategic pause became imperative to discuss how to pursue and fix the tech.

After 40 minutes of code fixing and deliberation, a paradigm shift unfolded. A.N.A.L's offensive juggernaut would no longer be divided, and JEFF, now firing alongside Starlight and Motokata, would gain time to regain focus and organization. The tech issues resolved, the crossfire among allies was also to cease. A.N.A.L spearheaded the renewed assault, this time puppetmasters and non-puppetmasters attacking in tandem. The faction targeted over 500k warheads against KHAN, ready to avenge their aquatic friends.

A tapestry of fire and counterfire unfolded over several hours, climaxing at the seven-hour mark as KHAN redirected its offensive onslaught towards A.N.A.L. The ensuing volley, nearly entirely shielded, gave way to several follow-ups with many more nukes piercing through the faction's shield dome. However, it proved too little, too late. With each barrage, KHAN absorbed more damage than its adversaries, its combat strength steadily waning. By the eighth hour, radiation levels breached 50%, signaling the coalition's triumph. The war had its winner.

Until the arms control treaty went into effect, the coalition would continue to feast upon the corpse of their enemy, inflicting a record 1 177 441 radiations. The final leaderboard would see A.N.A.L in first place with a total score of 722 734. In second place was the Starlight Brigade at a score of 258 323, also the only major faction to stay at 0 radiations (!). Finally in third place the Jellyfish Elite Fighting Force, back in the positives with a score of 250 241. Their enemy KHAN sat at -967 520 score.


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