Raiders - can they be stopped?

[Underwereld]

Back when I first started playing this game, raiding did not even seem to be an option. What kind of defense options are available to regions being attacked? What kind of options exist to stop raiders from doing their thing?

[Ballotonia]

1. Have a trustworthy Founder who will remain active in the game long-term.
2. This Founder should disable Delegate-access to Region Controls.
That's it.

Regions without the above are vulnerable to being attacked and taken over by invaders. My suggestion for those who find themselves in such a region: move to a different region.

Ballotonia

[Frattastan]

Password-protect the region.
It's a good solution but will prevent regional growth (it there isn't much recruiting activity, though, this shouldn't be a concern).

Refound the region.
Better in the long term but riskier, as raiders could intercept the refounding and steal the region.

[Sedgistan]

Re-founding is the best long-term option for regional security. I wrote this guide to doing it a few years ago - I've updated it a bit, but it's more of a general guide - some of the points might not apply to your situation. In a small region, so long as the delegate has enough influence, you can often re-found within a day or two. For larger regions, it may take weeks.

1) Actually decide to re-found. It can be a long and complex process, and there are risks involved. It's far easier to do if all the members of your region support re-founding, so it's best to consult the active members of your region.

2) Choose who will re-found your region. You may choose to have the founder nation under the control of several trusted members. Make sure that the nation to be used for re-founding is in your region before you start.

3) Password-protect the region - this is vital, as there may be a point near the end when you don't have a Delegate. If you don't have the influence to do this, then get trusted allies to send WA nations to support you. Make sure that the password is not visible to nations within your region, and that only the bare minimum of members know it (preferably only the person who passwords the region, and the person who will be doing the re-founding).

4) Found a temporary region, with a similar name. Make sure that the founder is a trusted member of your region.

5) Inform all members of your region of the details of your plan for re-founding. They have to know what is going on to be able to co-operate. Also, some people might need quite a long period of notice before they move. Do this by telegramming them, posting announcements on your RMB, putting it in the WFE, and if you have an off-site forum, put an announcement there and email all members an update.

6) Inform all regions you have embassies with/have friendly relations with (you may want to inform some allies before password-protecting your region if you need more influence). People like to know what is going on in your region, and may be able to offer help.

7) You will inevitably have to eject nations that don't move - many of them will be inactive. If you don't have a trustworthy WA nation in the region with a massive amount of influence (who can eject all these stragglers single-handedly), you may have to switch the delegacy around, to speed up the process. In this situation, choose around 3 trusted WA nations.

7) Get all WA nations to endorse your chosen WA nation(s). If you're going to be switching the delegacy around, try and make sure they have an equal number of endorsements. You can then easily switch the Delegacy around, by one of them withdrawing their endorsements of the other(s) just before the update, and then re-endorsing them afterwards.

8) Ask all non-WA nations to move to the temporary region (an exception is whatever nation you will be using to re-found your region - keep that in the home region until the end). Contact them via telegram, and also post on the RMB/in the WFE. Any that do not move after several warnings should be ejected.

9) Once stage 8 is done, ask about half of the WA nations to move (preferably the less active/well known ones). Inform them as above, and eject all that don't move.

10) Ask all the remaining WA nations to move, except for the delegate and 1 other trusted WA nation. Inform them as above, and eject all those that don't move.

11) Get the final two WA nations to move to the temporary region. The only nation left should be the one that will be used to re-found the region.

12) Do not necessarily re-found at the first possible update. If your region is well known, it may be being watched. It is usually best to wait a few days before re-founding. Make sure that you know what time your region is updated*, and then move out just before, and then re-found as soon as your region ceases to exist.

13) Inform all nations and allies (as above) that they can return to the region. It is advisable to keep WA Delegate access to regional controls off until you have a trusted member established as Delegate.

*This can be found by seeing what time issues are processed for nations in the region. If possible, get it down to the exact second (though be aware that update times can fluctuate slightly from day-to-day).

If you don't want to read through it all, the summary is Password >> Eject >> Re-found.

[The Murtunian Tribes]

Become a raider organization. We'll leave you alone after that.

[Swkoll]

Become a raider organization. We'll leave you alone after that.

Yes.

[Deep Fried Salmon]

The only option that works is having an ungodly amount of endorsements,

Founder should disable Delegate-access to Region Controls.

and that.

[ForeStarnya]

Repel them?

[Frattastan]

That would require a Delegate active and watching at both updates - not possible for the majority of players.

[The Murtunian Tribes]

If you want to take the lame way out, you could join the FRA.

[St Mason]

If you want to take the lame way out, you could join the FRA.

That would work! NOT! but would make more fun leaving 'Fendas in the dust. Is true!

I've been in NS for 7 years and there was always raiding, and likely always will be. Just accept the fact.

Also know and realize that the current raids are completed by a team of two maybe three at times. Yet have not been stopped, in fact up to 10 regions are taken each run. The defenders faced are easily defeated, although they are getting better. Who has ever heard in the past that the defenders are now using "switchers".

A solution? Join in the game enjoy this sub-game of NationStates become a Defender or Raider, or even both, many presently are. It is great Sport.

[Halcones]

Good points St Mason.

The only true way to stop your region being butchered by raiders is as mentioned above: Become a raider organisation. Surrender into the dark side. In fact we are the good guys, constantly promoting activity across NationStates, stimulating nations to get on their feet and fight us. In the early days, raiders would have come first, and their activity would have stimulated the growth of defender organisations. It is true that raiders are essential to this game. They are like viruses in the outside world..... constantly pushing things to adapt and evolve.

Password protecting a region is more harmful than anything else. We can easily get passwords to regions, through a multitude of ways. And when we do, you are hit a lot harder.

Refounding is highly dangerous. We do have are eyes and ears open, and if we hear of a refound, we will attempt to intercept it. Even if you have defenders helping out, it is no guarantee you will succeed. We are in most cases faster than they are.

Refounding also gives our many sleepers an opportunity to awaken and step into the refounding process. Take a look at Nationstates Communist Party for an example. The natives discussed refounding to prevent further invasions. Our sleeper was alerted, and took the opportunity to take the region as a raider colony.

Joining the FRA is the worst thing you could do. It will label your region as a high valuable target. We would attack it in the most deadly ways possible.

Becoming raider is the only way out, unless you want a mighty fight.

[Frattastan]

Refounding also gives our many sleepers an opportunity to awaken and step into the refounding process.

Like this one, Halc ?
Hadradon

Always watching.

[Halcones]

Nope, but could be. Could be anyone. Could be Underwereld.

[Jagalonia]

Can raiders be stopped......Hmmm...

In a word...No.

[St Mason]

Refounding also gives our many sleepers an opportunity to awaken and step into the refounding process.

Like this one, Halc ?
Hadradon

Always watching.

LOL.

If your in doubt kick them all out, sleepers are often there as a team or not. Likely you shall never know until it is time! The moral is: Be kind to ALL your regional nations. , for you just never know.

[Halcones]

Excellent rhythm St Mason!

You can't watch them all..... so one will always break through the fence and drag you down a hole.....

[Frattastan]

Like this one, Halc ?
Hadradon

Always watching.

LOL.

If your in doubt kick them all out, sleepers are often there as a team or not. Likely you shall never know until it is time! The moral is: Be kind to ALL your regional nations. , for you just never know.

Sleepers from the same player most of the time have the same activity pattern. If they've activity at all (too lazy, uh ? ).
They are different from other nations. And that one is clearly a sleeper.
You are no super-spy, no intel wizard, sorry

You can't watch them all..... so one will always break through the fence and drag you down a hole.....

Actually, I can.

[Halcones]

60,000+ nations?

Good luck

Not all our sleepers are so obvious

[-Takaram-]

If you want to stop raiders permanently, re-founding is your best bet. However, gaining delegate control and passwording the region could keep them out, but it would stifle growth. If you do this, however, make sure you don't leave the password available to members of the region.

[Letoilenoir]

60,000+ nations?

Good luck

Not all our sleepers are so obvious

You sir have sullied my reputation - My nation is now regarded as a raider!

I will have satisfaction!

[Tim-Opolis]

No... us raiders cannot be stopped


We are simply to sneaky for those pesky fendas to catch us

[Oceanic Vakiadia]

Why would you want to stop raiders? I personally think that "fenda" sounds so hilarious. Just think! That nickname wouldn't exist if it wasn't for raiders!

[Tim-Opolis]

Agreed... we get credit for everything amazing

[Cinistra]

No you can't. Become one of us or perish .