NS History: You've Got Questions, We've Got Answers!

[Unibot III]

So the second component of the mission was the ID pin of the endorsed nation (Better Times) that was distributed allowed the lead account to remain anonymous to even the participants of the liberation... correct? Makes sense, if so.

Not exactly. But I expect others know the technical details better than me. I helped out with the organizing and practical application after Ballo showed me how, but don't remember all the details. It was a rather busy time.

What? You mean you don't remember intricate details of a plan you were only half organizing, twelve years ago? How dare you.

[Myrth]

That's not true. Every participant in the Puppetmaster attack moved their nations to the region and joined the UN on their own, when the order to do so went out.

Pretty sure that's exactly what made the puppetmaster attack. It was universally known at the time that Better Times was the target nation, because he held a high endorsement count in the region before Great Bight took power. After which Ballo left the region so he couldn't be banned, and started update-dodging to keep his endorsements. GB even had a list of Better Times' endorsing nations from before he ditched the region and ejected those that were endorsing BT but not GB. Sadly GB started from a rather low endorsement total and we didn't have enough time to boost it.

[Ananke II]

You're getting your timelines mixed up, Myrth. Ballotonia only became an active participant in TNP matters after Great Bight. Better Times was a clean nation, who noone knew about (not even me) during the summer of 2004, when we were planning to unseat Great Bight. After Ballotonia/Better Times handed over the delegacy to Thel D'Ran, he started hanging around the TNP forum and got involved in politics. When Pixiedance went rogue on us, that's when Ballotonia started update surfing with Better Times.

[Myrth]

You're getting your timelines mixed up, Myrth. Ballotonia only became an active participant in TNP matters after Great Bight. Better Times was a clean nation, who noone knew about (not even me) during the summer of 2004, when we were planning to unseat Great Bight. After Ballotonia/Better Times handed over the delegacy to Thel D'Ran, he started hanging around the TNP forum and got involved in politics. When Pixiedance went rogue on us, that's when Ballotonia started update surfing with Better Times.

Ah, yes, that does sound right. So long ago I can barely remember the time lines. I can't even recall whether I was a moderator at that point. I don't think I ever had any communication with GB, but Pixiedance I certainly did. Sent a good chunk of nations off to the Rejected Realms... ah, those were the days.

[Tinhampton]

When the NSwiki servers came down in November 2013, was anything lost to the mists of time, or is there still information about everything you want to know about NS gameplay history if you dig around a bit?

[Pierconium]

You're getting your timelines mixed up, Myrth. Ballotonia only became an active participant in TNP matters after Great Bight. Better Times was a clean nation, who noone knew about (not even me) during the summer of 2004, when we were planning to unseat Great Bight. After Ballotonia/Better Times handed over the delegacy to Thel D'Ran, he started hanging around the TNP forum and got involved in politics. When Pixiedance went rogue on us, that's when Ballotonia started update surfing with Better Times.

The player behind those nations was involved in the planning of the first Puppetmaster. Free4All was very active behind the scenes. Also, the handing off of the nations was an integral part of the plan, thus the name. Puppetmaster II went well beyond just planning as I remember a few dozen nations being kicked when it was launched - also, I have screenshots.

Also, what plan exactly was implemented after the failure of Puppetmaster II that was successful? Nothing that was done in opposition to the Minister worked. He resigned out of boredom.

[LollerLand]

What was the purpose of Poseidon website?
Who was Frak and why was he banned?

[Gig em Aggies]

Is there a database or encyclopedia of all the nations that are on or were on nation states that includes their flags?

If not then someone should make one

[Wordy]

I do not believe so as that would be a massive undertaking. Texas has regional flags available. Quite interesting to look at though it takes quite a while to render the flags. http://nsdossier.texasregion.net/regionFlag.aspx

[LollerLand]

Whenever I read the GP thread of Osiris, I see a lot of mention of an organization called 'Empire'. Who are they?

Oh and still waiting for an answer for my previous questions..

[Sygian II]

Whenever I read the GP thread of Osiris, I see a lot of mention of an organization called 'Empire'. Who are they?

Oh and still waiting for an answer for my previous questions..

The Empire refers to the Empire of The East Pacific the government of TEP in 2008 I believe. In most cases when people say "the Empire", they are referring to its four main leaders. In terms of Osiris, 3 members of the Empire (including Pharaoh Neo Kervoskia) are citizens of Osiris, excluding Biyah (his citizenship was revoked because of one month of inactivity if I recall correctly).

[Sygian II]

What was the purpose of Poseidon website?

Poseidon was a website created by Nephmir and Frak (both accessing the site through the nation Endr) , who was already Delete-on-Sight at the time. The website was supposed to train raiders and defenders (how, I do not recall). Nephmir got permission to use NationStates content for Poseidon. After a mass telegram was sent to every nation on NS, there were reports that Nephmir had the assistance of Frak to create Poseidon and as everyone should know, assisting a DoS player in getting access to the site is a big no-no. Nephmir soon issued a public apology, and actually was the person that taught me how to raid (the reason I know quite a bit about the subject), and everyone has long moved past this issue.

Who was Frak and why was he banned?

I cannot recall the exact reason why Frak became Delete-on-Sight, but he did have a record of many serious rule violations.

[Anna24]

Honestly, they're just 4 friends who were around since a decade ago. You see a lot of paranoia about "the empire" because GP people don't have others to bash without getting burned bk. (Most of them have gone on to focus on RL.)
But when you label it as "the empire" it all suddenly becomes fine.

[Sygian II]

Actually, three of the four leaders of the Empire are still alive and active in NS (come back, Biyah!) and I'm sure they would answer any questions you have regarding the Empire's history.

[LollerLand]

Honestly, they're just 4 friends who were around since a decade ago. You see a lot of paranoia about "the empire" because GP people don't have others to bash without getting burned bk. (Most of them have gone on to focus on RL.)
But when you label it as "the empire" it all suddenly becomes fine.

Well 'the Empire' is a pretty badass name for a group of friends..

[Tinhampton]

What was the difference between the New Pacific Order and the People's Republic of the Pacific?

[Kitzerland]

Who was Hippo? (AKA Nevankmaa, or something like that)

[Kitzerland]

Who was Hippo? (AKA Nevankmaa, or something like that)

Also, who was Chester/ UFoC?

[Belschaft]

What was the difference between the New Pacific Order and the People's Republic of the Pacific?

The name.

[Myrth]

What was the difference between the New Pacific Order and the People's Republic of the Pacific?

The PRP was the post-revolutionary, post-Francos Spain government of the Pacific. It marked a period of reproachment with the majority of the NS world, with most other regions choosing to recognise the legitimacy of the PRP as the true and rightful government of the Pacific. After Unlimited's time as delegate, the PRP branding was largely reverted, and the NPO/The Pacific are pretty much just one and the same now.

[Tinhampton]

...and again:

When the NSwiki servers came down in November 2013, was anything lost to the mists of time, or is there still information about everything you want to know about NS gameplay history if you dig around a bit?

[Mallorea and Riva]

...and again:

When the NSwiki servers came down in November 2013, was anything lost to the mists of time, or is there still information about everything you want to know about NS gameplay history if you dig around a bit?

It seems likely that, along with created content, "real" gameplay history was permanently lost with the demise of NSwiki.

[Unnamedland]

1. How did The Grey Wardens start?
2. What was the first large, organized raider region? What was raiding and defending like before The Black Riders, or was it just nearly nonexistent?
3. I just want to know more about NS history in general.

[Guy]

1. How did The Grey Wardens start?
2. What was the first large, organized raider region? What was raiding and defending like before The Black Riders, or was it just nearly nonexistent?
3. I just want to know more about NS history in general.

1. Benvolvent Thomas wanted to pursue his ideas what defending should be like. An example of a point of divergence is whether chasing tag raiders is worthwhile, or a waste of resources. Following his departure from 10ki he led a regional military (Fort Triumph Marshal Service), but probably wanted a non-regional one. The first incarnation of TGW, in 2015, was probably less successful than its current one.

2. Yes, the invasion game existed long before TBR. The Farkers are widely credited as the first invader group. To my knowledge, the term 'raiding' was not historically utilised.

[Zwangzug]

...and again:

When the NSwiki servers came down in November 2013, was anything lost to the mists of time, or is there still information about everything you want to know about NS gameplay history if you dig around a bit?

Pre-2007/8ish stuff can be found at archive.nswiki.org (semi-reliable).