Residents: Nations in the region.
Natives: Nations that possess more Regional Influence here than in any other region.
WA Members: Members of the World Assembly.
Large Nations: Nations with a population of at least 1 billion.
Influential Nations: Nations possessing Regional Influence equivalent to having spent 1,000 unendorsed days in the region.
The 'Natives' definition has already raised eyebrows within the gameplay community, with players from both sides of R/D opposing the definition.
Long time FRA member and The Rejected Realms delegate Frattastan called the definition "flawed", also saying that the system it was based on - influence - was flawed as well. Vizier of Osiris and invader Cormac Somerset declared that the admins should "have stayed out of the business of defining 'natives'", bringing up the scenario where an invader can become "a 'native' of a region within 24 hours or less".
Former multiple-time The East Pacific delegate Todd McCloud was more neutral on the subject, saying "Well, at least it's nations and not players. But my only thought on that is if someone with high influence happened to move away from a particular region and join another one. Does that mean they are penalized because they must wait for their high influence in one region to go down before they can become a native in another region?"
He then added; "For instance, my influence is 570 in TEP. Based on that number, it would be difficult for me to have my main nation become a "native" elsewhere.".
Europeia President Anumia had this to say: "The concept of a "native" has never been definitively pinned down, and though this change to gameplay brings with it an official definition, I doubt it will change the usual concept of being a native in the minds of most people."
He then added "Under this rule, after all, an invading Delegate will become a "native" quite quickly from the benefit of their endorsements if they stay for but a short while, yet very little of the international community on any part of the spectrum or neutral would likely consider them a native.
This change provides an interesting new perspective and shows the continued dedication to the Influence system by the Admins, but I believe the generally-accepted ideas about what constitutes a "native" are unlikely to change despite the official, in-game definition."
Defenders Hobbes and Johz also commented: "I think that definition, although it works by the games definition, is going to be abused and cause issues. If I have a puppet in a region, and that puppet has the most influence in that region, even if its a puppet, according to the game I am a native of that region on the puppet, although admittingly, if the game only plans on using this definition for polling and nothing more, it can't do much damage." Hobbes commented.
Johz was supportive of the definition, calling it "as good a definition as any".
Whatever your opinion of this definition is, the addition of polls to NS is a welcome one. More analysis and reaction to come, only from the ONN.