Chain Issue: An International Incident

[South Isles]

I already colonized that Brazilistan.

[Excidium Planetis]

And the Final Issue:
(There isn't even an option here. It's like Max Barry and Sanctaria are trying to make me feel bad about nuking a country.)

Issue Series
“An International Incident”

The Story So Far

You decided to deal with the crisis in Brasilistan by launching a wave of nuclear strikes.

The Issue

When you give the order to launch the nukes, your general briefly leaves the room. The moments tick by. When he returns, he simply nods once. "Birds in the air." There are almost two dozen people around this table, including some of the most brilliant minds and fearsome personalities in Excidium Planetis, but none of them speak. "Three minutes until impact." You expected more activity. But there's nothing to do. There aren't even any gigantic computer screens, tracing the path of the missiles. It's beneath you, you suppose. Your job is not to track the flight of missiles. Your job is simply to decide. And that's what you've done. You've decided to annihilate another country. You look around the table at your advisors and soldiers. Some nod back at you reassuringly. Some won't meet your eyes. Not everyone will agree with you, of course. But it's not their decision. It's yours. The general leaves the room several more times. Finally, he returns. "It's done," your general says. "It's done."

The Debate

Accept

Dismiss This Issue

[Jute]

And the Final Issue:
(There isn't even an option here. It,s like Max Barry is trying to make me feel bad about nuking a country.)

Issue Series
“An International Incident”

The Story So Far

You decided to deal with the crisis in Brasilistan by launching a wave of nuclear strikes.

The Issue

When you give the order to launch the nukes, your general briefly leaves the room. The moments tick by. When he returns, he simply nods once. "Birds in the air." There are almost two dozen people around this table, including some of the most brilliant minds and fearsome personalities in Excidium Planetis, but none of them speak. "Three minutes until impact." You expected more activity. But there's nothing to do. There aren't even any gigantic computer screens, tracing the path of the missiles. It's beneath you, you suppose. Your job is not to track the flight of missiles. Your job is simply to decide. And that's what you've done. You've decided to annihilate another country. You look around the table at your advisors and soldiers. Some nod back at you reassuringly. Some won't meet your eyes. Not everyone will agree with you, of course. But it's not their decision. It's yours. The general leaves the room several more times. Finally, he returns. "It's done," your general says. "It's done."

The Debate

Accept

Dismiss This Issue

Should have maybe colonized the country, like the poster above you. That way, you wouldn't even have earned the disapproval of the issue editors

[Mefpan]

Nukes are such a cheap-ass cop-out. Anyone who ever threw a passing glance at the International Incidents subforum knows that.

Granted, I am not entirely certain if a massed land invasion that ends up annihilating so much of the country that it doesn't leave enough for an independent nation behind is much better, but hey it's not my call to make. I get to have more clay.

[Excidium Planetis]

Nukes are such a cheap-ass cop-out. Anyone who ever threw a passing glance at the International Incidents subforum knows that.

Granted, I am not entirely certain if a massed land invasion that ends up annihilating so much of the country that it doesn't leave enough for an independent nation behind is much better, but hey it's not my call to make. I get to have more clay.

I RP as an FT Nation that lives on a nomadic fleet. We don't want land. If someone creates a problem with us, and we have the capability to wipe them out, we wipe them out. Nukes are only cop outs for MT nations. They're practically the go-to weapon in FT.

[Mefpan]

Nukes are such a cheap-ass cop-out. Anyone who ever threw a passing glance at the International Incidents subforum knows that.

Granted, I am not entirely certain if a massed land invasion that ends up annihilating so much of the country that it doesn't leave enough for an independent nation behind is much better, but hey it's not my call to make. I get to have more clay.

I RP as an FT Nation that lives on a nomadic fleet. We don't want land. If someone creates a problem with us, and we have the capability to wipe them out, we wipe them out. Nukes are only cop outs for MT nations. They're practically the go-to weapon in FT.

Yeah, the problem is what when you look at Issues you need to pretend you're still just a boring vanilla MT nation that couldn't just teleport its citizens back home.

[Sanctaria]

Can we not with the FT / MT face-off? Thanks.

I'm glad you like The Chain. The Editing Team put a lot of work into it.

[Excidium Planetis]

I RP as an FT Nation that lives on a nomadic fleet. We don't want land. If someone creates a problem with us, and we have the capability to wipe them out, we wipe them out. Nukes are only cop outs for MT nations. They're practically the go-to weapon in FT.

Yeah, the problem is what when you look at Issues you need to pretend you're still just a boring vanilla MT nation that couldn't just teleport its citizens back home.

Yeah, I always resent the fact that Issues are geared towards Modern Tech. Perhaps with Chain Issues, they can make scientific progress themed ones? Like you get an issue about a space race with Bigtopia, and then you pour funding into the space program, and then you launch a project to colonize the moon, and then you encounter an alien race. Or something like that.

What I'm saying, is if you put a ton of effort into scientific progress in your nation, you should get more issues that reflect your status as an FT nation.

[Mefpan]

Yeah, the problem is what when you look at Issues you need to pretend you're still just a boring vanilla MT nation that couldn't just teleport its citizens back home.

Yeah, I always resent the fact that Issues are geared towards Modern Tech. Perhaps with Chain Issues, they can make scientific progress themed ones? Like you get an issue about a space race with Bigtopia, and then you pour funding into the space program, and then you launch a project to colonize the moon, and then you encounter an alien race. Or something like that.

What I'm saying, is if you put a ton of effort into scientific progress in your nation, you should get more issues that reflect your status as an FT nation.

Now that's a thing I wouldn't mind.

Space Race themed issue chains, with all the glorious fictional stuff like insane espionage shenanigans attached to it. First Contact scenarios for scientifically tanking nations with a healthy space program.

As for colonizing the moon - we already have an Issue that lets you place a giant honking space cannon on the moon; not that it really matters all that much once you click past it.

[Imperializt Russia]

I'm not a huge fan of the nuclear ending.

I respect it as being an ultimate ending and response, and I do like the way that it's conducted - "look what you've done, you awful bastard, you". Reminded me a little of the ending to Spec Ops: The Line, in all honesty!
A further set of options whether to "glass" the country (the existing nuclear option) or just a nuclear strike that sends them back to the stone age would have been nice - the latter then leaving you with the dilemma of just what on earth to do with the survivors, who now live in the thirteenth century.

So, we seem to have covered the WAR, HUH, WHUT IS IT GOOD FOR option, where does the Olive Branch of the chain take us?

[Excidium Planetis]

Yeah, I always resent the fact that Issues are geared towards Modern Tech. Perhaps with Chain Issues, they can make scientific progress themed ones? Like you get an issue about a space race with Bigtopia, and then you pour funding into the space program, and then you launch a project to colonize the moon, and then you encounter an alien race. Or something like that.

What I'm saying, is if you put a ton of effort into scientific progress in your nation, you should get more issues that reflect your status as an FT nation.

Now that's a thing I wouldn't mind.

Space Race themed issue chains, with all the glorious fictional stuff like insane espionage shenanigans attached to it. First Contact scenarios for scientifically tanking nations with a healthy space program.

As for colonizing the moon - we already have an Issue that lets you place a giant honking space cannon on the moon; not that it really matters all that much once you click past it.

There's also an issue where one option lets you fund moon colonies... but nothing ever comes out of it after the issue resolves. Chain Issues let you feel like your decisions actually do something besides change your nation stats a bit.

[Jute]

I'm not a huge fan of the nuclear ending.

I respect it as being an ultimate ending and response, and I do like the way that it's conducted - "look what you've done, you awful bastard, you". Reminded me a little of the ending to Spec Ops: The Line, in all honesty!
A further set of options whether to "glass" the country (the existing nuclear option) or just a nuclear strike that sends them back to the stone age would have been nice - the latter then leaving you with the dilemma of just what on earth to do with the survivors, who now live in the thirteenth century.

So, we seem to have covered the WAR, HUH, WHUT IS IT GOOD FOR option, where does the Olive Branch of the chain take us?

The 13th century is equivalent to the Stone Age now?

I RP as an FT Nation that lives on a nomadic fleet. We don't want land. If someone creates a problem with us, and we have the capability to wipe them out, we wipe them out. Nukes are only cop outs for MT nations. They're practically the go-to weapon in FT.

Yeah, the problem is what when you look at Issues you need to pretend you're still just a boring vanilla MT nation that couldn't just teleport its citizens back home.

They mostly seem to assume you're the US or something... I never ordered drone strikes, that would be awful! Who the heck are the traitors that keep on intervening militarily, making themselves dictators of other countries or researching secret super-weapons? (Granted, the last one is not as bad)

Yeah, I always resent the fact that Issues are geared towards Modern Tech. Perhaps with Chain Issues, they can make scientific progress themed ones? Like you get an issue about a space race with Bigtopia, and then you pour funding into the space program, and then you launch a project to colonize the moon, and then you encounter an alien race. Or something like that.

What I'm saying, is if you put a ton of effort into scientific progress in your nation, you should get more issues that reflect your status as an FT nation.

Now that's a thing I wouldn't mind.

Space Race themed issue chains, with all the glorious fictional stuff like insane espionage shenanigans attached to it. First Contact scenarios for scientifically tanking nations with a healthy space program.

As for colonizing the moon - we already have an Issue that lets you place a giant honking space cannon on the moon; not that it really matters all that much once you click past it.

Yeah, that would be interesting, too, true.

Now that's a thing I wouldn't mind.

Space Race themed issue chains, with all the glorious fictional stuff like insane espionage shenanigans attached to it. First Contact scenarios for scientifically tanking nations with a healthy space program.

As for colonizing the moon - we already have an Issue that lets you place a giant honking space cannon on the moon; not that it really matters all that much once you click past it.

There's also an issue where one option lets you fund moon colonies... but nothing ever comes out of it after the issue resolves. Chain Issues let you feel like your decisions actually do something besides change your nation stats a bit.

True, they really are the best addition to Nationstates in a long while (since the banners at least ) But I also like the regular issues, they're nice rp incentives, show you what is currently happening in your nation and stuff.

[Imperializt Russia]

I'm not a huge fan of the nuclear ending.

I respect it as being an ultimate ending and response, and I do like the way that it's conducted - "look what you've done, you awful bastard, you". Reminded me a little of the ending to Spec Ops: The Line, in all honesty!
A further set of options whether to "glass" the country (the existing nuclear option) or just a nuclear strike that sends them back to the stone age would have been nice - the latter then leaving you with the dilemma of just what on earth to do with the survivors, who now live in the thirteenth century.

So, we seem to have covered the WAR, HUH, WHUT IS IT GOOD FOR option, where does the Olive Branch of the chain take us?

The 13th century is equivalent to the Stone Age now?

Yes.

Weren't you taught modern history?
(the use of two historic time periods was wholly intentional hyperbole, worry not.)

[Mefpan]

Aaaaaand I must discover that I have indeed reached the end of The Chain.

I feel a little...empty...now that a small but intriguing storylet has come to an end. But I feel almost tempted to try to figure out if I can come up with chains of my own, which is probably to be answered with a "no".

[Jute]

Aaaaaand I must discover that I have indeed reached the end of The Chain.

I feel a little...empty...now that a small but intriguing storylet has come to an end. But I feel almost tempted to try to figure out if I can come up with chains of my own, which is probably to be answered with a "no".

You can, it's just a lot of work.

[Imperializt Russia]

Aaaaaand I must discover that I have indeed reached the end of The Chain.

I feel a little...empty...now that a small but intriguing storylet has come to an end. But I feel almost tempted to try to figure out if I can come up with chains of my own, which is probably to be answered with a "no".

It'll never hurt to ask!

[Mefpan]

Aaaaaand I must discover that I have indeed reached the end of The Chain.

I feel a little...empty...now that a small but intriguing storylet has come to an end. But I feel almost tempted to try to figure out if I can come up with chains of my own, which is probably to be answered with a "no".

It'll never hurt to ask!

Aaaaaand I must discover that I have indeed reached the end of The Chain.

I feel a little...empty...now that a small but intriguing storylet has come to an end. But I feel almost tempted to try to figure out if I can come up with chains of my own, which is probably to be answered with a "no".

You can, it's just a lot of work.

It was more of a "Hey motivation, think we can sit down and get to writing something productive today?"

"NO! WE ARE NOT BEING PRODUCTIVE TODAY. NOW SHUT UP!"

kind of thing.

[Aeternabilis]

I just got the issue 404 Issue Not Found and it mentions an incident with Brasilistan, even though I haven't done the issue chain yet. Is this is a bug or nothing to be concerned about? I don't want to accidentally mess the chain up if you only get it once.

[Jute]

It'll never hurt to ask!

You can, it's just a lot of work.

It was more of a "Hey motivation, think we can sit down and get to writing something productive today?"

"NO! WE ARE NOT BEING PRODUCTIVE TODAY. NOW SHUT UP!"

kind of thing.

Well, that can be helped...

[Luna Amore]

I just got the issue 404 Issue Not Found and it mentions an incident with Brasilistan, even though I haven't done the issue chain yet. Is this is a bug or nothing to be concerned about? I don't want to accidentally mess the chain up if you only get it once.

It's just a tongue-in-cheek reference. It has no bearing on whether you get the chain. For instance, I can get Issue 404, but I can't get the chain. I'd still see the reference.

[Excidium Planetis]

I just got the issue 404 Issue Not Found and it mentions an incident with Brasilistan, even though I haven't done the issue chain yet. Is this is a bug or nothing to be concerned about? I don't want to accidentally mess the chain up if you only get it once.

Many fictional nations occur in multiple issues. Bigtopia, Liliputia, Maxtopia, and Brasilistan are the most common. It's not a bug, and it's not the Chain.

[Aeternabilis]

I just got the issue 404 Issue Not Found and it mentions an incident with Brasilistan, even though I haven't done the issue chain yet. Is this is a bug or nothing to be concerned about? I don't want to accidentally mess the chain up if you only get it once.

It's just a tongue-in-cheek reference. It has no bearing on whether you get the chain. For instance, I can get Issue 404, but I can't get the chain. I'd still see the reference.

Oh, cool. Thanks!

[Zurkerx]

Can we not with the FT / MT face-off? Thanks.

I'm glad you like The Chain. The Editing Team put a lot of work into it.

Could we possibly be seeing more in the future?

[Sedgistan]

Two broad questions here:

Futuristic stuff - there's a limit to what we can realistically do. I know it'd be great if we could have issues for futuristic nations, historical ones, fantasy ones - but it'd require a complete re-write of the game code, and a whole new set of issues. We can touch on some areas (someone mentioned Moon bases, which is a good example) but not explore them in depth.

More chains - yes. Though they're a lot of work. If a player wants to author a full chain they can, but whether it gets accepted depends on whether you can find an Editor willing to take the lead on the editing process for it.

[Jute]

Two broad questions here:

Futuristic stuff - there's a limit to what we can realistically do. I know it'd be great if we could have issues for futuristic nations, historical ones, fantasy ones - but it'd require a complete re-write of the game code, and a whole new set of issues. We can touch on some areas (someone mentioned Moon bases, which is a good example) but not explore them in depth.

More chains - yes. Though they're a lot of work. If a player wants to author a full chain they can, but whether it gets accepted depends on whether you can find an Editor willing to take the lead on the editing process for it.

Too bad the site doesn't generate enough money to employ someone to do that...