[DRAFT] A Mysterious Signal for @@LEADER@@?

[Mirum]

Hi, this is my first issue draft here. I wanted feedback and comments on this so I could refine it until it is good. Hope you all enjoy, and I am looking forward to the comments! Also, mods, or anyone else, if there are any issues, I did not mean it, as this is my first issue, and am still learning (see disclaimer).

TITLE: A Mysterious Signal for @@LEADER@@?

PREREQUISITES / VALIDITY: Immigration required, Space Program required

INTRO: Just hours ago, the Large @@DEMONYM@@ Deep Space Telescope and Relay picked up an unknown signal seemingly originating from deep space. After translating it, the message was seemingly directed to you, from a spacefaring civilization. Top scientists, military officials, and many others have flocked to your office to receive your guidance on the matter. As they enter your office, the debate begins on how to handle this unique situation...

OPTION 1: "Greetings, @@LEADER@@," the monotone translating device begins to play the message received, albeit poorly, "We are but humble refugees from the planet *STATIC*, a world about *STATIC* light-years away from your own. We humbly request that you shield us, since our home has been lost to the stars. In return, we shall provide our technologies and aide to your nation."
As the message ends, your foreign-born Minister of Space Exploration and Science, Dr. Schrödinger von Katze, eagerly stands before you, and states to you, "@@LEADER@@, this is a excellent opportunity for us. We could receive technologies beyond our wildest dreams! Just think of all the good we could do! Plus, if we don't do it, I'm sure Blackacre would be more than willing to take them up on the offer, and I shudder to imagine what would happen if they got that tech. We need to immediately ease up all our immigration policies, so these extraterrestrials may walk among us legally."

Result: The citizens of @@NATION@@ are convinced that there are now aliens among them.

OPTION 2: "Oh come on, now. Surely, the both of you are taking this too far?" Your Minister of Boring Things and Statistics drones on from the back of the room, "Obviously it is just a hoax. Extraterrestrials are not real. They have not come to @@NATION@@. There is no proof. The message could not have been so conveniently translated into our language by the so-called extraterrestrials. Instead of doing all this, let us fine and punish any hooligan who tries to prank us like this again."

Result: Farmers who report unknown sources of crop damages are approached by dark-suited officials and interrogated.

OPTION 3: "@@LEADER@@, do you really believe this? There are no 'little green men' in spaceships. The only threat is Blackacre, who must be using this as a ruse to launch an invasion! For the sake of our glorious nation, these invaders must be stopped! They clearly announced their intentions to us!" Your Defense Minister pushes Dr. von Katze out of the way and continues ranting, "If they wish to invade OUR NATION, they will feel the wrath of our military! We need to shoot down every unknown object in the sky. Sure, we may be outnumbered and outgunned, but WE WILL WIN IN THE END. All hail our glorious @@TYPE@@ of @@NATION@@ forever! @@SLOGAN@@!"

Result: In @@NATION@@, the weather is always cloudy with a chance of falling debris.

OPTION 4 (VOID IF RELIGION BANNED / ATHIESM ENFORCED): "The Great Ones have finally arrived!" shouts @@RANDOMNAME@@, a citizen outside your window, while adjusting the tinfoil hat @@HE@@ wears, "@@LEADER@@, you must submit the entire nation before them! You must allow them to rule us or we will face their wrath!" And with those words, the citizen is dragged away from your window by your guards.

Result: There are imposters among the @@DEMONYM@@ Government.

**DISCLAIMER: IF YOU MADE A SIMILAR ISSUE IN THE FOURM, OR A PREVIOUS PUBLISHED ISSUE, I HAVE NOT SEEN IT, AND THEREFORE HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF ITS EXISTANCE. I AM SORRY IF I ACCIDENTLY TAKE YOUR WORK. THE LIST OF ISSUES IS TOO EXTENSIVE FOR ME TO LOOK AT COMPLETLEY. I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE FOR ANY MISTAKES / ACCIDENTAL RULE-BREAKAGES / ETC. THAT MAY OCCUR.**

PREVIOUS VERSIONS:

TITLE: A Mysterious Signal for @@LEADER@@?

PREREQUISITES / VALIDITY: Immigration required, Space Program required

INTRO: Just hours ago, the Large @@DEMONYM@@ Deep Space Telescope and Relay picked up an unknown signal seemingly originating from deep space. After translating it, the message was seemingly directed to you, from a spacefaring civilization. Top scientists, military officials, and many others have flocked to your office to receive your guidance on the matter. As they enter your office, the debate begins on how to handle this unique situation...

OPTION 1: "Greetings, @@LEADER@@," the monotone translating device begins to play the message received, albeit poorly, "We are but humble refugees from the planet *STATIC*, a world about *STATIC* light-years away from your own. We humbly request that you shield us, since our home has been lost to the stars. In return, we shall provide our technologies and aide to your nation."
As the message ends, your foreign-born Minister of Space Exploration and Science, Dr. Schrödinger von Katze, eagerly stands before you, and states to you, "@@LEADER@@, this is a excellent opportunity for us. We could receive technologies beyond our wildest dreams! Just think of all the good we could do! Plus, if we don't do it, I'm sure Blackacre would be more than willing to take them up on the offer, and I shudder to imagine what would happen if they got that tech."

Result: The citizens of @@NATION@@ are convinced that there are now aliens among them.

OPTION 2: "@@LEADER@@, for the sake of our glorious nation, these invaders must be stopped! They clearly announced their intentions to us!" Your Defense Minister pushes Dr. von Katze out of the way and continues ranting, "If they wish to invade OUR NATION, they will feel the wrath of our military! Sure, we may be outnumbered and outgunned, but WE WILL WIN IN THE END. @@TYPE@@ of @@NATION@@ forever! @@SLOGAN@@!"

Result: @@NATION@@ fights wars against those who even blink the wrong way 'In the Name of National Security', no matter how strong they seem.

OPTION 3: "Surely, the both of you are taking this too far?" Your Minister of Boring Things and Statistics drones on from the back of the room, "Obviously it is just a hoax. Extraterrestrials are not real. They have not come to @@NATION@@. There is no proof. Instead of doing all this, let us fine and punish any hooligan who tries to prank us like this again."

Result: Farmers who report unknown sources of crop damages are approached by dark-suited officials and interrogated.

OPTION 4 (VOID IF RELIGION BANNED / ATHIESM ENFORCED): "The Great Ones have finally arrived!" shouts @@RANDOMNAME@@, a citizen outside your window, while adjusting the tinfoil hat @@HE@@ wears, "@@LEADER@@, you must submit the entire nation before them! You must allow them to rule us or we will face their wrath!" And with those words, the citizen is dragged away from your window by your guards.

Result: There are imposters among the @@DEMONYM@@ Government.

[Trotterdam]

**DISCLAIMER: IF YOU MADE A SIMILAR ISSUE IN THE FOURM, OR A PREVIOUS PUBLISHED ISSUE, I HAVE NOT SEEN IT, AND THEREFORE HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF ITS EXISTANCE. I AM SORRY IF I ACCIDENTLY TAKE YOUR WORK. THE LIST OF ISSUES IS TOO EXTENSIVE FOR ME TO LOOK AT COMPLETLEY. I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE FOR ANY MISTAKES / ACCIDENTAL RULE-BREAKAGES / ETC. THAT MAY OCCUR.**

Putting something in big text so it's highly noticeable, then putting it in a spoiler so it doesn't get in the way? Isn't that kind of counterproductive?

[Mirum]

**DISCLAIMER: IF YOU MADE A SIMILAR ISSUE IN THE FOURM, OR A PREVIOUS PUBLISHED ISSUE, I HAVE NOT SEEN IT, AND THEREFORE HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF ITS EXISTANCE. I AM SORRY IF I ACCIDENTLY TAKE YOUR WORK. THE LIST OF ISSUES IS TOO EXTENSIVE FOR ME TO LOOK AT COMPLETLEY. I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE FOR ANY MISTAKES / ACCIDENTAL RULE-BREAKAGES / ETC. THAT MAY OCCUR.**

Putting something in big text so it's highly noticeable, then putting it in a spoiler so it doesn't get in the way? Isn't that kind of counterproductive?

Please don't judge. I did not the big text to take away from the issue. That aside, any thoughts?

[Candensia]

Maybe I'm just a huge nerd, but how did @@NAME@@ so easily translate the alien message? If this is indeed first contact then @@NAME@@ would have nothing to reference this language against, making translation difficult to say the very least.

[Mirum]

Maybe I'm just a huge nerd, but how did @@NAME@@ so easily translate the alien message? If this is indeed first contact then @@NAME@@ would have nothing to reference this language against, making translation difficult to say the very least.

The alien message was broadcasted in @@NAME@@'s language, as they were conducting research and intelligence-gathering missions. Or something. No clue, really. Perhaps they even use the same language, and it was sheer luck.

[Ko-oren]

There's a bit of overlap with #80, #81, and especially #428. The premise is fine, but it's not a novel concept in its current form.

[Mirum]

There's a bit of overlap with #80, #81, and especially #428. The premise is fine, but it's not a novel concept in its current form.

I am aware. Any suggestions?

[Ko-oren]

There's a bit of overlap with #80, #81, and especially #428. The premise is fine, but it's not a novel concept in its current form.

I am aware. Any suggestions?

That premise (crop circles) and its choices (make contact/military/human cause) aren't necessarily the same as these, so you could either focus on the differences (which involves cutting options from your draft) or go a slightly different route in your premise, so that different options appear.

[Mirum]

I am aware. Any suggestions?

That premise (crop circles) and its choices (make contact/military/human cause) aren't necessarily the same as these, so you could either focus on the differences (which involves cutting options from your draft) or go a slightly different route in your premise, so that different options appear.

Perhaps I should add an option and tweak it, to make it a bit different. Would that work? And what would you reccomend?

[Mirum]

If no-one has any real other tweaks, I will be submitting the issue. I will wait 48 hours before doing so.

[Candensia]

If no-one has any real other tweaks, I will be submitting the issue. I will wait 48 hours before doing so.

The intro and option 1 still mention that @@NAME@@ was able to translate an alien message. Again, I contend that this would be incredibly difficult, as one would have nothing to reference that alien language against when attempting to translate.

[Mirum]

If no-one has any real other tweaks, I will be submitting the issue. I will wait 48 hours before doing so.

The intro and option 1 still mention that @@NAME@@ was able to translate an alien message. Again, I contend that this would be incredibly difficult, as one would have nothing to reference that alien language against when attempting to translate.

Yeah, I’ll work out the ‘how’ of that problem. I think I can answer that in the form of another option.

[Verdant Haven]

One thing to bear in mind is that in issues terms, alien contact isn't a thing that happens. You do write around that reasonably, providing options that grasp its non-credible nature, but in my view it might be worth having it a bit more clear that the idea of accepting the signal as aliens is actually the "crazy" option here. As is, 3 of the 4 speakers, including multiple government advisors, are accepting the nonsense at face value and proposing options based on that. That proportion should probably be reversed.

Additionally, neither of the first two options actually propose a course of action. The space minister basically says "we must accept this offer" without specifying what they want to do to accept a non-existent gift, while the defense minister says "we must stop the invaders" but doesn't address what they actually want to do to stop a non-existent threat. Once the whole crazy vs non-crazy option thing has been resolved, if there's a way to provide players with more active choices about actual steps to take, that would be beneficial. The skeptic minister does this by proposing specific punishments be instituted for hoaxers. Have the others give a concrete suggestion as well.

-Edit-

A couple suggestions, just so this is a bit more useful as feedback. I think the issue overall would honestly work better without trying to provide a formal translation, as that avoids the problem Candensia is pointing out, avoids any question of canonical aliens, and allows each speaker to interpret as they like. Perhaps the defense minister would suggest that the uncertainty proves the need for investment in a fancy defense system or creation of a "space force" just in case its an enemy nation plotting against you. The space minister might say that the inability to certain of the signal's source proves you need to invest more money in deep space telescopes and salaries for people like him or herself. The "crazy" person perhaps is where a claim of translation arises, saying it's the holy words of their chosen deity or some such. Lots more flexibility when one doesn't try to force intelligible aliens into it.

[Mirum]

One thing to bear in mind is that in issues terms, alien contact isn't a thing that happens. You do write around that reasonably, providing options that grasp its non-credible nature, but in my view it might be worth having it a bit more clear that the idea of accepting the signal as aliens is actually the "crazy" option here. As is, 3 of the 4 speakers, including multiple government advisors, are accepting the nonsense at face value and proposing options based on that. That proportion should probably be reversed.

Additionally, neither of the first two options actually propose a course of action. The space minister basically says "we must accept this offer" without specifying what they want to do to accept a non-existent gift, while the defense minister says "we must stop the invaders" but doesn't address what they actually want to do to stop a non-existent threat. Once the whole crazy vs non-crazy option thing has been resolved, if there's a way to provide players with more active choices about actual steps to take, that would be beneficial. The skeptic minister does this by proposing specific punishments be instituted for hoaxers. Have the others give a concrete suggestion as well.

-Edit-

A couple suggestions, just so this is a bit more useful as feedback. I think the issue overall would honestly work better without trying to provide a formal translation, as that avoids the problem Candensia is pointing out, avoids any question of canonical aliens, and allows each speaker to interpret as they like. Perhaps the defense minister would suggest that the uncertainty proves the need for investment in a fancy defense system or creation of a "space force" just in case its an enemy nation plotting against you. The space minister might say that the inability to certain of the signal's source proves you need to invest more money in deep space telescopes and salaries for people like him or herself. The "crazy" person perhaps is where a claim of translation arises, saying it's the holy words of their chosen deity or some such. Lots more flexibility when one doesn't try to force intelligible aliens into it.

Makes sense to me! Will edit as soon as I can (using mobile currently).

-EDIT-

Added V2. Hopefully this makes more sense.