[DRAFT] I'll Buy Some @@CURRENCY@@

[Ostrovskiy]

Feedback is appreciated as always, especially on the effect lines groans.

I'll Buy Some @@CURRENCY@@

Description: For some time now, @@NAME@@ has treated the United Federation Dollar as legal tender, and it has quickly become more popular with the average citizen than the @@CURRENCY@@. However, the United Federation seems to be on the brink of a recession, and, due to how widely the dollar is used, might take @@NAME@@ with it!

Validity: valid for nations that aren’t socialist, have a dollarization policy, have physical currency, and aren't on the gold standard.

Option 1: Economist @@RANDOMNAME@@ runs into the room, swinging open your door and slamming it into the wall. “@@LEADER@@, you must understand! I’ve done the calculations, and there is a good chance that both the United Federation and @@NAME@@ will enter into a deep recession! We cannot let the dollar remain legal tender. I’m begging you, for the sake of all @@DENONYMPLURAL@@, we must only allow @@CURRENCYPLURAL@@ to be used in @@NAME@@!”

Effect 1: Anyone who doesn't collect @@CURRENCYPLURAL@@ is arrested for a lack of patriotism

Option 2: A bored looking @@WOMAN@@ with grey hair tries to push your door and twists the doorknob so hard that it breaks. "My esteemed colleague @@RANDOMLASTNAME_1@@ was correct in @@HIS@@ findings. The chances of a recession leading to the crash of the dollar's value in a way that is catastrophic to @@NAME@@ is over 95% if we do nothing. However, we can start using the Treasury to buy up dollars as fast as we can. This will increase demand for the dollar, and stop it from crashing. There is even a 60% chance that a recession in the United Federation may be avoided entirely. With this plan, we can remain allowing the dollar to be used and enjoy the economic prosperity of the United Federation for decades to come."

Effect 2: the government routinely bails out other nations

Option 3: Wearing a cheap suit and tie, @@RANDOMNAME@@, founder of Zitcoin, strolls into the room, exploding your door for @@HIS@@ entrance. “Why have physical currencies, anyway, eh? So little privacy, so hard to trade with other nations, so unwieldy. Instead, may I offer the solution of Zitcoin? Mined with computer processing, why, anyone in @@REGION@@ can use it to trade with anyone else, and all completely private! Secured via cryptography, Daguo or Blackacre will never be able to interfere with our trade. In fact, tracking down your transactions will be literally impossible. Now, @@LEADER@@, would you be interested in buying 50?”

Validity: Computers, internet

Effect 3: transactions are more private than internet history

Option 4: Gingerly walking through the remains of your door, a farmer by the name of @@RANDOMNAME@@ speaks. “Well now, son, all these fancy-schmancy ‘fiat monies’ and ‘floating currencies’ and whatnot are really making the average @@DENONYMPLURAL@@ suffer, not only with the difficulty of trade, but also with rampant inflation. Now, why don’t we make it so the value of a @@CURRENCY@@ is based off of a tried and true measure: gold? The gold standard helps keep the economy stable and reduces inflation. Using it is a good idea!” @@HE@@ shakes @@HIS@@ head irritably. “And will someone fix this gosh-darn door?”

Effect 4: gold is standardly used as a wealth securer

I'll Buy Some @@CURRENCY@@

Description: For some time now, @@NAME@@ has treated the United Federation Dollar as legal tender, and it has quickly become more popular with the average citizen than the @@CURRENCY@@. However, the United Federation seems to be on the brink of a recession, and, due to how widely it’s used, might take @@NAME@@ with it!

Validity: valid for nations that aren’t socialist, have money, and aren't on the gold standard.

Option 1: Economist @@RANDOMNAME_1@@ runs into the room, swinging open your door and slamming it into the wall. “@@LEADER@@, you must understand! I’ve done the calculations, and there is a good chance that both the United Federation and @@NAME@@ will enter into a deep recession! We cannot let the dollar remain legal tender. I’m begging you, for the sake of all @@DENONYMPLURAL@@, we must only allow @@CURRENCY@@ to be used in @@NAME@@!”

Effect 1: a 1-@@CURRENCY@@ bill is used as toilet paper

Option 2: A bored looking @@WOMAN@@ with grey hair tries to push your door in and splinters off a piece of wood at the edge. "My esteemed colleague @@RANDOMLASTNAME_1@@ was correct in @@HIS@@ findings. The chances of a recession leading to the crash of the dollar's value in a way that is catastrophic to @@NAME@@ is over 95% if we do nothing. However, we can start using the Treasury to buy up dollars as fast as we can. This will increase demand for the dollar, and stop it from crashing. There is even a 60% chance that a recession in the United Federation may be avoided entirely. With this plan, we can remain allowing the dollar to be used and enjoy the economic prosperity of the United Federation for decades to come."

Effect 2: the government routinely bails out other nations

Option 3: Wearing a cheap suit and tie, @@RANDOMNAME_2@@, founder of Zitcoin, strolls into the room, but not before twisting your doorknob so hard that it breaks. “Why have physical currencies, anyway, eh? So little privacy, so hard to trade with other nations, so unwieldy. Instead, may I offer the solution of Zitcoin? Mined with computer processing, why, anyone in @@REGION@@ can use it to trade with anyone else, and all completely private! Now, @@LEADER@@, would you be interested in buying 50?”

Effect 3: transactions are more private than internet history

Option 4: Suddenly, your door shatters, and the remains are sprinkled all over the floor. Through the opening walks famous communist @@RANDOMNAME_3@@. “You know, that arrogant buffoon was actually right about something. Why have a physical currency? Or, rather, why have a currency at all?”. @@SHE@@ musses @@HER@@ hair. “Currency is a method of exploitation of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie, and, as such, must be removed from @@NAME@@.”

Effect 4: the minimum sentence for owning money is 20 years in prison

Option 5: Gingerly walking through the remains of your door, a farmer by the name of @@RANDOMNAME_4@@ speaks. “Well now, son, all these fancy-schmancy ‘legal tenders’ and ‘floating currencies’ and whatnot are really making the average @@DENONYMPLURAL@@ suffer, not only with the difficulty of trade, but also with rampant inflation. Now, why don’t we make it so the value of a @@CURRENCY@@ is based off of a tried and true measure: gold? The gold standard helps keep economic stability and reduces inflation. Using it is a good idea!” @@HE@@ shakes @@HIS@@ head irritably. “And will someone fix this gosh-darn door?”

Effect 5: gold is standardly used as a wealth securer

I'll Buy Some @@CURRENCY@@

Description: For many years, @@CURRENCY@@ has had a fixed exchange rate with the dollar used in the United Federation, established due to their economic success, which has held up consistently since. However, the United Federation seems to be on the brink of a recession, and, due to the fixed exchange rate, might take @@NAME@@ with it!

Validity: valid for nations that aren’t socialist, have money, and aren't on the gold standard.

Option 1: Economist @@RANDOMNAME_1@@ runs into the room, swinging open your door and slamming it into the wall. “@@LEADER@@, you must understand! I’ve done the calculations, and there is a good chance that both the United Federation and @@NAME@@ will enter into a deep recession! We cannot stay pegged to the dollar. I’m begging you, for the sake of all @@DENONYMPLURAL@@, we must switch to a floating exchange rate with all other currencies!”

Effect 1: the value of @@CURRENCY@@ moves faster than a @@ANIMAL@@

Option 2: A bored looking @@WOMAN@@ with grey hair tries to push your door in and splinters off a piece of wood at the edge. "My esteemed colleague @@RANDOMLASTNAME_1@@ was correct in @@HIS@@ findings. The chances of a recession leading to the crash of the dollar's value in a way that is catastrophic to @@NAME@@ is over 95% if we do nothing. However, we can start using the Treasury to buy up dollars as fast as we can. This will increase demand for the dollar, and stop it from crashing. There is even a 60% chance that a recession in the United Federation may be avoided entirely. With this plan, we can remain pegged to the dollar and enjoy the economic prosperity in the United Federation for decades to come."

Effect 2: the government routinely bails out other nations

Option 3: Wearing a cheap suit and tie, @@RANDOMNAME_2@@, founder of Zitcoin, strolls into the room, but not before twisting your doorknob so hard that it breaks. “Why have different currencies, backed by a government, anyway, eh? So little privacy, so hard to trade with other nations, so unwieldy. Instead, may I offer the solution of Zitcoin? Mined with computer processing, why, anyone in @@REGION@@ can use it to trade with anyone else, and all completely private! Now, @@LEADER@@, would you be interested in buying 50?”

Effect 3: transactions are more private than internet history

Option 4: Suddenly, your door shatters, and the remains are sprinkled all over the floor. Through the opening walks famous communist @@RANDOMNAME_3@@. “You know, that arrogant buffoon was actually right about something. Why have a currency backed by a government? Or, rather, why have a currency at all?”. @@SHE@@ musses @@HER@@ hair. “Currency is a method of exploitation of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie, and, as such, must be removed from @@NAME@@.”

Effect 4: the minimum sentence for owning money is 20 years in prison

Option 5: Gingerly walking through the remains of your door, a farmer by the name of @@RANDOMNAME_4@@ speaks. “Well now, son, all these fancy-schmancy exchange rates and floating currencies and whatnot are really making the average @@DENONYMPLURAL@@ suffer, not only with the difficulty of trade, but also with rampant inflation. Now, why don’t we make it so the value of a @@CURRENCY@@ is based off of a tried and true measure: gold? The gold standard helps keep economic stability and reduces inflation. Using it is a good idea!” @@HE@@ shakes @@HIS@@ head irritably. “And will someone fix this gosh-darn door?”

Effect 5: gold is standardly used as a wealth securer

I'll Buy Some @@CURRENCY@@

Description: For many years, @@CURRENCY@@ has had a fixed exchange rate with the dollar used in the United Federation. Due to their economic success, this has only benefitted @@NAME@@. However, the United Federation seems to be on the brink of a recession, and, due to the fixed exchange rate, might take @@NAME@@ with it!

Validity: valid for nations that aren’t socialist, and have money.

Option 1: Economist @@RANDOMNAME_1@@ runs into the room, swinging open your door and slamming it into the wall. “@@LEADER@@, you must understand! I’ve done the calculations, and there is a good chance that both the United Federation and @@NAME@@ will enter into a deep recession! We cannot stay pegged to the dollar. I’m begging you, for the sake of all @@DENONYMPLURAL@@, we must switch to a floating exchange rate with all other currencies!”

Effect 1: The value of @@CURRENCY@@ moves faster than a @@ANIMAL@@

Option 2: Wearing a cheap suit and tie, @@RANDOMNAME_2@@, founder of Zitcoin, strolls into the room, but not before twisting your doorknob so hard that it breaks. “Why have different currencies, backed by a government, anyway? So little privacy, so hard to trade with other nations, so unwieldy. Instead, may I offer the solution of Zitcoin? Mined with computer processing, why, anyone in @@REGION@@ can use it to trade with anyone else, and all completely private! Now, @@LEADER@@, would you be interested in buying 50?”

Effect 2: Transactions are more private than internet history

Option 3: Suddenly, your door shatters, and the remains are sprinkled all over the floor. Through the opening walks famous communist @@RANDOMNAME_3@@. “You know, that arrogant buffoon was actually right about something. Why have a currency backed by a government? Or, rather, why have a currency at all?”. @@SHE@@ musses @@HER@@ hair. “Currency is a method of exploitation of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie, and, as such, must be removed from @@NAME@@.”

Effect 3: the minimum sentence for owning money is 20 years in prison

Option 4: Gingerly walking through the remains of your door, a farmer by the name of @@RANDOMNAME_4@@ speaks. “Well now, son, all these fancy-schmancy exchange rates and floating currencies and whatnot are really making the average @@DENONYMPLURAL@@ suffer, not only with the difficulty of trade, but also with rampant inflation. Now, why don’t we make it so the value of a @@CURRENCY@@ is based off of a tried and true measure: gold? The gold standard helps keep economic stability and reduces inflation. Using it is a good idea!” @@HE@@ shakes @@HIS@@ head irritably. “And will someone fix this gosh-darn door?”

Effect 4: gold is standardly used as a wealth securer

[West Barack and East Obama]

I'll give more detailed feedback later, but for now you may want to include validity checks for nations who already use the gold standard.

Also, why is there no option to remain pegged to the dollar? Perhaps @@NAME@@ could find a solution which involves bailing the United Federation out/supporting it's currency until they get out of a recession. I'm no economist (not sarcastic. I'm really not.) but that seems like a more logical response than converting the currency to crypto or abolishing money altogether.

[Australian rePublic]

Why was it pegged to the UF dollar in the first place? Knowing that will help us better select options

[Ostrovskiy]

I have resurrected this draft from the dead with a new draft addressing the concerns of Aussie and Obama.

[Ostrovskiy]

/bump

[Verdant Haven]

While we do have an issue that allows you to recognize the UF Dollar as an official currency in your nation, that is all it does. It doesn't *peg* your currency to the UFD – it declares the UFD to be legal tender *alongside* your currency. As we do not actually have an issue that removes this legal tender recognition, I would love to see you continue work on this, but it would have to be overhauled in light that of distinction.

[Ostrovskiy]

While we do have an issue that allows you to recognize the UF Dollar as an official currency in your nation, that is all it does. It doesn't *peg* your currency to the UFD – it declares the UFD to be legal tender *alongside* your currency. As we do not actually have an issue that removes this legal tender recognition, I would love to see you continue work on this, but it would have to be overhauled in light that of distinction.

Would it take away from player autonomy too much to suggest that if the option was selected, the UFD has become the dominant currency used in Nation?

[Verdant Haven]

Would it take away from player autonomy too much to suggest that if the option was selected, the UFD has become the dominant currency used in Nation?

Not necessarily, since the player will have selected that option as a result of an issue stating that a shopkeeper was already rejecting the local currency. I might personally aim for terminology like "more popular with the average citizen" or something like that which very slightly hedges the statement (as opposed to claiming outright dominance), but I think you'd be safe asserting at least some level of prominence for the UFD in a dollarized nation. Since you're aiming for capitalists with physical currency and no gold standard, it's reasonable that whatever option offered the best "consumer experience" would achieve success.

[Ostrovskiy]

Would it take away from player autonomy too much to suggest that if the option was selected, the UFD has become the dominant currency used in Nation?

Not necessarily, since the player will have selected that option as a result of an issue stating that a shopkeeper was already rejecting the local currency. I might personally aim for terminology like "more popular with the average citizen" or something like that which very slightly hedges the statement (as opposed to claiming outright dominance), but I think you'd be safe asserting at least some level of prominence for the UFD in a dollarized nation. Since you're aiming for capitalists with physical currency and no gold standard, it's reasonable that whatever option offered the best "consumer experience" would achieve success.

Alright, thanks. If and when I have time later today I'll have another draft up.

[Ostrovskiy]

Next draft is up.

[Ostrovskiy]

/bump

[Ostrovskiy]

/bump

[Verdant Haven]

- Description: The antecedent of "it" in "due to how widely it's used" is "the United Federation." Should probably says "due to who widely the dollar is used..." instead.

- Validity: in place of "have money" you can use the validities "dollarization policy" (to specify to us that this is for nations that legalized the UFD) and "physical currency" (to specify that the money is non-digital)

- Option 1: just for grammar, either should use "the @@CURRENCY@@" or "@@CURRENCYPLURAL@@"

- Effect 1: This seems more like something that would happen if the local currency was *not* in use. If it is being made the only permissible currency, we need to respect the player's decision by reflecting its value in some way (never tell the player their decision was wrong!).

- Options 2, 3, and 4: you only need to put a number after the @@randomname@@ macro when you are referring to a different name that has already been (or will be) generated. For first introductions of names, no number is used.

- Option 3: This option requires computer and internet validities. I think it also needs a bit more explanation of what is being proposed – do not assume that Leader will know or understand anything about cryptocurrencies.

- Option 4: This option is unfortunately totally untenable for the game. There is no mechanism to *not have currency* in a player's nation. There are various things that can be suggested be done with it, or ways to change what it is and how it circulates, but there will always be currency. Communists and Socialists (those are different things, though NS does blur the line) do still use currency as well, and the modern world is full of wealthy socialist nations. A speaker pitching this premise would be, if anything, perhaps an Anarcho-Primitivist or its ilk? Definitely not somebody who is into shared labor and worker control of factories.

- Option 5 is fine as a premise, but some of the vocab needs adjustment. "Legal tender" is any means of exchange that is recognized by the government as valid for paying legally incurred debts – this includes gold specie, in Gold Standard systems, as well as currencies issues based on that gold standard. An alternate term one could use here might be "fiat money," which is the opposite of "commodity money" – ie, money pegged to a specific commodity such as gold. I always encourage folks working with the Gold Standard in issues to take some time reading about precisely how it worked, why it nearly destroyed the global economy, and why some folks today still have it in their head that it would work. That will make framing the suggestion in a "real" way a lot easier. It may help to combine Options 4 and 5 into one.

[Ostrovskiy]

Thank you, will have next draft up soon (ish)!

[Ostrovskiy]

So soonish was actually 3 days! Next draft up.

[Ostrovskiy]

may i /bumpikins

[Ostrovskiy]

/bump?

[Ostrovskiy]

Hi! /bump!

[Outer Sparta]

Is the gold standard or something like that in the game as a validity, policy, or notability?

[Ostrovskiy]

Is the gold standard or something like that in the game as a validity, policy, or notability?

Policy, I think.

[Noahs Second Country]

I'm no economist, but it seems like every one of these options is far worse than whatever recession UF is going to go through.

Option 1 - banning a foreign currency is obviously a terrible idea. Sure, you regain monetary independence. On the other hand, you immediately sow chaos in your economy, creating trade issues, inflationary pressure, total loss of confidence in your own nation's currency, and a currency black market. No economist would ever suggest doing something like this, especially not to avoid a recession.

Option 2 - buying up your own currency will certainly strengthen it in the short term, but will likely cause broad trade consequences like expensive exports and create a risk of retaliation by other nations. Also, you probably won't avoid the recession.

Option 3 - I guess a full swap to crypto is the "crazy" option anyway, but yeah, this would almost certainly ruin your economy. Currency decentralization also doesn't necessarily result in untraceable transactions as you imply, the existence of a universally accessible ledger may make it easier to track funds in and out of your nation.

Option 4 - Price volatility, more exposure to UF's recession, loss of seigniorage, policy inflexibility, etc make this a totally nonviable option, just like the first two.

To me, this just doesn't seem to be a very balanced issue. There is almost no upside to any option. In addition, your effect lines aren't particularly accurate or interesting. Economists, feel free to correct me though.