NationStates Issues **SPOILER ALERT**

[North Americorp]

Barely worth mentioning, but the issue 587 (I, Robot, Do Solemnly Swear) is also up to six options from four. This nation got no new ones. Options 1, 3, 4, 6 are identical to the old 1-4 (in the same order). No idea what the alternate text would be, and for which options. Nothing commie-related, as far as I can see.

[Luna Amore]

Barely worth mentioning, but the issue 587 (I, Robot, Do Solemnly Swear) is also up to six options from four. This nation got no new ones. Options 1, 3, 4, 6 are identical to the old 1-4 (in the same order). No idea what the alternate text would be, and for which options. Nothing commie-related, as far as I can see.

That's actually always had 6 options. Different variations, but not necessarily textually.

[Pterodoria]

The (now corrected) title is too long for me to fit the last letter (s) in...

The Issue

A junior filing clerk at the Ministry of Commerce and Revenues has just reported a highly unusual request: the Addison Cola Corporation has filed paperwork in an attempt to switch its legal status to “religion,” a tax-exempt category.

The Debate

1. “Of course business can be a religion,” claims Addison CEO Reginald Licorish, who was brought to your office to provide an explanation. “Many of our customers share a deeply-held belief that our product brings them enlightenment and inner peace, unlike the foul devil drink produced by those sinners over at Eckie-Ecola. Addison Cola also provides salvation from artificial sweeteners, with a blessedly refreshing taste! The government really shouldn’t be regulating these beliefs. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get my best people to start writing some prayers.” He then takes out his phone and presses option 6 on the speed dial menu.

2. “This is just a mockery of everything that good and decent people stand for,” harrumphs High Priest Otohime Scrooge, who was called in to provide a counterpoint. “Real religions have ancient scriptures, sacred music, and a code of morality to tell people how to behave. I hardly think advertising jingles qualify! This is nothing more than a blatant ploy by Addison to get tax-exempt status. The only way to return our great nation to a more righteous path is to deny their blasphemous request and allocate some government funds to prop up legitimate religions.”

3. “I knew that weird pizza cult was just the start of something far worse,” says Wojciech Baldwin, your trusted Chief of Staff. “If we allow this, every corporation will want to become a religion! You know this is going to kill our tax revenue.” He sighs audibly. “The only fair solution is to outlaw all new religions, with harsh penalties for any of the rabble-rousers who try to break the law. I hear crucifixions are quite the effective deterrent.”

Issue by The Holy Empire of Pogaria

Edited by Pogaria

[Drasnia]

I'm guessing this is #695, not #965?

[Pterodoria]

Changed it. The title also was truncated even more than it was in the preview (where it only cut off the letter 's'), so there's 'taxes' missing at the end.

[Pogaria]

Hey, someone finally found it!

[Trotterdam]

Changed it. The title also was truncated even more than it was in the preview (where it only cut off the letter 's'), so there's 'taxes' missing at the end.

Leaving off the "Issue" could have given you the room for that. What else do we discuss in this thread?

Or, you know, putting the title in the main post.

"I hear crucifixions are quite the effective deterrent."

Yeah, real good track record for preventing people from founding religions, that

What about just not giving tax exemptions to any religions (like #091 option 1)? That's basically treating religions like corporations instead of treating corporations like religions, and it would neatly prevent this issue.

Hey, someone finally found it!

I'm surprised it took this long. The Cult of Pizza can't be that unpopular, especially since in the original it's presented as the pro-freedom option ("mixed platter of faiths") rather than specifically promoting that one cult.

[Drasnia]

Changed it. The title also was truncated even more than it was in the preview (where it only cut off the letter 's'), so there's 'taxes' missing at the end.

Leaving off the "Issue" could have given you the room for that. What else do we discuss in this thread?

Or, you know, putting the title in the main post.

I would also prefer everything to be contained in the post itself and not only in the subject. It makes searching for it easier, especially if someone quotes the post. If the info I'm searching for is in the subject line, I will miss the quoted reply. Thanks all the same, though

[Trotterdam]

We still need #691, which I think is a communist-only issue.

We really need more communist nations to catch all this new stuff.

[Caracasus]

We still need #691, which I think is a communist-only issue.

We really need more communist nations to catch all this new stuff.

It's not a Communist only issue, I wrote it. It is a follow up to another issue choice which only started getting tagged after the issue was published... I've got it sitting in my issues tray but obviously not going to post my own... would spoil the fun!

[Copercia]

Issue 710: Feudal Feuds

The Issue

After an economic report from the Treasury revealed that the productivity of the country’s serfs is at an all-time low, a delegation from the disgruntled nobility has barged into your office proposing solutions to the problem at hand.

The Debate

1. “Clearly, serfdom as a system is not working,” opines the infamous Duke of Copercia City, as his disaffected serf painstakingly peels grapes at his side. “But you know what system does work? Slavery. Think about it. You don’t need to give them any rights whatsoever, they can be bought as children and sold as adults for a massive profit, and if they misbehave or rebel, we simply kill them. Besides, slavery has been going on for centuries. One could even say it’s the natural order of things.”

2. “The problem is us, not the system,” remarks Lady Verisimilitude as she anxiously glances over the Treasury’s figures again. “We’ve been far too harsh with our serfs by constantly trading and moving them between our various estates all while working them to the grave. With the government’s supervision and some new regulations, we could more effectively maintain the serfs’ produc... I mean, health by ensuring they have access to water breaks, family visits, and maybe even a tribunal where they can lodge complaints.”

3. “Supervision? Regulations? What socialist nonsense is this?!” exclaims the overweight Marquis de Marzipan while twirling his sugar-coated mustache. “It is our ancient right to own serfs and have them work our lands however we dictate! It says so right in the constitution! Somewhere... I’m sure of it. Anyway, the point is, don’t take my serfs away! Instead, why don’t you just give us a tax break so we can afford to survive this current stint of unproductivity. The last thing my serfs want to see is their beloved master suffering like a mere peasant!”

4. “Feudalism is an archaic and draconian custom that mars our fair land in the cruelest tyranny,” asserts the Duke’s surprisingly erudite serf, while purposefully knocking over a bowl of freshly-peeled grapes onto her stunned lord’s lap. “We are Copercian just as much as you, and as such we demand our freedom as any other self-respecting Copercian would. It’s time you got rid of this medieval, barbaric practice—and revoke all aristocratic titles while you’re at it! That’ll make us all equal then.”

Issue by The Crowned Commonwealth of Nuremgard

Edited by Wyethalania

[Gages Icelandic Army]

Easter Egg: Should We Pull The Lever?
Which option do I pick to get the easter egg? And what did I do to get this issue?

[Bears Armed]

Easter Egg: Should We Pull The Lever?
Which option do I pick to get the easter egg? And what did I do to get this issue?

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=193229&hilit=easter+eggs

[Gages Icelandic Army]

Easter Egg: Should We Pull The Lever?
Which option do I pick to get the easter egg? And what did I do to get this issue?

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=193229&hilit=easter+eggs

Sweet thank you

[Candlewhisper Archive]

Man, I disappear for a week, and there is a flurry of activity hunting for the changes!

Apologies to any who don't like the changes made. I realise this makes spoilers a harder thing to be comprehensive with, but ultimately the goal of the project was to make the issues respect the choices made by players more.

I'm not going to pretend that the narrative is now flawlessly respectful of player decisions: there's at least a dozen ways in which I know it's not, and we've consciously not sought to fix. However, in many ways that it was lacking before, it is now presenting a more consistent story based on the choices that you, the players, make.

[Drachmaland]

Issue #142 Roads Like Roller Coasters, Complain Motorists has modified options for communist nations, therefore it has now become:

#142: Roads Like Roller Coasters, Complain Motorists [Mirkai; ed:Sirocco]

The Issue
A group of local motorists have assembled outside of City Hall to protest against the shoddy state of roads in @@NAME@@.

The Debate
1. “These roads are terrible!” shouts @@RANDOMNAME@@, president of the @@NAME@@ Auto Club. “Every few feet there's a crack, or a pothole, or a gravel patch, or the remains of someone else's car! It's really too much! And just look at this-” he adds, rubbing a nasty bruise on his forehead - “I got that from my rear-view mirror after flying over a bump on Main Street! These roads must be fixed! There really needs to be vast improvements made now, before anyone gets seriously hurt.”

2. @@RANDOMNAME@@, avowed anti-spending advocate, disagrees: “Road construction? What a waste of @@CURRENCY@@s! If people can still drive on them, then the roads are fine as they are. Spending more to make trivial repairs would just be a waste of the tax payers' money! We should just ignore these whiners and leave the roads as they are and if the drivers don't like that - well... then they can just learn to walk like the rest of us.”

3. “Why on Earth is it the government's responsibility to build and maintain roads?” asks bicyclist @@RANDOMNAME@@, pausing for breath. “Not all citizens own automobiles, you know. The government should be trying to make life better for all, not just car owners! If people want roads, then let private industry build them, and they can charge tolls to the people who actually drive on them. Leave the government out of it!” [Available only for nations with free economy]

4. “Why on Earth is it central government’s responsibility to build and maintain local roads?” asks Party Member @@RANDOMNAME@@. “Not all citizens need automobiles, you know. A worker assigned to a farming collective has no need to travel! If people want roads, then let the local collectives put their own sweat and toil into building them, raising funds for this locally. Leave the central government out of it!” [Available only for nations without free economy]

[Australian rePublic]

Armed And Legging It

The Issue

Walking down the corridors of power at your usual brisk pace, you’re caught a little off guard when one of your accompanying clerks suddenly crumples to the ground mid-stride, her left lower leg detaching from the rest of her. To your relief, the dismembered member of staff has in fact lost a prosthetic limb rather than an organic one. As you help her up, she explains that her prosthetic is a cheap import of low quality: she’d love a better one, but high quality models are far and few between.

The Debate

“Many people just can’t move forward in our nation because of limb loss,” says your assistant, ambling carefully. “My colleagues and I believe that we - the government - should use our resources and staff to research new designs and help these people live their lives to the fullest.”

Accept

“I respectfully disagree with this idea,” states Quincy Christianity, CEO of LiteTeck Inc, while handling a plastic foot. “The government should have no involvement in prosthetic research. You’d be kicking the legs out from under private manufacturers by denying them a market. Our investors would rather you arm them against this possibility with tax breaks and subsidies. With a little investment, Australian Republic could be a world leader in strapped-on flesh-coloured plastic appendages.”

Accept

“There’s another way to reach out to the limbless,” says Virginia Foster, a volunteer from the charitable Open Hands Society. “3D-printed limbs can be produced for anyone, by anyone. If one wears out or becomes outdated, it can be tossed, and a new one printed. Along with that, citizens can work together to design limbs that work for them. Why not send some money to the non-profit foundations that are developing these things? You’ll be helping not only here in Australian Republic, but also the disabled of third world nations that the charities serve.”

Accept

“You can’t incorporate the artificial into the natural without diminishing your connection to the living world of spirits,” pipes up Bajrakitiyabha McCartney, Priestess of the Earth Divinities, whose presence in your entourage is even more unexpected than that of the last two speakers. “If you are missing a limb, then accept that The Mother loves you for who you are and that fate chose that destiny for you. Steven Jot, if you ban prostheses, you’ll teach self-reliance and self-love. Meditation and thankful prayer will lift broken souls, even if broken bodies must stay earthbound. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to visit my podiatrist.”

Accept

Dismiss This Issue

Issue by The Imperium And Jazz Band of Helaw
Edited by Candlewhisper Archive

[Pogaria]

What about just not giving tax exemptions to any religions (like #091 option 1)? That's basically treating religions like corporations instead of treating corporations like religions, and it would neatly prevent this issue.

Nations won't receive this issue unless they have already made a decision to allow tax exemption for religions.

[Drachmaland]

Issue #293: Maestro, Please has modified options for communist nations, therefore it has now become:

#293: Maestro, Please [Castle in the Sky; ed:Luna Amore]

The Issue
A delegation from the @@NAME@@ Philharmonia has shown up in your office, underlining their petition for the renovation of the nation's concert halls with a serenade.

The Debate
1. “The once venerable concert halls of @@NAME@@ are in a sorry state,” laments trombonist @@RANDOMNAME@@, emptying the spit valve into your waste paper basket. “Some are dank, the stucco is crumbling in others, and it's raining through the backstage roof of another! In the name of culture we must restore these halls to their former glory. It's only a pittance to the national budget, but to our cultural reputation? Priceless.”

2. “These caterwauling miscreants don't deserve concert halls,” insists @@RANDOMNAME@@, a tone-deaf curmudgeon. “If they can't support their hobby, then why should we, the suffering taxpayers, prop them up? Concert halls are businesses, and businesses that can't stay afloat on their own disappear. Such is life. I say leave the whole lot to their inevitable demise.” [Available only for nations with free economy]

3. “These caterwauling miscreants don’t deserve concert halls,” insists @@RANDOMNAME@@, a tone-deaf curmudgeon. “If they can’t support their decadent frivolities, then why should we, the Workers, prop them up? Concert halls are imperialist and elitist, and deserve to disappear. I say leave the whole lot to their inevitable demise.” [Available only for nations without free economy]

4. “Times are tight. I sympathize with you,” consoles @@RANDOMNAME@@, the CEO of Restorations R Us, handing you a decorative 'Hang In There' basket of goodies. “However, you need only ask, and – quick as a whip – my company will fund the construction of concert halls all across this fair country. All I ask is that we put up some advertisements in the lobbies and integrate a tasteful nod to sponsors into the programmes.”

5. “The only reason to fund these musicians is if they are doing something worthwhile for their country,” says Brigadier General @@RANDOMNAME@@. “I've long said that @@NAME@@'s Armed Forces would benefit greatly from a spic-and-span band in uniform. They would represent the splendor that embodies @@NAME@@ and they'd do it with pride! Of course by extension, they would be a part of the active forces and required to serve in battle if necessary. Always good to up the recruitment numbers, right?”

[The Candy Of Bottles]

Patently Obvious- Issue 711

The Issue

The popular business simulation game “NationCrates” has been inspiring more @@DEMONYMPLURAL@@ to start their own companies and develop new products. The backlog of application forms to patent inventions and register trademarks and company names has piled up in patent offices throughout @@NAME@@, and both civic servants and would-be innovators are laying claims to new devices for banging down your door and making their voices heard.

The Debate

“Technology has gone too far!” rails overworked patent office clerk @@RANDOMNAME@@, stumbling into your office. “The glut of new businesses and trademarks to protect leaves us no time to work on our research, er, civic duties. Our desks are covered with papers, and we have to work day and night to earn the money those new CEOs would earn in an hour! The government should make the registration process more difficult and tedious to dissuade all those amateurs from wasting our time.”

Accept

“The registration process should be easier,” complains @@RANDOMNAME@@, inventor of the EZ-Fake-Oven, a device that bakes physical versions of Internet cookies. “The future of the economy lies in the people. Self-employment is just the next step we need to take towards bringing that about. In fact, all registration should be done online!”

Accept

“Anyone who thinks international crate shipping is some kind of game has never seen it firsthand,” notes laborer @@NAME@@. “The way to put an end to these frivolous patents is to get rid of the internet. Any big shots who want to start their own company can do it the same way we did back in the day: go stand in line at the office.”

Accept

Dismiss This Issue

Issue by The Commonwealth of Lilindir

Edited by Zwangzug

That's all the options as far as I can tell.

[Drasnia]

#712: Flight Of The Rich And Famous [Bears Armed; ed:Helaw]

The Issue
During the run-up to a recent election, several high-profile individuals, including the stars of the surprise hit musical ‘Jude The Obscure’, attempted to influence people’s voting choices by threatening that they would emigrate to Brancaland if you won. You won the election, but none of them are showing any signs of even preparing to leave.

The Debate
1. “What a bunch of hypocrites!” exclaims one of your advisors, Sven Bowie. “You should force them to follow through on their promises and leave @@NAME@@, just like they said they would. We’d be better off without nay-sayers dividing the country anyway, not to mention the fact that ridding ourselves of their horrible shows and songs would be a great service to our proud nation!”

2. “There’s another possibility that could work,” suggests your security advisor. “It seems that an old law establishing an Entertainment Service in the military was never repealed. Why not have them drafted into that, and send them to tour some of our nation’s notably unpleasant outposts? Perhaps one of our arctic stations could inspire a change of heart.”

3. “Are you all out of your minds?” cries Aziz Harkness, clutching a book entitled ‘Why @@LEADER@@ Is Horrible’. “You can’t punish these people just for saying something that they didn’t actually mean! @@NAME@@’s residents should feel free to say anything they wish about the government, even if what they say is ridiculous. They mean well, I promise you!”

4. “The best solution is a peaceful one,” notes Fatima O'Leary, admiring your portrait hanging on a nearby wall. “What we should do is promote a positive image of you across the nation, as this will give people the opportunity to see you in a different light. Set up campaign broadcasts, publish favorable articles, and let people know that @@LEADER@@ isn’t all that bad.”

Names seem random but I'm leaving them in their for comparison's sake.

[Australian rePublic]

Flight Of The Rich And Famous

The Issue

During the run-up to a recent election, several high-profile individuals, including the stars of the surprise hit musical ‘Jude The Obscure’, attempted to influence people’s voting choices by threatening that they would emigrate to Brancaland if you won. You won the election, but none of them are showing any signs of even preparing to leave.

The Debate

“What a bunch of hypocrites!” exclaims one of your advisors, Kelly Caesar. “You should force them to follow through on their promises and leave Australian Republic, just like they said they would. We’d be better off without nay-sayers dividing the country anyway, not to mention the fact that ridding ourselves of their horrible shows and songs would be a great service to our proud nation!”

Accept

“There’s another possibility that could work,” suggests your security advisor. “It seems that an old law establishing an Entertainment Service in the military was never repealed. Why not have them drafted into that, and send them to tour some of our nation’s notably unpleasant outposts? Perhaps one of our arctic stations could inspire a change of heart.”

Accept

“Are you all out of your minds?” cries Pedro Hicks, clutching a book entitled ‘Why Steven Jot Is Horrible’. “You can’t punish these people just for saying something that they didn’t actually mean! Australian Republic’s residents should feel free to say anything they wish about the government, even if what they say is ridiculous. They mean well, I promise you!”

Accept

“The best solution is a peaceful one,” notes Vera Pavlov, admiring your portrait hanging on a nearby wall. “What we should do is promote a positive image of you across the nation, as this will give people the opportunity to see you in a different light. Set up campaign broadcasts, publish favorable articles, and let people know that Steven Jot isn’t all that bad.”

Accept

Dismiss This Issue

Issue by The Free Bears of Bears Armed

Edited by Helaw

[Tinhampton]

Issue #646 "Lesson Learnt" was co-edited by Sleep and CWA.

[Pencil Sharpeners]

Issue 713: Life In The Bike Lane

The Issue

Tragedy struck Pencilpolis when a cyclist was killed by a transport truck, making this the thirteenth such incident in the past few weeks. This has propelled activists to peddle the idea of creating additional bike lanes in Pencil Sharpeners’s cities.

The Debate

1. “What do we want? Bike lanes! When do we want them? Now!” chants cyclist Alexei Case, five-time winner of the Tour de Pencil Sharpeners competition. “Many of us in the big cities rely on our bikes to go about our daily business. If anything, more cyclists on the streets will mean fewer cars, and that means less congestion. Less congestion means less pollution, and that makes everyone healthier in the long run. It may be more inconvenient for the motorists, but if they don’t like it, they can go honk themselves.”

2. “Haven’t these road hogs heard of a sidewalk?” wheezes decidedly unhealthy city councilor Ella Hume, whose son was behind the wheel of the truck. “Bike lanes are like swimming with the sharks - sooner or later you’re going to get bitten. Roads are built for buses, cars, and trucks, not for people on bikes. Bike lanes are dangerous and expensive to maintain. We ought to stop them and paint over existing ones before more people are killed and we end up like Dàguó.”

3. “I agree with the councilor with the... obvious health issues,” chimes in an auto industry lobbyist while playing with your nephew’s toy cars. “People are sick of these damn cyclists who think they own the roads. It’s their own fault that they end up hurt or killed. What if people had to pass a test before being allowed to ride a bike, like we do with cars? This will mean there are fewer idiot cyclists who think they’re invincible. That, my friend, is what will make our cities safer.”

4. “What if bikes were the only way people went about their commute?” suggests the leader of the Viva la Pedalution! advocacy group. “Let’s face it, these incidents are going to keep on happening because of these selfish and incompetent motorists. Riding a bike is much healthier and far less dangerous. The government needs to declare Pencil Sharpeners a ‘car-free zone’ and completely redesign urban planning to accommodate cyclists. Short-term complications, yes, but long-term gains!”

Issue by The Free Secular Federation of Nation of Quebec

Edited by Nation of Quebec

[Drachmaland]

Issue #342 This Land Was Made For You And Me has modified options for communist nations, therefore it has now become:

#342: This Land Was Made For You And Me [Luna Amore; ed:Kryozerkia]

The Issue
A recent government report revealed that @@NAME@@ is running out of land for its expanding population. An emergency meeting of your advisors has been called to decide the best course of action.

The Debate
1. “The solution is simple and something we should have been doing all along,” states your Minister of the Environment, @@RANDOMNAME@@, “We have acres upon acres of land that is tied up in landfills. If we compost, compress, recycle, we can use the newly-cleaned land to build eco-friendly housing developments. Yes, it'll require a lot of funding, and there's bound to be at least a little residual smell. People won't be happy about it, but I guarantee they'll be a damn sight happier than they'd be on the streets!”

2. “Of course the enviro-nutjob wants to clean up the landfills, but that's not the issue!" says your Minister of Finance, @@RANDOMNAME@@. “Why spend all that money fixing up land that already has a purpose when we've got plenty of worthless national parks? We could start construction sooner, get people moved in sooner, and fix this problem sooner. We could even use the resources in the parks to furnish the houses. It'd give our timber industry a much needed boost. I'm sure the hippies will moan about how that'll destroy a bunch of 'delicate habitats', but it's simply progress, @@LEADER@@.”

3. “You're all not thinking this through!” yells the CEO of Yellowcake Depot, @@RANDOMNAME@@. “We've still got plenty of land. We've only used the top of it after all. Let's expand our cities underground. Look at the perks: there's plenty of space, they'll naturally stay at a steady temperature, and – most importantly – think of all the untapped uranium ore down there! Talk about an economic boom! Sure, people might get a little depressed without the sun and there's always a slight risk of a cave in, but we'll send down shrinks, sun lamps and throw up a few extra buttresses to be safe.” [Available only for nations with free economy]

4. “You’re all not thinking this through!” yells Comrade @@RANDOMNAME@@, wiping coal dust from his honest working-class face. “We’ve still got plenty of land. We’ve only used the top of it after all. Let’s expand our cities underground. Look at the perks: there’s plenty of space, they’ll naturally stay at a steady temperature, and – most importantly – think of all the untapped uranium ore down there! Talk about an economic boom! Sure, people might get a little depressed without the sun and there’s always a slight risk of a cave in, but we’ll send down shrinks, sun lamps and throw up a few extra buttresses to be safe.” [Available only for nations without free economy]

5. “I have a much, much more palatable solution,” assures your Minister of Internal Expansion, rubbing his hands together greedily. “Let's expand our coasts. How do we do that you ask? Simple, we reclaim it from the surrounding seas. All we need to do is build levees and dikes and pump out the water. It'll take some serious desalinization and a constant, reliable power source to accomplish, but it'll be worth it in the long run.”