Nation name release!

[Tarsonis Survivors]

Three would be much more reasonable than 5

I may be biased because I've had puppets that I left dormant longer than 3 years, but I prefer 5. I think if we need to free up more names, we should focus on ones that have been dead for a very long time, and raise the population limit for those.

While I understand the puppet position, I think that's more on the responsibility of the user to maintain their army of puppets. I think the limit should be considered with the idea of active nations, more than puppets, in mind. Five years is quite an extensive chunk of time, especially for nations that only last a month or two, and are never heard from again. It's also not just about freeing up names. Some players want a specific name, and it can be quite frustrating when one sojourner on the internet spent one day on the site and happened to take the nation name you want, now that name is locked down for five years.

I think 2-3 three years is a much more reasonable time to put a hold on nation name. Serious players have ample time to come back, and one off nations aren't locked down for an overwhelmingly long period.

[Chrinthanium]

I may be biased because I've had puppets that I left dormant longer than 3 years, but I prefer 5. I think if we need to free up more names, we should focus on ones that have been dead for a very long time, and raise the population limit for those.

While I understand the puppet position, I think that's more on the responsibility of the user to maintain their army of puppets. I think the limit should be considered with the idea of active nations, more than puppets, in mind. Five years is quite an extensive chunk of time, especially for nations that only last a month or two, and are never heard from again. It's also not just about freeing up names. Some players want a specific name, and it can be quite frustrating when one sojourner on the internet spent one day on the site and happened to take the nation name you want, now that name is locked down for five years.

I think 2-3 three years is a much more reasonable time to put a hold on nation name. Serious players have ample time to come back, and one off nations aren't locked down for an overwhelmingly long period.

One-off nations aren't, generally, locked down for an overwhelmingly-long period of time since most one-off's won't crash through the 500 million threshold.

[Tarsonis Survivors]

While I understand the puppet position, I think that's more on the responsibility of the user to maintain their army of puppets. I think the limit should be considered with the idea of active nations, more than puppets, in mind. Five years is quite an extensive chunk of time, especially for nations that only last a month or two, and are never heard from again. It's also not just about freeing up names. Some players want a specific name, and it can be quite frustrating when one sojourner on the internet spent one day on the site and happened to take the nation name you want, now that name is locked down for five years.

I think 2-3 three years is a much more reasonable time to put a hold on nation name. Serious players have ample time to come back, and one off nations aren't locked down for an overwhelmingly long period.

One-off nations aren't, generally, locked down for an overwhelmingly-long period of time since most one-off's won't crash through the 500 million threshold.

Every nation name is locked for a minimum of five years regardless of population. It's this parameter I'm dissenting against.

[United Federated States of Omega]

Just noting how old some nations that CTE'd are, is there any way that we could revisit this and after say 10 years or something any nation name that was only held due to former population size is released?

[New Morthyr]

Just noting how old some nations that CTE'd are, is there any way that we could revisit this and after say 10 years or something any nation name that was only held due to former population size is released?

I wish

[The Grand Puffle Republic]

Just noting how old some nations that CTE'd are, is there any way that we could revisit this and after say 10 years or something any nation name that was only held due to former population size is released?

Same with the "Soiled" nations. I don't get why because one person was stupid, no-one can use the name.

[USS Monitor]

Just noting how old some nations that CTE'd are, is there any way that we could revisit this and after say 10 years or something any nation name that was only held due to former population size is released?

Same with the "Soiled" nations. I don't get why because one person was stupid, no-one can use the name.

A lot of nations are deleted because of their names. We don't want to release those names and make it easier for people to create more work for game mods.

I think we're more likely to adjust the population rules than release soiled names.

[Catrom]

Most of these restrictions are quite reasonable because they deal with the permanent effects of a nation's existence. It would be a Bad Thing (TM) to allow one person to be given credit for the achievements of someone else's country.

Some kind of time limit is also appropriate; it gives players the chance to come back if they lose interest or are otherwise occupied; but it also ensures that names will eventually become available again. We can argue over whether 5 years is too long, but that's not really important.

The population restriction, however, is just bollocks. If a population restriction is to exist, it should represent a significant time investment. A nation of 500 million does not. You can get to 500 million just by logging in once every 29 days for 4 months. That's a far cry from the 5 years that retired players are given just in case they decide to return. You wouldn't even have to answer any issues, or choose a national flag, or do ANYTHING but log in for a few seconds 4 or 5 times.

I'd like to add my voice to those who are recommending a link between the population and the time restrictions. A good rule of thumb could be to reserve the names of deceased nations for one day for every 5 million population that they had at the time of death.

[The Grand Puffle Republic]

Same with the "Soiled" nations. I don't get why because one person was stupid, no-one can use the name.

A lot of nations are deleted because of their names. We don't want to release those names and make it easier for people to create more work for game mods.

I think we're more likely to adjust the population rules than release soiled names.

That makes since, but it makes me sad I'll never get Russia.

[Enceladus]

BTW, to give you all an idea of just how many nation names are permanently reserved on the basis of population alone, I tried setting up some off-world colonies in the solar system...

Luna - used by a former nation of significant size.

ceres - used by a former nation of significant size.

ganymede - available in 1 year 46 days.
callisto - used by a former nation of significant size.
io - used by a former nation of significant size.
europa - used by a former nation of significant size.

titan - available in 129 days.
rhea - available in 1 year 103 days.
Iapetus - used by a former nation of significant size.
dione - used by a former nation of significant size.
tethys - used by a former nation of significant size.
enceladus - I JUST TOOK IT HAHAHA
mimas - used by a former nation of significant size.

titania - used by a former nation of significant size.
oberon - used by a current nation.
ariel - available in 1 year 40 days.
umbriel - used by a former nation of significant size.
miranda - used by a former nation of significant size.

triton - used by a former nation of significant size.

pluto - used by a current nation.
charon - used by a former nation of significant size.

eris - used by a former nation of significant size.
dysnomia - available in 2 years 291 days.

sedna - soiled by a former nation.
Haumea - used by a former nation of significant size.
Makemake - used by a former nation of significant size.
Quaoar - used by a former nation of significant size.
Orcus - used by a former nation of significant size.
Varuna - used by a former nation of significant size.

That's 2 current nations, one soiled, 5 that will be released in due time, 20 that are population-locked, and one that was available until I took it. Population lock has taken more than twice as many names as all other reasons for reservation combined. So, at the very least, something should be done about the population threshold.

[Luna Amore]

Direct reference nations like those will always be taken in one way or another by the nature of the names. Yes, Luna is taken. I discovered the same issue 14 years ago. I modified the concept and made my own version.

In my opinion, the case for expanding population limits has to be made regardless of real-world nations/astrological objects. They will never be open no matter the system. And we can't make whoever takes them use them a specific way.

[Enceladus]

Direct reference nations like those will always be taken in one way or another by the nature of the names.

Not always. Enceladus was free, 5 more will be in the future, and I just snagged Proteus and Huya... but this isn't really about the percentage that are reserved vs. the percentage that are available. It's about the percentage that are population-locked vs. the percentage that are reserved for other reasons.

In my opinion, the case for expanding population limits has to be made regardless of real-world nations/astrological objects. They will never be open no matter the system.

The whole thing with the moons and trans-Neptunian objects was just a compromise between being systematic and being random. I could have just as easily chosen breakfast cereals or hockey players or something equally ridiculous. A smaller percentage of the names probably would have been reserved, but I doubt that the relative ratios of the reasons for reservation would be much different.

Also, I think you mean "astronomical", not "astrological"

And we can't make whoever takes them use them a specific way.

Does that matter?

[USS Monitor]

We don't really care what is the most common reason for names to be reserved. It is only a problem if there aren't enough available names.

[Enceladus]

We don't really care what is the most common reason for names to be reserved.

Nor would I, if not for the fact that it has taken more than twice as many names as all other reasons for reservation combined, and is the most logically questionable one regardless of its commonality. It's this combination of factors that make it the condition that players most want to see altered.

Anyway, I've provided the perspective that I came here to provide. Carry on.

[Mississippabama]

Name reuse system. The end of the subject got cut off.









If a nation whose name cannot ever be restored because the nation had over 500 million inhabitants or more or authored an issue or founded an existing region or something, can that nation be restored even if it's been inactive for over five years (because either way, it can't be reused)?

[Frisbeeteria]

If a nation whose name cannot ever be restored because the nation had over 500 million inhabitants or more or authored an issue or founded an existing region or something, can that nation be restored even if it's been inactive for over five years (because either way, it can't be reused)?

If I've parsed that incredibly long compound question correctly, the answer is "yes".

Nations reserved for any reason (other than mod deletion) can be restored by the original owner regardless of the time it's been idle. Nations not reserved but still idle after 5+ years can also be restored by the original owner. Once that name is taken, though, the Ancient nation is lost to the first owner.

[Mississippabama]

If a nation whose name cannot ever be restored because the nation had over 500 million inhabitants or more or authored an issue or founded an existing region or something, can that nation be restored even if it's been inactive for over five years (because either way, it can't be reused)?

If I've parsed that incredibly long compound question correctly, the answer is "yes".

Nations reserved for any reason (other than mod deletion) can be restored by the original owner regardless of the time it's been idle. Nations not reserved but still idle after 5+ years can also be restored by the original owner. Once that name is taken, though, the Ancient nation is lost to the first owner.

Yep; you interpreted the question correctly. Thanks for the answer!

[Nouveau Yathrib]

Most of these restrictions are quite reasonable because they deal with the permanent effects of a nation's existence. It would be a Bad Thing (TM) to allow one person to be given credit for the achievements of someone else's country.

Some kind of time limit is also appropriate; it gives players the chance to come back if they lose interest or are otherwise occupied; but it also ensures that names will eventually become available again. We can argue over whether 5 years is too long, but that's not really important.

The population restriction, however, is just bollocks. If a population restriction is to exist, it should represent a significant time investment. A nation of 500 million does not. You can get to 500 million just by logging in once every 29 days for 4 months. That's a far cry from the 5 years that retired players are given just in case they decide to return. You wouldn't even have to answer any issues, or choose a national flag, or do ANYTHING but log in for a few seconds 4 or 5 times.

I'd like to add my voice to those who are recommending a link between the population and the time restrictions. A good rule of thumb could be to reserve the names of deceased nations for one day for every 5 million population that they had at the time of death.

I like the cut of your jib. Do away with the population restriction and make the restriction time proportional to the deceased nation's final population.

[North Rom]

I am really looking for some names but i can't wait that long! i just want a real country name so bad

[Frisbeeteria]

i just want a real country name so bad

You and a few thousand others. Even if we releases all of them right now and somehow limited them to one per player, there still wouldn't be enough. You just have to play Name Release Lottery along with everyone else.

[NationHelper]

i just want a real country name so bad

You and a few thousand others. Even if we releases all of them right now and somehow limited them to one per player, there still wouldn't be enough. You just have to play Name Release Lottery along with everyone else.

Everyone's looking for "Panda", I can feel it.....

[Aglrinia]

I am really looking for some names but i can't wait that long! i just want a real country name so bad

There's unexpected baggage to owning a real world nation on nationstates.

I personally own;

• Norway
• Luxembourg
• Mozambique and
• Anguilla

It's not uncommon to login to the nation and find a request from a random stranger asking if they can have it. Or at least twice a week there will be unsuccessful login attempts. That attraction everyone has to owning a real world nation dies sooner than you would think. It might last a month, it might last three, it might six, it might last a year. It all depends on which nation you're able to grab. The idea of owning a real world nation sounds cool because everything has already been finished for you. The map, flag, political structure, history, allies, and enemies, trade surplus and deficits everything down to a T. But, that's not what nationstates is about. Nationstates is about creating a new nation and imposing your political beliefs upon it. Or you can play dictator, the world's policemen, or the financial giant that profits off both sides. Do you want proportional representation, or winner takes all representation? The choice is yours because you're the author of your nation's destiny on nationstates. Sure owning an account with a name that's recognized outside the game might help you come across as hegemonic, but that's too easy. You don't get writing and roleplaying experience that way, through continuous effort the name you created may become just as well known on nationstates.

[USS Monitor]

I am really looking for some names but i can't wait that long! i just want a real country name so bad

There's unexpected baggage to owning a real world nation on nationstates.

I personally own;

• Norway
• Luxembourg
• Mozambique and
• Anguilla

It's not uncommon to login to the nation and find a request from a random stranger asking if they can have it. Or at least twice a week there will be unsuccessful login attempts..

Not surprised about the bad login attempts. I used to get those when I was using Nazi Flower Power as my main, and I always figured it was because someone liked the name.

[Parhe]

I am really looking for some names but i can't wait that long! i just want a real country name so bad

Real nation names are the most restricting. Cool sounding (I know, subjective) fictional names have so much more potential l, especially for people who RP. Though, I am curious, do you have any puppets?

[The Blaatschapen]

There's unexpected baggage to owning a real world nation on nationstates.

I personally own;

• Norway
• Luxembourg
• Mozambique and
• Anguilla

It's not uncommon to login to the nation and find a request from a random stranger asking if they can have it. Or at least twice a week there will be unsuccessful login attempts..

Not surprised about the bad login attempts. I used to get those when I was using Nazi Flower Power as my main, and I always figured it was because someone liked the name.

Just a note, please report bad login attempts through ghr

Though the just might have the record of bad login attempts. Roughly 1 every 36 hours