NationStates

Is there some formula that determines the issues you get or NationStates just takes all the issues you’re eligible for then randomly chooses one?

There are a few overrides (you get the Capital, Leader, and Faith issues as soon as you qualify), but it's otherwise mostly random. It's worth noting that every issue you answer has the potential to change the list of issues you are eligible to receive.

I recall the admins mentioning that it's skewed to be more likely to give you issues that you haven't seen before. Though that's not a guarantee - it's entirely possible to get the same issue twice in a row, if the random numbers line up that way.

With the exception of the three custom field issues (capital, leader, and national religion) and chain issues, there is always at least some randomness involved.

Also, since I happen to recognize your name from all the RMB posts you make mentioning me: I'm flattered by the appreciation, but you really might be getting a little too obsessive

Also, Easter Eggs.

Well, although most issues are selected randomly, for some of them, you will need to have certain requirements to be able to be selected for you and it's not just the Easter Eggs or Leader, Capital and Faith ones. For example some of the issues may require for you to have certain policies such as Socialism and Capital Punishment or for some of your NS stats to be at a certain number such as high civil rights or a low eco friendliness(for instance) while others are part of an Issue Chain, a series of issues with(which you would get all 3 of them only once) where a certain option could lead to a certain issue(similarly, something like this does occasionally happen outside of Issue Chains too), meaning that it would practically be impossible for you to get every single issue.

Trotterdam wrote:I recall the admins mentioning that it's skewed to be more likely to give you issues that you haven't seen before. Though that's not a guarantee - it's entirely possible to get the same issue twice in a row, if the random numbers line up that way.

I actually seem to recall hearing that there was code specifically to prevent nations from receiving the same issue twice in a row. Past that, however, it's a free-for-all. Although I do also remember hearing about the bias against recently-answered issues.

Bears Armed wrote:Also, Easter Eggs.

They're still random. Meeting the criteria makes you eligible, but that doesn't guarantee you'll get them anytime soon.

Trotterdam wrote:

Bears Armed wrote:Also, Easter Eggs.

They're still random. Meeting the criteria makes you eligible, but that doesn't guarantee you'll get them anytime soon.

Sadly true. I'm still waiting for my zombie easter egg (223)...

Don't newly founded nations have a higher chance of receiving one of the original issues from when the games was first created? Should Democracy be Compulsory? and Harry Potter Censorship Row come to mind.

Raccoon Creek wrote:Don't newly founded nations have a higher chance of receiving one of the original issues from when the games was first created? Should Democracy be Compulsory? and Harry Potter Censorship Row come to mind.

Yes