Worldbuilding Realism Consultation Thread Mk. 4

[Great Nortend]

I devised a units of weights and measures based on the Imperial system. Having dallied with a dozenal system and a more coherent system previously, I've reverted to a more 'traditional' system. I retained the 1 pt (water) = 1 lb equivalence which I think is useful. Notably, the system of weights is based on the Troy pound which means that relationship can be held whilst also retaining the equivalence of 1 fluid ounce (water) = 1 ounce, which necessitated a redefinition of the pint as 12 fluid ounces rather than twenty. I've also developed some electromagnetic units and would like some ideas on what to name them... 'yard-pound-root' isn't a great name for a unit of electrical charge!

https://www.nationstates.net/nation=gre ... /id=853433

[Bears Armed]

I devised a units of weights and measures based on the Imperial system. Having dallied with a dozenal system and a more coherent system previously, I've reverted to a more 'traditional' system. I retained the 1 pt (water) = 1 lb equivalence which I think is useful.

That isn't the 'imperial' system, it's the American one: An 'imperial' pint is actually 20 fluid ounces rather than just 16... Then again, an American 'fluid ounce' is about 4% larger than an imperial one (because the American measurements were originally defined in terms of wine, which is less dense than the water used in the Imperial system from at least 1824 onwards...)

[Great Nortend]

I devised a units of weights and measures based on the Imperial system. Having dallied with a dozenal system and a more coherent system previously, I've reverted to a more 'traditional' system. I retained the 1 pt (water) = 1 lb equivalence which I think is useful.

That isn't the 'imperial' system, it's the American one: An 'imperial' pint is actually 20 fluid ounces rather than just 16... Then again, an American 'fluid ounce' is about 4% larger than an imperial one (because the American measurements were originally defined in terms of wine, which is less dense than the water used in the Imperial system from at least 1824 onwards...)

Yes, I referred to the 20 fl oz pint in my post as well. We use the 20 fl oz pint in Australia still!

which necessitated a redefinition of the pint as 12 fluid ounces rather than twenty.

I meant traditional in the sense that it maintained the historical definition (I think the Winchester?) rather than the Imperial standard. Originally the system was that one gallon weighed eight pounds and one pint weighed one pound and one fluid ounce weighed one ounce. Or at least that was the 'general theme', I believe, despite various different regional differences.

[Taihei Tengoku]

conlang people: how feasible is it to adapt the Korean alphabet to the Japanese language

[Kazarogkai]

conlang people: how feasible is it to adapt the Korean alphabet to the Japanese language

One, Korean Hangul is not technically an alphabet but is instead a is a featural-syllabic script with each "character" so to speak representing a different well.. syllable and incorporating elements to indicate to the writer the pronunciation of said syllable.

Two, Japanese already kinda has a system like this called Hiragana and Katakana both of which are syllabic, just like Hangul, and are technically capable of writing the entirety of the Japanese language all by their lonesome. The only reason really why they keep Kanji, their logo graphic script, has to do with tradition and other arbitrary historical muff and finally punctuation or more or less lack thereof. Japanese doesn't traditionally really have punctuation and more specifically spacing between words hence the use of the 3 scripts allows them to better differentiation the beginning and endings between words last I checked.

But after all that, it's possible but there isn't really a need. Just dump Kanji and add some punctuation to the mess and you'll have an arguably superior system which unlike Hangul isn't as badly constrained in terms of how many words they could theoretically have. More specifically it wouldn't be constrained to only having 2-4 syllable words.

A while ago I actually was thinking about making something similar albeit rather than being a syllabic script it would have been a logographic script with characters being either used along or combined in blocks to create new words. It was a bit complicated so I have more or less switched over to a somewhat more simple syllabic script with occasional weird logographic elements.

[-AlEmAnNiA-]

conlang people: how feasible is it to adapt the Korean alphabet to the Japanese language

very feasible, you'll just have to get rid of some letter groups like "tsu"

e: like a former regionmate of mine did

[Gallia-]

get rid of (...) "tsu"

Might as well cut off your arms and legs with a rusty toothbrush tbh. ツ

[Costa Fierro]

How would a society, which is left in economics, but right wing in social issues, look like? How would it function, if work at all?

Probably New Zealand circa 1975-1984.

[Kyria]

What are some sensible and small-business friendly tax rates or models of taxation I could use for this nation? I want it to be very friendly to small to medium sized businesses but be rather discouraging of massive corporations and such. I also want to support some level of social and economic welfare.

[Taihei Tengoku]

0%

I'm not joking, by the way

[Radimostan]

Revising the list of my executive departments

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(divisions)
-Division of Foreign Relations
-Division of International Development
-Division of Global Analytical Operations
(agencies)
-Weapons Proliferation Commission

Ministry of Defense
(divisions)
-Division of Civil Defense
-Division of Military Infrastructure
-Division of Military Education
-Division of Veteran Affairs
(agencies)
-Armed Forces of Radimostan
-Directorate of Home Guard
-Military Secret Service
-Armament and Equipment Commission

Ministry of Finance
(divisions)
-Division of Budget Management
-Division of Revenue
-Division of Monetary Affairs
(agencies)
-Customs Service
-Financial Regulatory Authority

Ministry of Justice
(divisons)
-Division of Criminal Law
-Division of Social Law
-Division of Administrative Law
-Division of International Legal Affairs
(agencies)
-Federal Bureau of Corrections
-Public Defendant Office
-Attorney Admissions Office

Ministry of the Interior
(divisions)
-Division of Public Safety
-Division of National Security
-Division of Domestic Administration
-Division of Immigration and Travel
(agencies)
-Federal Police
-National Gendarmerie

Minstry of Industry and Trade
(divisions)
-Division of Business Development
-Division of International Trade
-Division of Intellectual Property
-Division of Industrial Innovation
(agencies)
-Economic Regulatory Authority
-International Trade Commission
-Federal Telecommunication Commission
-National Postal Commission

Minstry of Labor
(divisions)
-Division of Working Conditions
-Division of Employment
-Division of Pensions
(agencies)
-Board of Labor Relations

Ministry of Transport
(divisions)
-Division of Road Administration
-Division of Rail Administration
-Division of Maritime Administration
-Division of Civil Aviation
(agencies)
-Federal Road and Rail Safety Authority
-National Aviation Commission
-National Maritime Commission

Ministry of Education and Youth
(divisions)
-Division of Primary and Secondary Education
-Division of Higher Education
-Division of Special Education
-Division of Children Welfare
(agencies)
-Commission of Educational Standards

Minstry of Public Health
(divisions)
-Division of Healthcare Support
-Division of Medical Research
-Division of Disease Control
-Division of Mental Health
(agencies)
-Federal Pharmaceutical Commission
-Federal Food Commission
-Medical Standards Commission

Ministry of Natural Resources
(divisions)
-Division of Environmental Conservation
-Division of Geological Research
-Division of Water Resources
-Division of Climate and Weather
(agencies)
-Environmental Protection Authority
-Board of National Parks Administration

Ministry of Energy
(divisions)
-Division of Electrical Network Administration
-Division of Energy Development
-Division of Oil and Gas
(agencies)
-Atomic Energy Commission

[Covenix]

How many judges would a population of ~3000 people require to deal effectively (although with a decent amount of corruption) with the influx of cases?

[Triplebaconation]

One part-time.

[Covenix]

One part-time.

Thank you!

[Great Nortend]

Revising the list of my executive departments

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(divisions)
-Division of Foreign Relations
-Division of International Development
-Division of Global Analytical Operations
(agencies)
-Weapons Proliferation Commission

Ministry of Defense
(divisions)
-Division of Civil Defense
-Division of Military Infrastructure
-Division of Military Education
-Division of Veteran Affairs
(agencies)
-Armed Forces of Radimostan
-Directorate of Home Guard
-Military Secret Service
-Armament and Equipment Commission

Ministry of Finance
(divisions)
-Division of Budget Management
-Division of Revenue
-Division of Monetary Affairs
(agencies)
-Customs Service
-Financial Regulatory Authority

Ministry of Justice
(divisons)
-Division of Criminal Law
-Division of Social Law
-Division of Administrative Law
-Division of International Legal Affairs
(agencies)
-Federal Bureau of Corrections
-Public Defendant Office
-Attorney Admissions Office

Ministry of the Interior
(divisions)
-Division of Public Safety
-Division of National Security
-Division of Domestic Administration
-Division of Immigration and Travel
(agencies)
-Federal Police
-National Gendarmerie

Minstry of Industry and Trade
(divisions)
-Division of Business Development
-Division of International Trade
-Division of Intellectual Property
-Division of Industrial Innovation
(agencies)
-Economic Regulatory Authority
-International Trade Commission
-Federal Telecommunication Commission
-National Postal Commission

Minstry of Labor
(divisions)
-Division of Working Conditions
-Division of Employment
-Division of Pensions
(agencies)
-Board of Labor Relations

Ministry of Transport
(divisions)
-Division of Road Administration
-Division of Rail Administration
-Division of Maritime Administration
-Division of Civil Aviation
(agencies)
-Federal Road and Rail Safety Authority
-National Aviation Commission
-National Maritime Commission

Ministry of Education and Youth
(divisions)
-Division of Primary and Secondary Education
-Division of Higher Education
-Division of Special Education
-Division of Children Welfare
(agencies)
-Commission of Educational Standards

Minstry of Public Health
(divisions)
-Division of Healthcare Support
-Division of Medical Research
-Division of Disease Control
-Division of Mental Health
(agencies)
-Federal Pharmaceutical Commission
-Federal Food Commission
-Medical Standards Commission

Ministry of Natural Resources
(divisions)
-Division of Environmental Conservation
-Division of Geological Research
-Division of Water Resources
-Division of Climate and Weather
(agencies)
-Environmental Protection Authority
-Board of National Parks Administration

Ministry of Energy
(divisions)
-Division of Electrical Network Administration
-Division of Energy Development
-Division of Oil and Gas
(agencies)
-Atomic Energy Commission

It seems quite comprehensive, although I feel the Ministry of Natural Resources seems superfluous with roles that could be undertaken by other departments.

[Radimostan]

Revising the list of my executive departments
(...)

It seems quite comprehensive, although I feel the Ministry of Natural Resources seems superfluous with roles that could be undertaken by other departments.

Could you be more specific?

[Strigonia]

Could someone suggest some solutions I could utilise to lessen the negatives of a feudal system? I want to keep feudalism for this nation but of course with some modernisation and tweaks.

[Purpelia]

Could someone suggest some solutions I could utilise to lessen the negatives of a feudal system? I want to keep feudalism for this nation but of course with some modernisation and tweaks.

Feudalism in the traditional sense pretty much can't survive into modernity because it is fundamentally based on a complex system of personalized oaths of allegiance which are just incompatible with the requirements of a modern nation state. The whole system pretty much falls apart with the birth of nationalism, any sort of desire for a centralized government and the external pressures which initiate these two. Like for example, how would modern France handle a situation where Normandy is both a French province and at the same time the guy ruling it is the sovereign ruler of England? And how would that work out in a war with Germany?

[Covenix]

Could on a very small scale ~(3000 people) a dictatorship sucessfully run a nation focused on tourism without major upheaval in the background.

[Strigonia]

I see. So I suppose just dropping feudalism in favour of an absolute, imperial monarchy is preferable, then?

[Gallia-]

Could someone suggest some solutions I could utilise to lessen the negatives of a feudal system? I want to keep feudalism for this nation but of course with some modernisation and tweaks.

Feudalism in the traditional sense pretty much

...describes Russia.

[Purpelia]

I see. So I suppose just dropping feudalism in favour of an absolute, imperial monarchy is preferable, then?

How the system ends up being constructed and ran in the end is not so important. All that matters is that you have to remove the very heart and soul of Feudalism, which is the system of personal loyalty and allegiance to individuals as opposed to the state.

[Gallia-]

I want to keep feudalism for this nation but of course with some modernisation and tweaks.

Feudalism for the 21st century.

Also consider: PRC, DPRK, and (to a lesser extent) Singapore.

Also: Ignore everything Purpelia says. He's a computer science major, not a political science or history major, and has self-professed he has zero interest in those subjects. So he doesn't know what he's talking about and doesn't care.

"Feudalism" at its root is nothing more than a system which combines personal oaths with devolving of state powers. You could describe a lot of things as "feudal" given its loose definition, and its most dangerous problems are the tendencies for weak leaders who cannot control their subordinates losing swathes of territory or requiring substantial concessions of power to maintain loyalty of a vassal. This is nothing new. Russia devolved power of federal subject to Chechnya, letting Ramzan run his own private state, de facto independent from Moscow, and does similar things for other Big Men who attain sufficient status and power in the Kremlin court. Putin is becoming weaker and if his protege turns out to be very weak it may very well mean another spell of collapse and disorder for the Russian territory.

Of course, this is working as designed. Feudalism, when properly implemented, automatically purges weak leaders and installs powerful ones, either through violent revolution/coups or bloody court politics and backstabbing, or more sedate things like Special Consuls and articles of impeachment, which of course depends on your history. You could, quite accurately, describe the European Union as a "feudal empire", alongside Russia and (increasingly) Canada and the United States. Also, the PRC.

If this sounds like "every government" then you're right, more or less. Feudalism is a "system" in the same sense that "fascism" is a system. It has no serious definition (and what definitions are offered span the gamut from "series of specific English governments c. 1500-1600" to "everything from ancient Egypt to Putin's Russia") that is consistently used aside from a system of personal loyalty in exchange for political/sanctioned power offered by either a specific agent, like a King or Tsar, or something more abstract like "the state", which is a feature of every government in existence. It may be more accurate to describe at as a sliding scale of nepotism to merit, but inevitably you need to define what constitutes merit in this case, since feudalism is historically quite good at selecting for "people good at not getting killed by the peasant revolt/court politics" and only when you run out of a crop of good leaders/genes then does it really start to fall apart.

The historical solution to that is to widen the pool of applicants, as is the case with modern social democracies and civil services, and increasingly with Russia as its pool of leaders begins to shrink demographically.

[Strigonia]

Hm, alright. I am thinking of Strigonia being a single state with everything defaulting to the imperial sovereign, but local administration and lower noble positions being allocated to individuals nominated by an aristocratic council and appointed or dismissed by the sovereign. Some families retain control of their positions for generations whilst others have been broken up into smaller houses vying for political influence.

[Gallia-]

Hm, alright. I am thinking of Strigonia being a single state with everything defaulting to the imperial sovereign, but local administration and lower noble positions being allocated to individuals nominated by an aristocratic council and appointed or dismissed by the sovereign. Some families retain control of their positions for generations whilst others have been broken up into smaller houses vying for political influence.

That's pretty feudal, yeah. You may want to look at the various unitary states of Europe and how they individually handle devolution of powers.

Alternatively, you can look at theocratic/anti-modern states like Saudi Arabia or Qatar, which retain the greatest vestiges of their god-king pasts.