RPing Questions? Ask Here!

[Zomania]

I have a question about population and national power. I've seen a few RP's here where people have nations with nine or ten digit populations, that intervene in a conflict with a million troops. Is this sort of thing normal around here? I'm trying to RP a vaguely Yugoslavian/Bulgarian eastern european communist dictatorship, so I lack either the population or the military power to actually remain relevant in many such conflicts.

Do I need to make my nation more powerful or not?

You really don't.

Ultimately, the size of a player's nation is up to them to decide. However, a smaller nation can actively - and effectively - take on much larger forces for a lot of reasons; mostly, being that nations with billion-citizen stats are going to be dirt poor (think China, but larger), and their military is going to be extremely under equipped. Whereas, a smaller nation will have better (depending on history) living conditions, and a technologically superior military force.

I would direct you further to these threads, as they will be of great help to you: viewtopic.php?p=9160667#p9160667

My nation is a middle income country, not first world, and in many cases the large nations I see seem to have either a middle income or first world standard of living.

[Yalos]

I have a question about population and national power. I've seen a few RP's here where people have nations with nine or ten digit populations, that intervene in a conflict with a million troops. Is this sort of thing normal around here? I'm trying to RP a vaguely Yugoslavian/Bulgarian eastern european communist dictatorship, so I lack either the population or the military power to actually remain relevant in many such conflicts.

Do I need to make my nation more powerful or not?

It’s your choice, but personally, I would stay away from such people. Do note that this really is my personal bias, but one I feel worth mentioning.

No. People who are concerned with stats and numbers over world building and world building tend to not be the most cooperative. They tend to be power gamers who like to take advantage of their numbers. They’re not there to RP; they’re there to steamroll. They don’t build worlds and discover the unique fiber that makes their people individual, but rather, they’re generic militaristic nations with the sole purpose of military conquest and glory. Don't go down that dark path.

Now, everybody has a different approach to NS RP, and some like to be competitive. However, I personally would try to convince you to not view RP with such an approach. Any person can create a nation, wait a few years to reach a few billion citizens and spam soldiers by pointing to NS tracker. The ability to create and develop is one that must be nurtured.

So, I say no. Don’t increase your ability to project power. Even in those circles that you refer to, it will give you nothing but grief. Instead, I invite you to talk with a mentor, or myself if you so desire. We need more world builders and inventors, and we need fewer soldiers and power gamers. We need nations that are okay with losing wars and demonstrating restraint over strength and raw force. You don't need a huge population and lots of soldiers.

Please don't ever be feel pressured to listen to those people who claim first world nations with 50 million soldiers or whatever. Don't follow that example. Your nation is fine the way you imagine and polish it. Your nation is your creation and your brainchild.

[Zomania]

I have a question about population and national power. I've seen a few RP's here where people have nations with nine or ten digit populations, that intervene in a conflict with a million troops. Is this sort of thing normal around here? I'm trying to RP a vaguely Yugoslavian/Bulgarian eastern european communist dictatorship, so I lack either the population or the military power to actually remain relevant in many such conflicts.

Do I need to make my nation more powerful or not?

It’s your choice, but personally, I would stay away from such people. Do note that this really is my personal bias, but one I feel worth mentioning.

No. People who are concerned with stats and numbers over world building and world building tend to not be the most cooperative. They tend to be power gamers who like to take advantage of their numbers. They’re not there to RP; they’re there to steamroll. They don’t build worlds and discover the unique fiber that makes their people individual, but rather, they’re generic militaristic nations with the sole purpose of military conquest and glory. Don't go down that dark path.

Now, everybody has a different approach to NS RP, and some like to be competitive. However, I personally would try to convince you to not view RP with such an approach. Any person can create a nation, wait a few years to reach a few billion citizens and spam soldiers by pointing to NS tracker. The ability to create and develop is one that must be nurtured.

So, I say no. Don’t increase your ability to project power. Even in those circles that you refer to, it will give you nothing but grief. Instead, I invite you to talk with a mentor, or myself if you so desire, and to discuss the ways in which you can become a devoted writer. We need more world builders and inventors, and we need fewer soldiers and power gamers. We need nations that are okay with losing wars and demonstrating restraint over strength and raw force. You don't need a huge population and lots of soldiers.

Zomania is somewhat militaristic, though that's because I'm trying to make it a somewhat darkly comedic communist dictatorship. I think a good way to describe Zomania would be as an opportunistic militarist; for example, joining in on a large multinational invasion in order to gain some influence over the new regime while other countries do the majority of the heavy lifting.

I have some experience in worldbuilding for a roleplay. In one such roleplay, I'm playing as an underdeveloped third world nation of 30 million recovering from a civil war, while most other player-controlled nations had futuristic technology and a first world standard of living. However, I do need more practice with the writing aspect.

[Yalos]

Then just throw one of the mentors a TG; that's what they're there for.
Or if they're busy, then I'd be more than happy to help you out with whatever you need.

[Krazakistan]

Yeah, I'm looking for an MT realism (preferably one that wars often) group, does anyone here know of a good one that you could recommend to me?

[Oaledonia]

Yeah, I'm looking for an MT realism (preferably one that wars often) group, does anyone here know of a good one that you could recommend to me?

Read here

[Neo Philippine Empire]

What is Godmod?

[Maltropia]

What is Godmod?

From Euro's old II Stickies thread:

To, in any way, say what happens to your enemy’s forces. EX: “Your troops are dead, because I shot them with superguns.”

There's a more full description here.

It's based on the idea that, most of the time, the only person who can decide what happens to his characters, nation, etc., is the guy who owns them. Sometimes, though, that can be taken a bit too far, and RPers will refuse to let anything happen to their characters, and even with a million bullets coming at them they'll dodge them all. It's a problem that comes when people treat RPs as competitions when in reality it's more like group story-telling.

[Constaniana]

What is Godmod?

From Euro's old II Stickies thread:

To, in any way, say what happens to your enemy’s forces. EX: “Your troops are dead, because I shot them with superguns.”

There's a more full description here.

It's based on the idea that, most of the time, the only person who can decide what happens to his characters, nation, etc., is the guy who owns them. Sometimes, though, that can be taken a bit too far, and RPers will refuse to let anything happen to their characters, and even with a million bullets coming at them they'll dodge them all. It's a problem that comes when people treat RPs as competitions when in reality it's more like group story-telling.

It's also used when people pull ridiculously large numbers or advanced technology out of nowhere to win, like so.

[Pasovo-nacoBo]

How should I rev-up my military?
I've been absent for months, and my military is pretty outdated: (Read factbook)
I know doing resolutions is one, though.

[ViZion]

How should I rev-up my military?
I've been absent for months, and my military is pretty outdated: (Read factbook)
I know doing resolutions is one, though.

One of the easiest ways is to find a quality storefront you like and trust in GE&T and upgrade. You can also RP having a high quality arms manufacturing industry though at that point if you're trying to give detail you'll need to know your stuff.

[Tiami]

How should I rev-up my military?
I've been absent for months, and my military is pretty outdated: (Read factbook)
I know doing resolutions is one, though.

One of the easiest ways is to find a quality storefront you like and trust in GE&T and upgrade. You can also RP having a high quality arms manufacturing industry though at that point if you're trying to give detail you'll need to know your stuff.

Myrmidon Tactical Design and Lyrans Arms are just a few of the many storefronts in GE&T that offer excellent military hardware. They both are among the most popular as of right now. I would recommend checking both stores, but also looking at other stores as well. There are plenty of high-quality equipment that will most definitely fit your needs.

[Zomania]

EDIT: Whoops wrong thread

[Oaledonia]

One of the easiest ways is to find a quality storefront you like and trust in GE&T and upgrade. You can also RP having a high quality arms manufacturing industry though at that point if you're trying to give detail you'll need to know your stuff.

Myrmidon Tactical Design and Lyrans Arms are just a few of the many storefronts in GE&T that offer excellent military hardware. They both are among the most popular as of right now. I would recommend checking both stores, but also looking at other stores as well. There are plenty of high-quality equipment that will most definitely fit your needs.

Steer clear of Myrmidon Tactical Design if you want realism though, the Military Realism Thread was just picking the wank apart.

[Tiami]

Myrmidon Tactical Design and Lyrans Arms are just a few of the many storefronts in GE&T that offer excellent military hardware. They both are among the most popular as of right now. I would recommend checking both stores, but also looking at other stores as well. There are plenty of high-quality equipment that will most definitely fit your needs.

Steer clear of Myrmidon Tactical Design if you want realism though, the Military Realism Thread was just picking the wank apart.

If you actually read the tech description, and if people actually talked to Marquesan or I, you'd find that not all tech is MT, but a lot of it is. It's using MT technologies, in different combination. And remind you, Marquesan did serve in the military and has been doing this sort of stuff for a long time. He's received praise from Lyras and so on. And I can assume half of the military realism thread posters did not serve(and I apologize if you actually did; not my intention to hurt)

Yet, of course, I can call a lot of NS tech wank, even if it is MT. So, there is no fault in it, nor is it 'wanked' considering the site we RP on.

If you have anything to post, take it to TG. I'm not very keen on spamming in this topic.

[Questers]

Shoenice served in the military, he was in the Gulf War, that doesn't mean he is fit to make fictional realisticish weapons designs.

[Pasovo-nacoBo]

How should I rev-up my military?
I've been absent for months, and my military is pretty outdated: (Read factbook)
I know doing resolutions is one, though.

One of the easiest ways is to find a quality storefront you like and trust in GE&T and upgrade. You can also RP having a high quality arms manufacturing industry though at that point if you're trying to give detail you'll need to know your stuff.

Thank you, and thank you everyone else for posting!

[Volesia]

So I was inspired by Hungary's inter-war government to replace my king with a regent. I was thinking one of my monarchs could become such a tyrannical bastard (The canine pack system system my people used in ancient times led to monarchism dominating their governments even into the future age) that my people rose up and overthrew him. With little to no history of republicanism among my people, I think all they would really do afterwards is replace the monarch with an elected equivalent, while keeping everything else in place. I know this isn't the most realistic idea, but I don't want my nation to just be monarchy #321. NationStates is already saturated with so many kingdoms and empires that my nation just wouldn't be unique as one.

Thoughts?

[Personal Freedom]

So I was inspired by Hungary's inter-war government to replace my king with a regent. I was thinking one of my monarchs could become such a tyrannical bastard (The canine pack system my people used in ancient times led to monarchism dominating their governments even into the future age) that my people rose up and overthrew him. With little to no history of republicanism among my people, I think all they would really do afterwards is replace the monarch with an elected equivalent, while keeping everything else in place. I know this isn't the most realistic idea, but I don't want my nation to just be monarchy #321. NationStates is already saturated with so many kingdoms and empires that my nation just wouldn't be unique as one.

Thoughts?

Out with a despot and in with another is common in history. The end result of the French Revolution was Napoleon and the transition from the king in Italy was Mussolini.

[Yalos]

Why not, instead of a new king, go for an "intellectual" government with a greater goal, i.e communism or something of the sort. Your nation could undergo Massive power struggles and face unique trials with shit storms of opposition and violence abounding. Not necessarily unique, perse, but if you play it well, people will come to recognize it as it is. Complex and intricate.

[Volesia]

So I was inspired by Hungary's inter-war government to replace my king with a regent. I was thinking one of my monarchs could become such a tyrannical bastard (The canine pack system my people used in ancient times led to monarchism dominating their governments even into the future age) that my people rose up and overthrew him. With little to no history of republicanism among my people, I think all they would really do afterwards is replace the monarch with an elected equivalent, while keeping everything else in place. I know this isn't the most realistic idea, but I don't want my nation to just be monarchy #321. NationStates is already saturated with so many kingdoms and empires that my nation just wouldn't be unique as one.

Thoughts?

Out with a despot and in with another is common in history. The end result of the French Revolution was Napoleon and the transition from the king in Italy was Mussolini.

Indeed. Does it fit though is what I mean. A kingdom without a king, basically?

EDIT: I edited into the above post what I meant by canine pack system. My people are basically canine space furries.

[Volesia]

Why not, instead of a new king, go for an "intellectual" government with a greater goal, i.e communism or something of the sort. Your nation could undergo Massive power struggles and face unique trials with shit storms of opposition and violence abounding. Not necessarily unique, perse, but if you play it well, people will come to recognize it as it is. Complex and intricate.

I already have a communist nation in MT. I'd rather go for a different, more fantasy-esque concept with this nation.

[Yalos]

Why not, instead of a new king, go for an "intellectual" government with a greater goal, i.e communism or something of the sort. Your nation could undergo Massive power struggles and face unique trials with shit storms of opposition and violence abounding. Not necessarily unique, perse, but if you play it well, people will come to recognize it as it is. Complex and intricate.

I already have a communist nation in MT. I'd rather go for a different, more fantasy-esque concept with this nation.

I never said it had to necessarily be communism. That was just an example. You could apply any ideology, of any classification to your state. Read between the lines.

Anyways, as far as FT goes, there's a monarch behind every other corner. Galactic empires with undying emporers is just a cool concept for some people. If you want originality, and still want a monarchy, you will be wanting to find something unique that doesn't pertain to your government, because even with some semantic difference, it'll just be seen as another monarchy or another empire. Of course, some empires do stand out, but it isnt because of their king or how he obtains power. For an example, everybody loves Huerdae because he simply doesn't give a shit about life, and can simply outgun anybody who crosses him. Rather, use the generic ish monarch (or any other system, your choice), but also do realize that you need more than just a unique head of state to shine.

Military. Culture. Something on a large scale that will be reflected by the whole of your nation nd the ives of its people. Something that will actually allow you to stand out. A unique head of state, who is but a single person and thus a single character isn't going to cut it if you want awesomeness originality. To make a long story short, make your nation unique, not a single character.

[Volesia]

I already have a communist nation in MT. I'd rather go for a different, more fantasy-esque concept with this nation.

I never said it had to necessarily be communism. That was just an example. You could apply any ideology, of any classification to your state. Read between the lines.

Anyways, as far as FT goes, there's a monarch behind every other corner. Galactic empires with undying emporers is just a cool concept for some people. If you want originality, and still want a monarchy, you will be wanting to find something unique that doesn't pertain to your government, because even with some semantic difference, it'll just be seen as another monarchy or another empire. Of course, some empires do stand out, but it isnt because of their king or how he obtains power. For an example, everybody loves Huerdae because he simply doesn't give a shit about life, and can simply outgun anybody who crosses him. Rather, use the generic ish monarch (or any other system, your choice), but also do realize that you need more than just a unique head of state to shine.

Military. Culture. Something on a large scale that will be reflected by the whole of your nation nd the ives of its people. Something that will actually allow you to stand out. A unique head of state, who is but a single person and thus a single character isn't going to cut it if you want awesomeness originality. To make a long story short, make your nation unique, not a single character.

I understand what you're saying. My original FT nation failed because it was essentially a single character. Once I removed him, the basis of the nation fell apart.

I am going to try and develop a unique culture for my nation. FT furries would probably fit into the alien bracket so I have some lee-way regarding non-human concepts.

[Osterlais]

I understand what you're saying. My original FT nation failed because it was essentially a single character. Once I removed him, the basis of the nation fell apart.

I am going to try and develop a unique culture for my nation. FT furries would probably fit into the alien bracket so I have some lee-way regarding non-human concepts.

I think there are advantages to roleplaying a monarchy or a dictator, as it reduces characters. Like you pointed out, basing your nation on one person is problematic. I think culture is important and oft misunderstood and under developed part of a nation, and you are right to focus on it. As far as wolf based cultures, the whole idea of the alpha dog has gone out of fashion with wolf scientists. Not that you should let that get in the way of a good idea. If you are interested you can look here: http://www.4pawsu.com/alphawolf.pdf As far as form of government, if you want something unique, you can easily make up your own. What I rarely see in NS is governments with multiple heads of state, such as the Roman Consuls or San Marino.