General Assembly Q&A

[Wallenburg]

Is there a way to wage war in this?

From the FAQ:

Can I attack other nations?

No. Nations cannot be damaged or destroyed by foreign powers. You develop your nation the way you want, without being forced to take care of the military, or the economy, or anything else you don't especially prioritize.

But I keep hearing about invasions.

Some nations craft battles, trading pacts, and more on their regional boards or in forums such as International Incidents. But there's also a type of interregional invasion known as "raiding" or "R/D". This is where organized groups of nations attempt to seize control of regions by moving there en masse and endorsing each other to gain political power. Unlike nations, regions can effectively be captured and destroyed. This isn't common, but isn't unheard of, either.

Can I make a resolution to add war to the game?

No. Well, you can, but I'm still not going to add war. The WA is not there to request new game features. I admit this would be nice: propose a change, vote it through, and BAM! The game gets better. But then, I would have to make the BAM! part happen. It would require me to spend so much time rewriting game code that I wouldn't be able to pursue my real passion, which is earning enough money to buy food, and staying sane.

[Wallenburg]

On an unrelated topic, from this thread:

So join already. It's an automated process. Go to the WA page and apply, then check your email and click the link. It ain't rocket science.

I'm sure you mean well, but the GA community, even on a bad day, reserves this kind of snark for those who are familiar with the game, not those on their first day of playing NS.

[Araraukar]

On an unrelated topic, from this thread:

So join already. It's an automated process. Go to the WA page and apply, then check your email and click the link. It ain't rocket science.

I'm sure you mean well, but the GA community, even on a bad day, reserves this kind of snark for those who are familiar with the game, not those on their first day of playing NS.

To be fair, we can't see the behind-the-scenes info that Fris can. It might have not been someone's first account.

[Frisbeeteria]

the GA community reserves this kind of snark for those who are familiar with the game

To me, that wasn't snark. That was a straightforward and factual answer. They weren't a member. I told them how to become one. Straight and forward.

[Eriaroon Eugenic Republic]

Incredibly obvious question I'm sur, so please forgive me for asking it, but:

Are non-WA nations allowed to post in these boards?

If so, is it looked down upon?

If so, are they allowed to provide feedback on proposals despite being unable to submit them themsves?

If so, are they allowed to make IC comments on proposals and such? And if that is the case, is this looked down upon?

[Araraukar]

Incredibly obvious question I'm sur, so please forgive me for asking it, but:

The only stupid questions are the ones that aren't asked.

Are non-WA nations allowed to post in these boards?

Yes. I have a WA nation, but I mostly post here on this one. Even having a WA nation in general isn't necessary.

If so, is it looked down upon?

Not unless you flaunt the fact that you don't have to follow the restrictions of the WA resolutions.

If so, are they allowed to provide feedback on proposals despite being unable to submit them themsves?

Of course. I do that all the time.

If so, are they allowed to make IC comments on proposals and such?

Same as above.

And if that is the case, is this looked down upon?

Again, not unless you flaunt your lack of needing to comply with the resolutions.

Welcome to the GA forum!

[Thyerata]

Theoretically, if a proposal went to vote but GenSec later voted (not through the panel) that it was illegal, we would have to ask the mods to Discard it at the end of voting. That is an ugly and unfair result, and both the control panel setup and our basic procedures were specifically designed to make sure it won't happen. Doesn't mean it still couldn't, but we do try to make sure it won't. So far successfully (knocking on wood).

I just find this totally ironic given GenSec's ruling in the "repeal pesticide regulation" case.

[Araraukar]

Theoretically, if a proposal went to vote but GenSec later voted (not through the panel) that it was illegal, we would have to ask the mods to Discard it at the end of voting.

I just find this totally ironic given GenSec's ruling in the "repeal pesticide regulation" case.

That is exactly what happened. Once something is at vote already, there's little else that can be done. If people want to avoid discards happening, they shouldn't submit without drafting.

[Sierra Lyricalia]

I just find this totally ironic given GenSec's ruling in the "repeal pesticide regulation" case.

That is exactly what happened. Once something is at vote already, there's little else that can be done. If people want to avoid discards happening, they shouldn't submit without drafting.

If I'm not mistaken the proposal was in queue for literally the shortest possible time. All of twelve hours passed between when the proposal was submitted and when it went to vote. One major-minor update cycle. That's not even long enough for me to make a tough decision, let alone solicit colleagues' votes on the matter (especially when we're talking midnight-to-noon in my timezone on a work day!). If IA has that easy a time getting proposal approvals, the Discard is going to be in play. Other authors will encounter it less, as their resolutions will most likely take long enough to reach vote that we can rule during that window.

[Arianopia]

The founder to our region was deleted, How do I become the World Assembly Delegate for the region so we have an executive?

[Imperium Anglorum]

The founder to our region was deleted, How do I become the World Assembly Delegate for the region so we have an executive?

This is really a question for the Gameplay forum (though posting there could get your region raided, you should politely contact some defender groups). However that is, to become to Delegate, you simply need the most endorsements in your region.

[Christian Democrats]

Real World Reference: WA laws are written for the world of NationStates and the fictional countries therein, so your proposal should not contain any real world references. This includes but is not limited to, world leaders, real world persons, places, organizations and/or events. Generic references, however, are permitted, such as religions, political philosophies, languages, general scientific terminology, and phenomena.

Would references to specific gods and mythological figures be covered under the religions exception?

Note that gods live in the heavens (not the world) and that mythological figures live in the imagination (not the world).

[Araraukar]

Would references to specific gods and mythological figures be covered under the religions exception?

I would certainly say so. Whether it's Jehova or Shiva or Kukulcan or Bathala or a hydra or an aswang or, I would argue, a dragon, it's a specific unreal creature created by real life people. Similar to how country names (countries as we understand them are basically cultural creations; people drew lines on maps and said that divides us from you) or currencies would be RL mentions.

Note that gods and other mythological figures live in the imagination (not the world).

Edited to be more truthful.

[Bears Armed Mission]

The Secretariat is currently talking about some potential changes to the printed rules, before placing our collective opinion before you for further discussion. One of the changes that it seems likely a majority of us would prefer would be to get rid of that [relatively new] 'Religions' exemption altogether.
After all, how could one explain IC why it's legal to mention religions and deities that are known in RL but not those that are only known within NS as well?

[Christian Democrats]

After all, how could one explain IC why it's legal to mention religions and deities that are known in RL but not those that are only known within NS as well?

I think it'd be perfectly fine to name out-of-game as well as in-game gods.

Such a proposal might be forthcoming in the next few weeks -- if I have time and get around to writing it.

[Araraukar]

One of the changes that it seems likely a majority of us would prefer would be to get rid of that [relatively new] 'Religions' exemption altogether.

Yes please.

After all, how could one explain IC why it's legal to mention religions and deities that are known in RL but not those that are only known within NS as well?

Church of Violet, anyone?

I think it'd be perfectly fine to name out-of-game as well as in-game gods.

Can't say I'm surprised you'd think that.

[Frisbeeteria]

Several posts on changing the way the WA votes have been split to this thread in Technical.

[Pragmatikotita]

Hello! I have a question regarding the GA which I could not answer by myself with some quick searches; if a state joins the GA do past (passed) resolutions apply retroactively to it, or only future ones do so?

[Araraukar]

Hello! I have a question regarding the GA which I could not answer by myself with some quick searches; if a state joins the GA do past (passed) resolutions apply retroactively to it, or only future ones do so?

When a nation joins the WA, it basically agrees to obey all the existing resolutions as well as any that might be passed in the future. Do note, however, that you shouldn't punish your citizens for breaking the international laws, if the law-breaking happened before your nation joined the WA. There's a resolution that bans that.

[Pragmatikotita]

Hello! I have a question regarding the GA which I could not answer by myself with some quick searches; if a state joins the GA do past (passed) resolutions apply retroactively to it, or only future ones do so?

When a nation joins the WA, it basically agrees to obey all the existing resolutions as well as any that might be passed in the future. Do note, however, that you shouldn't punish your citizens for breaking the international laws, if the law-breaking happened before your nation joined the WA. There's a resolution that bans that.

So I should expect updates to my state's statistics due to the resolutions being applied, right?

[Bears Armed]

When a nation joins the WA, it basically agrees to obey all the existing resolutions as well as any that might be passed in the future. Do note, however, that you shouldn't punish your citizens for breaking the international laws, if the law-breaking happened before your nation joined the WA. There's a resolution that bans that.

So I should expect updates to my state's statistics due to the resolutions being applied, right?

You only get stat changes for the resolutions that pass while you're actually a member, even though the other resolutions are also legally binding.

[Pragmatikotita]

So I should expect updates to my state's statistics due to the resolutions being applied, right?

You only get stat changes for the resolutions that pass while you're actually a member, even though the other resolutions are also legally binding.

Alright, thank you all!

[The Nation of Danzig]

I have recently made a proposal to the general assembly. I talked about it on in my region and a long time member told me to polish it a little more. How would I go about doing this?

[Christian Democrats]

:?: I have recently made a proposal to the general assembly. I talked about it on in my region and a long time member told me to polish it a little more. How would I go about doing this?

Whenever you have a draft for a proposal, you should post it in this forum for comment. The players here know the most about the WA.

[Araraukar]

Are we now allowed to use dictionary/Wikipedia definitions of concepts, as long as specific real life references are not used?

It used to be a no-no, but I'm not sure what the current stance is on it.