The Writers' Block

[Frisbeeteria]

There's still 2000 odd issues we have to sort

That said, we've recently significantly improved our ability to clean out the deadwood. We're actually making progress for the first time in a rather long while. Even so, there are an awful lot of potential issues mixed in with an awful lot of complete garbage, and it takes a very long time to pick out the winners. The biggest problem is looking at an issue and deciding whether or not it's too close to one of the existing issues. As the pool of live issues grows, that process gets even harder.

[Milograd]

Noted. Thank you.

I must say, that sounds demanding. I might go nuts doing that.

[Sanctaria]

Noted. Thank you.

I must say, that sounds demanding. I might go nuts doing that.

Sometimes it's frustrating but every now and then you come across a really bad submission that keeps you laughing for ages. Totally worth the lolz.

[Jeckland]

If there are so many issues, why not get more editors?

[Sedgistan]

There's a very limited number of people with both the ability to and interest in editing issues. A smaller team also keeps the editing process more manageable, particularly as issues need to fit in with each other.

[Jeckland]

There's a very limited number of people with both the ability to and interest in editing issues. A smaller team also keeps the editing process more manageable, particularly as issues need to fit in with each other.

Could I nominate an editor?

[Sanctaria]

There's a very limited number of people with both the ability to and interest in editing issues. A smaller team also keeps the editing process more manageable, particularly as issues need to fit in with each other.

Could I nominate an editor?

While we are not currently looking for new Issues Editors, when we find ourselves in need of new ones, they will be chosen by the Issues Editing team (Moderators and Issues Editors). Those who are active within the Got Issues forum, giving helpful advice to others - particularly with the drafting of issues, and those who write especially good issues (whether submitted via the game or in response to a specific request), will be considered.

[Wrapper]

Question: Is it okay to sort of tie a new issue to a World Assembly resolution, as long as the WA isn't explicitly (and doesn't need to be) a part of it?

Specifically, I've drafted a resolution on a World University for Peace. Whether this passes or not, I think it would make a good topic for an issue: A trustee approaches your nation, asks if they can place a WUP campus in your nation, and the nation's response can be, "yes let's have a campus"; "we don't trust those guys let's do our own"; "zOMG Peace Studies no such thing"; "peace, I hate the word" etc.

From an RP perspective this can be totally separate from the WA. However, the implication is that a WA resolution is now affecting non-WA nations, which is something they technically aren't supposed to do, at least not from... how to put this... the resolution's "point of view".

[Sedgistan]

It could work, but not if it references the WUP as being a body set up by the WA.

[Milograd]

I just had my first issue accepted. I actually had my jaw drop a bit when I got the telegram notifying me of it, which hasn't happened to me for ages on NS.

Sometimes it's nice to be reminded how much I actually love this game.

[Burgera]

Congratulations, it's pretty cool. By the way, I was working on an issue dealing with exactly the same topic, but Sanctaria informed me in time

[Nation of Quebec]

I was wondering what everyone's thoughts were about creating an issue regarding the "Ban Killer Robots" campaign. Is it too similar to any existing issue?

[Sedgistan]

There's definitely the potential for one. I know I mentioned drones in a draft thread recently, which are somewhat related (though there's room for separate issues on both).

[Burgera]

I feel it would be better to leave exact distances and time out given the variability in Nation sizes. The main Island of Leutria for example takes just an hour to drive across, while my puppet Evilliousness would take several days to drive across.

Instead I propose you just say it is to span the nation, and that it will reduce travel times by half/a third/a quarter (whichever you prefer).

This raises an interesting question (wow, such NS): If I write an issue about fishing, how do I distinguish between sea fishing and freshwater fishing? Should I even try to do that? Do I have to consider that some nations might not even have sea access - although the game itself seems to be stretching this kind of facts sometimes?

[Sedgistan]

Got Issues Update no.1

I'm going to have a go at writing semi-regular updates about what's going on with NationStates Issues. For the most part, our work is behind the scenes, so it helps give an idea of what we're up to, and also shows that your issues doesn't just disappear into a black hole when submitted. Sirocco's blog used to cover similar ground, and proved fairly popular, so hopefully there's an audience of sorts.

• In future I might include the number of issues we've added since the last update... as this is the first, that number is 358 (or 91 since Sirocco retired).
• The queue of submitted issues awaiting review is down to 2,160. That may seem a lot, but it's an awful lot less than it used to be, and I'm still hopeful we'll one day cut it down to nothing.
• As you may have noticed, issues editing resumed full activity a few months ago after a dry spell, during which many of the mods/editors involved were suffering from burn-out. Since then, we've got a shiny new Issues Control Panel built for us by the admins, which has brought issues editing into the 20th century. The whole process is much easier, and quicker too.
• This also means that all those misteaks that somehow sneak in can be fixed instantly, without requiring an admin. You never saw them!
• We've hinted at issues chains being worked on before, and there is a particularly sizeable one that is progressing again after Sanctaria took over managing it. It's not expected to be added for a while and remains a massive project, but it is moving forward.
• A smaller chain is likely to debut soon - the issues are ready, but we're awaiting code from the admins.
• For the first time in two years, we approached someone recently about becoming an Issues Editor - they declined for RL reasons. We're not currently looking to add anyone else, as our focus is very much on quality over quantity, and the team works well as it
• The ideas list has seen a few additions that possibly haven't been noted elsewhere. I'll make sure that future updates bring attention to any additions to that list.
• Lenyo has been trying to cut down on his issue-hoarding habit, which sees him "bag" all the best submissions and attempt to edit ten (or more) issues at a time. Excluding chain issues, he's down to just seven currently being worked on, which is a big achievement given that he had 21 at the start of March. We're all hoping he'll keep this up, and that he won't suffer another relapse.

That's is for now - feel free to post comments/questions.

[Neragua]

Wow, this is great. Thanks for the update Sedgistan. I had no idea there were so many issues to review... Is that individual issues or issues plus effects, etc? Still...

Great bit of information sharing and nice to see what goes on behind the scenes! Thanks again.

Also, did you deliberately mean to say the issues CP brought you into the 20th century?

[Wrapper]

This also means that all those misteaks that somehow sneak in

Heh, I see what you did there. Thanks for keeping us up to date.

[Sedgistan]

Wow, this is great. Thanks for the update Sedgistan. I had no idea there were so many issues to review... Is that individual issues or issues plus effects, etc? Still...

Individual issues.

Also, did you deliberately mean to say the issues CP brought you into the 20th century?

Yep! The previous system involved carrier pigeons, wax tablets and unheated cellars, so the shiny new telegraphs and Commodore 64s are a big step forward, even if the offices still aren't heated.

[DWAsnia]

Also, did you deliberately mean to say the issues CP brought you into the 20th century?

Yep! The previous system involved carrier pigeons, wax tablets and unheated cellars, so the shiny new telegraphs and Commodore 64s are a big step forward, even if the offices still aren't heated.

I thought you heated the offices with the charred remnants of the rejected submissions.

[Darkrati]

Is there an issue editor for the issue Genetics Brings New Life to Extinct Species? The page does not tell me who edited the issue, and I've never seen that before...

[Neragua]

Yep! The previous system involved carrier pigeons, wax tablets and unheated cellars, so the shiny new telegraphs and Commodore 64s are a big step forward, even if the offices still aren't heated.

I thought you heated the offices with the charred remnants of the rejected submissions.

Can you smell that issue smoke? It's the smell of falling short...

[Frisbeeteria]

Is there an issue editor for the issue Genetics Brings New Life to Extinct Species? The page does not tell me who edited the issue, and I've never seen that before...

That's Issue #33.

Issues #0-#38 don't include Editor information, though it's pretty obvious that #0-#30 were self-edited by Max Barry. The first issue I've seen with editor data is #39 Scandal Rocks @@NAME@@'s Government!, authored and edited by the_slaglands, an early Game Moderator.

[Sanctaria]

Hi peoples.

As most of you know, issues have validities. That is, an issue is only available to nations that meet the requirements. Well today (or rather a couple of weeks ago) that changes somewhat. Issues will still have their general validities, but we'll also occasionally tack on extra validities to options themselves. This will result in some issues appearing to have only two options to players that meet the issue's general validity, but three options to players that also have other, not exactly related, stats at certain levels.

I'm probably not making much sense because it's Friday and I work long hours, so I'll give you an example.

Issue XIX - Big Mining Explosion Kills Millions, Because Hyperbole

Validity: High Mining Industry

Option 1: Bad mining companies, make them pay.

Option 2: Stupid workers, their own fault. Give mining companies more money to train them in health and safety.

Option 3: THINK OF THE ENVIRONMENT. Stop all mining ever cos like flowers and shit.

Option 4: [VALID ONLY FOR NATIONS WITH LOW RELIGION] Explosion happened cos of not liking GOD(s)! We need to like GOD(s) more and then we'll have no more explosions.

So using this example, any nation with a high mining industry qualifies for this issue. It doesn't matter if it has low religion or high religion, it'll get options 1 -3 as long as it has high mining industry. However, for those nations who have a high mining industry and a low religion rate, these players will also get (or unlock!) the 4th option.

This is going to screw with Abbey, who runs the issue list. It's possible we're going to go back through the issue library and revise existing issues to add these validities. We're not sorry. At all.

Much thanks to [violet] and the admin team for adding this.

[Mexar]

Wow! Sounds cool! Connfusing, but cool!

[Nation of Quebec]

Pleased to see that one of my issues, Got Democracy?, has made it into the game. If I remember correctly that one was from a few years ago when the Arab Spring protests started. How far along are you guys in the issue queue?