The Writers' Block

[Team Rhysha]

While doing research on the real-life background of tequila for the sake of my nation list, I came across mention that it has a protected designation of origin (that is, only beverages created in certain geographical locations are legally allowed to be marketed by the name "tequila", even though people in other locations would be perfectly capable of growing the blue agave plant and processing it in the traditional manner, while plenty of manufacturers in those locations have no direct relation to the people who originally invented tequila besides living in the same general vicinity - as this description might suggest, I am not fond of the practice), which reminded me that we do not currently have an issue on this topic.

Besides alcoholic beverages, this is also an issue for many other foods, particularly (it seems to me) cheeses. Naturally, which example product is used as the focus of the issue would affect validity (NationStates allows banning both alcohol and cheese). Personally I care more about cheese than alcohol

Bourbon has something similar. I'm not going to go into a lot of details, but there's a lot to do with standards and other stuff, on how bourbon can be made and labeled in other countries as well as America.

[Sedgistan]

As late as ever, here comes the next Got Issues update:

Got Issues Update no.5

• Issues added since last update: 73! We're speeding up. Our target is to have a total of 600 issues in-game by the end of the year, which we should be able to reach at the current rate.
• Further to the last update, we do now have in place a "quota" of staff authored issues (excluding special projects such as Chains/Easter Eggs). Perhaps this is behind our increased pace - our resident authors are keen to get player-authored issues added, so they can sneak some of their own in!
• Issues fixed since the last update: lots, since the new Fast Issues/instant feedback has helped people spot stats oddities. Plus we created some new mistakes all of our own.
• Player authored issues in the "Pool": 157. A couple date back to 2013, but most are far more recent.
• People might be interested to know that dismissal rates of issues decreased massively after the introduction of Fast Issues. This has remained the case.
• The issues team is bigger: Sleep, Logophilia Lyricalia and Candlewhisper Archive have all joined. We've spoken to a couple of others, but those haven't progressed further. We do have our beady eyes on a few up-and-coming authors; the intention remains to continue to grow the team.
• Unfortunately, we've lost Senior Issues Editor Sanctaria to the dreaded RL. We wish him all the best. Sanc is remembered fondly for the legendary Chain, and edited a total of 45 issues, as well as authoring several more.
• Sleep ceased to exist a few days ago. We're trying to wake him up.
• No-one has complained about the notorious #221 (Outdated Tax Code Crushing @@NAME@@?) since we fixed it at the end of last year. Success?
• Industry reform isn't happening any time soon. Sorry, but it's hit some conceptual problems related to ranking every industry on nation pages.
• There might be some more chains in the future - some initial work has been done on this, although progress is slow.
• Some more random names could be on the way imminently.
• We're looking at tweaking some stats behind the scenes, to allow us to better measure just how rude you all are.
• Got Issues has been steadily transformed from a barren wasteland to a bustling hub of creativity. This is great to see.

[The Blaatschapen]

This thread is a place where aspiring issue authors can discuss ideas, problems, creative solutions, and other aspects of the NationStates issue creation process.

Alright, let's do this.

So, with Pokemon Go being all the rage this last week, something interesting is happening.

1. People tend to walk the streets at night, getting into weird situations
2. People tend to not watch where they walk, causing traffic accidents
3. (some) people (kids?) suffering from obesity are slowly getting their much needed exercise.
4. etc.

This would make for a nice issue, where a company brings to market a GPS-based mobile app where you catch @@ANIMAL@@s. And how the government should act on it (promote it, fine those who trespass/jaywalk, etc.). But I'm not sure if something is similar is already in the game (500+ issues, forgive me for not knowing them by heart, I was too busy spraypainting trains). Soo, any tips/suggestions on how tackle this, if at all? Or someone wants to take over the idea?

[Benjamin Mark]

I am the director of the TWP regional issue committee. Let me go poke my region-mates and see what they have to offer.

[Trotterdam]

This would make for a nice issue, where a company brings to market a GPS-based mobile app where you catch @@ANIMAL@@s. And how the government should act on it (promote it, fine those who trespass/jaywalk, etc.). But I'm not sure if something is similar is already in the game (500+ issues, forgive me for not knowing them by heart, I was too busy spraypainting trains). Soo, any tips/suggestions on how tackle this, if at all? Or someone wants to take over the idea?

There are a few issues about trespassing (#195, #198), but none that comes too closely to this scenario.

Note also that Maxemon is NationStates canon, and so would presumably be the standard for any Pokemon parody. I wouldn't make the game just about catching @@ANIMAL@@s specifically, which is kind of boring since the real Pokemon is about a huge assortment of very different critters (Gotta catch 'em all!), although I wouldn't be opposed to mentioning an extremely rare (legendary?) @@ANIMAL@@-based Maxemon that can only be caught in certain spots in @@NAME@@ (which just happen to lie inside a classified military installation?), as one of the critters in the game, that's causing a disproportionate amount of trouble.

My personal opinion on Pokemon Go is "the whole thing is stupid and the only valid way to play such a game would be by hacking it, but that's really the players' problem and not the government's". Despite my distaste for the concept, I wouldn't support a government ban on the game.

[Nation of Quebec]

Good idea, Blaat. Although if somebody writes up this issue they need to include the phrase "it's super effective!" somewhere in the issue.

This would make for a nice issue, where a company brings to market a GPS-based mobile app where you catch @@ANIMAL@@s. And how the government should act on it (promote it, fine those who trespass/jaywalk, etc.). But I'm not sure if something is similar is already in the game (500+ issues, forgive me for not knowing them by heart, I was too busy spraypainting trains). Soo, any tips/suggestions on how tackle this, if at all? Or someone wants to take over the idea?

There are a few issues about trespassing (#195, #198), but none that comes too closely to this scenario.

Note also that Maxemon is NationStates canon, and so would presumably be the standard for any Pokemon parody. I wouldn't make the game just about catching @@ANIMAL@@s specifically, which is kind of boring since the real Pokemon is about a huge assortment of very different critters (Gotta catch 'em all!), although I wouldn't be opposed to mentioning an extremely rare (legendary?) @@ANIMAL@@-based Maxemon that can only be caught in certain spots in @@NAME@@ (which just happen to lie inside a classified military installation?), as one of the critters in the game, that's causing a disproportionate amount of trouble.

That's a good suggestion and a good point about Pokemon, seeing how I added that reference into the issue.

[Raionitu]

Good idea, Blaat. Although if somebody writes up this issue they need to include the phrase "it's super effective!" somewhere in the issue.

There are a few issues about trespassing (#195, #198), but none that comes too closely to this scenario.

Note also that Maxemon is NationStates canon, and so would presumably be the standard for any Pokemon parody. I wouldn't make the game just about catching @@ANIMAL@@s specifically, which is kind of boring since the real Pokemon is about a huge assortment of very different critters (Gotta catch 'em all!), although I wouldn't be opposed to mentioning an extremely rare (legendary?) @@ANIMAL@@-based Maxemon that can only be caught in certain spots in @@NAME@@ (which just happen to lie inside a classified military installation?), as one of the critters in the game, that's causing a disproportionate amount of trouble.

That's a good suggestion and a good point about Pokemon, seeing how I added that reference into the issue.

Something interesting for anyone who writes it, I saw something about a person getting mad cause he had several teenagers trying to get through his back gate into his yard, and when he asked what they were doing they said there was some grass pokemon in his yard and they wanted to catch it. Also, someone thought they threw their phone to throw the in game pokeball, and broke their phone playing the game. Not sure if any of that would be useful or fun to use for anyone making that issue.

[Trotterdam]

As it turns out, some people like Pokemon Go players trespassing on their territory.

[Kaboomlandia]

Did someone say Pokemon Go draft?

[Candlewhisper Archive]

This thread is a place where aspiring issue authors can discuss ideas, problems, creative solutions, and other aspects of the NationStates issue creation process.

Alright, let's do this.

So, with Pokemon Go being all the rage this last week, something interesting is happening.

1. People tend to walk the streets at night, getting into weird situations
2. People tend to not watch where they walk, causing traffic accidents
3. (some) people (kids?) suffering from obesity are slowly getting their much needed exercise.
4. etc.

This would make for a nice issue, where a company brings to market a GPS-based mobile app where you catch @@ANIMAL@@s. And how the government should act on it (promote it, fine those who trespass/jaywalk, etc.). But I'm not sure if something is similar is already in the game (500+ issues, forgive me for not knowing them by heart, I was too busy spraypainting trains). Soo, any tips/suggestions on how tackle this, if at all? Or someone wants to take over the idea?

Lots of enthusiasm from people here, but I have some worries on the concept in general:

Yes, its topical. But its almost too topical. PokeGo only came out in the last few days, right? Who's going to say anyone will care about it at all in 3 months time, let alone 3 years time?

Pokemon has been around much longer of course, but issues have to be able to stand the test of time, and issues about short-term crazes generally aren't going to manage that...

...though of course, I did just edit an issue about Flash Mobs, which is so damn 2003 it hurts... but at least I knew that this was a notable thing that is probably here to stay. PokemonGo, on the other hand? Meh, I barely care about it now, let alone in a year's time.

On the other hand, a broader issue about people not being aware of their environment because of their media devices could touch on fuddy duddy traditionalists saying that people don't talk any more, safety officers talking about car accidents and muggings, or whatever. Meanwhile Pokemon Go could be referenced in some satirical way, maybe with a teenager pointing out that he wouldn't even have left the house if he hadn't been playing the game, and that its about enhancing reality, not replacing reality.

That sort of topic might date better, as for at least a few decades to come there's going to be grumbling old people talking about how kids eyes are glued to screens.

[Luna Amore]

Meh, I barely care about it now, let alone in a year's time.

And that's why you are unfit to be a true Pokemon Master. *nods*

I agree though. Any issue on the subject needs to focus on a problem that will still be relevant. AR games like this will likely still be relevant and have with the same issues as PoGo in the years to come. Try not to make it too Pokemon dependant. The issue needs to be center stage. The references are just set dressing.

[Raionitu]

Along the lines of AR, you could have a VR issue where like, someone gets robbed while using a VR headset, robber right in front of them or something. Just a random idea

[Pine Forest]

Does anyone know if there's an issue about Manifest Destiny or something similar?

[Trotterdam]

Does anyone know if there's an issue about Manifest Destiny or something similar?

What do you mean by manifest destiny? Kicking natives off their land because obviously God intends for you to live there?

That sounds like #405 [An International Incident] Time For A Colonyoscopy! option 3, from the chain, though that's not a normal issue.

A few issues assume that you have native minorities in your nation left over from colonization in the distant past, but aren't about actively finishing the job: #382 The Appropriate Amount of Appropriation, #457 Colossus With Feet Of Clay, and the last option in #108 Gambling Interests Offer High Stakes.

#450 Colonial Testimonial just suddenly says that you acquired a colony in more recent times (but still long enough ago that the issue is about how to depict it in the history books), without being clear about how it happened.

#129 Tribal Troubles is a normal issue that, in option 3, allows you to evict native tribes in order to take over, which I think is closer to what you're talking about.

[Eaischpnaeieacgkque Bhcieaghpodsttditf]

Just out of curiosity and the fact that my total knowledge of issues is growing ever smaller with the massive amount of issues added in small times, but does anyone know if there is an issue about reversing the abolition of speed limits? If not, I was going to make a draft about it.

[Phydios]

Just out of curiosity and the fact that my total knowledge of issues is growing ever smaller with the massive amount of issues added in small times, but does anyone know if there is an issue about reversing the abolition of speed limits? If not, I was going to make a draft about it.

#272 has that covered.

[Nation of Quebec]

The list of suggested issues has been updated.

Feel free to check them out if you're looking for any new ideas for your issue drafts.

[Zwangzug]

The list of suggested issues has been updated.

Feel free to check them out if you're looking for any new ideas for your issue drafts.

Should I take this to mean that issues I submitted about suggested topics (still on the list) have likely been rejected? Or is there a chance they're still floating around?

[Belinos]

This is a rather generic request, but it'd be good to have more events that affect Culture. Since it is so underused.

Couple of small ideas:
- A popular theater musical makes mockery of the @@LEADER@@, forcing you to choose between Authoritarianism, Political Freedom, and Culture.
- Famous sculptor creates a statue that is too, let's say, anatomically correct. Moral Minority wants it 'censored'. For bonus points, make it a statue of the @@LEADER@@.

[Candlewhisper Archive]

The list of suggested issues has been updated.

Feel free to check them out if you're looking for any new ideas for your issue drafts.

Should I take this to mean that issues I submitted about suggested topics (still on the list) have likely been rejected? Or is there a chance they're still floating around?

Fair question.

On a general point of principle, till an issue on a requested subject has been published, they'll remain on the list. Nothing wrong with a little healthy competition of course.

On a more specific point, have looked directly at the drafts you prepared, and I do like your census one. Will bear it in mind as a future edit for myself, though I have other ones I want to do as well, so can't promise you a timeframe on that.

[Candlewhisper Archive]

This is a rather generic request, but it'd be good to have more events that affect Culture. Since it is so underused.

Couple of small ideas:
- A popular theater musical makes mockery of the @@LEADER@@, forcing you to choose between Authoritarianism, Political Freedom, and Culture.
- Famous sculptor creates a statue that is too, let's say, anatomically correct. Moral Minority wants it 'censored'. For bonus points, make it a statue of the @@LEADER@@.

They both sound fun, but especially the second one. Go ahead and draft it!

Here's some fun stats though. At time of writing, there are 94 issue options that increase culture, and 78 that decrease them.

[Benjamin Mark]

What are the new Random Names? Just out of curiosity.

[Candlewhisper Archive]

General announcement, as I'm fairly noisy on GI. Likely to be minimally active for 2 weeks, so if I don't respond to your conversations in other threads, that's why.

Keep writing, y'all!

[Phydios]

I must congratulate NoQ and Candle for the effect line of 554.1! The Hunger Games reference was unexpected, but very clever and greatly appreciated!

[Candlewhisper Archive]

I must congratulate NoQ and Candle for the effect line of 554.1! The Hunger Games reference was unexpected, but very clever and greatly appreciated!

That was my small contribution to NoQ's excellent issue. Love my right wing agenda teen fiction dystopias, me.