NationStates Issues **SPOILER ALERT**

[Candlewhisper Archive]

Be more specific please: name the nation, and the date if you recall. This makes investigation easier.

The nations name is "The Bo Tree" I got issue 471 yesterday, I think about 17 hours ago.

Thanks - have checked.

Looks like you only get options 3 and 4 if you don't already have dinosaurs in the nation. These are options for a non-dinosaur nation to decide the style of how they introduce dinosaurs to the nation.

If dinos are already present, you're just making a decision as to whether you are allowing Jurassic Park or not.

Not sure I would have structured this issue that way myself, but I can see the sorta logic to it. Not something I'm going to edit/change.

[Ransium]

The nations name is "The Bo Tree" I got issue 471 yesterday, I think about 17 hours ago.

Thanks - have checked.

Looks like you only get options 3 and 4 if you don't already have dinosaurs in the nation. These are options for a non-dinosaur nation to decide the style of how they introduce dinosaurs to the nation.

If dinos are already present, you're just making a decision as to whether you are allowing Jurassic Park or not.

Not sure I would have structured this issue that way myself, but I can see the sorta logic to it. Not something I'm going to edit/change.

Thanks for responding and clarifying.

[North Americorp]

#591: Bait And Switch

The Issue

Children wept today, as only a handful of fish showed up for the ‘Dance of Salmon’ – an eagerly awaited tradition celebrating wild salmon migration from the ocean to the riverbeds of @@NAME@@. Experts and deep-sea anglers have pointed fingers at the abundance of open-net fish farms dotting the coast, which allow sea lice-infected farmed salmon to contaminate migrating wild salmon, threatening the very survival of the species.

The Debate

1. “Salmon are a crucial link in the food chains of both the ocean AND river systems!” asserts Margaret Summers, a surprisingly knowledgeable 10-year old, clutching a tear-drenched plush salmon. “The wild stocks of both Maxtopia and Blackacre are already irreparably depleted by sea lice and overfishing, and if we do nothing, @@NAME@@ is next. You need to severely tighten regulations for the farm barons: make them clean up their act before it’s too late!”

2. “What’s the worst-case scenario? They’re extinct in twenty years or so? I’m eighty-six; I’ll be extinct in ten,” reasons ridiculously wealthy fish farm owner, Bjørnar Laksekonge. “This is really making a mountain out of a molehill. Look, if you just equate wild salmon with caged salmon in your government counts, I think you’ll see the problem disappearing overnight. I’m sure my boys can train a couple of our fish to swim upriver once or twice a year, nobody will care: a salmon is a salmon, right?”

3. “People, people! Let’s forget about the salmon for a while and talk about the lice!” pleads Stan Cho, disgraced marine biologist and amateur chemist. “The louse - scourge of the salmon, free or farmed; wouldn’t it be nice if you could just make them go away? Well, you can! I’ve been working on a new type of pesticide targeting just this kind of situation. It’s still experimental, that’s for sure, but if you let fish farmers douse their tanks with my stuff I’ll guarantee that your lice problem will be a thing of the past, all while keeping your fish nice and sound. Actually, I’m not 100% sure about the fish, but the lice will definitely die!”

Issue by The Socialist Republic of Lenyo
Edited by Gnejs

[Drasnia]

Ha, I'm going to post this before Chan can!

Issue #592: Infamy! Infamy! They’ve All Got It In For Me!

The Issue

Two days ago a series of pipe bombs in @@ANIMAL@@ City killed two people and injured twelve more. By yesterday morning, the news was full of pictures of the perpetrator, with reporters explaining his twisted manifesto and giving the terrorist’s ideology far more exposure and media presence than he could ever have achieved without violence. Like many others, you find yourself watching an evening TV program dissecting the events of the last few days.

The Debate

“Boy, am I glad they caught that monster?” asks chat show host Agnes Harman hopefully rhetorically, just after airing a thirty minute segment profiling the killer. “Now... some on the this panel were saying earlier that having his face and picture all over the airwaves was counter-productive. I disagree! We’re showing the public that crime doesn’t pay. It’s in the public interest, because... uh... because the public is interested! It’s also about history, and recording events for posterity. That means its actually the duty of the media to put up the names, faces, methods and manifesto of these ratings-boosting psychopaths.”

“With that haircut, I’m surprised YOU aren’t the one we’re condemning,” jokes fellow panellist Ivan Clinton, to thunderous audience applause. “In all seriousness though, it’s not right that we’re playing right into this terrorist’s hands, spreading his message of hate and making him a celebrity. People died, man! We should have an enforced code of conduct, asking the media to be responsible in reporting. After all, publicising an agenda of hate is the same as promoting it. Consign these killers and their whack-job thoughts to the oblivion of history where they belong.”

“Why don’t you all shut up and go home?” yells a heckler from the audience. The camera pans round to show an angry red-faced fellow with a cooking apron on. “I had tickets for Celebrity @@DEMONYMADJECTIVE@@ Bake-Off Factor Live, and then they tell me that it’s been cancelled to make room for this stupid show. Hey, @@LEADER@@, if you’re watching, ban this sort of news and documentaries, and keep TV for what it was made for... Entertainment!”

Issue by The Dux Headquarters of Annihilators of Chan Island

Edited by Candlewhisper Archive

EDIT: And option one yields this very good effect line: "For the sake of 'public interest' news programs tell viewers how to home-make Sarin gas bombs."

[Trotterdam]

That looks rather similar to #550, except with professional news agencies instead of blogs.

And option one yields this very good effect line: "For the sake of 'public interest' news programs tell viewers how to home-make Sarin gas bombs."

Well, that's important information! If they don't know what to avoid doing, they might do it by accident!

Besides, we all know the only thing that can stop a bad guy with a Sarin gas bomb is a good guy with a Sarin gas bomb.

[Candlewhisper Archive]

That looks rather similar to #550, except with professional news agencies instead of blogs.

And option one yields this very good effect line: "For the sake of 'public interest' news programs tell viewers how to home-make Sarin gas bombs."

Well, that's important information! If they don't know what to avoid doing, they might do it by accident!

Besides, we all know the only thing that can stop a bad guy with a Sarin gas bomb is a good guy with a Sarin gas bomb.

Totally sigged.

[Drasnia]

One of my issues has been accepted.

Issue #594: Tie Fighters

The Issue

The national election is over and election officials are painstakingly counting every vote. The results are expected to be close and one electoral district, @@ANIMAL@@ Valley, has already seen a tie. The incumbent, cabinet minister Jennifer Nike and her challenger, Violet Utopia each amassed exactly the same number of votes. The candidates have already begun fighting, both with each other and with election officials at the Electoral Commission of @@NAME@@, prompting the first major debate of the new political session.

The Debate

“@@LEADER@@, as the incumbent for @@ANIMAL@@ Valley I believe I have the right to represent it again,” demands Mrs. Nike after arguing with a nearby election official over whether an ‘X’ or a check-mark constitutes a spoiled ballot. “Precedent should always be given to maintaining the status quo, and officials should not be deposed or replaced except by a two-thirds majority. That’ll give us some political stability, and give you and me a chance to get things done.”

“@@LEADER@@, I demand a re-vote!” exclaims the increasingly paranoid Violet as she meticulously reviews paragraph forty, subsection two of the Election Code, which deals with re-votes. “We all know how corrupt this government is. I swear your goons have been stalking me! We need to hold a new election for the district. If the results are within 10% of a draw, then we’ll keep on holding re-votes until I, uh, someone wins!”

“As always @@LEADER@@, I have the perfect solution!” declares your gambling addict brother who makes life decisions with the roll of the dice. “Why not have tie votes determined by a coin toss? It’s simple, fun, and doesn’t show any favoritism. We could bet on the outcomes and even apply the same principle to the legislature!” He then takes your prized antique ancient golden Maxtopian coin and flips it. “Fifty @@CURRENCY@@s on tails!”

Issue by The International Spydom of Drasnia

Edited by Nation of Quebec

[Chan Island]

Ha, I'm going to post this before Chan can!

Issue #592: Infamy! Infamy! They’ve All Got It In For Me!

The Issue

Two days ago a series of pipe bombs in @@ANIMAL@@ City killed two people and injured twelve more. By yesterday morning, the news was full of pictures of the perpetrator, with reporters explaining his twisted manifesto and giving the terrorist’s ideology far more exposure and media presence than he could ever have achieved without violence. Like many others, you find yourself watching an evening TV program dissecting the events of the last few days.

The Debate

“Boy, am I glad they caught that monster?” asks chat show host Agnes Harman hopefully rhetorically, just after airing a thirty minute segment profiling the killer. “Now... some on the this panel were saying earlier that having his face and picture all over the airwaves was counter-productive. I disagree! We’re showing the public that crime doesn’t pay. It’s in the public interest, because... uh... because the public is interested! It’s also about history, and recording events for posterity. That means its actually the duty of the media to put up the names, faces, methods and manifesto of these ratings-boosting psychopaths.”

“With that haircut, I’m surprised YOU aren’t the one we’re condemning,” jokes fellow panellist Ivan Clinton, to thunderous audience applause. “In all seriousness though, it’s not right that we’re playing right into this terrorist’s hands, spreading his message of hate and making him a celebrity. People died, man! We should have an enforced code of conduct, asking the media to be responsible in reporting. After all, publicising an agenda of hate is the same as promoting it. Consign these killers and their whack-job thoughts to the oblivion of history where they belong.”

“Why don’t you all shut up and go home?” yells a heckler from the audience. The camera pans round to show an angry red-faced fellow with a cooking apron on. “I had tickets for Celebrity @@DEMONYMADJECTIVE@@ Bake-Off Factor Live, and then they tell me that it’s been cancelled to make room for this stupid show. Hey, @@LEADER@@, if you’re watching, ban this sort of news and documentaries, and keep TV for what it was made for... Entertainment!”

Issue by The Dux Headquarters of Annihilators of Chan Island

Edited by Candlewhisper Archive

EDIT: And option one yields this very good effect line: "For the sake of 'public interest' news programs tell viewers how to home-make Sarin gas bombs."

Cures, foiled again!

That looks rather similar to #550, except with professional news agencies instead of blogs.

And option one yields this very good effect line: "For the sake of 'public interest' news programs tell viewers how to home-make Sarin gas bombs."

Well, that's important information! If they don't know what to avoid doing, they might do it by accident!

Besides, we all know the only thing that can stop a bad guy with a Sarin gas bomb is a good guy with a Sarin gas bomb.

Sigged.

[Finlarvat]

The Issue
Despite a conservative attitude towards nudity in @@NAME@@, recent analyses of fashion trends suggest that women’s sleeves have been getting progressively shorter in the last few months, sometimes to well above the elbows. Outraged moral guardians have come to you to ask for nationally enforced standards of dress.

The Debate

1. “This is outrageous!” wails @@RANDOMFEMALENAME@@, founder and chairwoman of the conservative activism group Modicum Of Modesty. “Leader, everyone knows that increased promiscuity among young girls can be directly linked to the square footage of skin showing! Sexual abuse, objectification and falling educational standards are all direct consequences of nudity: I have the statistics and evidence, from a study that my own organisation completed! I beg you, mandate conservative skirts and long-sleeved blouses. A lady’s wrists and ankles should be covered!’
2. “Don’t listen to that harridan: she’s got ugly arms, and that’s why she wants to hide,” scoffs @@RANDOMNAME@@, a teenage student at one of @@CAPITAL@@’s rowdiest schools. “Look, I don’t get over-excited every time I catch a glimpse of shoulder or thigh. I mean sure, some people take it a little too far, but shouldn’t that be their responsibility? She can cover up if she wants, but prettier girls should be able to show a little skin.”
3. “I think we all know what’s going on here,” chides popular feminist speaker @@RANDOMFEMALENAME@@ as she bashes the previous speaker over the head with her protest sign. “We hear stories of assault and abuse, and it’s chalked up to be the girl’s fault for wearing something that ‘invites it’. This is a clear case of double standards – nobody ever says anything when a man rolls up his sleeves to get to work. We need to change the mentality that holds women’s clothing choices to blame for the actions of men. We should be able to walk down the street naked if we want to, and not be blamed or shamed from doing so.”
4. “Since when have we let the women of this country determine its morality?” rages traditionalist @@RANDOMMALENAME@@, his wife and daughters standing behind him in fearful silence. “A woman’s nakedness is for her husband to behold, and for none other. All women should be forced to cover themselves head-to-toe while in public, and should not venture out of the home without permission. They should obey their husbands or male relatives in all things, including their clothing choices.”

(NOTE: I don't know which macro applies to the second speaker (I got Ali Castro), so I'll assume that it's @@RANDOMNAME@@)

[Australian rePublic]

As the government prepares for its latest budget, the Australian Space Agency is looking for direction from you. Petitioners have been transported to your office to present their ideas.

The Debate

“We should seek out new life and new civilisation,” implores William Kirk, an elderly utopian SF author and astronomer. “There are trillions of stars, and it’s mad to believe Earth alone harbours intelligence. There might be alien green-skinned lovelies, just waiting for contact with a real man. We need telescopes and exploration probes, aimed at the second star to the right, and straight on till morning. Show some enterprise. See what’s out there... That-away.”

Confirm Wait, no!“They call it a space race, but being first at any cost is not always the point,” suggests reformist politician Patrick Picard, looking suspiciously at five lightbulbs illuminating the room. “Attend to the small details at the Australian Space Agency. Are they assimilating all the men and women needed, in an equal and fair fashion? Sometimes a counsellor can be of as much value as a pilot.” He takes a sip of hot Earl Violet tea. “I may be accused of being overly methodical, but these things matter. Suspend launches for now, and attend to infrastructure. Make it so.”

“Space, I regret to say, is a dangerous place,” offers gruff base-commander and part-time gourmet chef Avery Sisko. “It’s not just about science, nor about being an emissary for corporate profits. It’s about security. Near-Earth space is getting crowded, with a multitude of nations seeking absolute dominion. You don’t want the East Lebatuckese to get any further with their space program, do you? Who knows what they’re doing up there with that Sputnak satellite? We need a new kind of space ship, to show our defiance of those agendas. One with guns. Lots of guns.”

“Is anyone else here kind of bored?” yells young tearaway William Kirk Jr., revving his motorbike as he rides into your office, in clear contravention of rules and regulations. “We gotta make space exciting again for people, make the old things new again! Not just dry data and lore for tech-geeks, but awesomeness for ordinary people who like explosions, and lens-flared sunsets, and stuff like that. Reboot the Space Agency! Let’s have firework displays, televised low orbit skydiving, and celebrity astronauts with great hair! I dare you to do better!”

Issue by The Free Secular Federation of Nation of Quebec

Edited by Candlewhisper Archive

[Bears Armed]

#591: Bait And Switch

I was just going to post this one.
Comparing your copy to mine, the names in options '1' and '3' are variable but the name in option '2' is fixed.
The effect line for option '1' is "maximum security fish farms leave caged salmon pining for the fjords".

Mind you, the first line of option '3' made we expect it to be about conserving the lice rather than about -- as it turned out -- eliminating them...

^_^

[Bedetopia]

#451 has been renamed to A Proselyte To Burn.

[Candlewhisper Archive]

#451 has been renamed to A Proselyte To Burn.

Yes, it was bugging me, and I got permission to change it. Woot!

[Trotterdam]

Hmm. I'd never it before, but according to my dictionary it's a real word.

Apparently, a "proselyte" is someone who has converted, while a "proselytizer" (the word I'm more familiar with) is someone who attempts to convert others.

[Candlewhisper Archive]

Hmm. I'd never it before, but according to my dictionary it's a real word.

Apparently, a "proselyte" is someone who has converted, while a "proselytizer" (the word I'm more familiar with) is someone who attempts to convert others.

I figured either worked, proselyte or proselytiser. What didn't work was "prosthelytiser". So, I changed it.

[Barbarossistan]

And here's #595:

Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes?


The Issue

A high profile case where a police officer used lethal force against a criminal suspect that he claimed “posed immediate danger” has the populace divided. Some claim he was defending himself in the line of duty, others that he was abusing his power. Lack of witness testimonies or evidence is making investigation difficult, and many are suggesting that the government should outfit all of its police force with camera equipment to record events as they transpire.
The Debate

“Cameras. Cameras would be good.” intones Patrol Officer and jungle war veteran Nikita Andersson, twitching nervously and scanning the skyline for rooftop snipers. He takes a moment to look a thousand yards into the distance. “People don’t know what we’ve seen. They don’t know what it’s like to wear this uniform, to be a target, to know that each patrol might be the last. I know war, and it’s war out there on the streets. If people could see what we have to deal with each day... they’d understand. Give me a camera, and I’ll show them what it’s like out there.”

“Look, I’m not saying I don’t trust our fine police officers,” whispers transparency advocate Zeke Juvenal, carefully moving any weapons and sharp objects away from the tremulous police officer, “but cameras are needed not just to support police testimony but also to protect the public from police excesses. The only way they can serve that dual purpose is if the police don’t control the cameras. Have 24/7 cameras on every police vehicle, surveillance drones following cops on patrol, all the footage streamed live on the internet, and stored on an open-access cloud. That way, we can keep an eye on those jackbooted th... uh... on our valued law enforcement officials.”

“Bwaahh?!?” exclaims moustache-twirling driving-goggle-wearing charlatan Alejandro van de Berg, who was definitely not trying to tie your secretary to his toy train tracks. “Police with cameras? This is a breach of my civil liberties! What about privacy? Do we not have the inherent right to go about our daily, lawfully abiding lives without fearing these paparazzi pigs parading our precious picturesque moments to the putrid public as perfidious publications? Say no to copper cameras! Keep your eyes off my private business!”

Issue by The Holy Empire of Saint Emygdius

Edited by Candlewhisper Archive

[Trotterdam]

Only three options?

If you still have it, please check the identifiers in the source code. Something is fishy.

[Australian rePublic]

s?

The Issue

Despite a conservative attitude towards nudity in Australian Republic, recent analyses of fashion trends suggest that women’s sleeves have been getting progressively shorter in the last few months, sometimes to well above the elbows. Outraged moral guardians have come to you to ask for nationally enforced standards of dress.

The Debate

“This is outrageous!” wails Beth Coulson, founder and chairwoman of the conservative activism group Modicum Of Modesty. “Nick Jot, everyone knows that increased promiscuity among young girls can be directly linked to the square footage of skin showing! Sexual abuse, objectification and falling educational standards are all direct consequences of nudity: I have the statistics and evidence, from a study that my own organisation completed! I beg you, mandate conservative skirts and long-sleeved blouses. A lady’s wrists and ankles should be covered!’

Accept

“Don’t listen to that harridan: she’s got ugly arms, and that’s why she wants to hide,” scoffs Gary Weaver, a teenage student at one of Canberra’s rowdiest schools. “Look, I don’t get over-excited every time I catch a glimpse of shoulder or thigh. I mean sure, some people take it a little too far, but shouldn’t that be their responsibility? She can cover up if she wants, but prettier girls should be able to show a little skin.”

Accept

“I think we all know what’s going on here,” chides popular feminist speaker Hillary Johannsen as she bashes the previous speaker over the head with her protest sign. “We hear stories of assault and abuse, and it’s chalked up to be the girl’s fault for wearing something that ‘invites it’. This is a clear case of double standards – nobody ever says anything when a man rolls up his sleeves to get to work. We need to change the mentality that holds women’s clothing choices to blame for the actions of men. We should be able to walk down the street naked if we want to, and not be blamed or shamed from doing so.”

Accept

“Since when have we let the women of this country determine its morality?” rages traditionalist Richard Janssen, his wife and daughters standing behind him in fearful silence. “A woman’s nakedness is for her husband to behold, and for none other. All women should be forced to cover themselves head-to-toe while in public, and should not venture out of the home without permission. They should obey their husbands or male relatives in all things, including their clothing choices.”

Accept

Dismiss This Issue

Issue by The Iradialad Iterind of Escalan Corps-Star Island
Edited by Candlewhisper Archiv

[Candlewhisper Archive]

Only three options?

If you still have it, please check the identifiers in the source code. Something is fishy.

I love setting these little challenges for you to figure out.

[Drasnia]

I too got Issue #595: Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes?

The names seem to be @@RANDOMNAME@@, @@RANDOMFIRSTNAME@@ Juvenal, and @@RANDOMNAME@@

Hey Trott, where in the element do I look to find the hidden option numbers?

[Trotterdam]

Hey Trott, where in the element do I look to find the hidden option numbers?

In the HTML source, look for the stuff that looks like this:

<li><p>"You should totally listen to me!" says @@RANDOMNAME@@, an activist for a fringe political cause.
<p class="dilemmaaccept"><button type="submit" name="choice-0" value="1" class="button big icon approve">Accept</button>
<li><p>"No, you should listen to me!" says @@RANDOMNAME@@, some random person off the street who happened to be walking by.
<p class="dilemmaaccept"><button type="submit" name="choice-1" value="1" class="button big icon approve">Accept</button>
<li><p>"Everyone else is stupid! I'm the only one who's right!" says @@RANDOMNAME@@, while waving a diploma in Looking Down at People from the University of Egotism.
<p class="dilemmaaccept"><button type="submit" name="choice-2" value="1" class="button big icon approve">Accept</button>

Etc.

It's really not hard, look for the part of the source with the number that keeps changing Take note that each choice number is listed after the main option text (since that's where the button goes). Also that the code starts counting at 0 rather than 1.

[Drasnia]

Awesome. So it appears that we have options o,1, and 3 which means 1, 2, and 4. We're missing 3 and any that may possibly come after.

[Pencil Sharpeners 2]

The Issue

Due to the reigning monarch’s lack of heirs, which could conceivably cause a succession crisis, the aristocratic elite have begun to question the ancient law of primogeniture.

The Debate

1. “I’m the eldest child, so I should get the throne!” shouts Princess Ella, who has a reputation for being completely undiplomatic. “It doesn’t matter that I’m a woman. I should have the same rights as a man to the throne. Why should the crown pass over me because of my genitals? It’s arcane! I mean, having a monarchy is arcane too, but never mind that...”

3. “Don’t be so preposterous!” splutters dusty old courtier Randy Obama as he pulls out an even dustier family tree of the royal family which trails on the floor. “Generations of proud, strong kings have ruled this land with conviction and certainty! That’s why the country has done so well for so long. It’s clear that women should not be allowed to succeed the throne. They’re much too emotional. Besides, do you really want the Princess meeting other heads of state when it’s her... time of the month?” He shudders.

5. “We need a radical reshaping of our country’s power structure!” bellows crazed usurper Birgitta Parkarvarkar as she brandishes a blade at the terrified male courtier’s privates. “For too long the patriarchy has oppressed us and denied us our natural rights to rule! Abolish primogeniture and ensure that only women may inherit the throne! We shall usher in a golden age of feminine supremacy!” The courtier shrieks as she accidentally cuts his trousers in excitement.

7. “All this nonsense about succession has got me thinking,” says Chris Thiesen, esquire, who is 456,789th in line for the throne. “Does the monarchy actually serve a purpose anymore? Seems to me that it would just be cheaper to not have a head of state at all. Royalty mostly exist today for photo ops, anyways.”


Issue by The Crowned Commonwealth of Nuremgard

Edited by Lenyo

Looks like there's a lot of extra options to find here.

[Barbarossistan]

Only three options?

If you still have it, please check the identifiers in the source code. Something is fishy.

I answered it so it's gone. there should be more options?

[Trotterdam]

Looks like there's a lot of extra options to find here.

I only spotted four effect lines (so far), which easily match these options, so I'm guessing the remaining ones are minor variations of the same. Possibly based on whether your nation is a proper monarchy or idiotic #527 nonsense?

Or possibly the male-only and female-only options swap around which is the "traditionalist" option and which is the "radical reshaping" option depending on whether your nation is already a matriarchy. (At least, I'm glad that both options are available simultaneously, rather than the game trying to guess which one suits your nation and hiding the other one.)

EDIT: Nevermind, I've caught more effect lines (six so far, and I suspect one or two undetected), though they support the idea of being variations on the same concept. Now how am I supposed to know which is which?

---

EDIT: On the police cameras issue, it occurred to me that the hidden option may be for nations that banned the internet. Can't live-stream your videos then.