F&NI General Help Thread

[Oppermenia]

Hi, Oppermenia here.
My favorite part of NS is factbooks and dispatches (other than the forums). With those, you can rp stuff on NS and have a specific idea for your nation without choosing a specific option in a specific issue. After all, NS stats are just a general outline.
And so, I've been having troubles with factbooks, namely ones about politics.
At first, I just sprawled politics out among multiple factbooks. One about parliament structure, one about the new government structure that integrated a constitutional monarchy.
But, these factbooks sort of were specific to the time and events I wrote them in. And, because of it, I sort of felt that they were outdated.
Then, I decided to write a factbook that integrated all of the politics and government structure of Oppermenia into one megafactbook.
But then, I was unsure about that, as well. As it may be a bit complicated and long, and I'm just not sure about it. You can find that factbook here: https://www.nationstates.net/nation=oppermenia/detail=factbook/id=1074480
So, then I was thinking I could just sprawl it out again. Do a simple factbook on federal government structure, then one about the states, then one about the royal family, and one about Oppermenian politics, which would include the current holders of government positions.
So, I'm just not sure what I should do. Should I keep it like it is, and put it all into one factbook, or sprawl it out into multiple.
Also, I think I'm on the right forum, but I'm not entirely sure. So, if I'm not on the right forum, here's a suggestion: please don't lock this thread (I'm looking at you, moderator), but move it to the right forum, or at least point me to the right forum before you lock this thread.

[Tinhampton]

I suppose you could adapt the famous Ponderosan template - it does split your work up into more obvious-looking sections... (if it doesn't, my apologies)

[Queen Yuno]

That size right now is perfect for a factbook

here's an example of my friend's https://www.nationstates.net/nation=nov ... ok/id=main

[The Black Party]

use mine it's hella hot

[Oppermenia]

Well, I'm just confused, because at first, I wanted to put it all in one factbook. Now, though, I think it's gotten too complicated to put all of it there.
And now, I'm thinking I could've easily done it across multiple factbooks while it still making sense.
So, should I do the multiple factbooks route, or keep it in one, is I guess what I'm asking.

[Mzeusia]

Well, I'm just confused, because at first, I wanted to put it all in one factbook. Now, though, I think it's gotten too complicated to put all of it there.
And now, I'm thinking I could've easily done it across multiple factbooks while it still making sense.
So, should I do the multiple factbooks route, or keep it in one, is I guess what I'm asking.

I would personally do it across multiple ones.

[Frisbeeteria]

So, if I'm not on the right forum, here's a suggestion: please don't lock this thread (I'm looking at you, moderator), but move it to the right forum, or at least point me to the right forum before you lock this thread.

Gameplay != Roleplay. Inventing political content for your nation is inherently roleplay. There is a subset of politics in Gameplay, but it's more about interregional politics than national politics. Moved Gameplay F&NI.

[Qaurzum]

Which language, should my conlang be based on?

[Shinnokawa]

Depends, what language do you know better?

[Dalsfjord]

Lithuanian perhaps? It's grammar is ancient and quite unique as its one of two surviving Baltic languages, along with Latvian.

[The Sakhalinsk Empire]

Depends on where your nation is based off of. With your name, I'm guessing a Roman Middle East, so Latin/Romanian with hints of Arabic would be cool.

(Also, I'm not quite sure this is supposed to be in F7.)

[Qaurzum]

Depends on where your nation is based off of. With your name, I'm guessing a Roman Middle East, so Latin/Romanian with hints of Arabic would be cool.

(Also, I'm not quite sure this is supposed to be in F7.)

Im in portugal...

[Trouvia]

Maybe Portuguese but base the writing on Romanian orthography?

[Sarcana]

Could someone link me to a good programme I could use to colour in a map for my nation’s world?
I found a good one but I can’t give Alaska to Sarcana/colour in that one region.

[Tierra Prime]

Is it possible to get the same effect with formatting in a thread as in a factbook dispatch? I want to transfer my factbook from my nation page to a thread, but simply pasting the articles in causes a lot of trouble with formatting. For example, pasting the overview section of my factbook into a thread results in a lot of the code breaking. The infobox ends up looking different, the horizontal rules break, and the text is no longer aligned correctly. I can provide the code if required.

[Fecaw]

I am writing a rather long factbook and would like some help on beefing out my flower section. This is all that I could write.

Common wildflowers in Fecaw include vetches. Some hardy orchids are known to occur on Aynya Island, with some very rare species being kept in protected areas.

[Justosia]

It says put your Fact Book here but I don't see a thread proper for that. Am I not seeing something?

[Gandoor]

It says put your Fact Book here but I don't see a thread proper for that. Am I not seeing something?

You have to create your own thread for your own factbook, there isn't a general thread just to put factbooks in. (Although there is the FaNI Index thread, also stickied, which contains links to the factbooks of various nations, both gameside ones and ones posted on the forum)

[Justosia]

It says put your Fact Book here but I don't see a thread proper for that. Am I not seeing something?

You have to create your own thread for your own factbook, there isn't a general thread just to put factbooks in. (Although there is the FaNI Index thread, also stickied, which contains links to the factbooks of various nations, both gameside ones and ones posted on the forum)

Thanks. Just making sure before I start posting random factoids.

[Nova Trieste]

Recently I decided to fill the factbook of my nation, starting from the history of its founding (and not much else at the moment, since I've started yesterday) but I'm currently struggling to develop my core idea and I was hoping that maybe some of you guys could help me out since I would really like to create a fairly believable and realistic scenario.

Here's the deal:
The location is this island in the southern-western area of the North Pacific (waiting for the cartographer approval)



The core idea for the nation founding is a popular revolution against the regime of a coalition of greedy cities-states around the island which exploited the local populace for agricultural and industrial labor to focus on trade. The revolution sparked a war that lasted for a few years (popular guerrilla army against the cities-states mercenaries) that lead to the formation of the Armed Republic (former cities-states + Nova Trieste City, founded in the middle of the island where the first rebel villages reunified to fight against the coalition). A period of "purge" followed the revolution, where the remaining pmc soldiers turned to bandits and traitors were systematically eliminated (which is based on the current high death penalty ratio).

This is what I came up with so far, I would really appreciate any suggestion to further develop the history of the island and the other aspects of the nation.
Sorry for bad English, it's not my first language

[Cosmopolitan borovan]

Look at history books or wiki for help

[Gurori]

Hello there!

So basically, I'm trying to re-write the history, culture, etc of Gurori but the problem is, I have literally NO idea where to start! So I have come here looking for help. Not the "look at these things for advice/inspiration" thing but rather, I'm looking for someone who is willing to actively discuss ideas with me. Anyone who's able to do that, please do so, it'd be greatly appreciated.

(The reason being I'm not exactly into politics, which is ironic considering the type of place NationStates is. Then again I'm also looking for help with worldbuilding.)

[Nipumal]

Is there a place to post a thread asking for alt-history advice for my nation's factbook? I noticed this section is labeled "In-character" so I'm not sure where I'm allowed to ask as a player, rather than a character

[Cosmopolitan borovan]

I need help developing some history, culture and geography

[Sjealand]

I need help developing some history, culture and geography

A good idea is to find a basis that you want to base your writings on. Find out how much you want to write and what type it is. Compare it to similar writings on say wikipedia.

My capital city of Asgård is primarily based in Copenhagen and Vienna . As such i looked on their wikipedia pages and noted 1) What do they talk about 2) In what order 3) What do they mention as important and what is more a throw-away line. Give yourself a good idea of what youre basing it off on and then use the existing writings as inspiration and guidelines but dont say just copy it. Following that will give you some great results