The Writers' Block

[USS Monitor]

The game doesn't have any way to determine @@LEADER@@'s gender. The thing where you can be categorized as a "Mother Knows Best State" is by pretitle.

[Third Asopia]

I'm just wondering if youth rebelliousness could work. But, I'm not creative in any way so I may need help.

[Autonomous Cleaner Bot Cleaners]

I'm just wondering if youth rebelliousness could work. But, I'm not creative in any way so I may need help.

Presumably you're continuing the discussion from viewtopic.php?f=13&t=464680 , yes?

[Third Asopia]

I'm just wondering if youth rebelliousness could work. But, I'm not creative in any way so I may need help.

Presumably you're continuing the discussion from viewtopic.php?f=13&t=464680 , yes?

Yes.

[The Super Fork]

I was thinking about writing a draft about the merits of different types of trains, like steam, diesel, electric, maglev, ect. Something like: "Maglevs are super fast!" "But they are too expensive, use cheap coal!" "No! Coal pollutes, use diesel!" "Electric trains are even better, use them!"

The closest thing I could find was Issue #634, which is more about fast, slow, cheap, or no trains in response to traffic congestion.

Thoughts?

[Candlewhisper Archive]

As you say, 634 is pretty close. I don't think it's worth doing just as a "which power source" issue, as then it also overlaps with #69.

[The Super Fork]

Regarding follow-up issues, is it possible for a choice to lead to multiple other issues?
Currently Issue #271 can chain into Issue #511. Is it possible to have Issue #271 chain into #511 and/or another issue?
My issue idea is that It you choose #271.6 (where the government pays vigilantes), poor citizens looking for cash turn to vigilantism and get wiped out by the criminals.

[Pogaria]

Regarding follow-up issues, is it possible for a choice to lead to multiple other issues?
Currently Issue #271 can chain into Issue #511. Is it possible to have Issue #271 chain into #511 and/or another issue?
My issue idea is that It you choose #271.6 (where the government pays vigilantes), poor citizens looking for cash turn to vigilantism and get wiped out by the criminals.

Having chained issues means that answering a certain option always directly leads to another specific issue. Each option can only be linked to one issue. However, the next issue can also be chained to other issues.

Alternatively, many issue options activate a specific policy. For as long as that policy is active (meaning that you don't choose an option that reverses it), you will be eligible to receive any issue that requires this policy. Unlike a chained issue, there can be many possible follow-ups, and they probably won't arrive immediately.

[Virtual States]

Hi there!

I recently got Issue #1198, The Death Debate Isn't Dead Yet. I'd like to suggest an update to this issue.

The first option in response to the issue mentions unburied/uncremated dead bodies being a public health hazard. I'd like to point out that this is not necessarily the case. Dead bodies only present a serious health hazard if the person dies due to disease, and at that point the body could only spread that disease or whatever other communicable diseases the person may have had at the time of death. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_ri ... ead_bodies

The second option directly responds to the first option, argues against it, and provides an alternative. I'd like to suggest that the fact that only the bodies of persons who die from disease present any real health hazard be added to this option's rebuttal of the first option. It would make the second option's argument stronger, and also presents an opportunity to educate players on this subject.

Thanks!

[The Sherpa Empire]

Hi there!

I recently got Issue #1198, The Death Debate Isn't Dead Yet. I'd like to suggest an update to this issue.

The first option in response to the issue mentions unburied/uncremated dead bodies being a public health hazard. I'd like to point out that this is not necessarily the case. Dead bodies only present a serious health hazard if the person dies due to disease, and at that point the body could only spread that disease or whatever other communicable diseases the person may have had at the time of death. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_ri ... ead_bodies

The second option directly responds to the first option, argues against it, and provides an alternative. I'd like to suggest that the fact that only the bodies of persons who die from disease present any real health hazard be added to this option's rebuttal of the first option. It would make the second option's argument stronger, and also presents an opportunity to educate players on this subject.

Thanks!

You can improve the odds of having it changed by providing an alternative text instead of hoping for the editors to write it for you.

[Candlewhisper Archive]

Hi there!

I recently got Issue #1198, The Death Debate Isn't Dead Yet. I'd like to suggest an update to this issue.

The first option in response to the issue mentions unburied/uncremated dead bodies being a public health hazard. I'd like to point out that this is not necessarily the case. Dead bodies only present a serious health hazard if the person dies due to disease, and at that point the body could only spread that disease or whatever other communicable diseases the person may have had at the time of death. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_ri ... ead_bodies

The second option directly responds to the first option, argues against it, and provides an alternative. I'd like to suggest that the fact that only the bodies of persons who die from disease present any real health hazard be added to this option's rebuttal of the first option. It would make the second option's argument stronger, and also presents an opportunity to educate players on this subject.

Thanks!

No change is needed for multiple reasons here.

Firstly, and most importantly, speech within options represents the opinion of the speaker, not absolute fact. Seriously, pick just about ANY issue, and there'll be at least some information that is subjective opinion.

Secondly, some dead bodies die from disease, therefore some dead bodies are a health risk, therefore dead bodies as a category represent a health risk.

While you're right that the public health risk of decomposing corpses is actually minimal and cadaver disposal represents a lower priority post-disaster than -- for example -- supplying clean water, this issue doesn't need to change on the basis of accuracy.

However, if you were to propose a specific textual edit that strengthens the story, we could consider it.

[Autonomous Cleaner Bot Cleaners]

The Issue: After a hard day of resolving issues, you decided to cozy over to a nice comfy chair and turn on your television. After watching your favorite show, it then cuts to a commercial for what seems like a drug advert.

The narrative experimentation is interesting, but not working here. I suggest that the opening text should include the actual dilemma.

So I read this and immediately thought "why does the dilemma have to come first, anyway?"

I wonder if anyone has attempted a "solution looking for a problem" type of issue before. @@LEADER@@ wants to implement some sort of legislative change (or some intern does something difficult/embarrassing to reverse, or...), and then the debate among @@HIS@@ advisers is about which after-the-fact justification is best. Probably with a least a few Wag the Dog references.

Basically, put a fixed outcome in the description, then let the player choose a post-facto "description" from among the options (with, perhaps, additional implied outcomes depending on the level of ideological reach and/or depravity of that particular choice).

[Candlewhisper Archive]

Could work if done well.

Experienced authors can and should play around with form.

However, just as you need to William Blake to know when classical meter is a hindrance, so too do you need to be able to make good issues before messing with standard forms.

[USS Monitor]

What if someone spilled Eckie-cola on the controls at a missile silo, and accidentally launched one of the missiles into a major city in an NPC nation, and you have to decide how to save face?

[Devil Heart]

Ya made me laugh and splutter tea everywhere USS Monitor! Luckily my keyboard is still operational

Anyway, I'd like to try an issue about needing to re-colonise out there in space somehow because Earth is dying fast > the associated race against time alongside the prohibitive costs and the need for scientific development/experimentation in space to see what is going to work. You know, terra-forming, building your own planet etc, stuff like this:
https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2015/06/what ... -not-tech/
Or in more depth, Isaac Arthur ideas:
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Isaak+terrafo ... &ia=videos

But I'd need lots of help. Probably need a co-author I'm guessing.
Anyway, is this too big a bite for this very beginner writer of issues?
Has something too similar been done?

[USS Monitor]

Ya made me laugh and splutter tea everywhere USS Monitor! Luckily my keyboard is still operational

Anyway, I'd like to try an issue about needing to re-colonise out there in space somehow because Earth is dying fast > the associated race against time alongside the prohibitive costs and the need for scientific development/experimentation in space to see what is going to work. You know, terra-forming, building your own planet etc, stuff like this:
https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2015/06/what ... -not-tech/
Or in more depth, Isaac Arthur ideas:
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Isaak+terrafo ... &ia=videos

But I'd need lots of help. Probably need a co-author I'm guessing.
Anyway, is this too big a bite for this very beginner writer of issues?
Has something too similar been done?

I think there are some interesting issues that could be written about terraforming or space colonies, but I question the premise of using that as a solution to ecological collapse on Earth. And when I say I question the premise, I don't just mean how well the narrative would fit NS. I also question the scientific plausibility of it. If we have the technology to terraform other planets, what is to stop us from using that same technology to fix the environment here on Earth? If we have the ability to keep people alive on a space station, what is to stop us from using that same technology to build self-contained cities on Earth?

I think it's OK to have someone in an issue say that @@NAME@@ needs to colonize space because Earth is dying, but you can't make an issue where Earth actually dies and people are forced to colonize space. It would alter the reality of the game too much and would not make enough sense.

[The Vladivostok Confederacy]

Would it be possible to write an issue about direct democracy vs representative democracy? I just wanted to make sure that
- It hasn't already been written and
- Something like this could affect policies and such, so would this even be possible?

[Trotterdam]

Would it be possible to write an issue about direct democracy vs representative democracy? I just wanted to make sure that
- It hasn't already been written and
- Something like this could affect policies and such, so would this even be possible?

Search the existing issues for "referendum"/"referenda".

[Minoa]

Hello,

Sorry for the rushed message as I am busy today, but what are the newspaper banner codes for Issues 0, 666 and 999? I ask this question because I am updating the NSindex template documentation in the process of phasing out newspaper screenshots for each issue, in favour of a template-based newspaper generator.

-- Minoa

[Chan Island]

Just been encouraged to get back in and have a query:

Do we have any issues about voters in a primary voting for a trash candidate to represent your party?

Also, do we have an issue at the moment about party loyalty?

[Trotterdam]

Also, do we have an issue at the moment about party loyalty?

#541, you mean?

[Chan Island]

Also, do we have an issue at the moment about party loyalty?

#541, you mean?

Not quite, I was thinking more in terms of the membership or the hack, not the actual politicians. There was a case recently where a Labour Party operator type got expelled for going into tinfoil hat town when talking about anti-semitism.

I'll take this as a sign it hasn't been done yet.

[Candlewhisper Archive]

Hello,

Sorry for the rushed message as I am busy today, but what are the newspaper banner codes for Issues 0, 666 and 999? I ask this question because I am updating the NSindex template documentation in the process of phasing out newspaper screenshots for each issue, in favour of a template-based newspaper generator.

-- Minoa

Issue 0 uses the "default" banner that occurs if no banner code has been set. 666 uses c25 for main and b5 for side. 999 uses w3 for main and h1 for side.

[Candlewhisper Archive]

#541, you mean?

Not quite, I was thinking more in terms of the membership or the hack, not the actual politicians. There was a case recently where a Labour Party operator type got expelled for going into tinfoil hat town when talking about anti-semitism.

I'll take this as a sign it hasn't been done yet.

Yeah, sounds new.

There's also that Labour MP who recently got expelled from the party for publicly announcing that he voted Liberal Democrat in the European Elections. That might make an interesting party loyalty angle too.

[Minoa]

Hello,

Sorry for the rushed message as I am busy today, but what are the newspaper banner codes for Issues 0, 666 and 999? I ask this question because I am updating the NSindex template documentation in the process of phasing out newspaper screenshots for each issue, in favour of a template-based newspaper generator.

-- Minoa

Issue 0 uses the "default" banner that occurs if no banner code has been set. 666 uses c25 for main and b5 for side. 999 uses w3 for main and h1 for side.

Thanks, I am able to start rolling out the new template.

I assume that #407 is X4 for the main image, but I am not sure about the side image.