Addition

[Emulation White]

Hello, I was wondering if NationStates has any intentions of implementing new mechanics or enhancing existing ones significantly. I would also greatly appreciate any efforts to further Nation and/or UI personalization and customization. Ideally, I would very much enjoy the game with added complexity and having to put in more effort.

One example would be the simplistic split between autocracy and democracy, it'd be nice to see an expansion of the policy system that would enable more mixed government/mixed economy representation.

I know I'm being somewhat vague, I'm just curious as to the volition of the game designers and the intentions of NS.

Any information is appreciated.

[Gandoor]

Unfortunately it's highly doubtful that the NS will be updated to increase its complexity, as the game is deliberately designed to function as a simple nation simulator, it's not meant to be a complex or in-depth one.

[Grand Proudhonia]

Thanks to factbooks and dispatches, you can make the game as complex as you want

[The Sherpa Empire]

New features get added from time to time, but admins have limited time and they don't want to overcomplicate it so that it becomes too confusing for new players.

[SherpDaWerp]

There is one rather significant Gameplay change floating around Technical (here it is) that would be a significant shake-up of region-based politics, but as for greater control over your actual nation, there's been nothing publicly said about any changes to that system. (beyond the inevitable creation of more issues...) The admins don't have unlimited time, and this is nothing like an AAA published game. There are 6 admins total, and AFAIK [violet] does most of the codey jazz. Adding more national control would be something they just don't have time for.

There would be incredible complexity in just your autocracy/democracy suggestion. Are you thinking in terms of a democracy having legislature and people voting? I know I would get tired of being the nation's leader and constantly getting my laws shot down by an ultimately RNG-based system of mooks voting against me. Fixing that would ultimately require every person in that government's beliefs to be simulated based on already-existing national stats, which would in turn make massive changes to the national structure impossible.

Thanks to factbooks and dispatches, you can make the game as complex as you want

^ do that. If you want more complexity, look to the factbooks and dispatches. Write whatever you want in there. You can make this game into almost anything you want, and that freedom is the greatest part.

[Emulation White]

There is one rather significant Gameplay change floating around Technical (here it is) that would be a significant shake-up of region-based politics, but as for greater control over your actual nation, there's been nothing publicly said about any changes to that system. (beyond the inevitable creation of more issues...) The admins don't have unlimited time, and this is nothing like an AAA published game. There are 6 admins total, and AFAIK [violet] does most of the codey jazz. Adding more national control would be something they just don't have time for.

There would be incredible complexity in just your autocracy/democracy suggestion. Are you thinking in terms of a democracy having legislature and people voting? I know I would get tired of being the nation's leader and constantly getting my laws shot down by an ultimately RNG-based system of mooks voting against me. Fixing that would ultimately require every person in that government's beliefs to be simulated based on already-existing national stats, which would in turn make massive changes to the national structure impossible.

Thanks to factbooks and dispatches, you can make the game as complex as you want

^ do that. If you want more complexity, look to the factbooks and dispatches. Write whatever you want in there. You can make this game into almost anything you want, and that freedom is the greatest part.

That looks like a cool new function, it'd give me some incentive to stop being a regional hermit. But no, I wasn't speaking of any simulation of that degree. Let me take a crack at explaining: NS as it is, is nice and streamlined, but let's say I make a decision that cancels democracy/autocracy or capitalism/socialism, the effects are very black and white. I'd just like some way of signifying a mixed government/economy, besides the nation type descriptor. What I'm trying to propose is further fleshing out of all aspects whilst sticking to the vanilla OS. At the end of the day, factbooks is what I spend the least time with because it lacks the organic building feeling through issues.

My desire is for further differentiation and deeper personalization of nations, I'd like more meat on the bones when I read a nation's page or look at their stats. Just a little more micro-management and the issues to accommodate it. Like a tree growing new branches from its base.

[SherpDaWerp]

What you're looking for there is definitely factbooks. I don't get into RP much, but there is this forum where you can get tips on how to flesh out your nation.

If you don't really want to get into factbooks because it isn't organic enough, that's fair. Going through and answering some of the questions (like What is your leader's education/training? or Legal age in your nation?) can really help with that process.

[Emulation White]

What you're looking for there is definitely factbooks. I don't get into RP much, but there is this forum where you can get tips on how to flesh out your nation.

If you don't really want to get into factbooks because it isn't organic enough, that's fair. Going through and answering some of the questions (like What is your leader's education/training? or Legal age in your nation?) can really help with that process.

I guess I'll give it a shot. I still think it'd be cool to have a little more options with the UI like new themes, different fonts, nations displaying these things when viewed by other nations. Aesthetics.

[Galiantus III]

Issue writing sounds like the way to go for you. The reason we have the statistics, policies, government forms, etc. is because issues have helped shape what we can happen in our nations.