UDS Gameplay | January Elections

[UDS Dispatch Office]

Eagles Celebrate Christmas in May

The Eagles were out late one night, scouring the world for some friends in need of help, and boy did they find some! Several regions were left smoldering after a group of darkspawn engaged in rampant arson. Some raiders were looking for Penny, and others were just fooling around. Nevertheless, the UDSAF Eagles decided that it would be nice to help the locals put out the fires and help get rid of the remaining raider messages.

---

Regions Detagged

The East Wind of Eastern Europe
2019
Gaia Prime
Galactica
Maptopilist
Pastnow
Refound Land
Commonwealth of Geopolitics
Maryos Shop
Ferelden
Jjjjjjjjjjjj
Empire of British Embassies
The United Countries of Canada
Ravencroft
Touhou Project
Backrub
Warbond
Ultimate Environmentalists Club
The Tyrannian Empire
Pretzeland
Isc

In the middle of spraying flame-retardant and digging fire lines, Com & Kang heard a roar, echoing throughout the night. “That’s no ordinary roar Kang,” shouted Com, unaware as his friend’s eyes grew four times wider with giddy memories. Without a word, Kang grabbed Com and flew to the scene. What they saw could only be described as glorious. It was the Wardens, bravely battling off Darkspawn with their allies.

In the combat, the newly returned W&S noticed the Eagles watching, and shouted “What the hell are you waiting for!?” That was all Kang & Com needed to hear, and they sprung into action. Together, with the Wardens, SPSF, RRA, TITO, & more, victory was achieved, and Christmas was saved, leading to a light snowfall that put out the remaining fires.

Troops Participating

Minister of Defense Comlogical (Point)
Deputy Minister of Defense Kanglia (Point)
Captain Asdersland
Sergeant Glaciosia
Sergeant Bliss

[Daytime to Night]

Good fire fighting, Christmas-saving, duck hunting fun

Great to see the UDSAF so active at the moment

[Tinhampton]

I would like to congratulate the UDS Armed Forces on learning how to tag raid - even if by accident. This was what Pastnow's WFE looked like before a recent raid:

Military conflict remains. Starting wars without consulting first with Allies is to be considered an affront against the diplomatic institutions very foundation with which you built those relations and can lead to other members forming an alliance of their own against you. Diversity in all aspects of life is encouraged, to further bridge integration between differing cultural backgrounds globally. Freedom of expression is paramount to our ultimate survival. We seek to actively incorporate several contrasting economic, social, political & military theories into long term applicable solutions aimed in ensuring the continuation and betterment of human life for eternity.

This is what it looked like for about a week until recently:

Mayday, Mayday, hawks spotted over the region!
It appears The Black Hawks have spent their free time on May Day erecting maypoles and partying across the land. To join in on the reverlies, sign up here and join our Discord!

The Hawks~
SGT Ezkio , trigger
CPL Fysladia
CPL Black Hawk Zazumo
PFC Edreine
PFC Crushing Our Enemies
PFC Steste

And this, my friends, is what it looks like now:

n/a.

It has been three-and-a-half days since Pastnow was allegedly "detagged" by your Minister of Defence, and you have yet to restore the region's WFE to its previous state - baffling as it might have been. At least raiders actually change regional World Factbook Entries to something more informative than "NA" when they take over the post of WA Delegate for a handful of seconds.

[Comlogical]

To address this issue:
I'm using the UDL tools for detagging and it seems that, when I input the tegion name into the tool, nothing turned out, so I was forced to leave it blank as it is.

Apologies for the error and rest assured that this issue will not reappear in our next report.

[Kanglia]

Snip

You can call it however you wish to do so, you are tagging, admittedly,fairly dead regions. You then proceed to use these dead regions as propaganda points on the off chance someone not in R/D happens to stumble along and see these tagged regions. Quite frankly, even if it is something as completely basic as "N/A" if it is not giving the Black Hawks or any other raiding organization any more attention than is unfortunately already given to you all, I consider that a success.

[Sebero Sree]

To address this issue:
I'm using the UDL tools for detagging and it seems that, when I input the tegion name into the tool, nothing turned out, so I was forced to leave it blank as it is.

Apologies for the error and rest assured that this issue will not reappear in our next report.

Bowzin has built a great tool for finding WFEs. If they were tagged after this tool was built, then you will be able to find those WFEs using it https://www.bowzin.com/wfe_archive

From what I have heard, Bowzin is also trying to add the ability to add WFEs from the time before this tool was created.

[Ever-Wandering Souls]

Quite frankly, even if it is something as completely basic as "N/A" if it is not giving the Black Hawks or any other raiding organization any more attention than is unfortunately already given to you all, I consider that a success.

If not giving us any attention is such a primary goal, why post a GP report about us? You even furthered our search for Penny in your post!

[A Bloodred Moon]

You can call it however you wish to do so, you are tagging, admittedly,fairly dead regions. You then proceed to use these dead regions as propaganda points on the off chance someone not in R/D happens to stumble along and see these tagged regions. Quite frankly, even if it is something as completely basic as "N/A" if it is not giving the Black Hawks or any other raiding organization any more attention than is unfortunately already given to you all, I consider that a success.

So defenders now tag regions with even less creative WFEs than your average tagging team? Defender standards have fallen far, it would seem. Their detags are now uncreative retags and their liberations are cleanups. True heroes indeed.

It’s interesting how defenders have now given up on the whole “for the natives” narrative they kept up for so long, instead admitting they now retag. I suppose the small regions are no longer worth your protection?

I’m not criticising, of course - I eagerly await to see the next “defender” tagging run.

[Miravana]

Congrats on the firefighting! Though, you might want to inspect each flame a little more carefully next time, you left some on fire!! Not to worry, we'll fix them!

Maryos shop
Commonwealth of geopolitics
Refound land

[Benevolent Thomas]

Damn, y'all hyenas pounced on these guys. Every defender in NS was limited to leaving "N/A" or "Welcome to [region][/region]" until Bowzin unveiled his creation in March. I think we can cut them some slack for doing the same thing we never got grief for. Hell, I'm sure there are regions that were tagged before Bowzin's tool went up that still have no recorded native WFE. If anyone is to blame for this, its me for not singing Bowzin's praises from the mountaintops for all defenders to hear.

UDSAF +25 DKP
Bowzin +100 DKP
Tinhampton -50 DKP
Sebero Sree (hello, have we not met before? Its a pleasure) + 40 DKP
A Bloodred Moon (Do I know you? Even if I did, why would I talk to you? Shame on you how you picked on Kanglia in that post. He's a sweet defender who never hurt a fly.) -100 DKP

Keep up the good fight, UDS. These guys just want to destroy the remaining beauty this game has, replacing it with their vile self-promoting eye-sores.

One last thing... "Pahk the car in Hahvahd Yahd"

[Loller Corleone]

Sebero Sree (hello, have we not met before? Its a pleasure) + 40 DKP

Thank you for that! I think we have greeted each other once or twice

[A Bloodred Moon]

A Bloodred Moon (Do I know you? Even if I did, why would I talk to you? Shame on you how you picked on Kanglia in that post. He's a sweet defender who never hurt a fly.) -100 DKP

Don't spin my comment as some sort of personal attack, BT. You're better than that.

Hell, I'm sure there are regions that were tagged before Bowzin's tool went up that still have no recorded native WFE.

True. That was not the reason Kanglia gave, though.

-Jo

[Honeydewistania]

Damn, y'all hyenas pounced on these guys. Every defender in NS was limited to leaving "N/A" or "Welcome to [region][/region]" until Bowzin unveiled his creation in March. I think we can cut them some slack for doing the same thing we never got grief for. Hell, I'm sure there are regions that were tagged before Bowzin's tool went up that still have no recorded native WFE. If anyone is to blame for this, its me for not singing Bowzin's praises from the mountaintops for all defenders to hear.

UDSAF +25 DKP
Bowzin +100 DKP
Tinhampton -50 DKP
Sebero Sree (hello, have we not met before? Its a pleasure) + 40 DKP
A Bloodred Moon (Do I know you? Even if I did, why would I talk to you? Shame on you how you picked on Kanglia in that post. He's a sweet defender who never hurt a fly.) -100 DKP

Keep up the good fight, UDS. These guys just want to destroy the remaining beauty this game has, replacing it with their vile self-promoting eye-sores.

One last thing... "Pahk the car in Hahvahd Yahd"

Is DKP like Good Boy Points?

[Aurum Raider]

I'm sure there are regions that were tagged before Bowzin's tool went up that still have no recorded native WFE.

C'mon man, really? "Because the tools aren't there" is an awful excuse. I won't fault them for a moment for being active - it's more than most do. Honestly, the UDSAF should give themselves a pat on the back for actually getting out there and doing things.

That said - Bowzin's tool is great, but if you can't pull up the region's WFE, then don't put it in a report. Or even better, be more discerning with your target selection. As a matter of a fact, give me a day or two, and I'll throw together a google spreadsheet chock full of TBH tags and their original WFEs for you guys to work off of.

EDIT: Here, actually.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... sp=sharing
I did it in even less than an hour. You only get 69 out of 700 because the number was funny.

[Fauxia]

Changing the WFE from a raider advertisement to a bland entry is definitely an improvement.

[Aurum Raider]

Changing the WFE from a raider advertisement to a bland entry is definitely an improvement.

No, it's not. Nobody looks at the 'raider advertisements' regions because the advertisement is the forum post.
They're out there doing things - that's a very good start. They're still doing things poorly - there is room for improvement.

Don't congratulate sloppy behavior.

[Kanaia]

Changing the WFE from a raider advertisement to a bland entry is definitely an improvement.

No, it's not.

Yes it is.
A clean wall is prefeferable to one with shitty graffiti.

[Devi]

itt: defenders bending over backwards to justify literal retags because it's 'sticking it to them raiders'
given the *abundance* of available resources, crying 'it's not as bad' is pure laziness

[Miravana]

No, it's not.

Yes it is.
A clean wall is prefeferable to one with shitty graffiti.

Sure, you can go this direction. Cleaning the wall is definitely an agenda to be pushed by defenders, but a blank slate does not repair the damage of a tag no matter what. If there is no WFE in the archives, it's understandable not to have the original WFE that was intended for the region, but the least you can do is change the WFE to "Welcome to [region]." Not doing that, and calling it "better than a tag" is just a lazy excuse to cut off a couple of seconds from each detag you have to do.

[Ever-Wandering Souls]

No, it's not.

Yes it is.
A clean wall is prefeferable to one with shitty graffiti.

Street art is legitimate art! You're speaking like a bougie landlord. Embrace the flow duuuude. Embrace the movement. Down with the monocolor walls!

Worst take of 2020!

[Daytime to Night]

Yes it is.
A clean wall is prefeferable to one with shitty graffiti.

Sure, you can go this direction. Cleaning the wall is definitely an agenda to be pushed by defenders, but a blank slate does not repair the damage of a tag no matter what. If there is no WFE in the archives, it's understandable not to have the original WFE that was intended for the region, but the least you can do is change the WFE to "Welcome to [region]." Not doing that, and calling it "better than a tag" is just a lazy excuse to cut off a couple of seconds from each detag you have to do.

Agree with this pretty much, but take a bit of enjoyment from the fact that enough raiders were bothered by your activities to show up and throw insults

Yes it is.
A clean wall is prefeferable to one with shitty graffiti.

Street art is legitimate art! You're speaking like a bougie landlord. Embrace the flow duuuude. Embrace the movement. Down with the monocolor walls!

Worst take of 2020!

No take that coins the word prefeferable is a bad take imo, sounds like an adorable first-evolution pokemon

[HumanSanity]

Yes it is.
A clean wall is prefeferable to one with shitty graffiti.

Street art is legitimate art! You're speaking like a bougie landlord. Embrace the flow duuuude. Embrace the movement. Down with the monocolor walls!

Worst take of 2020!

You're both wrong.

Tags aren't street art. Street art should exist organically, outside of the idea that the actor who controls the street at any given moment gets to set its tone and color. Instead, walls should be left open to be built upon by the next artist. Don't paint over what was once there. Instead, build on it, be inspired by it, share the space of the wall to create a horizontal site of resistance and politics.

In other words, neither tags nor detags are street art! Both are vertical politics - a top-down effort to impose a static meaning onto the World Factbook Entry. The only true form of street art which achieves radical horizontalist political goals would me to make every nation in the world an Appearance RO and have them build creatively off one another's work in good faith to where the wall becomes a way to dismantle the ideology of the bourgeois.

Of course, we could spend our time doing things other than street art, like detags

[UDS Dispatch Office]

Statement Regarding the NSGE

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

All,

In support of the NationStates Great Exhibition, the Union of Democratic States created a Minecraft server for the purposes of a virtual exhibition. Posts concerning the virtual exhibition were disseminated to several regions, namely Anteria, The Pacific, Osiris, Confederation of Allied States, Conch Kingdom, and Karma. The Union made a serious misstep by promoting the Union's virtual exhibition in servers where we were not given explicit permission by staff to do so. We believed that we had secured permission from the proper individuals, however our understanding of discord etiquette was flawed in this case and we now understand that we have offended many with our message, for which we sincerely apologize. We have never made such a grievous mistake before and we understand that it reflects badly on ourselves and potentially the NationStates Great Exhibition as well. We commend the mission and actions thus far of the NationStates Great Exhibition staff and are open to making reparations if there are any ways to do so. We hope that you will be willing to extend patience toward us as we make corrections and work with regional administrators.

Signed,


Phoenix Coalition
President


Druing
Minister of Foreign Affairs

[UDS Dispatch Office]

May Embassy Update

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

UDS Invited To Participate In NSGE
by Dome Artan

May had been trending towards a slow month for government activity in the UDS, as the effects of the great Drew Rush dissipated, when the region was invited to host a Regional Exhibit at the NationStates Great Exhibition. The event, currently ongoing, has booths hosted by 18 UCR’s and 5 GCR’s and you can find the UDS’ Regional Exhibit here.

For those unfamiliar with the NSGE, this is the Exhibition’s inaugural year as a self proclaimed “premier yearly event for regions and nations alike to share their ideas, culture and history”. As such the Exhibition is also hosting numerous talks and interviews over the period May 29 to June 1st. For more information on the NSGE please check out the dispatch, gameplay thread and the offsite forum.

New Legal Obligations For Union’s Executive Ministers
by Dome Artan

The Ministries Act, originally proposed by sponsor Senator Dome Artan and cosponsors Senators Glaciosia and The Noble Thatcherites way back on the 25th of March, became Union law this month. The long journey of the Act through the Union’s legislative branch even saw it voted down by its sponsor and cosponsors at one point after the General Assembly (the Union’s lower house, comprised of all non Senate citizens) had approved amendments the Senate claimed threatened the usefulness of the Act.

Post this unusual occurrence the Ministries Act was introduced a second time almost a month after its first introduction, retaining its initial sponsors and cosponsors. After passing the Senate once more the General Assembly was handed the Act for a second time. This time around the amendments proposed and approved by the General Assembly were accepted by the Senate which approved it unanimously on May 10th. Following the Union’s legislative process it was then subject to President Phoenix Coalition’s approval which was granted and signed into law on May 14th.

The Act established the internal chain of commands in the region’s executive ministries but more immediately relevant to the Union’s five ministers was the now mandated posting of ministry organizational charts, the maintenance of accessible application threads on the Union’s offsite forum, and monthly reports of ministry work to the Union.

Endorsements all the Rage in the UDS
by Dome Artan

While May might have been relatively uneventful in UDS on a governmental front, it did see the beginnings of multiple new World Assembly focused initiatives. The first of these was UDS WA Stats which charts the progress of the Union on multiple WA related fronts. The weekly reports have captured the region’s recent surge in WA membership, influence and endorsements with the most recent having been released June 1st.

Two weeks into the stats program came the launch of PIG in the UDS with its lovable (and democratically named) mascot Hamlet. PIG, Promoting Influence Growth, encourages the widespread sharing of endorsements among Unionists, something which fell out of practice since the shuttering of the WAIP. The program initially ran twice weekly but after the fourth edition it was shifted to a weekly release with the Endobacon Awards dispatches taking the place of each week’s second edition.

As a result of the renewed focus on UDS WA membership and endorsements many Unionists have taken it upon themselves to engage in massive endotarting drives, primarily within the last week. Whether this recent endo happy activity is merely an end of spring fling only time will tell.

USDAF Update
by Kanglia

The UDSAF had an incredibly busy month of May, participating in 20 updates, a high point in the last several years of the region. Under the leadership of Comlogical, Kanglia, and Khevo, the UDSAF has been revitalized in a way that has not been seen in years within the region. The UDSAF’s increase in activity is expected to continue into June.

[UDS Dispatch Office]

Ratification of the Arnhelm Declaration of Recruitment Standards

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Arnhelm Declaration of Recruitment Standards has remained a steadfast pillar among interregional agreements since its establishment in February of 2013, governing ethical recruitment practices between signatory user-created regions. The Union of Democratic States has vocally supported the principles enshrined within the Arnhelm Declaration remaining vigilant against anti-poaching efforts. Given the unsettling behavior of other regions, affirmation of the Arnhelm Declaration is critical now more than ever to maintain solidarity between user-created regions. Following unanimous approval by the Senate, overwhelming assent by the General Assembly, and the signature of President Phoenix, the Union of Democratic States has ratified the Arnhelm Declaration of Recruitment Standards.

Signed,


Phoenix Coalition
President


Druing
Minister of Foreign Affairs