NationStates Issues **SPOILER ALERT**

[Valentine Z]

Valentine’s Changelog 043

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Collaboration makes us stronger! ♥

- Fixed misspellings and other small issues across 10 posts. Special thanks to SherpDeWerp for the amazing commit! It's all of his!

Changes made to the threads can be seen here.

[SherpDaWerp]

For the record, the fixes are definitely incomplete - especially smaller stuff like "The issue" vs "The Issue" or inconsistent colons. I made a fair few changes like that, but eventually decided to just have my parser handle it.

At some point, I might create a script that does the opposite of my parser, and outputs the computerised list into the spoiler-thread format, which would then be 100% consistent, but we'll see. I don't want it to accidentally muck up all the anchor links!

[Valentine Z]

I can do some more QoL related fixes and improvements in the meantime, that's all right and I don't mind doing.

One of the setbacks I am seeing is the First Name and Last Name list. I wonder how I'm going to find them all, short of going through every single post.

And on top of "Names that are not random and are obvious references".

[Jutsa]

Small note: 1467.2, the non-random names are given, while in 1467.1 they're random. I suspect they're all random but one'd have to search for the previous reported version and I'm about to hop off for epic tomorrow adventures.

Bigger note: #531's all out of whack xD Option 2 there is supposed to be option 3; the "must have prisons" tag does go to option 2, which is the option that has, miraculously, not been reported yet.

[Rocain Founder]

Bigger note: #531's all out of whack xD Option 2 there is supposed to be option 3; the "must have prisons" tag does go to option 2, which is the option that has, miraculously, not been reported yet.

See this post. The texts of all three options have been reported. Option 3 is indeed unconditional, option 1 is the "no prisons" and option 2 is the "prisons" option. I can confirm that the text of option 2 as previously reported is correct, due to its receipt by Cain BZ R02Lt v0, which does indeed have Prisons.

[Jutsa]

Awesome, thank you Rocain ^-^ (Val you get to work on this xD)

Also, I just got the MADness chain on an alt. Normally it's final-options only, but I can make an exception. Do we need any options from that chain? And if so, anyone know how to get it?

I note that #1378.5 appears to be "TBD" as is also marked in my list of missing options... but it looks like you need to a) be capitalist, b) must have chosen a specific option in the chain (could anyone tell me what the difference between 1/2/3 and 4/5/6 is? ), and c) Must not have a leader. Ah. So yeah I'm not getting that one on this alt. xD

But is that the only option we're currently missing from the chain? If so I'll answer it normally then

[Trotterdam]

c) Must not have a leader. Ah. So yeah I'm not getting that one on this alt. xD

You can temporarily revoke your @@LEADER@@ field and then put it back afterwards. However, the pattern is obvious, so option 5 almost certainly has the same text as options 1/2/4, even if no-one's formally confirmed it yet.

Unfortunately, the conditions that determine whether you get the first or second set of options on #1378 have not been determined. That's the only open question remaining in the chain.

[Jutsa]

You can temporarily revoke your @@LEADER@@ field and then put it back afterwards.

That works?!? That's insane I never knew that!

However, the pattern is obvious, so option 5 almost certainly has the same text as options 1/2/4, even if no-one's formally confirmed it yet.

Oh yeah, almost definitely. But nonetheless I'll try to get it on my alt if possible (assuming I can turn capitalist first). Mostly because:

Unfortunately, the conditions that determine whether you get the first or second set of options on #1378 have not been determined. That's the only open question remaining in the chain.

Setting aside the conditions (maybe it has to do with the previous selected options?), is there genuinely any difference in outcome between the two sets? Is it stat related, or does it affect the chain further down the line in any way? Maybe that would give a clue as to why there's a doppelganger set in the first place.

Or maybe Pogaria felt like throwing the community off with a doppleganger set with no real difference to it whatsoever.

[Trotterdam]

Setting aside the conditions (maybe it has to do with the previous selected options?), is there genuinely any difference in outcome between the two sets?

Yes. The first set of three gives #1379 as a followup, while the second set of three gives #1380 as a followup.

As for whether there's a stats difference, I couldn't say.

[Jutsa]

Huh! Then that means there's probably either a decision earlier in the chain, or a stat (like defense budget) that'd change that. Although regardless of whether it's meant to emulate random chance or realistic circumstances, the fact that those two separate issues exist is pretty impressive. Honestly this is such a unique chain, I absolutely love it.

I'll do what I can and see if I get it, and then explain what circumstances might be ruled out / have acquired it. Incredibly many thanks, Trot

Ed: first I gotta get it capitalist... I wonder what happens if you switch from capitalism to socialism mid-chain

[Rocain Founder]

If it is a decision earlier in the chain, I believe I have determined that picking option 5 from the first issue of the chain is the only possibility. I suspect that which set of choices you get in #1378 is not in fact related to an earlier decision, but I believe I can prove that it is the only earlier option in the chain (except possibly for option 3 of the first issue, which I don't have data on yet) which cannot be ruled out.

[Pogaria]

Honestly this is such a unique chain, I absolutely love it.

Thanks! I aim to please.

Ed: first I gotta get it capitalist... I wonder what happens if you switch from capitalism to socialism mid-chain

This is basically two chains in one - you can't switch between them after you answer the first issue.

[Trotterdam]

I wonder what happens if you switch from capitalism to socialism mid-chain

The way it's set up, I'm pretty sure that the narrative only cares about what your economic policy was at the time that you answered (not received) #1375, the first issue in the chain. After that, the issues will blindly assume you kept that policy for the duration of the storyline even if that stopped being the case somewhere along the way.

Which can lead to funny situations of you campaigning against the evils of socialism while being socialist yourself, but eh, you know the saying. "A heretic is someone who has almost the same beliefs you do. Kill him."

(I once had a puppet with the weird situation of having the "Violetism is banned" flag set while its @@FAITH@@ field was set to Violetism...)

[Trotterdam]

The latest issue (presumably #1502) has the shortest effect line ever. Works, though

[Shkolalia]

hello, i wanted to write an issue and made one but than i realised i had to send it to the forum so here i go
please note that i have never made an issue or even use a forum before and apologies if this is incorrect

THE ISSUE (draft)

Letting it sink in

A small archipelago nation of Sandistan, which in the past, helped @@capital@@ aquarium build its new tropical fish expansion, have reached to world assembly about its concerns about the rise in sea level and how this could erase Sandistan of the map. A stupidly large crowd of people have a gather around you after the expansion's opening ceremony to tell you how you should react

THE DEBATE

"I don't see what we could possibly do," says your financial advisor , eating a fried fish-dog with too much mustard "Best find another tropical fish-filled nation and hope Sandistan goes away." he stops to lick the excess sauce of of his lips and thinks "Not like that of course, you know what i mean."

effect line
thousands drown while country leaders just shrug their shoulders hopelessly.

"We could invest greener energy sources ," The environmental minster chimes in ,beating the fish-dog out of the financial minster's grasp with an angry hand "and encourage other nations do the same. A world without climate change and nations drowning can't be a bad one ,eh?" she looks a fish-dog laying on the floor before giving the Financial minster some money "Sorry ,go buy yourself another one.

effect line
global freezing is a serious issue

The famous Sandistani Marine Biologist @@RANDOMFIRSTNAME@@ @@RANDOMLASTNAME@@ runs in to the conversion with a worried look on @@HIS@@ face "YOU CAN'T DO THIS!" @@HE@@ screams before catching @@HIS@@ breath and speaking in a more calm manner "That was made from a grey spotted dogfish. They are extremely endangered and eating them like that will lead to their extinction. On another note, why can't we just move here? Give us a patch of coastal land and some autonomy and we'll be the best neighbors you have ever had!"

effect line
the summers are too cold for the population of new Sandistan

thank you for listening

[Dexterra]

hello, i wanted to write an issue and made one but than i realised i had to send it to the forum so here i go
please note that i have never made an issue or even use a forum before and apologies if this is incorrect

THE ISSUE (draft)

This thread is for issues that have been accepted into the game, drafts need to go in their own separate threads - best of luck!

[Shkolalia]

could you send me to the link to that thread please

thank you for helping

[Valentine Z]

Oh, as in you can go to Got Issues? and create your own thread here.

posting.php?mode=post&f=13

Your title, then your post. Feedback will come naturally! ❤️

[Shkolalia]

thank you

[Rocain Founder]

This post and the following one have a discussion of what the conditions are for a nation to receive option 2 of issue #1464. I have a new wrinkle. My puppet Cain O-N Wd v1 received this issue with option 2 present. This delightful nation has banned Marriage. Which means that Adultery is meaningless, and Polygamy is banned along with every other form of marriage. It also opens up the question of what legitimacy means in a world of no marriages. I guess a legitimate child is one whose father acknowledges its existence and his participation in its conception.

My previous nation which got this issue with this option was very different - it had Permanent Marriage. I guess more instances of this option showing up are needed for a completely coherent theory of the circumstances where it occurs.

[Trotterdam]

My puppet Cain O-N Wd v1 received this issue with option 2 present.

I don't see the contradiction?

Option 2 is assigned to nations that do not have the No Adultery policy. Your nation does not have the No Adultery policy, even if this is for the unusual reason of not having marriage at all.

Given the issue text (which distinguishes bastards from legitimate children), I can see why you might think that this behavior is inappropriate, but that is something to bring up in the fix old issues thread, not here. All evidence so far points to my initial assessment of "assigned to nations that do not have No Adultery" being correct.

[Rocain Founder]

My puppet Cain BZ R05CE v0 is Atheist, yet it received option 5 of issue #906, contrary to the spoiler for this option. Further, the text for this option is identical to the spoiled text for option 4. I believe the spoiler has interchanged options 4 and 5. I believe this is a repeat of one of the reports in this post.

[Trotterdam]

#94 and #603 now have new options, so be on the lookout for that.

[Racoda]

#1503: San Laurenz; ed Candlewhisper Archive

The Scent of Sexism
The Issue

Personal products giant Duolever has come under fire for how it markets its Pickaxe line of deodorants, body washes, and shampoos for men. The TV and poster ads feature scantily clad female glamour models swooning over a man, seemingly rendered helpless by the Pickaxe scent.

The Debate

1. “This simply cannot stand!” objects Ivanka Bronte, leader of the feminist activist group Women Hating Injustices, No Exceptions. “This blatant objectification makes women look like helpless prizes to be won, rather than thinking individuals. We should make this abhorrent corporation withdraw these adverts, and make it illegal to depict women in sexist or objectified ways in product advertising. That’ll teach ‘em!” She crosses her arms and glares at you, judgmentally.

2. “Bah, this old bat doesn’t know what she’s saying,” says Ammon Hart, Duolever’s marketing director. “We sell personal care products for men, so we market to men. It’s only natural we sell them their desires. These feminists confuse sexiness with sexism, and basically just resent seeing women who look better than them. Nobody forced these glamour models to pose for us! You should let companies market to people however they want. A freer market is a better market, I always say.”

3. “This crackpot buffoon is the problem!” says male rights activist Mordecai Ono. “It isn’t women that are being objectified here, it’s men! They treat us like our only goal is sex, and that’s all we care about. The only way to remedy this is by ridding this nation of the negative depictions of men society has become so familiar with, and paying more attention to the struggles men face!”

Following new legislation in @@NATION@@, a teen dramedy has been taken off air because the main villain is a man.

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#1504: Candlewhisper Archive; ed Pogaria

Asking for a Raise
The Issue

Your country’s tough anti-gambling stance has shut down most casino games, but now a coalition of former card players are asking for your permission to play their high-stakes poker games. Their reasoning? They say poker is a game of skill, not chance.

The Debate

1. “Hard evidence shows that skill matters more than luck,” explains Mitchell Coren-Victoria, a former pro-player turned TV celebrity. “It’s been demonstrated that the top centile of players over a six-month period are more than twelve times as likely as average players to repeat the feat in the following six months. That’s more statistical consistency than most sports players. Poker isn’t gambling, but a test of mathematics and quick wits. Ante up, Leader, and let this game of skill be played.”

2. “Honestly, gambling as a whole is all about smart play and clever tabletalk,” observes Adele Sheldonson, a former casino owner. “The misplaced moral puritanism behind gambling restriction fails to recognise that gaming is a sign of a healthy and active mind. I think it’s time you folded on this, and let people gamble again. The economy improves, people get to have fun, I make a little money. Everybody wins!”

3. “It’s always so tempting to backslide into sin, isn’t it?” murmurs your uncle, staring into the middle distance at a passing flock of sheep and licking his lips for a moment, before snapping back to the present. “Restricting gambling wasn’t enough. You should make temptation harder to find. Ban playing cards. Ban dice. Ban poker chips. Anything that might tempt people to gamble, ban it.”

4. “Boss, you’ve got to see the game behind the game here,” interjects your anti-gambling chief from the shadows. “There’s three rules poker players should follow. First rule is that there’s always a hidden agenda. Turn the tables on these ‘former’ poker players, and bring them in for forceful interrogation so we can persuade them to really show their hand. It’s not enough to just ban paraphernalia — we need to scare these gambling interests into submission. Second rule, of course, is that you also shouldn’t tell anybody everything. Let’s keep this action quiet so that we can maintain our advantage over the secret gamblers.”

Edit: the names in option 1 and 2 don't appear to be random, I got the exact same names on a different puppet. Googled, it's a reference to RL ppl: Mitchell, Adele

Puppet has No Gambling policy.

Following new legislation in @@NATION@@, baize on snooker tables has been stripped for "appearing too hedonistic".

[Rocain Founder]

My puppet Cain O-N Kr v1 received issue #587 today with options 3 and 6 rather than 2 and 5. That this happens has been previously noted in this thread, but as far as I can tell, no one knows what determines whether you get 2/5 or 3/6. I have a theory. Cain O-N Kr v1 does not have AI Personhood, which I rather expected because, according to Trotterdam's web site, some responses to the issue remove AI Personhood. I speculate (and it only a hypothesis, as likely to be wrong as right) that perhaps options 2/5 are for nations with AI Personhood, and 3/6 for nations without. Cain O-N Kr v1 does have computers and ID Chips, so quite possibly it has AI, but just has never given its artificially intelligent residents citizenship.