The Grey Wardens: Warden-Lieutenant Eshialand

[Free Algerstonia]

this. we won't stand by as you consider to alter the narrative and revise history in favor of you. the common nations and the common regions will be represented and the elites will be humbled

History is written by the victors. While I would love for it to not be this way, such is the way of the world.

it's happening before our very eyes. we cannot let this happen. patriots need to take a stand for unbiased history

[Matthew the Man]

History is written by the victors. While I would love for it to not be this way, such is the way of the world.

it's happening before our very eyes. we cannot let this happen. patriots need to take a stand for unbiased history

REMAIN CALM PATRIOTS IN CONTROL

You should’ve mined better material for the report theme

and oh lord

Hearing the pious minor rejuvenated the other 58, as if they were blessed by the Maker themselves.

Worst spelling mistake imaginable

Thanks for catching that, putting off writing that report until 4 am wasn’t the best idea for writing haha

[Grea Kriopia]

It's been far too long since I've been able to pester Matthew into a report, finally the return

Lots of fun in this operation too, a great first big op experience for some of our newbies

[Reventus Koth]

Worth noting that the number of updaters brought on our jump exceeds that of any occupation stage at update that I recall seeing from raider unity. So for those questioning the health of the faction, we are doing quite well.

Morning, Varax! Just wanted to quickly touch on this point before it got lost. Being a former raider, I'm sure you know the extensive differences in the context of update between raiders and defenders.

While defenders never need to worry about their operations leaking and being contested at update, raiders do! The larger the number of raider updaters, the more necessary it becomes to expand beyond the range of folks most trusted to maintain opsec, or not jump early and give ourselves away, etc. Thus, it's almost always better to only carry as many updaters as we think it'll take to win the delegacy, while also factoring in defender staging.

It is expected for a community that highly values update presence above most other attributes (given the high importance of liberations) and does not need to worry about being detected to have a higher number of updaters present for any given jump, and it's not a factor that I think should necessarily be the core of any legitimate contrast between our forces

[Varax Zwei]

Morning, Varax! Just wanted to quickly touch on this point before it got lost. Being a former raider, I'm sure you know the extensive differences in the context of update between raiders and defenders.

While defenders never need to worry about their operations leaking and being contested at update, raiders do! The larger the number of raider updaters, the more necessary it becomes to expand beyond the range of folks most trusted to maintain opsec, or not jump early and give ourselves away, etc. Thus, it's almost always better to only carry as many updaters as we think it'll take to win the delegacy, while also factoring in defender staging.

It is expected for a community that highly values update presence above most other attributes (given the high importance of liberations) and does not need to worry about being detected to have a higher number of updaters present for any given jump, and it's not a factor that I think should necessarily be the core of any legitimate contrast between our forces

Hello Koth. I'm sure you would love to have 50+ updaters on for an occupation stage if you could. You may find far more "interesting" targets to hit in that case after all! As opposed to glorified dead tag targets.

In the interest of fairness there's a reason I chose to use this offensive op as my basis of comparison rather than say..a liberation where we had even more updaters on than this. Also, what gave you the impression op sec is never important for our offensive ops? Oh sure it didn't wind up being too necessary this time since your forces withdrew from IS, but then again there also ops you run uncontested because they are against regions that have been declared "do not defend" for similar reasons. Overall these aren't compelling arguments. 50+ updaters for a raid is 50+ updaters for a raid however you want to slice it. If raider opsec can allow for preparing 30 or so for stages then opsec isn't the reason you aren't getting a few dozen more.

But my point is, rumors of defenderdom's weakened state have been greatly exaggerated.

[The First Warden]

Recruitment in the Frontier and Stronghold Era

As the much-anticipated Frontiers and Strongholds update draws closer to greatly re-shaping the NationStates world, many questions have been raised in the public discourse that it will be incumbent on the regions and communities of the world to answer.

One such issue is the nature of recruitment and how a post-F/S world will approach it, with speculation occuring on whether or not frontier regions will continue to perform active recruitment in addition to whatever nation spawns they may receive.

Recruitment, especially the more effective forms thereof, is a serious matter. It is the cornerstone of any successful User-Created Region, one that they cannot thrive without. As sizable User-Created Regions, we have all put countless hours and intense organizational effort into building quality recruitment infrastructure. Additionally, we have no firm concept of what return on investment an individual Frontier can expect during the immediate stages of F/S, or the eventual stabilization of the update and the climate surrounding it. It would be careless and irresponsible to entertain the suspension of our current growth infrastructure without first seeing what the return on investment for a successful Frontier region would look like. Abandoning our recruitment frameworks to rely on an unknown and irregular number of nation spawns would undoubtedly open our communities up to security vulnerabilities that we are not interested in creating. Furthermore, with manual recruitment being a centerpiece of Internal Affairs and Integration participation, we do not see it appropriate to reduce avenues for activity and contribution within our regions The direction in which Frontiers and Strongholds will take UCR management and growth is still far too nebulous to choose stagnation over growth.

In recognition of these factors, the signed regions affirm to the public our intent to continue engaging in telegram recruitment at our discretion and consistent with pre-existing treaties following the rollout of the Frontier/Stronghold update. Our regions’ size and credibility is in no small part the result of these programs, and we will continue to utilize them to our best efforts for the benefit of our communities and allies.

Grea Kriopia, First Warden
Warden Nakari, Arlessa of The Amaranthine Isles
Tim, Steward of The Frontier

Quebecshire, Consul of the Republic
Mechanocracy, Executive Advisor & WA Delegate
New San Antonio, Acting Director of Foreign Affairs
Anjan Kloss, Governor-General

Icarus (Evil Mother), President of Europeia
Writinglegend, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Europeia

Markanite, Chief Executive of 10000 Islands
Aschente, Minister of Immigration

[Varax Zwei]

Defenses, Detags and Dorf

We here are at The Grey Wardens are always busy. Every update we're doing something in the service of fighting the darkspawn. During one of our recent stands against the blight we defended a region called Land Of Orcs And Dorfs And Elfs. Now since it mentioned orcs and the like at first I read it and thought they meant Dwarves but no, it clearly says Dorfs. This got me wondering, who, or what is Dorf? This called for some quick googling and apparently this is Dorf:


TIL this show exists

Anyway, Dorf was understandably very happy their region was saved. Amidst the myriad defenses occurred a fair number of detags though the rate of detagging began to be affected by the sparseness of the tagfields, due to our continued efforts. Particularly few remaining later in update as a result of raiders proclivity for running out of stamina half way through update. Also of note was the continued rise of newer Wardens Westinor and Izhtat who continued to acquit themselves well alongside our Senior Wardens.


Warden griffon rider stands ever vigilant on patrol

Major 2023-01-19

Wardens Present:
High Constable Sir Merlin
Warden-Commander Tim
Warden Izhtat
Warden Westinor

Allied Forces:
[LDF] Icaris
[LDF] New Makasta
[SPSF] Concrete Slab

Defenses: 5
Region Of Light
My Version Of Europe
Afroeurasia
The Iron Century
The Midwestern Islands

Minor 2023-01-19

Wardens Present:
High Constable Sir Merlin
Warden-Constable Varax
Warden Owen

Allied Forces:
[RRA] Ravania
[THA/EPSA] Altys

Detags: 26
Espolia
Union Of Slavic Socialist States
Botzapolis
Red Dead Redemption 2
Backrub
United League Of Cyborgs And Robots
Where The Future Is Behind The Moon
Q102
The Sovietunion
The Gaddafist League
Southern African Continent
Union Of Reformed Nations
Soviets R Sus
Land Of Strength
Too
Matt Climie
United Syndicalist Workers Front
The Great Neutrality Alliance
The British Imperial Region
Seokaei
Gaulrancia
Lsi
The Nexus
Lar
Society Of War Criminals
Philonia

Major 2023-01-20

Wardens Present:
Warden-Commander Vincent Drake
Warden-Constable Varax
Warden Izhtat
Warden Westinor

Allied Forces:
[SPSF] Pronoun

Defenses: 11
Land Of Orcs And Dorfs And Elfs
The Orions Belt
Target Region 21
Obama Islands
Rathnir
Adelial
Tsp Femboys
Prima Corona Region
Fixolasbasiquex
The Supreme Federation Of New Earth
Atlantiantic

Detags: 3
The Anvil
New World Roman Empire
Acceptors

Minor 2023-01-20

Wardens Present:
High Constable Sir Merlin
Warden-Constable Varax
Warden Westinor

Allied Forces:
[RRA] Ravania
[THA/ERN/EPSA] Vor

Detags: 38
Elite Ace Team
Yeet Reich
Accession
Aristian Confederation
Taylor Swift Stans
Revolution After Dark
Confederacy Of Progressive Nations
Shammasia
Confederation Of Outlying Nations
Antarctic Empire
The Socialist Countries
Manny Fernandez
Demeter
Walsingford
Neutral Nations Assembly
Puppet Of Minediamonds
Great Aquaria
Decatur Eagle
Roania
Nekawia
Card2033
Union Of Reformed Nations
The Right Bloc
West Civilization
Iii Municipio
Insert Region Name Here
Metal Gear Rising
Sacro Imperio De Rathaus
World Peace Assembly
Planet Of Mars
Danganronpa Talent Sector
The Fortnite Multiverse
Stuff Cause I Couldnt Think Of A Name
Argenta
Yuterria
5th Internationale
Cloud Kingdom
Mongol Empire

[Westinor]

Awesome report Varax! Glad to hear Dorf is a-ok :>

[Grea Kriopia]

Praise...dorf?! Love seeing West and Izh out on the field as Wardens

[Grea Kriopia]

Commander Haku surveys the battlefield in his return

Striking out on a day-long mission, Commander Haku's return to the battlefield was a welcome presence after the renowned Warden's absence since October. Entertaining each other with tales of previous battles and Haku's feats, Wardens Westinor and Izhtat bounced ahead of the party in search of the trail of darkspawn after reports had come from the area of smoke and ash blowing through nearby villages. Worst suspicions were confirmed as the group came across the burnt remainders of a village as they quickly moved through to track down the remaining darkspawn from causing more destruction.

As the sun reached high in the afternoon, the troop of Wardens encountered a smaller darkspawn hive dug into the caves of the nearby foothills. Although small in number, the blight proved to be elusive and tricky after pretending to play dead more than once and shake their Warden foe off in a number of ways though with no success against the Warden's superior reactions and instincts. The group quickly dispatched the darkspawn and went on their way after an 8-0 shutout to continue their mission

Later that evening before calling camp for the night, the Wardens found a second group of darkspawn on the open road heading for local farms. This group was far less cunning but more persistent in their attacks as the Wardens matched them blow for blow after almost the entire major update before the blight finally relented. Only a 24-0 shutout would satiate the appetites of the Wardens who celebrated their two consecutive shutouts and return of one of their most skilled commanders before calling it a night

[TGW] Izhtat — Today at 1:12 AM
haku has some kind of shutout aura

Wardens Present:

First Warden Grea Kriopia
High Constable Sir Merlin
Warden-Commander Haku
Warden-Commander Tim
Warden-Constable Thedaria
Warden-Lieutenant Quebecshire
Warden Izhtat
Warden Takkaviita
Warden Westinor
Warden Wolflandil

Friendly Forces:

[LDF] Bladium
[LDF] Icaris
[LDF] New Makasta
[PAL] Haganham
[PAL] TheWikipedianCamera
[RRA] Ravania
[THA/EPSA/ERN] Vor

Minor 1-22-2023

Defenses: 8
Cyber City
Bigtopia
V O I D
Calex
Dol Amroth
Alternio
Turntable
The 501st Legion

Detags: 2
Humanist United International
United Syndicalist Workers Front

Major 1-23-2023

Defenses: 24
The United Federation Of Empires
Podilsk
Academicians
Acceptably
Goatifi
Sacro Imperio De Rathaus
The Region Of Peace
International Peace Treaty
Yochland
Duryea
Brazil Italy Football Baddie Central
Arctic League
New Polar Order
Centreal
Wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwmw
Sunalaya
Card2030
Union Of National Freedom
Goofyland
Lands Of Mar
Japanese Delegates
The Skylands
Budget Crackheads
Windy Mountain

[Westinor]

We love to see the return ^-^ hooray to Izh too, improving fast as heck!!

[Tinhampton]

Why wasn't this report themed after the Italy-Brazil game from the 1982 World Cup???

[Varax Zwei]

Haku returning to the tune of more dominant shutout wins is inspiring to be sure. Well done everybody. The Order keeps pushing forward.

[Thorn1000]

Detags: 2
Humanist United International
United Syndicalist Workers Front

Hi there Grea, I hope youre doing well today. Since my last email went unanswered I thought that perhaps someone owning up to it in a regional thread AND their commander posting it to boot might get me an answer. I was just wondering where exactly line in which regional soverignity ceases to mean anything is and where locking a region down without native consent becomes okay? Figured since youre owning up to doing it here I may as well ask. If you want, I can find you a longer list of regions like this too. Theres no shortage lately.

[Grea Kriopia]

Hi there Grea, I hope youre doing well today. Since my last email went unanswered I thought that perhaps someone owning up to it in a regional thread AND their commander posting it to boot might get me an answer. I was just wondering where exactly line in which regional soverignity ceases to mean anything is and where locking a region down without native consent becomes okay? Figured since youre owning up to doing it here I may as well ask. If you want, I can find you a longer list of regions like this too. Theres no shortage lately.

Big "As per my last email" energy - hi, hope you're also doing well!

The regions you are oh-so concerned about are often only populated by R/D switchers plus a defender sleeper and have been for some time. That region effectively ceased to exist long ago once its last native CTE'd and has only been kept alive by the current meta of tagging/chasing as a tag field. It's locked to CTE in peace without being flooded with more switchers. Occasionally there's another nation left in that might be another sleeper or native that continue on existing just fine. The password can be taken off by the founder or whomever should they come back, tag-free. This has been a consistent strategy throughout the years to reduce the amount of targets during a tag run as a long-term prevention strat even if it's only been put into more use in the last few months.

Clearly, it's doing its job too since you all can't quit complaining about it. I'm glad to know griefers have such a concern for regional sovereignty, though, we live in truly heartwarming times. I cannot wait to see the same tired argument this spins into on a future Liberation proposal

[Chef Big Dog]

I'm glad to know griefers have such a concern for regional sovereignty, though, we live in truly heartwarming times.

We invade because we care.

[Numero Capitan]

Region locking in those circumstances isn’t a new approach, it has been happening since at least 2015/16 so kinda funny that raiders have just noticed, but tends to cycle around more when certain defenders with the largest sleeper pool are active.

Also depends on the wider meta, back in early 2016 the motivation was more “we can’t beat predator with much regularity so at least we can shield these dying communities from tagging”. In 2021 we had run out of detags so it wasn’t particularly necessary. Whereas now raiders will attempt to grief any husk of a community with a 100+ piler force to create moral victories for themselves so there’s a reason to shield those former communities again.

[The North Polish Union]

So do regions need some sort of living will to ensure that groups claiming to act in their best interest don't pull the plug on their life support?

[Refuge Isle]

The regions you are oh-so concerned about are often only populated by R/D switchers plus a defender sleeper and have been for some time.

Similarly, we did not intervene when raiders were wasting time on Sunland which, to our knowledge, was entirely populated by defender sleepers. In Libcord, we have a spotting program channel where people can post raids in progress. Sometimes we intervene in cases where there are no natives, but most of the time we do not.

This has been a consistent strategy throughout the years to reduce the amount of targets during a tag run as a long-term prevention strat even if it's only been put into more use in the last few months.

Indeed. Alt and I were doing this in 2021, where we also gave the password to every native for their personal empowerment to hand it over to TBH or whatever else they wanted to do.

It was apparently a successful strategy because raiders then went and founded a fist full of shell regions to expand the tagfields by raiding themselves (which is a much more interesting gotcha for regional sovereignty, since those raids potentially have consent of 100% of the region's population).

[Quebecshire]

Similarly, we did not intervene when raiders were wasting time on Sunland which, to our knowledge, was entirely populated by defender sleepers.

That of course ended up being a great use of 3 weeks for Musa's WA, and 2 weeks for raiderdom's broader pile.

Even without a refound snipe, it's bizarre to see so much investment in that type of operation. At least LWU can say their backwater hits are training raids. But, if anything it really just reinforces NuCa's point about the utility of defensive passwords in the current climate.

[Varax Zwei]

Sp00ky Halloween Vibing in Libcord



Yes we know it's January, but tonight Libcord was just really feeling Halloween and was keen to get in the spirit. This included jamming out to "This is Halloween" and craving some candy. Ever tried junior mints? They're really good! Mint+chocoloate for the win. Ok not all of us could agree on that one but trust us the candies were good. There was also witchcraft and some sp00ky regions like Realm Of The Dead which we detagged as we are wont to do. Then there was the dreaded dead zone, an area were 7 minutes passed between detags as the tagfields grew every sparser. Or it would have been dead but the chat was poppin and a good time was had by all. I guess you had to be there though. Maybe you could do that, come check us out and see for yourself what other wacky stuff TGW and our pals on Libcord get up to these days.


Vibe in Libcord today be like.


Wardens Present:

First Warden Grea Kriopia
High Constable Sir Merlin
Warden-Constable Varax
Warden-Lieutenant Quebecshire
Warden Izhtat
Warden Westinor

Allied Forces:

[LDF] Icaris
[PAL] Haganham
[THA/ERN/EPSA] Vor

Detags: 45

Conspiracy Residue Rp
Bjkb
Raspuland
National Republic Of Pugnator
Soberania Geopolitica
Gaul Wolourcus Sphere Of Influence
Accelerative
Card2029
Union Of The Commune Of Europe
Hops Across
Deep Sea 5
Eridos
Bujinian Empire
Abolishes
Dead Ahead
Moonlighters
Iveagh
Rlx World Conquest
I Mancomunidad De Pelaos I
Coalition Of Chaos
The Seas
Deadlands
Pacific Kingdoms
Roania
Volsallahn Regions
Land Of Freedom Call
Free Land
Union Of Independent States
United Front Of Dionastain
Nix Lustra
Alphamungus
Open Ocean 1
Accessions
The Federal Commonwealth Society
Onion World
Abrasion
Aquaria
Cathloican Spanish
Lily 3 2
Vinnytsia
Deep Sea 3
The United World
Realm Of The Dead
Pyrenean Ibex
Rovenky

[Vando0sa]

I just listened to "This is Halloween" just before this post was posted and linked in TGW discord channel when I was wondering why no raiders aside from me hang out there anymore.. Apparently TGW are not just scary but also mind readers.

[Westinor]

HAPPY HALLOWEEEEEEEEEN!!!!!! we cleared the spooky scary skeletons out of the closet tonight it was fun trick-or-detagging with amazing defender friends :> if y’all don’t hand over the junior mints NOW the next time i show up as a robber it won’t just be a costume!

Thanks Varax for the report I loved it very much!!! Amazing vibes and amazing update with y’all’s :3 sorry for derailing halfway ;-;

edit to clear that HORRIFYING SMILEY

[Tinhampton]

I mean, October 31st 2023 is definitely closer to today than July 5th 1982

[Pichtonia]

Happy Halloween, Libcord!

Sounds like you had a fun time!