NationStates Jolt Archive

I have read through the FAQs and the guides for the newbie’s. I'm completely new to this type of game and I still had a few question.

1. When I'm making up a budget is the military budget for producing military units or for supporting your military (EX. Nimitz Class carriers Unit Operating Cost Annual Average ~$160,000,000 does this come out of the military budget).

2. Can a setup sales tax and company tax for my nation?

3. Is there a guide that would help me start my military like what tech option I have to start with and what units I can build?

4. If someone buy something from me do I add that to my annual Income for that year?

5. How long is a year in real time?

This is all I can think of right now. If I think of something else I'll edit this post or post here again.

Thanks in advance

You really just rp what technology you have, just be responsible and realistic.

Something like older model tanks and Aircraft?

http://www.geocities.com/izimbeckwi/DeathGrip.html

Yeah, you just say: I'm beginning research on *blank*-type weaponry. You really don't have to worry much, just so long as your soldiers don't start out with battle axes and then a day later start zapping enemy starfleets with particle beams. You just get to choose where you want to be: Primitive, Modern, or Futuristic.

When I'm making up a budget is the military budget for producing military units or for supporting your military (EX. Nimitz Class carriers Unit Operating Cost Annual Average ~$160,000,000 does this come out of the military budget). Or does this not really matter. I'm working on bigging a small military but I'm not sure what it would take to support these units annually.

I'll try to answer your question in the "New to NS?" thread soon, but these queries are somewhat easier to tackle.

1. When I'm making up a budget is the military budget for producing military units or for supporting your military (EX. Nimitz Class carriers Unit Operating Cost Annual Average ~$160,000,000 does this come out of the military budget).

Yes. Upkeep of units is definitely to be included in the accounting of a miltiary budget. Other factors to deal with are the management of long-term contracts, new technology developments, support of ongoing operations, the maintenance and securing of foreign and local bases (not including personnel or specific equipment costs), and, very important, the salaries paid to your soldiers.

This is one reason why it is foolish to claim that all of a certain year's military budget can be devoted to new acquisitions.

The "What is Logistics?" thread (linked in the New to NS thread) displays a fairly technical analysis of portions of these costs...just enough to give you a good idea of the problems faced in running and maintaining a modern military.

Having said this, most players ignore this fact and will throw you into a disadvantage if you allow them to...simply by out-spending you with money that they shouldn't have.

One point to note is that large purchases (such as AC carriers) are often completed through long-term contracts, where set payments will arrive on-schedule for on-schedule completions of manufacturing milestons. No country, no military, in RL can afford major equipment purchases in bulk-payments. Many smaller-scale purchases are mixed in method depending on the nature of the sale.


2. Can a setup sales tax and company tax for my nation?

Yes and no. One of the limits of the NS system (and one thing that might be fixed if/when NSII comes out) is a very limited definition of 'taxes.'

As it is, the given taxation rate is simply income tax (by all indications), which will probably matter the most to citizens. The only other tax that you can exert control over is the issue of tariffs...but even that control is limited.

Many countries have pointed out that sky-high income taxes ignore the possibility that there are few, if any, other taxes in that country.

There is no simple way to figure this out...and none is to be found within this NS.


3. Is there a guide that would help me start my military like what tech option I have to start with and what units I can build?

At risk of being flamed for imposing my views upon others, it depends.

I had a practical and realistic system that I liked to follow (can be seen in the second part of this (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=592451#592451) post (the first part tries to answer your 5th question (below)).

I followed that system and the first major space issue that I became involved in was only after I'd reached the 1billion mark...and then I sent the tech off to another system so that I'm not tempted to use it too often in this plane of existance.

This system is modified by the fact that many nations now begin as space nations (a practice which was universally ridiculed when I began, but which is now fairly acceptable)...or fantasy nations.

The fact is that most nations no longer have time/expansion related plotlines as their nations begin at a time and level of advancement and remain there. Few bother RPing the creation of key technologies or even beginning to do research before a product is delivered.

It has become a free-for-all...a shame in my opinion.


4. If someone buy something from me do I add that to my annual Income for that year?

This depends. If it is a state-owned company, then a portion of the profits will line the government coffers...but only a small percentage.

A discussion on the real prices vs. charged prices on NS was linked within the Logistics thread (The Thread (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=57359&highlight=)). My specific opinions on the percentage profit/sale item are also posted (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1136832#1136832). As I state there, only a fairly small percentage of really heavy equipment is profit (but 5% on a $4+ billion deal is significant).

In some cases, it really depends. While the A-10 Warthog costs only about 10-14million, similarly priced items include an LCAC (less tech advanced), many H-60 family helicopters (about as much or more advanced), AH-1 family attack helis (about as much or more advanced), and the up-coming Comanche recce/strike helicopter (more advanced). Prices are sometimes a mystery. A tomahawk costs in the range of 1.2-1.4 million dollars/unit in sales, but only about 800-900,000 to produce. Yet a CALCM costs about as much in sales and (by one estimate) only about 400,000 to produce.

Sales are tricky...which means that it is best to not depend heavily upon any profit margin (the weapons producers aren't eager to tell you their profit margins, let alone the pentagon).

Even when there are profits, the management still need their bonus and new projects still demand more funding...this is not a simple system either.

I would not (and do not) depend much on profits from such sales adding to your national or military budget. The real benefit is that a state-owned company might produce goods for that nation's military at a reduced price (to within a small percentage of the production costs).

EDIT: Happenstance: http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=80256

(a thread on this question)

5. How long is a year in real time?
(see message in the answer to 3).

Thank you guys for answering my question you all have been of great help in getting my off to a good start. I would like to know Western Asia two thing the reason I was wounding about time and I didn't see in the post was how offend do I collect my annual Income in RT. And I would also like to know can you start in say an early age like colonial times and work your way up to Futuristic times?

Thank you guys for answering my question you all have been of great help in getting my off to a good start. I would like to know Western Asia two things

Ok. Glad to hear it.

the reason I was wounding about time and I didn't see in the post was how offend do I collect my annual Income in RT.

I'd estimate that you shouldn't spend more than your yearly military sales allotment in one day. If you sign contracts for deliveries over a longer time then that would be fine. In my case, I use a variety of progressions so I can't give a clear idea (though it takes a lot of time for me to complete my force reconstruction objectives, so I'm going at a reasonable pace there).


And I would also like to know can you start in say an early age like colonial times and work your way up to Futuristic times?

You certainly can. It might get a bit tedious but feel free to try it out. I think that the earliest current era of RPers is roughly WWII so you'll be alone until then, but feel free.