NationStates Jolt Archive


HOW TO SPY ON OTHER NATIONS

07-01-2004, 02:48
I get the impression that many players on NS are more interested in a well RPed game than the n00b-ish "I n00k U, Ur dead, I pwn U" style experience.

Given that, I would expect spying, double-dealing, treachery, misinformation, disinformation, betrayal and so forth to be rife ... in other words 'intrigue' ... at least I'd HOPE so ... we're supposed to be RPing *nations* ... They're amongst the most immersive, engaging, realistic (not realist) and interesting experiences we can have in NS.

Telegrams, puppet nations, private agreements, etc. all add to this.

But the issue of spying is difficult to RP fairly.

So, I have a suggestion ... It may sound a bit anally, tabletop-RP-ish, but please give it a chance and think about it ... I really think it could add to the whole experience.

It's based upon the honour-system ... that is, it will only work, if we are all scrupulously honest in this regard ... but I think it could work.

Here it is ...

When we want to spy on each other, we:

A) generate a random number between 1 and 100 (D100, flip of a coin, computer-generated ... it doesn't matter as long as the spread is genuinely fair)

B) The nation doing the spying contacts the target nation, by private telegram, declaring the intention to spy and the number they have generated.

C) The nation being spied upon generates a number between 1 and 100.

D) the outcome depends upon the difference between the numbers:

THE NATION BEING SPIED UPON DETERMINES WHO HAS THE HIGHER SCORE ... Yeah, well, espionage is a dodgy business


IF THE DIFFERENCE IS IN THE FAVOUR OF THE NATION DOING THE SPYING:

1a) Difference is 76%+ ... They get to ask three questions. The nation being spied upon must answer all three questions truthfully.

1b) Difference is 51% - 75% ... They get to ask three questions. The nation being spied upon must answer two questions truthfully and may lie terribly about the third.

1c) Difference is 26% - 50% ... They get to ask three questions. The nation being spied upon must answer one question truthfully and may lie terribly about the other two.

1d) Difference is 1% to 25% ... They get to ask three questions. The nation being spied upon may choose how it answers the questions, including lying about all three. Alternatively, they may capture the spy and return no information.

IF THE DIFFERENCE IS IN THE FAVOUR OF THE BEING SPIED UPON:

2a) Difference is 76%+ ... The nation doing the spying gets to ask three questions. The nation being spied upon may choose how it answers the questions, including lying about all three. Alternatively, they may capture the spy and return no information.

2b) Difference is 26% - 50% ... The nation doing the spying gets to ask three questions. The nation being spied upon must answer one question truthfully and may lie terribly about the other two.

2c) The nation doing the spying gets to ask three questions. The nation being spied upon must answer one question truthfully and may lie terribly about the other two.

2d) Difference is 76%+ ... The nation doing the spying gets to ask three questions. The nation being spied upon must answer all three questions truthfully.


Yes, I am aware that there is a discrepancy between the number of questions asked (3) vs the number of outcomes (4), so the spread is 25%:33% in favour of the nation being spied upon ... but you'll have heard of double-agents, right?



As I said, it may sound terribly anally retentive, but it is not difficult to implement and could add to the whole RP experience ... I'm not asking people to spend their *entire* time spying on each other ... I don't want NS to degenerate into internecine warfare ... but it *is* in keeping with the international politics and diplomacy that is *supposed* to be a part of NS, and I believe that it could make the whole experience more immersive and, hence, more fun.

It would also be fairer ... any one of us can look at the latest info for government type, tax rate, etc. and calculate each other's GDP/budget ... but how much more fun would it be it have (potentially eronious) inside info on each other's plans and intrigues?


Please think about it.
07-01-2004, 15:32
This really sounds like a great idea. It would help new players get "involved" and generally expand participation. Perhaps you should re-post this in outher forums (International Incidents perhaps, if allowed).
Kanuckistan
07-01-2004, 15:58
Yeah, it does sound like a neat idea. Could be quite fun.
Scolopendra
07-01-2004, 16:19
There's already a topic for this.

--Scolo