NationStates Jolt Archive

So many idea's are randomly thrown in the big pit known as the technical forum. Usually one reply is enough to tell the user(s) the idea will never be added to the current version of NationStates.

[violet] or Salusa will only alter the game code/in-game text because of:
- typos.
- (major) game bugs.
- behind the scene coding.

Big chance 99% of all input given today or in the future can be answered with "no".

GAME RELATED INPUT
Don't go into discussion with any of the staff about the ones listed here. It will get you nowhere. All of the idea's listed below are rejected.

Adding war to the game
Of all suggestions given this one will certainly never be added to NS. To be short, doing so will require a complete overhaul of the current code, essentially making it NS2 lite. Needless to say the NS team is the most vocal against this one. See trade if you want more information about the new scripting stuff needed for war. IF war ever becomes reality in NS2 to be honest. And when you have war, don't expect anything major or earth shattering. The multitude of wars will be fought by RP, scripts will never change that.


Adding trade to the game
See #1.
Under this category you will also find adding a pool of resources, production features and more economic matters. None of these will be put in NS 1. The main problem with said proposals is: all of these require servers with more power and whole new scripts running the site. Instead of the fairly simple CGI and HTML used, it must be PHP driven by a dedicated mySQL server. Do you honestly think jolt gives those away for free? It takes time and manpower to maintain such a server, not to mential the people who have to code every single line of it, testing and then adding it to NS itself. In conclusion: this means NS is down for a long time and when this happens adding war is a logical next step because PHP is already in use. And there you have it: NS2 lite.


Adding alliances to the game
See #1.
Adding alliances to the game makes as much sense as adding a second national animal or another custom flag you can put next to your "main" one. If you want alliances, make a region and add "regional alliance" to your factbook. All members must join your region with their main nation or a puppet if they want to be part of the alliance. Simple as that, case closed.


Changing your national name
WILL NEVER HAPPEN. Make a new nation or just live with it. The technical reasons alone are legion enough to make sure this will never be changed. Contrary to what people think, on the old forums this never happened either. Jolt and NS may be integrated by using an e-mail database and when you sign up on NS an account on jolt is created if you want to use the forum, they are totally seperate. Changing your name on NationStates means you must have to change your name on jolt as well. This is a lot more difficult than it sounds, mainly because jolt and NS aren't one. On a normal forum I'm quite sure name changes aren't a technical issue, because the same database is used. NS and jolt are different.


Adding other fields to your in-game profile
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=416188 None of these will ever happen. Or whatever you think of. This is not debatable, and you can count on your thread being locked the very same hour you posted it.


Capital cities added to your nation profile
No. This one in particular has been beaten to death and it will never happen. Want to have capitals, go to NSwiki.


Increasing or decreasing the amount of days your nation is allowed to live
28 Days without vacation mode, 60 when vacation is enabled. Live with it, you can restore nations for a reason.


Adding more nation types
Yes, the corporate police state gets boring after a while, and more won't be added. Just RP if you want something else.


Adding a regional flag
Won't happen. Only requires more diskspace and has been asked many times before. Adding any sort of customizable image isn't going to be put in.


Allowing hotlinking in your regional factbook
Has been asked before, it won't happen. Your regional factbook is meant for some quick information about the region. If you want links, colour and underline them. Everybody knows how to copy and paste. Actually, you can use the [thread=######] tag to hotlink to a forum thread now, but that's all there will ever be.


Disbanding the UN
Won't happen. If you don't like the UN, don't join them, ignore their existence and never visit the UN forum to spout your garbage how much you hate them and the proposals that come up. It only makes you an easy target for ban happy moderators.


Deleting your own nation
Out of all input given this one keeps returning. Just be patient and wait 28 days, it's only a month. There are ways to get rid of all your nations very quickly, but neither mods nor any other players recommend that, since it means you can never return to NS.


Population locking
Locking your own population to create a more realistic enviroment has been asked a couple of times, and guess what the answer is? You got it.


Pre-emptive ban
Has been brought up with a few players in the past, promised to be looked into and nothing has happened. You can count on it it will never be added to the game.


Adding flags
Yes we all know the flags from Kazakhstan, Libya and several other nations are missing, and no they won't be added.


Adding UN rankings
Won't happen, only requires more serverpower.


Changing the random issue code
We all know issues tend to repeat themselves over time. And the script handing them out won't be changed.


Issues having effect on population
Will never happen, your population grows with an average 6 million per day, and that's the way it is and will be.


Adding ThirdGeek like statistics
A good ol' no fits right in.


Adding new nation titles
No. If you want a custom nation title, wait until you are 500 million.


A donation feature
If you want to help Max Barry, buy his book. The concept of paypal or another service has been suggested before, and has been subsequently rejected by all members of the staff.


Adding new forum categories
Storefront forum: no;
Future tech forum: no;
Fantasy tech forum: no;
RP school forum: no;
Serious debate/discussion forum: no;
Semi-spam off topic forum: no.


Adding new UN resolution proposal categories
Won't happen because of reasons said at least a million times before.


Region or world listing/sorting/specific searching
Everything related with a region database is a no. This means all forms of sorting nations on the world or in a region by population, join date or activity.


Junior United Nations
Everything in the lines of another UN alike global organisation will not happen. WTO, EU, NATO etc etc.


Listing issue decisions made in the past
It might be plausible for nations who are two months old, but for nations who registered in 2002 or 2003, that's a tough one. It takes whole heaps of server space, more scripts and other fancy features that will not be implemented.


FORUM RELATED INPUT
Some of these might have not been asked, but it's good to cover them while I'm at it.
Expanding signature length
The signature option is already horrible enough, and it won't be expanded. HTML or new vB codes to create more cool effects are also a no-go zone, as well as new fonts.


Avatars
It has been promised, but Jolt has some very different thoughts about that. The answer is no. UPDATE: No users other than mods and paying customers are allowed to have avatars.


Images in signatures
Nowhere on jolt you see images in signatures. NatonStates ain't no exception. The jolt forums are already overloaded with users, so adding more options only makes the chance of server crashes more likely.


Changing the forumstyle, ie allowing you to choose
Has been asked some time after the shift, and the answer starts with an "n" and ends with "o".


Changing registration date
Yes, we all know you are a 2002 nation. And no, administrators will not hack the vbulletin code to give you your status symbol back.


Custom forum titles/changing the forum titles
We know cyberfruit farmer and cabbage patch girl sucks, but these are standard jolt titles. We have to put up with them.


Removing annoying smileys
Has been brought up by me in the jolt general forum, and it will not happen.


BRING BACK FORUM 7!!#@#$@
How many times do people have to say no before you actually get it through your head? The answer is no, and will stay NO.


Removing banners/advertisements
Jolt has to make money out of their free service, and ads are the only real option. They cannot be removed if you want to keep using jolt.


Roleplay moderation
Roleplay moderation, though not mentioned much in technical or moderation, it's good to be covered in this thread. Because I like to listen what people say on instant messaging programmes I heard this one quite a few times passing the revue.

What is Roleplay Moderation?
It's quite difficult to know the difference between regular moderation (locking threads, issuing warnings, deleting on request, deleting) and RP moderation because some things overlap each other. Roleplay moderation, as I seen it happen, means that RP moderators can force players to recognize an attack, adjust losses, classify actions as godmodded, numberwank or guiding OOC debates. In NS this will never work, because everything done here is freeform RP. The excuse has been abused by many players in the past to escape an annoying situation, but it cannot be changed. And even if you force a player to recognize an attack, does that mean he has to post it? Or when he's classed as a 'godmodder' in thread A, while being an excellent storywriter in thread B you have a conflict, because it contradicts each other.

N00b wars being no more than spam are killed on site, and people who flame the clueless n00b are warned. Remember, there is a difference between n00b wars and real RP moderation. In my opinion deleting threads with nothing but smileys and lots of caps isn't roleplay moderation, for that is merely spam removal. Roleplay moderation means you have a certain group of people dedicated to keeping roleplays godmodfree by forcing things to happen, regardless of the freeform RP rule.

Will be updated whenever there's a new rejected proposal.

Just be patient and wait 28 days, it's only 2 whole weeks.

obviously your weeks are longer than mine :p

obviously your weeks are longer than mine :pMonth then, whatever.

I live in a cardboard box

Useful, but I have the feeling this will be ignored and people will continue to ask. *rolls eyes*

Useful, but I have the feeling this will be ignored and people will continue to ask. *rolls eyes*Shame you are right, but we cannot abandon all hope just because of a few n00bs.

It's a good list. I've appended it to Salusa's sticky - a place of honor (sorta).

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=8843828&postcount=2

WOW!!!!!!!!!!! :sniper: :mp5: :gundge:

u are stupid :headbang: ur just an angry person tht wants to tak eit out on honst playaz :rolleyes: go bac 2 civ 2 :eek: u need sum :fluffle:

At any rate, pretty cool list, to be honest i think some stuff is achievable like Nation Capital and Population locking, but otherwise good list. Maybe it will keep the above sort of people in check? - wait, I think the response to that is hidden in your first post..

Thanks Frisby!

I also added it to my Emporium of Helpful threads post in the I.I. Consolidation Sticky.

Another one you can add to your list is adding a Storefronts forum. That'll get shot down (and the wording of the refusal sounded like I was being scolded for even suggesting it).

Adding new forums, thanks for reminding me :)

Going in my sig - great work.

Just one suggestion - I know it would take quite a bit of work, but if you could find the posts where each of these was rejected and link to it, so people know where you're coming from? Maybe something for a rainy day. :)

Thanks! Although it sounds like a swell idea, it's not practical. You'd see a no every time this has been asked. What I can do is adding the reason why it's not wanted, but that's getting repetive as well. It's really simple, just read the top three reasons why the game code will be editted.

Last time I heard the game code's quite a bit of a mess, so altering it can only cause more trouble. The pop-bug may sound fun for new players, but I also remember days where the UN couldn't update for many players for almost a week. Those annoying things might return if you start changing it again.

Amazing. Added to signature, along with other amazing threads. ;)

nice lists. i'm glad somebody cleared this stuff up for the people who don't know what's up (like me). good to know before i make a fool out of myself. so see, it worked with one person.

Thanks Green! I know the list sounds a bit unfriendly for the new player, but all of these proposals have came up so many times... I remember some of them popped up on the same page, with exactly the same proposal.

At your service Aphroditie.

Month then, whatever.

I live in a cardboard boxFor someone living in a cardboard box, your postcount's surprisingly low.

*from the top of a tall tree* It was a joke, OK? Put down that torch!! :D

Guff, very nice list here! I only have on suggestion, and I wouldn't mind helping you with it either... perhaps, you can add links to each ruling by an admin/moderator that way if posters direct other posters here they aren't going to think, "Oh, Guffingford is the only one saying this." What do you think? Otherwise, it's very well put together!

Regional Flags
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=7047021&postcount=15

Limit Population
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=417039
(no moderator response yet)

Capital Cities
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=6938953&postcount=15

New UN Rank
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=8776586&postcount=7

Sorting regions by population, activity, UN membership, etc
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=8747696&postcount=4

A Suggestion for Region Listings
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=8721532&postcount=2

This is all good, well done. It seems to me, though, that if you want to stop so-called 'n00bs' from suggesting new features, the best way to do it might be to remove the 'ideas for improvements' part of this forum's description. Just have bugs and typos or whatever in there, instead. For that seems a little misleading to me.

Avatars
It has been promised, but Jolt has some very different thoughts about that. It's kind of unfair to the normal jolt users who have wait till 10,000 posts until they may have one, and the people who pay for the jolt service to have one. The answer is no.

Mmm... actually, 10,000 isn't enough anymore. Only Jolt mods and people who pay can have avatars.

Tuesday Heights:
Thanks! Although it sounds like a swell idea, it's not practical. You'd see a no every time this has been asked. What I can do is adding the reason why it's not wanted, but that's getting repetive as well. It's really simple, just read the top three reasons why the game code will be editted. If people want to add them, feel free to do so.

Updated the list, and added the hot topic RP moderation.

When I have the time, I'll gather some links. I must object to mentioning Hataria in the Moderation Roleplay bit though, it's asking for trouble.

When I have the time, I'll gather some links. I must object to mentioning Hataria in the Moderation Roleplay bit though, it's asking for trouble.Protest. He's an excellent example why roleplay moderation must never be added to NationStates. Many players who godmod don't know they are, and because Hataria has been helped a lot my many players, he improved greatly. Imagine if a RP mod squad was present when he was starting to improve, a potentially good player slash writer is lost. And what's the use of having RP moderators when they can only say: "you are godmodding" while not being able to do anything about it.

If someone from the staff wants his name removed, I will do so. Until then I keep seeing Hataria as a school example people can improve when properly motivated even when they were labelled as a bad player back then.

Sorry, this needs clarification before I'll add it to the sticky.

I do forum moderation in NS and II virtually everyday. Per the One Stop Rules Shop (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=8784646&postcount=4), moderators can deal with flames, spam, and thread ownership issues on and ongoing basis. "In addition, the mods do have free license to keep very poor quality RP out of II - rampant violation of RP etiquette does not belong in II." If a n00b war has become spamming and flaming nonsense, despite the fact that it's still nominally IC, I'll lock the thread.

I'm also unclear why you made that your lead-off piece. I've been reading tech for over a year, and I don't recall anyone coming here requesting roleplay moderation. There may be buzz about it elsewhere, but it doesn't necessarily end up here. As such, does it even need to be in this post?

Finally, Tuesday Heights is correct. Lose the specific bit about Hataria. Finger-pointing and name-calling, even in a positive sense, doesn't belong in a rules sticky. If you pointed to Hack or Automagfreek or Dread Lady Nathicana as good examples, I'd ask you to rephrase it generically too.

I'm also unclear why you made that your lead-off piece. I've been reading tech for over a year, and I don't recall anyone coming here requesting roleplay moderation. There may be buzz about it elsewhere, but it doesn't necessarily end up here. As such, does it even need to be in this post?I keep hearing it on MSN when a player is deleted *without* reason or warning and mods have no idea or insight what's happening in II and such. After DA's deletion people proposed a reform of NS moderation, and the topic of RP moderation came up. It doesn't really matter whether it has been brought up. It's an idea that will never be put into the forum hierachy, so it fits in the list of rejected ideas.

Removed the Hataria bit.

EDIT: changed the lay-out, it's a lot better now.

Updated

Is it possible to have a mod ammend your latest changes to the stified version of this Guff?

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=8843828&postcount=2

Adding new UN resolution proposal categories
Won't happen because of reasons said at least a million times before.

Is this true? I was always under the impression that the admins were working on some, just that they were on the back burner...

I'd be sad if this were true.

I'll drop Fris-b a line asking to do it.

Is this true? I was always under the impression that the admins were working on some, just that they were on the back burner...

I'd be sad if this were true.This list is fact-driven, no assumptions made here. If so, I've told Frisbee to correct where wrong, so...

Just like:Adding UN rankings
Won't happen, only requires more serverpower.I thought we had some new ones. Am I dreaming?

I'm not UN, but if it isn't true, tell Frisbee. He'll edit the things in need of editting.

I'll drop Fris-b a line asking to do it.
I'll edit in any changes needed and update the master copy in the sticky ... later.

And it's Fris.

I hope it's not an offence to call you "Fris-b". Ah maybe it sounds too much of some rapper, Fris. Whatever you want

Ah maybe it sounds too much of some rapper, Fris. Whatever you wantI think it's more that it refers to one of these things: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v488/frisbeeteria/fris/disc_right.gif [Picture courtesy of Frisbeeteria.]