Sarzonia
03-05-2005, 15:33
Let's face it. There are enemies everywhere you turn. In real life, countries are at each other's throats and it seems as though the precipice of war is everywhere you turn. People encounter coworkers, classmates, bandmates, etc. whom they just can't get along with every day of their lives. That is also true for NationStates roleplaying.
Before I delve into the discussion of enemies on NS, I need to make a distinction. There are people whose RP'd countries yours just can't stand, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you can't get along with the player behind the country. I've seen people go from intense IC vitriol to friendly OOC banter about everything not having to do with NationStates at the drop of a hat. This post will deal with IC enemies. If you have someone who is an enemy OOC as well, I've made suggestions in other posts; namely, ignoring them or if they choose to break Max Barry's rules, showing you the appropriate channels to deal with them.
The first point I want to make is that, unless you RP as a war hungry country who has a legitimate need to declare war for some slight, you don't have to go to war at the first opportunity. There are plenty of avenues you can explore to show your displeasure with another country that don't involve sending your virtual sons and daughters off to battle.
Diplomacy
If, for instance, someone executes a minor for an offense such as first degree murder and your country abhors it, announce a condemnation of the country. Don't be afraid to post a condemnation of your own allies; some of the more interesting plot lines have come when one ally condemns another. For example, in a RP where I had a 15 year old boy executed for a premediated murder, Isselmere sent a carefully-worded condemnation my way. He's one of my closest allies and has been almost since I began playing NS. But yet, his government felt it couldn't stand by while one of its own closest allies was taking an action it disapproved of. In a later RP, I sent a carefully-worded reprimand to Isselmere's king.
Besides the standard run of condemnations, what happens if the country essentially ignores your concerns? Another tool that you can use that is often applied by RL countries is to recall your diplomatic corps and/or citizens from a country. If you are really displeased, you can expel the other country's diplomats and citizens. That is usually a next step that can get the message across that you aren't pleased and it's a way to do so without hurting your or your counterpart's economies.
Economic Tools
Suppose you've tried every trick in the diplomatic book and your efforts have not borne fruit? What then? Another place you can turn instead of the instant declaration of war is to impose economic sanctions on goods entering your country. From a punitive increase in tariffs to a full-scale embargo, the tools you have at your disposal are wide ranging and can sometimes be effective. Unfortunately, I haven't seen very many people RP the adverse impact of losing a major trading partner, but that has the potential to be a very interesting RP.
Another tool that I use at the Portland Iron Works is something called a black list. What that means is that countries that are on the black list are automatically denied the right to purchase anything from the Portland Iron Works. Be careful about employing these economic tactics. Many times, countries will impose their own tariffs or boycotts in retaliation for your economic warfare.
Precipice Of War
I suppose this next section could easily have gone under Diplomacy, but considering the severity, I decided to let it lead off its own section. One other tool you have at your disposal takes one step beyond even evicting diplomatic personnel from your country: Severing diplomatic relations. This is usually a stark measure that serves as a last resort before RL countries either prepare for war or just leave each other alone, save for political sniping at each other. But that step is one more you have in your arsenal that can either lead to reform or to further deteoriation in national relationships.
A tool that often either leads to full-scale war or to one country backing down from another is the threat of military action. Often, a country will begin combat exercises near another country's border or will send ships to international waters outside a country's soverign waters. In many cases, the buildup of forces has been enough to cause another country to back down. In others, it's led to war. Taking that to the next step, let me explain something about the naval blockade. In NationStates, the act of declaring a blockade is considered an act of war.
However, a "pre-blockade," if you will can be something that's called a defensive quarantine. It can take the form of allowing foodstuffs and essential medical supplies into the country, but preventing nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction from entering, or it can be examining goods to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. Actually referring to your fleets assembled off another country's waters (or, more likely, sending your fleets into his territorial waters) is considered an act of war on NS. One thing I've done in the past is to send fleets to international waters surrounding another countries to act as an "observation force." That is also a preliminary step: If war is declared, the fleets can become a blockading fleet. If the country in question backs down, they can just steam right back home.
When RL invades NS
Finally, I've been unfortunate enough to see and be part of a situation where NS animosities not only became indistinguishable from RL hostility; they've taken a back seat to RL enmity. As much as I've seen some people blast the practice of ignoring players, sometimes, it's necessary to prevent flame wars and namecalling that can drag down the RP experience for others. Reaching a peace accord ICly may be difficult, but it's much harder to make peace with a RL enemy, even one you only "see" on a computer screen. It's so hard, in fact, that I will not RP an alliance or a friendship with someone I don't like OOC. I'm not that good an actor.
Don't take this as a statement of gospel in exactly what you should do as a RPer, but think of this as a guide to add some wrinkles to your RP experience that might make things more interesting for you, the people who play with you, or the people who enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Before I delve into the discussion of enemies on NS, I need to make a distinction. There are people whose RP'd countries yours just can't stand, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you can't get along with the player behind the country. I've seen people go from intense IC vitriol to friendly OOC banter about everything not having to do with NationStates at the drop of a hat. This post will deal with IC enemies. If you have someone who is an enemy OOC as well, I've made suggestions in other posts; namely, ignoring them or if they choose to break Max Barry's rules, showing you the appropriate channels to deal with them.
The first point I want to make is that, unless you RP as a war hungry country who has a legitimate need to declare war for some slight, you don't have to go to war at the first opportunity. There are plenty of avenues you can explore to show your displeasure with another country that don't involve sending your virtual sons and daughters off to battle.
Diplomacy
If, for instance, someone executes a minor for an offense such as first degree murder and your country abhors it, announce a condemnation of the country. Don't be afraid to post a condemnation of your own allies; some of the more interesting plot lines have come when one ally condemns another. For example, in a RP where I had a 15 year old boy executed for a premediated murder, Isselmere sent a carefully-worded condemnation my way. He's one of my closest allies and has been almost since I began playing NS. But yet, his government felt it couldn't stand by while one of its own closest allies was taking an action it disapproved of. In a later RP, I sent a carefully-worded reprimand to Isselmere's king.
Besides the standard run of condemnations, what happens if the country essentially ignores your concerns? Another tool that you can use that is often applied by RL countries is to recall your diplomatic corps and/or citizens from a country. If you are really displeased, you can expel the other country's diplomats and citizens. That is usually a next step that can get the message across that you aren't pleased and it's a way to do so without hurting your or your counterpart's economies.
Economic Tools
Suppose you've tried every trick in the diplomatic book and your efforts have not borne fruit? What then? Another place you can turn instead of the instant declaration of war is to impose economic sanctions on goods entering your country. From a punitive increase in tariffs to a full-scale embargo, the tools you have at your disposal are wide ranging and can sometimes be effective. Unfortunately, I haven't seen very many people RP the adverse impact of losing a major trading partner, but that has the potential to be a very interesting RP.
Another tool that I use at the Portland Iron Works is something called a black list. What that means is that countries that are on the black list are automatically denied the right to purchase anything from the Portland Iron Works. Be careful about employing these economic tactics. Many times, countries will impose their own tariffs or boycotts in retaliation for your economic warfare.
Precipice Of War
I suppose this next section could easily have gone under Diplomacy, but considering the severity, I decided to let it lead off its own section. One other tool you have at your disposal takes one step beyond even evicting diplomatic personnel from your country: Severing diplomatic relations. This is usually a stark measure that serves as a last resort before RL countries either prepare for war or just leave each other alone, save for political sniping at each other. But that step is one more you have in your arsenal that can either lead to reform or to further deteoriation in national relationships.
A tool that often either leads to full-scale war or to one country backing down from another is the threat of military action. Often, a country will begin combat exercises near another country's border or will send ships to international waters outside a country's soverign waters. In many cases, the buildup of forces has been enough to cause another country to back down. In others, it's led to war. Taking that to the next step, let me explain something about the naval blockade. In NationStates, the act of declaring a blockade is considered an act of war.
However, a "pre-blockade," if you will can be something that's called a defensive quarantine. It can take the form of allowing foodstuffs and essential medical supplies into the country, but preventing nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction from entering, or it can be examining goods to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. Actually referring to your fleets assembled off another country's waters (or, more likely, sending your fleets into his territorial waters) is considered an act of war on NS. One thing I've done in the past is to send fleets to international waters surrounding another countries to act as an "observation force." That is also a preliminary step: If war is declared, the fleets can become a blockading fleet. If the country in question backs down, they can just steam right back home.
When RL invades NS
Finally, I've been unfortunate enough to see and be part of a situation where NS animosities not only became indistinguishable from RL hostility; they've taken a back seat to RL enmity. As much as I've seen some people blast the practice of ignoring players, sometimes, it's necessary to prevent flame wars and namecalling that can drag down the RP experience for others. Reaching a peace accord ICly may be difficult, but it's much harder to make peace with a RL enemy, even one you only "see" on a computer screen. It's so hard, in fact, that I will not RP an alliance or a friendship with someone I don't like OOC. I'm not that good an actor.
Don't take this as a statement of gospel in exactly what you should do as a RPer, but think of this as a guide to add some wrinkles to your RP experience that might make things more interesting for you, the people who play with you, or the people who enjoy the fruits of your labor.