NationStates Jolt Archive

I am Azemica, and I hope to join your RP community!

I've been thinking 'bout it for a bit, and have asked some questions earlier.

I think I'll enter this forum, International Incidents--if that's OK with you.

So, can I start RPing and designing my RP profile?

If so, I have a few questions... (again, sorry)

1. I read in some introduction guide that new RPers could sometimes find a 'patron' state, both in RP terms and in OOC terms--they could help you learn the ropes. ...anyone?

2. I'd love to make maps of my region and nation... not complicated, just basic land shape and water and borders and such... but... but... I have REALLY BAD handwriting, some of my teachers call it 'dysgraphia', and it extends to drawing. Some of your maps look REALLY professional... do you use computer tools? Anything to recommend?

3. On the subject of maps: I recently saw this one. "http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i156/UNDComrade/Yanitaria/NovusUniversitas.png"
'Oh noes!' This scares me, as I wasn't really thinking of my nation's geographical relations to others... this looks involved... is it important? I was thinking of RPing my region as an island, continent-sized (Australia) thing. If I do that, can we just assume that my nation is 'fairly near' others? Are there full-globe maps? Can we pretend the world grew to fit my island? ;)

4. If I start, it might take me a bit to get threads going because I'm busy. But should I try?

--Azemica

P.S. I have a few nations in my region, and might RP them both. Should I do that from this forum account? Can I have two forum accounts, 'long as it's clear that they're both mine? I know that some person created a Secretariat of the Red Crystal Organization in addition to their normal account... 'I can haz accounts?"

Thanks in advance for answering!

Welcome to the game, I'd be more than happy to help you out with anything.

I think it's traditional to keep this kind of thing to yourself. Do you have a journal you could write it in?

I think it's traditional to keep this kind of thing to yourself. Do you have a journal you could write it in?

You expect journals to answer questions?

MS paint can do some great maps, seriously, iyt can. Or if you ask politely someone might design one for you.

RP'ing in here is free form with a few rules like realism (although huge states have massive militaries and I mean MASSIVE)

Well, I am particularly new to the game myself but I can answer a few of those;

2) I have a mixture of mapping and photoshop-esque tools on my PC. Makes it particularly easy to make maps, as I have done for myself and some others.
Examples;
Embassy Way, Sulaymaan (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/Mezinov/NS/embassyway.jpg)
A map of Sulaymaan (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/Mezinov/NS/sulaystate.jpg)
A map of Maniaca (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/Mezinov/NS/otherguysmap.jpg)
A map of Conserative Morality (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/Mezinov/NS/moralmap.jpg)

I can't say I could exactly give pointers, but I can make you one if you'd like. Just telegram me the important stuff, such as cities, major lakes and rivers, mountains, ect.

3) The short answer, yes. For the most part the world just grows to accommodate people and their nations/island states. There are some groups who only play as the earth-as-we-know-it, but, you can spot them easy enough.

What Zinaire means is this kind of thread is an OOC discussion thread. International Incidents is an IC forum. For future refrences these kinds of threads can be posted in Gameplay and many players like me can help you out.

MS paint can do some great maps, seriously, iyt can. Or if you ask politely someone might design one for you.

RP'ing in here is free form with a few rules like realism (although huge states have massive militaries and I mean MASSIVE)

Thanks!

What Zinaire means is this kind of thread is an OOC discussion thread. International Incidents is an IC forum. For future refrences these kinds of threads can be posted in Gameplay and many players like me can help you out.
Oh... I'm so sorry... I didn't realize that I shouldn't post an OOC thing.

Thanks, Kanami! You're already being my OOC patron ;)

Well, I am particularly new to the game myself but I can answer a few of those;

2) I have a mixture of mapping and photoshop-esque tools on my PC. Makes it particularly easy to make maps, as I have done for myself and some others.
Examples;
Embassy Way, Sulaymaan (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/Mezinov/NS/embassyway.jpg)
A map of Sulaymaan (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/Mezinov/NS/sulaystate.jpg)
A map of Maniaca (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/Mezinov/NS/otherguysmap.jpg)
A map of Conserative Morality (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/Mezinov/NS/moralmap.jpg)

I can't say I could exactly give pointers, but I can make you one if you'd like. Just telegram me the important stuff, such as cities, major lakes and rivers, mountains, ect.

3) The short answer, yes. For the most part the world just grows to accommodate people and their nations/island states. There are some groups who only play as the earth-as-we-know-it, but, you can spot them easy enough.

Oh, cool maps! I might have to ask for help, but can you tell me what the programs you have are?

Oh... I'm so sorry... I didn't realize that I shouldn't post an OOC thing.

Thanks, Kanami! You're already being my OOC patron ;)

It's my pleasure. You can also always contact me via telegram whenever you need to ask a question.

It's my pleasure. You can also always contact me via telegram whenever you need to ask a question.

Thank you.

I tell you what. Drop me a TF in game if you want some sort of introductory rp.

Perhaps a terrorist attack on your nation where you can eventually request help from other nations bringing you into the rp community on this board.

I've always wanted to do a planned terrorist attack on a nation and I have a puppet that can act as the Terrorists.

Another is an ecological disaster but perhaps the biggest is the development of nuclear power. - Young nations always get grilled by he international community about their intentions (as a general unwritten rule you cant have nukes till you have 100 mil pop and your economy can support it.)

To have a ook at your nations funding, do a google search for ns calculators.. the best being NS Dossier and 1 other (that I can't think of the name of right now.)

OOC: Hello, and welcome to NS! I'm Trailers, and I'm an official Nationstates Trainer. Now first things first (this should answer several of your questions at once), Nationstates is a totally open ended roleplaying environment. That means you can define your nation as anything you wish: island nation, landlocked, or what have you. In fact, you don't even have to stay on Earth. 0o;; Also, I'll happily offer my services as an NSt'er until you get a little more acquainted with the game. And yes, you can have more than one forum account. We call those "puppets" around here.

EDIT: I almost forgot, I'm an FT (Future tech) trainer, if you want a specifically MT (Modern tech) trainer, feel free to click the link in my sig, it'll direct you to the NS trainer thread, where you can post a request for guidance. =)

Oh, cool maps! I might have to ask for help, but can you tell me what the programs you have are?

Corel Painter
Corel Draw
Photoshop CS
Illustrator CS2
Map Maker
Campaign Cartographer 3
SmartDraw
Softree

OOC: Hello, and welcome to NS! I'm Trailers, and I'm an official Nationstates Trainer. Now first things first (this should answer several of your questions at once), Nationstates is a totally open ended roleplaying environment. That means you can define your nation as anything you wish: island nation, landlocked, or what have you. In fact, you don't even have to stay on Earth. 0o;; Also, I'll happily offer my services as an NSt'er until you get a little more acquainted with the game. And yes, you can have more than one forum account. We call those "puppets" around here.

Thank you very much, everyone. From the responses, I'll start working on basic maps and a basic factbook right away. I'll then set up an embassy thread and Azemican Discovery-esque thread.

Later,
Azemica/Andrail

Thank you very much, everyone. From the responses, I'll start working on basic maps and a basic factbook right away. I'll then set up an embassy thread and Azemican Discovery-esque thread.

Later,
Azemica/Andrail

Sounds like a very well grounded start there. Nice one!

Easiest way to introduce yourself will be to post a thread declaring independence. In that thread you should be able to make your first official ties to a few larger nations. Bear in mind this also means you're gonna get spammed everything from region invites to nuke threats. =D

Can I ask, how was this map made?

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i156/UNDComrade/Yanitaria/NovusUniversitas.png

Time to cover the OP (original post)...

1. Well, the last time I tried to mentor a player was either Hataria or Antigr, I kinda winged it myself.*
2+3. Not to great of an expert on the subject.
4. The even the longest journey begins with the first humble steps.

@PS: Not a great idea to use multiple accounts of yourself.
Using multiple accounts to keep Internal conflicts sensable are one thing, using weak 3 "throw away" nations to 'win' an unwinnable game is wank.

*Although my first RPs were cruddier than crud on a stick. I was lucky to stay on 'throw away', 'one shot' or out of continuity character RPs, allowing me to dabble a bit with how to tell the backstory of my country, though I had a fairly firm basis to start with.**

**Not really, I even somehow ended up sending an MT nation into an FT RP by taking a work of comical Sci-fiction literally as a mode of transportation. I joined with less intent to 'win the prize at the end of the tunnel' but instead to simply to just run through a tunnel. And though some people don't like it, you can transcend through tech level nations in an RP. It just takes a bit of hard RPing and a lot of acquired sense of RP ettequitte.

Oh, and HT does not always mean Hurtful Thoughts, it could be Hyperspacial Travel.
Keep that in mind when encountering acronymns, especially "TSS".
And then you'd have to look closely at spelling at times, as Cravan isn't The Kravan Corp.

Can I ask, how was this map made?

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i156/UNDComrade/Yanitaria/NovusUniversitas.png

If you use Photoshop and take satellite images from GoogleMaps or the such, you can use a feathered eraser/brush to cut out land-shapes and then mark and name territories using colored layers with their opacity reduced.

hint for first rp: DO NOT DO ANYTHING BIG

beleive me we regulars have seen it all the time. New guy makes a war thing where 50 people on both sides jump in and it degrades into an epic bitch fest.

Keep your first rps on par with your experience and ability and you'll have a good time. No one becomes a power overnight.... well maybe a few lol.

I have been around for a while and would be wiling to help you along.

I am Azemica, and I hope to join your RP community!

I've been thinking 'bout it for a bit, and have asked some questions earlier.

I think I'll enter this forum, International Incidents--if that's OK with you.

So, can I start RPing and designing my RP profile?

If so, I have a few questions... (again, sorry)

1. I read in some introduction guide that new RPers could sometimes find a 'patron' state, both in RP terms and in OOC terms--they could help you learn the ropes. ...anyone?

2. I'd love to make maps of my region and nation... not complicated, just basic land shape and water and borders and such... but... but... I have REALLY BAD handwriting, some of my teachers call it 'dysgraphia', and it extends to drawing. Some of your maps look REALLY professional... do you use computer tools? Anything to recommend?

3. On the subject of maps: I recently saw this one. "http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i156/UNDComrade/Yanitaria/NovusUniversitas.png"
'Oh noes!' This scares me, as I wasn't really thinking of my nation's geographical relations to others... this looks involved... is it important? I was thinking of RPing my region as an island, continent-sized (Australia) thing. If I do that, can we just assume that my nation is 'fairly near' others? Are there full-globe maps? Can we pretend the world grew to fit my island? ;)

4. If I start, it might take me a bit to get threads going because I'm busy. But should I try?

--Azemica

P.S. I have a few nations in my region, and might RP them both. Should I do that from this forum account? Can I have two forum accounts, 'long as it's clear that they're both mine? I know that some person created a Secretariat of the Red Crystal Organization in addition to their normal account... 'I can haz accounts?"

Welcome to International Incidents. Most of us don't really have RP profiles, we just go straight to RPing our nation as we see fit.

1. I would gladly be your patron state. I have an organization called OSAFU to extend such a relationship to IC.

2. errr....I don't know about a lot of RPers but I don't have a scanner and I'm pretty sure most maps here use computer tools. I can make you a map with general geographic features if needed. I'm definetly no proffessional but my map should serve its purpose to staisfaction.

3. lol, there are many regions, NU, Haven, formerly Europa Atlantica, Rodinia, Gholgoth and others which place their nations on a regional map. Rodinia is a fairly new one which I and Faxanavia co-founded a few weeks ago. The NS Earth is either a series of extradimensional portals located at random points to arrive at the correct area or a Jupiter-sized thing depending who you ask. I, personally, use the first idea.

4. Of course you should try! One post a day is good enough for most people and in threads with only two - three if you want to push it - one post every few days can work too.

In regards to your post script - you can RP as many nations as you want. From the beginning of December to the end of March I RPed as Uiri AND a nation called Dutch-Ruled Benelux.

-Uiri

I think it's traditional to keep this kind of thing to yourself. Do you have a journal you could write it in?

Yes. It's also more traditional to make your first post totally retarded. Personally, in terms of new players, I find tradition irritating. I don't see what is wrong with this thread.

Anyway, welcome to NS, I've been here for about four and a half years so if you want any help with military and economic stuff, then you can TG me or catch me on my MSN which is matt.labunda@gmail.com

In regards to your map and other people - you can do what we used to do and be an island, but back then NS had so many islands, and people began to band together and make regions with maps were you could choose map spots. I think, but I'm not sure, that's what Yanitaria's region is. I'm in something similar myself.

Yes. It's also more traditional to make your first post totally retarded. Personally, in terms of new players, I find tradition irritating. I don't see what is wrong with this thread.

We'd be seeing these all the time if they were a good idea. I jumped right in when I started and at the very least no one told me I was totally retarded. And there's lots of other people who join ever day who do so without asking permission and asking a lot of questions so obviously it can be done.

Yes, but obviously this person was showing basic politeness and a willingless to learn rather than become morons like the "many" people you mentioned. Obviously he didn't know how it worked here so asked rather than probed for himself. Nothing really wrong with that.

What Zinaire means is this kind of thread is an OOC discussion thread. International Incidents is an IC forum. For future refrences these kinds of threads can be posted in Gameplay and many players like me can help you out.

Wrong. Do not use Gameplay as a dumping ground for OOC discussions. Gameplay has nothing to do with roleplay. Post your OOC threads here.

Frisbeeteria
Senior Game Mod.

ProFantasy Fractal Terrains will get you a decent map with little effort. MSPaint or Paint.NET is what others use, although it requires patience, though it needs to be said that No endorse, the mapmaker for Haven, seriously airbrushed a funky shape for the new continent for the region and then penciled in the little bends and stuff, and it looks pretty good. :p

Don't ask about a world map at this point. Just assume that the world is one amorphous blob with guesstimates about inter-regional distances and overlapping territories and you'll be on the right track. It's been five years and we still haven't got a consensus about just what the hell to do about a global map. So far what we have is Haven is somewhat analogous to a position in the North Pacific, The Democratic Underground is attached to the western edge of Haven, Gholgoth is far to the west/south-west, and Antarchon is to the south-west of South America or thereabouts (not sure if they actually recognize the landmasses or what, though—I still need to ask). That's basically it as far as the more important players on II go. Haven, DU, Antarchon and Gholgoth are regions/power blocs that have been around for a fair bit. There's Greater Dienstad, too, but I have no idea where it is geographically.

As far as getting a patron or someone to bug when questions come up, don't opt for anyone with a join date less than 2004, as a rule, and even then there are some to avoid. I technically joined in 05, so I'm a prole supporting the feudal system, I know. P: Talk to Questers, Cravan, Aequatio, Praetonia, Willink, Juumanistra, Franberry, Castilla y Belmonte (The Macabees' new nation), Tyrandis or The Candrian Empire—they can help if you need it (guise pls don't kill me for giving your names out D:). North-Point is probably the only exception to the rule—trust the man when he starts talking about ships.

Yes, but obviously this person was showing basic politeness and a willingless to learn rather than become morons like the "many" people you mentioned. Obviously he didn't know how it worked here so asked rather than probed for himself. Nothing really wrong with that.

Quite true. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a person like this. Much rather have this man (or woman) who obviously takes the time to spell properly and learn the ins and outs of II RP than someone going "lol whar does i declarez war" or someone going "lul i throw 10k n00ks @ j00".

I haven't been here quite as much as Questers, but I'd be glad to help you as well.

Kampf I didn't mean to insult you you know. D:

lul i thr0w 10 n00kz at U!!1!

Anyways, nice to have approval from a mod, :D.

I wish I had been as organised as you after coming back from a break... Your ooc shows that you have the potential to be an awesome rp'er as you are learning things before you jump in.

Kudos dude. I hope many others are like you and I hope to rp with you in the future

If you use Photoshop and take satellite images from GoogleMaps or the such, you can use a feathered eraser/brush to cut out land-shapes and then mark and name territories using colored layers with their opacity reduced.

Well, I looked around on google earth and found a picture of northern canada, greenland, and iceland which I thought looked like what I wanted, flipped the view upside down, and took a screenshot.

Then I opened up photoshop, and put a layer above it, and traced all the land and islands with the pencil tool. Then I decided it looked to samey, and I added a peninsula to greenland, and then I took the Islands of the Caribbean and flipped them as well, and put them where Boothby now is, and traced them.

Then I deleted the bottom layers, and I had the outline, so I used the paint bucket tool to fill the ocean.

Then I went back to google earth, and looked around for some land that didn't look to photostriped, because the satellites take pictures in sections, and it makes it look ugly (check out africa, for a good example).

So I found a suitable area in Eastern Europe and France, and used sections of those to create the photo-realistic terrain. Then I used the magic wand tool to select the water, and turned it into it's own layer. Then I changed the blending options to inner glow, and set the second color to that light blue, and fiddled with it until I got that.

That was the base map. The countries are simple. I just made a separate layer for the borders, and set it above the countries, and above the land, but under the ocean. The countries are each separate layers, and I just color in their boundaries with primary and secondary colors, and then set the layer opacity to 50%.

Then I just add the nation's name, and keep it as an un-rasterized seperate layer.

In the .PSD file that I do this all in before saving it as a .PNG, I've organized the names and the countries into two separate layer folders, so that everything is all nice and neat.


In regards to your map and other people - you can do what we used to do and be an island, but back then NS had so many islands, and people began to band together and make regions with maps were you could choose map spots. I think, but I'm not sure, that's what Yanitaria's region is. I'm in something similar myself.

My region is one where you can choose map spots, but the original region inhabitants were already OOC friends, and we wanted a region where we could make a rock solid region wide history.