NationStates Jolt Archive


OOC: Five year NS anniversary

Sarzonia
22-03-2009, 16:18
Five years ago today, I saw a LiveJournal entry from a friend of mine who found this interesting-sounding game called NationStates. Intrigued by what he described, I surfed over to www.nationstates.net and sat at the nation creation screen, trying to come up with a clever nation name.

Feeling my creative juices ebbing at that time, I picked a national-sounding ending and simply appended it to my last name. Little did I know that simple act of creating a new imaginary nation would lead to so much.

I formed friendships with people from around the world, including some players who were almost young enough to be my children. When I made my way to International Incidents, I noticed some players who developed their nations with such detail that the places seemed real to me. It led me to create a back story, write a constitution, and do various other things that turned my nation from an imaginary creation into a place that soon occupied my time as a creative outlet.

In some ways, I feel NationStates sharpened some skills. I've always thought of myself as a writer. Now I feel more confident that I could write fiction. I had a dormant longtime interest in the navy and naval history. It sprung back to life as my NS navy emerged as a world power. In some ways, my characters grew with me. The evolution of Grant Haffner from one of late president Mike Sarzo's bulldogs to a real statesman is one I would never have imagined when I started this game.

It's fashionable in these threads to thank the people who've been influential in a RPers development. I'm no different, but I'll cite only a small cadre of players who have been particularly influential. Automagfreek was one of the first players who showed me how much fabric could be weaved into the history of a country that some critics would say only exists in cyberspace. Isselmere showed me the value of a detailed history and culture, not to mention an exceptional storefront. Vilita gave me a fertile starting ground for sports RPing that I've hopefully begun to develop more thoroughly in my latest go-round with NS.

That's not to say there haven't been rough patches. I can point to friendships formed, but I can also cite real friendships that burned in the embers of a now ignored war. I can point to moments when someone whom I now consider one of my closest friends and I refused to speak to each other because we both suffered from a momentary lapse of reason. I can also look back on a grand canyon that developed when a popular player broke what was then a rule. By and large, however, I value the friendships I've been lucky enough to form with people from different backgrounds and different walks of life here.

In the end, this is a game, but it's so much more. Thank you for five enlightening, maddening, rewarding years of NationStates.

Mike Sarzo
(My president may be dead, but thankfully, I'm fine!)
The New Aryan State
22-03-2009, 16:57
Maddening is right. I've had this addiction for almost the same amount of time, barring a few months of cold turkey. I've seen friends online and offline come and go since I started playing, but never has NS been unwelcoming.

Here's to the rabbit hole.
Sarzonia
22-03-2009, 20:47
Thanks, man.

And "rabbit hole" is right, lol.
Democratic Colonies
23-03-2009, 04:01
I wanted to offer my congratulations to you, Sarzonia. During my time here on NS, you've been one of the role players that I have looked up to. Your friendly manner, consistently high quality writing, and groundbreaking naval design inspired me, and I'm sure many others, to try to improve our own role playing abilities.

Here's to another five, eh?
Falkasia
23-03-2009, 04:05
Moi aussi mon ami. Already been five years, has it? And I thought I was old and wise for a nation! Well, it is nevertheless good to have you, and equally good to RP with you (although I've never truly had the chance.)

Best of luck with your future endeavors, both here in NS and in the world on the other side of the screen.
Daiwiz
23-03-2009, 04:07
Happy 5th anniversery. Want a birthday party?

I have also looked up to you, as you are a very good RPer. What has been said I would have said, so I won't repeat it lol.
Sarzonia
23-03-2009, 21:20
Thanks everyone for your comments!

Here's to another five years of storytelling. :)
Krytenia
23-03-2009, 21:28
I've posted on II for the first time in...wow, I genuinely can't remember!...to wish you a happy fifth anniversary. Here's to many more moments of me paying the penalty (or not. Preferably not.)

- Kev
- aka Krytenia
- aka Those Krytie B*****ds

PS: It's my "Glorious Fifth" next month. I won't be marrying Star this year. (Or SDT; you're still good for that one ;))
Lamoni
24-03-2009, 11:24
It's all been said, but you really are a good RPer, Sarz. And I hope that you have another five years on NS.
Romandeos
24-03-2009, 16:41
It's all been said, but you really are a good RPer, Sarz. And I hope that you have another five years on NS.

Ditto all of that. I've always liked and respected you, Sarz. I mean, you are largely responsible for my awesome Navy which keeps people from attacking me, so how can I not like you? ;)

In all seriousness, I hope you keep hanging around for a while.