NationStates Jolt Archive

This is not a new idea, but it's something I think I can organize correctly (as opposed to past attempts); on the other hand, these kinds of ideas have always failed on me (I thought about a NationStates military history magazine, as well). It would be a role-play in all senses of the word, except that the role-play would simply be players writing from the perspective of readers and intellectuals responding to the articles published (and the authors of the articles would respond in kind). I believe that this could lead to a relatively long role-play every time we publish an edition (monthly or bimonthly).

I'm aiming for a fairly professional standard of writing; obviously, not something out of the ordinary, but a well written article in the range of 2,500–5,000 words. Topics could be on the following (and anything else you think of that is OK with the editors):


War
Economics
Politics
Society
et cetera


If this gains any type of approval I am willing to set up a forum on my server where writers can organize their thoughts and post rough drafts. I think it would be pretty interesting, and would allow players to post news articles about themselves or anything that interests them (including other nations). There isn't any maximum article quote for the magazine, so any amount of people can write for it as long as the quality meets the standards.

What do think?

really sounds interesting

Sounds very interesting. I would contribute if I could find the time and something to write about.

Sounds like an idea.

I'd like to suggest an OOC rule(or perhaps suggestion would be a more suitable word) to prioritize writing about other NSes rather than about one own NS, as it may bring far more interesting results and show the perspectives each NS has ICly about others rather than what in some cases may end like the sort of thing to expect from a gazette rather than from a News Magazine.

I'd be willing to contribute.

It needs a snazzy name though.

Will we get to have articles with serious, scholarly names like "The Annals of Zinairian Healthcare" or "ODECON Foreign Policy and the Shifting Global Paradigm"?

I certainly hope so. Writing for this would be quite enjoyable.

I'm game.

I'd like to suggest an OOC rule(or perhaps suggestion would be a more suitable word) to prioritize writing about other NSes rather than about one own NS, as it may bring far more interesting results and show the perspectives each NS has ICly about others rather than what in some cases may end like the sort of thing to expect from a gazette rather than from a News Magazine.

Well, I don't want to exclude any writer, right now. It's best to keep it at "write about what you want to write".

As for the name, what about something like "Global Relations"? Or "Global Policies" (a spin-off of "Foreign Policy")?

Hmmm kind of typical but maybe "Global Today?"

While we discuss the title and wait and see if anybody else is interested, I'm writing an article to provide it as an example (and will be published in our first issue, as well). When I'm done with the article I will open the forums and what not.

"The State of the Nations"? I like it because it's a reference to NationStates.

Yeah, I'm not feeling it either.

What about technology levels for this? Would it be a mixture of technology levels (thus allowing me to put the character Serah Gey to some use besides being an ass to the WA), or something else?

"The State of the Nations"? I like it because it's a reference to NationStates.

Yeah, I'm not feeling it either.

I like that title my self!

What about technology levels for this? Would it be a mixture of technology levels (thus allowing me to put the character Serah Gey to some use besides being an ass to the WA), or something else?

Well, this would be difficult to implement, but I don't see why not. Readers can choose to ignore the articles that don't pertain to them (or they are not interested in reading, since it pertains to another technology level).

State of Nations sounds good.

Well, this would be difficult to implement, but I don't see why not. Readers can choose to ignore the articles that don't pertain to them (or they are not interested in reading, since it pertains to another technology level).

It would probably be easy enough. Just put the two-three letter code of the article up in a corner (if you can do it that way) or just use a symbol for each article before the name.

If you don't mind, I'd like to help laying it out and such. I assume we'll be offering it as a PDF?

If you don't mind, I'd like to help laying it out and such. I assume we'll be offering it as a PDF?

We could offer it as a PDF. If you want to help with the lay out, that would be awesome.

I like the idea it would be fun.

I could do a piece on modern Sumerian feminism. It's a part of my nation's history which has fascinated me as I build it to no end.

Just something I put together in a few minutes...


http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa156/Bluebird64/StateNations.gif

Hope yeh like. :)

I dig it! But maybe the eye color-changing should stop at green, as the eye on the cover of Jennifer Government is green.

Just something I put together in a few minutes...


http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa156/Bluebird64/StateNations.gif

Hope yeh like. :)

imperssive

It's hypnotizing. I agree with Vaar re: the eye though.

imperssive

Agreed. A bit fast though, I think.

I like that a lot but i agree with Vaarshire

Your ideas intrigue me, and I wish to subscribe to your magazine.

Hey, this sounds good, can anyone contribute?

A centralised place for news on a variety of subjects? Sounds good to me, i'f i'm allowed i'd be happy to contribute every now and then time permitting. I used to write articles for a XBOX clan group... ahh happy days...

Also I saw the part about writing about other NS nations. Surely that could e dealt with just by writing it from the perspective of a particular character? His opinion and all that, a kind of colunm that he writes on various affairs; i'd be happy to do that. Probably cast myself as an incredibly right wing selfish snob to make it interesting for reading :P Although keep it proffessional of course :)

Would you still be including miltech/mil history stuff? After all there are at least 3 more sections of Trials and Tribulations that need doing (as if the first didn't bore people enough).

Count me in.

Perhaps we can compile a list of people willing to contribute. When we get this going, perhaps we can have offsite forums for there to organize editions to be posted here... And nice animation there Unibot. ;)

I'll do some articles about the Alfegan Airship industry and similar subjects.

Hey, this sounds good, can anyone contribute?

Yes, as long as it meets the standards of quality.

Count me in.

Perhaps we can compile a list of people willing to contribute. When we get this going, perhaps we can have offsite forums for there to organize editions to be posted here... And nice animation there Unibot. ;)

Like I said, I'm going to set up the offsite forums once I finish the first article (to serve as an example).

Would you still be including miltech/mil history stuff? After all there are at least 3 more sections of Trials and Tribulations that need doing (as if the first didn't bore people enough).

Yes, as long as its tied in with a current event.

Of course I'll be willing to contribute. Also the PDF format is good and I think a 'MUST HAVE'. but issuu.com is a great place to REALLY spice it up. You need to convert the file to PDF anyway but once uploaded to Issuu you can actually read like a magazine or paper. (The pages actually flick!!!!)

Just and idea I'm throwing in like everyone else, but standard PDF is the most logical because most people have it as standard.

Yes, I think I might contribute one or two.

Well, count me in, I'd say.

Okay I'll change up the animation, and keep the eyes from turning red. - But thats going to take me a day or two, because I'm on my laptop at the moment.

Of course I'll be willing to contribute. Also the PDF format is good and I think a 'MUST HAVE'. but issuu.com is a great place to REALLY spice it up. You need to convert the file to PDF anyway but once uploaded to Issuu you can actually read like a magazine or paper. (The pages actually flick!!!!)

Just and idea I'm throwing in like everyone else, but standard PDF is the most logical because most people have it as standard.

Isssu.com is awesome, and it allows for downloads too. - Good find. :)

The main drawbacks of issuu.com are the ads. The problem is that I don't want to distance the magazine from the forums. This is supposed to catalyze role-play, so they have to be posted on the forums one way or the other (and the PDF form will just be added in case someone wants to download it and read it that way; they will still be presented in text as posts).

Indeed. I see no reason why we couldn't back the magazine up on Issuu however. It would be publicly readable, and downloadable if one wants to avoid the ads.

Alright, but first let's worry about writing the articles. ;) I am writing the first (and example), but I have work today (just on my lunch). Hopefully, I will be done by tonight (I have to work on a professional article, as well, so it's best that I get this out of my way).

I'll have an article that will actually be relevant... Hehe! And current events!

Did anyone else hear a bump?

I am setting up the forums right now.

I know a lot of people dislike the NSD (even though I am the administrator), but I've decided to just host it there... it centralizes the program and opens it up to more people (many of whom are great writers and shouldn't be excluded). Besides, a lot of interested players are already registered there. The relevant fora are on the bottom.

Link: http://z4.invisionfree.com/NSDraftroom/index.php?act=idx

I have to approve you if you are a new register.

--snip--
Registered already. :)

Since I like slower moving RPs that focus on issues I'm good at writing about, I'd be interested. Our people don't refer to our country as Golden Vetalia for nothing, so there would be plenty of NS-economic articles in the pipeline.

I have registered.

Since I like slower moving RPs that focus on issues I'm good at writing about, I'd be interested. Our people don't refer to our country as Golden Vetalia for nothing, so there would be plenty of NS-economic articles in the pipeline.

This is good then, because we will have two different economic perspectives (mine being the Austrian School, ofc).

OOC: I like it and may contribute as well.

Joined!

I'd juse like to remind you guys that this has been tried so many times and failed - if you want to succeed, you need to EXPECT the waves of apathy it's going to be greeted with and deal with it. In time you'll get readers, but if you don't have the passion to carry this out it's going to fall flat on its face.

Good luck!

Yea, I figure I will have to write more than one article to keep it alive.

That said, any good topics to write about that isn't about my nation?

Though I know shit-all about military stuff and don't follow the II forum at all, I'd like to contribute to any economics-y or cultural articles, assuming the magazine would be something like The Economist, Foreign Affairs, NYRB.

One question: is it for super-sensible RP only? I mean, are exploding penguins out? (It's ok if they are, I was just wondering.)

I'm sure my socialistic baby-murdering Keynesians would enjoy contributing an article or two.

You can/could write about war/nationstate tactics and strategies..
You could expanded on how to rp a terrorist attack/being a terrorist guide...
You could give tips and tricks about setting up a good storefront.
You could give tips and tricks about setting up a good factbook.
You could give tips about developing one's space program and space based assets.
You could write an article on the dangers of unrestricted usage of WMDs/nuclear weapons..
You could explain the differences of the nationstates based governments(ie the difference between father knows best nations and civil right lovefests)
You could give tips and tricks on making a decent map for one's country.
You could compile all the different world's largest..., your nations greatest _.. threads.
You could try and explain the difference between the different tech eras.
You could expanded on the guides as to what is and isn't a godmod...
You could create a nationstate's based comic..
If you'd like to shy away from international incidents you could write/hypozes why there seems to be an cropping of new noobs coming in and the different Obama threads.
You could create a pie poll to find everyone's favorite pie
You could interview different well known rpers and generalities...

Snip

I think you're missing the point. It's an IC magazine.

One question: is it for super-sensible RP only? I mean, are exploding penguins out? (It's ok if they are, I was just wondering.)

What do you mean by super-sensible RP?

I'm sure my socialistic baby-murdering Keynesians would enjoy contributing an article or two.

Keynesian economics would be an excellent balance to my classical views.

Yea, I figure I will have to write more than one article to keep it alive.

That said, any good topics to write about that isn't about my nation?

If you are in need of a topic and wish to write about something in my nation I'd be willing to provide information and otyherwise assist in any way that I can for an article on:

The current siege of Magna Polis,
The Abrahamic League (A huge, international, religious, paramilitary organization),
interviews with one or more of my govt.'s officials on any topic,
or anything you can think of that I can help with.

I think you're missing the point. It's an IC magazine.

Well then you IC do it then, have a reporter interview someone in a specific nation on their tactics and/or defenses, on how they set up their storefronts, what have you...

Example

Reporter A sets up an interview with the Head General of the Empire of Starwmanrocks and asks them a number of questions about their defense spending, whom they've purchased the majority of their military equipment or if they mostly done it locally and why they picked that company/storefront or choose to do it themselves, how they respond to nuclear and other attacks on allies and/or themselves, etc...

It's OK, I think I have another topic.

I have registered

What do you mean by super-sensible RP?

Well I think QoD is talking about how the WA typically roleplays which is very humour based, with a lot of dodgeball fights, talking dolphins and mystical wilbursnappers who play chess with their enormous noses. In other words, kinda of silly.

So is there boundaries for the seriousness of the paper? Are we keeping this fairly in line with the real world - or can we elaborate and go on to do fairly silly things in the document?

Again, either way is fine by me.

In my opinion, I think we should be giving the author's leeway to a degree, keeping things light and humour-based is actually something stemming from NationStates itself (if one actually plays the game or reads JG). But one thing I've found with the WA roleplays, is it's hard to jump into their community, they've got this silly, light world that they've rapped around themselves - which is nice, but it keeps a lot of new blood from trickling in, it sort of scares them away - and you wouldn't want that, if you're starting a newspaper. I suppose if this institution does get off the ground, and grows a fan base and a momentum behind - then the customs and the iron wall of culture will come as with every natural community.

Like I told QoD on IRC, the author can write about whatever. It's ultimately up to the reader if he or she is interested in it (so, it the same response to my response on FT-related articles).

I know a lot of people dislike the NSD (even though I am the administrator), but I've decided to just host it there... it centralizes the program and opens it up to more people (many of whom are great writers and shouldn't be excluded). Besides, a lot of interested players are already registered there.

Taking aside the dislike of the NSD by some, while in the short term hosting the magazine there is fine and makes sense, I think in the long run at some point if you want this thing to succeed you will need to bring it back to the nationstates forums itself. Maybe, it's just me, but having an interactive creation to do with nationstates not actually on the nationstates forum at least in some fashion would seem to be in my honest opinion at the most imbecilic and at the least short-sighted.

Continuing to insist on hosting the entire thing over at the NSD board aside, I have a few suggestions to improve on the success of your great idea.

1. Create a thread or threads that will allow those not registered at NSD to post their rough draft articles here in II. Also, posting the final product here at II if you already haven't decided to do that too.
2. If this magazine does indeed turn out to be a success this time, getting it sticky would improve it's chances greatly of getting new readers and hopefully writers to contribute to it.
3. After doing some checking, as it's been some time since I had to do a word check on a paper, 2500 to 5000 words turns out to be around 6 to 14 pages in 12 type. More if in a bigger type, which some magazines have gone to. Now, that's all well and good, but maybe you haven't checked out the latest military history magazines as much, but they've gotten away from big articles of that caliber and move to more smaller articles of just a few pages and no more then 2500 words with maybe 1 or 2 articles per magazine in the 2500 to 5000 words range.
My idea is do what they did. Have sections specifically devoted to complex very thought out articles with a few per issue in the 2500 to 5000 word range and have the rest be in the 500 to 2500 word range or 2 to 5 pages that offers an interesting article just not as complex as say the 2500-5000 word one would be. In addition have a small section devoted to News or Foreign updates. Trust me on this one, I don't know about you, but I've been reading Military History and Military magazines of various types for nearly a decade now and have amassed a nice collection so, I can give real world examples should you desire an example of what I'm talking about. In that time, I've seen quite a few changes those magazines have under gone, so I have a pretty good idea of what works and doesn't.

Now with all that stated, I'm very interested in joining providing I can post the rough drafts here. Now, while I never considered my writing one of my strengths, I do have a few ideas for some articles of various sizes. Finally, as I'm pretty active on a weekly basis, I'd be willing to put in some time as an editor to proofread the various articles before their submitted. While, my writing may not be the best, figuring out what the writer was trying to convey and using a spell checker you'd be hard pressed to find someone better. We each have our strengths and weaknesses.

Taking aside the dislike of the NSD by some, while in the short term hosting the magazine there is fine and makes sense, I think in the long run at some point if you want this thing to succeed you will need to bring it back to the nationstates forums itself.

Well, as the thread already states the final product will be posted on International Incidents ... that was the entire point.

Maybe, it's just me, but having an interactive creation to do with nationstates not actually on the nationstates forum at least in some fashion would seem to be in my honest opinion at the most imbecilic and at the least short-sighted.

I agree, which is why it's already been said (on this very thread) that the magazine will be posted in post form.

1. Create a thread or threads that will allow those not registered at NSD to post their rough draft articles here in II. Also, posting the final product here at II if you already haven't decided to do that too.

I rather not have rough drafts posted here, because then the article would have already been read. Besides, there are enough members at the NSD to get good articles written.

3. After doing some checking, as it's been some time since I had to do a word check on a paper, 2500 to 5000 words turns out to be around 6 to 14 pages in 12 type. More if in a bigger type, which some magazines have gone to. Now, that's all well and good, but maybe you haven't checked out the latest military history magazines as much, but they've gotten away from big articles of that caliber and move to more smaller articles of just a few pages and no more then 2500 words with maybe 1 or 2 articles per magazine in the 2500 to 5000 words range.

As a writer for Military Heritage, the requirements for a main article are 3,000 to 5,000 words, and for an opening article only ~2,500 words.

My idea is do what they did. Have sections specifically devoted to complex very thought out articles with a few per issue in the 2500 to 5000 word range and have the rest be in the 500 to 2500 word range or 2 to 5 pages that offers an interesting article just not as complex as say the 2500-5000 word one would be. In addition have a small section devoted to News or Foreign updates. Trust me on this one, I don't know about you, but I've been reading Military History and Military magazines of various types for nearly a decade now and have amassed a nice collection so, I can give real world examples should you desire an example of what I'm talking about. In that time, I've seen quite a few changes those magazines have under gone, so I have a pretty good idea of what works and doesn't.

The problem is ambition. It doesn't make sense to require these things for a first issue. The only thing that makes sense if just writing articles that are within the guidelines for length. What makes sense is just putting the magazine out there to gain readers, and as a consequence writers. Once there are enough writers, then we can think about expanding the magazine and how it will look like.

I have not only read a lot of magazines, but I have also written for them.

Well i'm intending to register if that is all alright with you, although my articles will be ranged in a variety of styles and topics I suppose I will be inclined to portrying my characters and writers as controversial and rather stereotyped.

Well, as the thread already states the final product will be posted on International Incidents ... that was the entire point.

I thought you mentioned something to that effect, but by the time I got around to posting the reply, I wasn't 100% sure if that had been mentioned or not, hence my reason for posting that idea. So, yes point taken and you can consider that point of mine redacted.

I agree, which is why it's already been said (on this very thread) that the magazine will be posted in post form.

^See Above^

I rather not have rough drafts posted here, because then the article would have already been read. Besides, there are enough members at the NSD to get good articles written.

I rather not have to register at NSD to be able to post the rough drafts, as nationstates consumes enough of my time already.:rolleyes:

I hope I'm wrong on this, but my gut tells me the more functions of the magazine you have over there at NSD, the less successful it's going to be. So, here's hoping I'm wrong in that regard. Besides, keeping it there so people can't read the rough drafts is kind of silly because, well you can read the rough drafts at NSD. What's the difference? Now, I don't know what you have planned in the future such as locking the thread or having a restricted forum of some type, but at the moment in my opinion it's more of a disadvantage to keeping it at NSD then it is moving most of the functions over here to the main nationstates forum. Finally, maybe it's just me, but I rather read the rough drafts more then the final product.

As a writer for Military Heritage, the requirements for a main article are 3,000 to 5,000 words, and for an opening article only ~2,500 words.

That's all well and good, since you'll be in overall charge of the magazine, but I doubt most people here on nationstates* are professional writers or at least had their work published in some form so expecting 3,000 to 5,000 words per article is asking a lot, at least when your first starting out. That was my point I was trying to make earlier. Hopefully, I made my position a little more clear so you can consider all your options in deciding what course to ultimately take.

*Unless, your planning to rely entirely on writers establish or not over at NSD, eventually you might find yourself with not enough interested writers.

The problem is ambition. It doesn't make sense to require these things for a first issue. The only thing that makes sense if just writing articles that are within the guidelines for length. What makes sense is just putting the magazine out there to gain readers, and as a consequence writers. Once there are enough writers, then we can think about expanding the magazine and how it will look like.

Agreed, the more complicated it is in the beginning the more chance of failure. However, I did see that you are considering at least one of my ideas. Instead of an article, having an relevant short interview of some type.

So in closing, I look forward to see the final product that is the first issue and here's wishing you good luck.

Briefly back from my holidays to want in, having discovered a peculiar new section on the draftroom.

Once I'm back from Malaysia, I think I can find some time for an article. Once I have something, should I just post the ideas and preliminary version on the relevant draftroom pages? I'd like do something on current affairs, as I'm having a civil war at the moment and I'd like to be able to tell the human side of it as it's going on, which it is. Would I be allowed to do that?

Do we have a deadline? I can type newspaper-type things quickly enough, having done it for years.

Back on next Tuesday, by the way.

I want contribute in the news magazine

I rather not have to register at NSD to be able to post the rough drafts, as nationstates consumes enough of my time already.:rolleyes:

If it wasn't on the NSD then it would be on another off-site forum; the idea behind putting it on the NSD is to consolidate my off-site forums, and to open the magazine to the NSD's membership (350+ strong), since this membership makes up a large part of the active role-playing community.

Besides, keeping it there so people can't read the rough drafts is kind of silly because, well you can read the rough drafts at NSD.

To a certain degree, it does compromise the rough draft, but on the other hand not all of NSD's membership visits that specific forum. It's a way of maximizing reviews, without necessarily publishing the article so that everyone can read it. It's a compromise that comes with increased peer reviewing, consolidating off-site forums and trying to promote writing for the magazine on a website with a fairly large membership.

Finally, maybe it's just me, but I rather read the rough drafts more then the final product.

This doesn't make any sense.


That's all well and good, since you'll be in overall charge of the magazine, but I doubt most people here on nationstates* are professional writers or at least had their work published in some form so expecting 3,000 to 5,000 words per article is asking a lot, at least when your first starting out.

Not really; length is not a difficult standard to achieve. The writing quality =/= length. The major compromise will be in writing quality, not in length. Some of us have posts that long.

That was my point I was trying to make earlier. Hopefully, I made my position a little more clear so you can consider all your options in deciding what course to ultimately take.

Well, the "course has already been taken", and insofar we have three rough drafts up.

*Unless, your planning to rely entirely on writers establish or not over at NSD, eventually you might find yourself with not enough interested writers.

Well, I've already had members register just for the purpose of the magazine, so I don't think that this is a problem.

Quoting myself again, but is here some deadline for the first article or are you just going to take whatever articles have been submitted at a time of your choosing and post them?

Quoting myself again, but is here some deadline for the first article or are you just going to take whatever articles have been submitted at a time of your choosing and post them?

It's safe to assume that the deadline is the end of this month, for all practical purposes. If there aren't enough articles, then it will be moved to the end of next month.

Then it's also safe to assume I'll have something by then.