NationStates Jolt Archive

Looking at some of the player submited issues, I can't help but notice they're something of a reflection of the NationStates comunity, and the players behind it. Thus, in the intrest of those nations with significant populations of non-humans, I wrote up a nice little issue. After some helpful sugestions from other nations in my region, I made a few revisions and am now putting it here for public debate.

A few notes here, as this is the first time I've written an issue, it's bound to be, well, complete crap. It's in the intrests of making it potentaly redeemable crap that I ask for your help and sugestions before submitting it.

Namely, how do I make it more amusing, so that even if it ends up getting dismissed, people at least get a chuckle from having read it? And what races should be protrayed in each of the issues? My lack of imagination is readily apparent in my use of furries, fantasy races and nothing else. Are there too many options(the only other to have 6 thus far is the supreme court one) or should I change the ones present?

A couple little notes, the first option is staying as is(I like it, and being a furry it's my perogitive to have at least one option reflect that), and I'm most willing to drop option 5 or replace it with something else entirely(it's kinda redundant an unimaginative, even for me). Oh, and for the time being I've hidden the stat chances effected by these issues, but feel free to debate what you think they should do anyways.

And yes, I stole the title from CSI. If you've got a better idea, say something.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Title: Fur And Loathing In @@NAME@@

Description: Controversy has erupted in response to a recent influx of non-human sentient beings into the nation.

Validity: Valid for all nations.

Options:

[option]"Look, just because we're not human doesn't mean we don't have anything to contribute." @@RANDOMNAME@@, an anthropomorphic raccoon said while several people glanced at her suspiciously before hurrying on their way. "I won't say were perfect, all we want is the chance to succeed or fail on our own merits, just like everyone else in @@REGION@@." Questions as to why her friends were rummaging though a dumpster went unanswered.
[effect]human workers in law firms, used car lots and garbage collection are loosing their jobs to unnervingly skilled anthropomorphic animals
[stats]*hidden*

[option]"Keep those freaks out of established industries!" Says @@RANDOMNAME@@, owner of the DirtCheap chain of used car lots, famous across @@REGION@@ for selling shoddy and occasionally explosive vehicles. "I'm not saying they're evil or anything, but I don't want to loose my job to some elf chick with hooters the size of my head. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a man without compassion though. Legalize prostitution & let these, elves or whatever they are start working there. Some people will really enjoy something, ahem, exotic, if you catch my drift, and you can tax it & use the money to subsidize local businesses." No answer was given as to why he had spent the entire conversation staring at a ludicrously well endowed elf woman.
[effect]a virgin sex industry has sprung up and is largely dominated by elves with improbable physical endowments
[stats]*hidden*

[option]@@RANDOMNAME@@, a General in @@NAME@@s Army had this to say. "I'm not going to wax poetic about rights or freedoms or anything like that. My job is to protect this great nation, and quite frankly these creatures could be useful. Just make non-humans serve a mandatory 5 years of service in our armed forces in exchange for full citizenship. Our military will rival that of any country in @@REGION@@, and if they live long enough they'll become productive members of society."
[effect]Orcish hoards armed with heavy artillery form the nations first line of defense
[stats]*hidden*

[option]"Are you insane!" Shouted @@RANDOMNAME@@, leader of the recently formed Peoples Coalition Of Famlies Concerned For The Children Of @@NAME@@ Under God. "You can't possibly lower yourself to falling for the lies of the liberal media and start treating them like equals! Besides, our religion is the only true one, and it doesn't say anything about talking raccoons, orcs with guns or elves with large breasts! If you can't stop them from getting in here, at least make sure they can't steal jobs from honest, God-fearing folk like us!"
[effect]new goblin-led crime syndicates have the police running ragged and church leaders preaching of the apocalypse
[stats]*hidden*

[option]"Those people have the right idea, but they're not going nearly far enough!" says @@RANDOMNAME@@, a priest for one of the most violent conservative churches in @@REGION@@. "We'll have to kill these abominations, and once they're gone we can start in on the minorities that are ruining our fair county! The Lilliputians, Bigtopians, Tasmanians, and especially those filthy East Lebatuckese, just line them up & shoot them all! Our nation will be better for it."
[effect]non-humans and racial minorities are shot on sight
[stats]*hidden*

[option]Finally, there's @@RANDOMNAME@@, an anthropomorphic vixen and childhood friend. "I had no idea there were enough humans here to make an issue of this. I don't think we should excercise any population controll, yet, but we do need to start keeping an eye on them incase they try something stupid."
[effect]humans are rare and treated with suspicion
[stats]*hidden*

And yes, I stole the title from CSI. If you've got a better idea, say something.

[off topic] Heh... damn funny episode.[/off topic]

Thanks... And I can see this hasn't garnered much intrest(figures), but I'll give it till friday, then I'm tossing it in the allready inordinately large pile of isseues the mods have to deal with.

Six options? Seems like an awful lot... :?

I foresee many people dismissing this, because

1) They don't acknowledge non-humans
or
2) They are like me and only acknowledge their own non-humans. 8)

i personally don't like it think it's to unrealistic, (was that the point) anyway it has to be realistic

i personally don't like it think it's to unrealistic, (was that the point) anyway it has to be realistic

i personally don't like it think it's to unrealistic, (was that the point) anyway it has to be realistic

Furries. :roll:

Furries. :roll:
Just like you furry-haters to try to stir up trouble at inappropriate times and places like this. :roll:

Heh heh, those smilies can freeze cross-eyed. Certainly warps the meaning :P

Anyhoo!

*Tries to speak with conviction despite this being his first ambling into the Issues Forum*

If you want to submit this as an issue, perhaps consider dropping one of the less extreme options (Prostitution? Garbage?) and replacing it with something for people who hold no truck with this topic.

If EVERY nation is going to encounter it, they'll most likely want a way to ignore it in there, without just clicking Dismiss.

Something like a shadowy plot by immaculately kitted up fursuiters, let down by the visible zips on their backs :lol:

Result could be civil freedoms go down slightly as conspiracy theorists and the like are more persecuted, tax goes up ever so slightly to pay for the government monitoring.

Oh, and I don't think detractors can really use realism as an arguement, not when some of the issues generate extreme reactions however you vote. Not to mention the possibilities of having kittens rampaging through your streets in the end of the world!

*Wanders off, wondering if it'll make it in. Writes the number 6 on a piece of paper*

Six issues does seem quite a bit... but I think if it's actually possible, go for it. One minor thing, though. If I were proposing this, I'd edit the "outcome" tag of your option to draft your "furries" into the military. It'd be more interesting if, rather than using those ugly D&D-esque Orcs as frontline troops (not a bad idea, though), you had those insufferably-cute cat-women acting as "morale boosters" for the troops. Now, don't get me wrong, I was thinking something along the lines of being entertainment at whatever Nation <insert nation here>'s equivalent of USO shows are, but you could word it anyway you like and have all the implications you think are necessary. Might be a little more humorous that way, too.

Something to the degree of, say,

[effect]Army morale has dramatically increased as cat-girl "morale officiers" have been conscripted from the nation's anthropomorphic population.

That's a bit too long for an effect phrase, but if you get my general idea, then all is well. Anyway, full speed ahead!

A well-written issue, but you people don't need to screw up our perfectly good political simulation game.

Oh, and I don't think detractors can really use realism as an arguement, not when some of the issues generate extreme reactions however you vote. Not to mention the possibilities of having kittens rampaging through your streets in the end of the world!
That rampaging kittens issue is an easter egg, and therefore need not be taken seriously.

Say, maybe this could be an easter egg issue? :P

I believe that this issue should be turned down, and not included in this game.

Firstly, this game is made with the assumption that the citizens are human, and most players of it are aware of the fact that they themselves are in fact human. This means that if this issue were to be introduced, it would throw most people's immersion in the game, since they are trying to roleplay a human ruler of a human country, in a human region. If you wish to pretend otherwise, you are quite within your rights, but that does not change the basic idea that this is a game about hyoo-mans, or mundanes, as I am told that furries are wont to call people who do not share their interest.

Secondly, this is a political simulation. Not a furry simulation. If you like that sort of thing, you might try down the hallway at Furtopia. If that is not to your taste, I'm certain that there are plenty of other games that cater to your tastes. Furthermore, you are quite within your rights to create regions that you may discuss your common interest in, without disturbing other players, and even roleplay your own furry issues, if that is your desire.

Thirdly, even if the assumption in human nations is used that this is all referring to people in fursuits, it is unrealistic since furries will never make the numbers to have any effect on real life politics. Oh sure, it might seem otherwise because you have 50+ people on your ICQ contact list who are furries, but that is just because the internet is so good at bringing people together of like mind.

Finally, most people's personal preferences would cause them to find this rather distasteful, even as a joke or an easter egg. While the rampaging kittens is admittedly rather silly, most people can see the humour in it. An issue involving furries, however, is something that many people would find repugnant, joke or otherwise.

In conclusion, I should like to put forth my humble opinion that this issue be denied, on the grounds that most players of this game would find it disagreeable, and that it would spoil the current theme and tone of the game.

Hoight! Someone is uptight about things.... it's a game, curse you. As long as issues don't border on intense retardation, I don't see anything wrong with them... Plus, as you said,

Thirdly, even if the assumption in human nations is used that this is all referring to people in fursuits, it is unrealistic since furries will never make the numbers to have any effect on real life politics. Oh sure, it might seem otherwise because you have 50+ people on your ICQ contact list who are furries, but that is just because the internet is so good at bringing people together of like mind.

The internet is good at bringing people of a like mind together, as you said. And this is an internet game, after all. I'm sure, like many other larger-than-fringe-but-minorities-none-the-less, there is a substantial following of the peoples in question in Nation-States.

Finally, if you want justification for an anthropomorphic population in the first place, I'm sure all the issues dealing with cloning, as well as genetic research (i.e. reviving extinct creatures), could easily have a gene-splicing offshoot, which could lead to such things.

Plus, if people don't like it, they have a "Dismiss Issue" option they can always invoke.

Six options? Seems like an awful lot... :?

I foresee many people dismissing this, because...

2) They are like me and only acknowledge their own non-humans. 8)

That's what the 6th's option is there for(the effects for it are largely cosmetic, as it assumes humans have always been a minority). I can't think of a realistic way of adknowledging *every* non-human race played in NS, which is why it's worded the way it is, but if anyone's got a better idea, feel free to suggest it. I'd love to hear it.

Second, for everyone who's complained about the issue having furries in it, STFU. Yes, I know furries are a minoritiy, even amongst the other non-human nations here, that's why only two options mention them(and the second may easily be changed to have something else entirely). If I'd wanted it to only be about furries I would've made it that way, but I didn't. Now quit focusing on the one thing you happen to not like about this issue or kindly stop posting in this thread.

One minor thing, though. If I were proposing this, I'd edit the "outcome" tag of your option to draft your "furries" into the military. It'd be more interesting if, rather than using those ugly D&D-esque Orcs as frontline troops (not a bad idea, though), you had those insufferably-cute cat-women acting as "morale boosters" for the troops.

I don't necessarialy like Orcs either, but it's what poped into my head at the time so I put it in. I'll continue in a moment after I get done with a related though this brings up.

With the exception of the first option, the ideas/races presented are just placeholders for the time being! I know I allready said this, but it seems I need to say it again so that we're all on the same page here. If you don't like how I've worded something, suggest a better idea. I may not use it, but I will consider it.

Now that I've said that, I'll get back to my last train of thought. I'm kinda against adding furries to any more options for the sake of variety, though I do like that idea(perhaps a bit too much, but that's another issue for a diffrent forum). hmmm, maybe replace the orcs with Sentinel-esq machines ala Revolutions.

================================================
[option]@@RANDOMNAME@@, a General in @@NAME@@s Army had this to say. "I'm not going to wax poetic about rights or freedoms or anything like that. My job is to protect this great nation, and quite frankly these creatures could be useful. Just make non-humans serve a mandatory 5 years of service in our armed forces in exchange for full citizenship. Our military will rival that of any country in @@REGION@@, and if they live long enough they'll become productive members of society."
[effect]the borders are partolled by improbably large swarms of sentient machines
[stats]*hidden*
================================================

And again, I know six options is a bit much, but I'm trying to cover as many bases as possible(simply put, I'd rather have too many options on a given issue than too few. I mean how many times have we all dismissed the "gunman kills three" issue, or at least balked at the only non-gun-controll option being the pathetic "blame games" excuse?). If any otpion is replaced it'll probably be #5(mainly beccause there's allready potental issues which will have a simmilar option and outcome).

Here's a possible replacement for #5.
================================================
[option]"We told you to ban those Harry Potter books! We warned you what movies and comic strips were doing to our nations children!" says @@RANDOMNAME@@, a priest for one of the most conservative churches in @@REGION@@. "And now look what's happening! Everywhere people are believing in elves and talking animals, or even worse that they ARE elves or talking animals! Even other churches have succumb to their foul influence! I say we burn all subersive liteature that isn't based on Our Most Holy And Inherently Infailable Book Of Allmighty Truth That Founded This Nation, not to mention those filthy costume shops that support these whackos and their delusions."
[effect]government funded religious mobs frequently burn books and costume shops, often by using shoddy, used and occasionaly explosive trucks
[stats]*hidden*
================================================

And yeah, I could remove the refrences to the explosive trucks, but it struck me like a wet trout the to the head.

Looks like there's finally some discussions going on... If this keeps up I may postpone the submission of this issue(provided the discussion remains more intelligent than baseles acusations that majority of NS will be offended by this issue since you didn't like it).

If you ask me, and heck who does when you have 44 posts, this issue is no more potentially offensive than such issues as "Violent Violetists".

Internet's about freedom of speech and expression people, despite how it's actually used / abused. And of course about the sharing of information.

If you REALLY detest the idea that much, dismiss it. The equivalent of chucking the document in a shredder and swearing blind you never saw it. Your nation stays clean and clear of those scary anthros, they don't even exist there.

No harm, no foul, right?

Sheesh people, if you want to complain about furries, you have the GENERAL forum in which to do that. :? This forum is for discussing issue.

But anyways, anyone who says that furries/elves/what-have-you don't fit in this game have obviously never taken even a passing glance at the Nationstates or International Incidents forums. 8)

Phooey. I liked the "morale boosters" idea...

Anyway, how did you finagle those awful Matrix squid-monsters out of the "Military Conscription" option? They seem completely unrelated.... though, as you said, your races/whatever are only placeholders. Or something. BTW, what was that "different time, different forum" line you mentioned referencing, anyway? That escaped me.

Furthermore, I concur with earlier comments regarding over-reaction to a well-worded issue invovling non-humans: chill.

Anyway. Good luck to you with getting it accepted by the mods and all.

Furthermore, I concur with earlier comments regarding over-reaction to a well-worded issue invovling non-humans: chill.

This is an ancient and well-travelled conflict, as people like me stand against people, as it were, like them. It would be different if he had worded this differently but this issue is Infected and must not be added.

Long live Humanity.

Piffle.

There are a lot of diametrically-opposed groups on NS. The only difference is size, and hence, clout.

---Post deleted by NationStates Moderators---

I think that issue was stretching it!

:D

:(

OK OK, bad pun I know...

...that was terrible. Please go flog yourself for that repugnant pun.

*Rubbing marks on his back*

Hmm? You were saying something?

OK, after some input, here's v1.3! Is this an improvement, or am I spending too much time fixing something that isn't broken?

================================================

Title: Fur And Loathing In @@NAME@@

Description: Controversy has erupted in response to a recent influx of non-human sentient beings into the nation.

Validity: Valid for all nations.

Options:

[option]"Look, just because we're not human doesn't mean we don't have anything to contribute." @@RANDOMNAME@@, an anthropomorphic raccoon said while several people glanced at her suspiciously before hurrying on their way. "I won't say were perfect, all we want is the chance to succeed or fail on our own merits, just like everyone else in @@REGION@@." Questions as to why her friends were rummaging though a dumpster went unanswered.
[effect]human workers in law firms, used car lots and garbage collection are loosing their jobs to unnervingly skilled anthropomorphic animals
[stats]*hidden*

[option]"Keep those freaks out of established industries!" Says @@RANDOMNAME@@, owner of the DirtCheap chain of used car lots, famous across @@REGION@@ for selling shoddy and occasionally explosive vehicles. "I'm not saying they're evil or anything, but I don't want to loose my job to some elf chick with hooters the size of my head. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a man without compassion though. Legalize prostitution & let these, elves or whatever they are start working there. Some people will really enjoy something, ahem, exotic, if you catch my drift, and you can tax it & use the money to subsidize local businesses." No answer was given as to why he had spent the entire conversation staring at a ludicrously well endowed elf woman.
[effect]a virgin sex industry has sprung up and is largely dominated by elves with improbable physical endowments
[stats]*hidden*

[option]@@RANDOMNAME@@, a General in @@NAME@@s Army had this to say. "I'm not going to wax poetic about rights or sentience or anything like that. My job is to protect this great nation, and quite frankly these machines, regardless of what some may think of them, could be useful. Just make them serve a mandatory 5 years of service in our armed forces in exchange for full citizenship. Our military will rival that of any country in @@REGION@@, and if they last long enough they'll become productive members of society."
[effect]the nations borders are patrolled by excessively large swarms of sentient machines
[stats]*hidden*

[option]"Are you insane!" Shouted @@RANDOMNAME@@, leader of the recently formed The Peoples Coalition Of Families Concerned For The Children Of @@NAME@@ Under God. "You can't possibly lower yourself to falling for the lies of the liberal media and start treating them like equals! Besides, our religion is the only true one, and it doesn't say anything about talking raccoons, 'sentient' machines or elves with large breasts! If you can't stop them from getting in here, at least make sure they can't steal jobs from honest, God-fearing folk like us!"
[effect]new goblin-led crime syndicates have the police running ragged and church leaders preaching of the apocalypse
[stats]*hidden*

[option]"We told you to ban those Harry Potter books! We warned you what movies and comic strips were doing to our nations children!" says @@RANDOMNAME@@, a priest for one of the most conservative churches in @@REGION@@. "And now look what's happening! Everywhere people are believing in elves and talking animals, or even worse that they ARE elves or talking animals! Even other churches have succumb to their foul influence! I say we burn all subversive literature that isn't based on Our Most Holy And Inherently Infailable Book Of Almighty Truth That Founded This Nation, not to mention those filthy costume shops that support these wackos and their delusions."
[effect]government funded religious mobs frequently burn book stores and costume shops
[stats]*hidden*

[option]Finally, there's @@RANDOMNAME@@, a childhood friend and trused advisor. "I had no idea there were enough humans here to make an issue of this. I don't think we should exercise any population control, yet, but we do need to start keeping an eye on them in case they try something stupid."
[effect]humans are rare and treated with suspicion
[stats]*hidden*

================================================

Among the changes, option 5 has been replaced, three has been reworded to better reflect it's outcome, and six has been edited for clarity(it finally dawned on me that the best way to cover all bases for largely non-human nations would be to simply not mention species save for the rarity of humans). Other edits include spelling fixes and minor edits to keep everything flowing smoothly.

BTW, what was that "different time, different forum" line you mentioned referencing, anyway? That escaped me.

It's just to say that I like your idea. A lot. In ways that could easily land me in troubble for mentioning here. The diffrent time, diffrent form simply means that there's a time and place for everything, in this case it meant "later, on a forum more orientated towards yiffy material".

Anyway. Good luck to you with getting it accepted by the mods and all.

Thanks. I'll need it.

So, anyone else have something to say? If not it goes in the pile on tuesday!

I think it is an interesting issue. It has my stamp of approval. I'm suprised that it doesn't mention dragons anywhere, but still something I wouldn't mind seeing. And very well done, unlike some other issues I can name.

- Sovy K.