NationStates Jolt Archive


NationStates: A wallet drain or a source of inspiration?

Sarzonia
17-11-2004, 16:56
How many of you have bought various items to enhance RP, such as books on military equipment, combat thrillers, etc. because of NationStates? List what you've bought because of NationStates here.

My list:

Battle Born, a novel by Dale Brown (to improve my aerial RPs)
Jane's Warship Recognition Guide (to help my designs for the Portland Iron Works)
several other books (I'll add to this list later)
a calculator (to figure out amounts for orders I get at Portland Iron Works)

I sometimes joke that I could write off my purchases for NationStates as business expenses. Having said that, playing NS has reawakened my interest in the Navy (which was quite obsessive when I was young) and has inspired me to write a book with the emphasis on character development, plot lines, etc.
Euroslavia
17-11-2004, 20:04
I actually bought 2 books to give me some help. Who's Who In Military History, and Sun Tzu's Art of War. It'd be funny if we could use NS to get a tax break for purchasing these books, lol.
Sarzonia
18-11-2004, 21:00
I just bought one today, in fact: Why Nations Go To War, fifth edition by John G. Stoessinger.
Itinerate Tree Dweller
19-11-2004, 02:21
Well, as a gag gift... my family bought be stationary that said "From the Desk of Emperor Erik Kersk I of Itinerate Tree Dweller."
Tuesday Heights
19-11-2004, 02:40
Hmm... I don't think that I've ever actually bought anything specifically for NationStates, but I've used the resources I had prior to playing the game for certain aspects.
Sasspatch
19-11-2004, 02:47
Buy a book for this? You gotta be kidding!
Neo England
19-11-2004, 03:05
The only book I bought cos of NS is this odd book I found entitled "Jennifer Government"...
Draconis Nightcrawlis
19-11-2004, 03:09
The only book I bought cos of NS is this odd book I found entitled "Jennifer Government"...

T'was the same for me :)
Vastiva
19-11-2004, 10:33
Jennifer Government and Syrup.

I already have an extensive collection of military books.
Sarzonia
19-11-2004, 18:15
Buy a book for this? You gotta be kidding!Role playing is about telling a story. I want to tell the best story I possibly can. Since I hadn't even touched a naval book in about 20 years when I started playing NS, I realized my books on "modern" ships were hopelessly out of date, so I went to look for current books. I also wanted to read strategy books so I could do a better job of RPing the strategy aspect of wars.

If I were to write a novel based on the events in my "country," I would definitely be consulting these books and possibly more to be able to craft an even better story. And besides, some of the books I bought were in the bargain bins. One dollar hardbacks and fifty cents for paperbacks... how can you go wrong? :cool:
Steel Butterfly
21-11-2004, 04:31
Other than Jennifer Government and my internet bill...
Sarzonia
22-11-2004, 16:31
I bought a book about short story writing, though it wasn't specifically for NationStates. I probably wouldn't have bought it if it weren't for NationStates, however.