Getting Started

The following are encouraged as a good way to get started, particularly for new players!

A couple recommendations:

1. Introduce yourself on the Regional Message Board. This will help you get to know your neighbors.

2. Join the World Assembly. This is our only requirement, and it is a very easy process.

3. Check out our Discord server. This is by no means mandatory, but it opens the gates to interaction with nations in other regions.

4. Read all about Ridgefield's government here!

Enjoy your stay, and please do not hesitate to ask questions!

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FAQ

1. What is...?

NationStates has a lot of acronyms, initialisms, and terms that do not exist anywhere else. Just got here and have no idea what a "WFE" is? How about an "endo?" Look no further! There is an encyclopedia of NS located right here. It can also be accessed through the "Reference" link in the menu above.

2. What is there to do in this game?

NS is essentially an open sandbox, rather than a highly structured war game, which makes it a very unique as a political simulator. There are many ways to play, and just like in real life, there is no defined way to win. You could even come up with a new use for NS; with a little creativity, anything is possible. That being said, most NSers spend their time pursuing one of four common activities: roleplaying, gameplaying, debating real life matters, and discussing WA legislation.

3. Those sound interesting!

All right, that was not exactly a question, but here are some brief descriptions of those four activities.

Roleplay: On NS, roleplay (commonly known as RP) is text-based, and consists of players writing collaborative stories that bring their nations (or people within their nations) to life. It usually takes place on the NS forums, player-created offsite forums, or region RMBs.
RP Guide: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=390032
RP Questions: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=118474
Advice for New Players: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=33989

Gameplay: The term "gameplay" (commonly known as GP) encompasses a number of things. It includes the "issues game," where players answer issues to build their nations in a certain way and compete on World Census reports; the "invasion game" (commonly known as raiding and defense, or R/D); and regional politics.
NS Issues: viewtopic.php?f=13&t=88
R/D Guide: viewtopic.php?f=12&t=307728
Region Building: viewtopic.php?f=12&t=353470

Real-world debate: This is mostly self-explanatory, and takes place in the General subforum (commonly known as NSG), or on regions' offsite forums and RMBs.
First Stop for NSG: viewforum.php?f=20

World Assembly: The World Assembly (commonly known as the WA) is a mixture of RP and GP. It is the world's only international legislative body, similar to the real-world United Nations. Many players like to spend time writing their own WA resolutions or discussing proposals written by others. This takes place in the General Assembly and Security Council subforums. If this sounds interesting to you, it is highly recommended that you begin there, by asking questions and reading other players' work.
General Assembly Rules/Advice: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=159348
Security Council Guide: viewtopic.php?f=24&t=218040

4. I followed the recommendations in the "Getting Started" section. Now what?

We recommend helping us to set up the region! Now, admittedly, we are biased. If you try it, though, you might find yourself unable to stop! Since we are so new, this is the best time to get involved and contribute your brilliant ideas. There are experienced players in adjacent regions who will be happy to work with you to make Ridgefield great.

5. Can I declare war? How about setting up alliances, or trading?

NS does not include functions for war or trade, but that should be no obstacle to you! If you have a large enough group, you may attack another region, which is called "raiding" (see "Gameplay" under question 3). You can also begin an RP war with another player (complete guide here), but they must agree to it, or you will be RPing alone. Trade is also RPed on NS, so the best place to go is the GE&T subforum (Help Desk thread).

Alliances are a little more complicated, because they can take so many forms. Again, there is no built-in function for alliances, although embassies can be established between regions, and are sometimes used to signify formal agreements. In general, alliances between nations are RPed. Alliances between regions, on the other hand, are most often political gameplay agreements.

6. So does this place have rules?

Glad you asked. The site rules are located in this thread. You should read through all of them to avoid trouble with the moderators.

If you were looking for the rules of the region, you will find that there are very few, and they rely mostly on common sense. We do ask that you not spam the board with nonsense.

7. Can I get more detail about some aspect of the game?

Sure! The official game FAQ can be found here, and a more comprehensive version is maintained on the Technical subforum here.

Still have a question? Try asking on the RMB!

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As a result, joining the World Assembly is required here in Ridgefield, under penalty of ejection, due to the security risk non-WA nations pose.

But that's not all! The World Assembly is an incredible opportunity for you to make your voice heard. You may have seen those resolutions up at vote on the World Assembly page. Guess what? They were written by nations just like yours! Here in Ridgefield, we're all about helping you make world-changing proposals. Just telegram me, and I and your other neighbors will be happy to help you draft something that really shines!

• Supply your email in: page=settings

• Go to page=un and click "Apply to Join"

• Go to your email, and click on the link NationStates sends you (check your spam folder if you don't see it).

• Go to the bottom of someone's nation page and click "Endorse [Nation]" to endorse them. You can start with me, your neighbor across the street, or anyone else! The more, the better!

• There are three ways to endorse everyone in a region:

  1. Go to this website and enter your nation name (without the title) and our region name (our region is Ridgefield): https://tart.calref.ca/

  2. Consider joining our discord and use /swap. You'll also get on discord help with writing proposals, which is a must if you want to get something passed in spite of the ornery World Assembly curmudgeons!

  3. Look here for a list of nations to endorse: page=dispatch/id=1986050

• Abstract

• Proposing Legislation

• The Civil Service

• Applying to the Council

• Conclusion
  

This dispatch will walk you through the 3 types of government involvement in Ridgefield, will teach you how YOU can do it too and tell you how it rolls out from there!
There are 3 types of government involvement:

• Legislative proposals through the convention

• Joining the Civil Service

• Applying to join the Council
  

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What is it?
Ridgefield has a democratic legislature, as such the decisions on legislation are conduct through be polls and decided by majority vote.
To get your legislation to a vote, you will need to go through the legal process; you should make a bill with the changes that you want to be made.
That bill is what will later be voted on, after its final language is approved.
The whole process will be carefully described on the next two points.

How to do it?
So the first thing you have to do is fill out a bill proposal. Here's the template made by our former Mayor Haymarket Riot:
page=dispatch/id=1964760
To use the template you need to click on the previous dispatch, scroll down to the bottom right and click on Raw.
The next thing you have to do is copy the raw code, go to you nation's page, dispatch, create a new dispatch with the tags "Bulletin" and "Policy", change "[Template]" to "[Proposed]" and fill out with your information and write your bill and post it!
Here's an example bill written by our mayor: page=dispatch/id=2552319
The next thing is that your bill MUST be linked in the Council Chambers, which is located in the Augustin Alliance's discord server.
If you are a member of the discord server you just have to notice the Speaker and/or the Clerk (and ping them) deliver them your bill (link it).
If you aren't a member of the discord server, you can just simply send a private telegram to the Speaker or to the Clerk and deliver them you bill (they will then put the link in the Council Chambers).

What happens after that?

• Firstly the Speaker will schedule a date for the bill discussion.

• In this bill discussion, which happens on the Council Chambers, the people that are at the discussion will discuss the bill's final language until there are no objections, after that there will be a 24h poll on the discussed bill open for every resident to vote.

• The bill is linked in the poll's description so that every resident can read it with its final language before voting.

• When the poll ends the bill can be approved or not depending on if the bill passes via majority vote in the poll.

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What is it?
The Civil Service is voluntary work that any resident can apply to do, to help a Council member with their job.
Before I explain more, it's important to keep in mind this service is OPTIONAL, and every Council position was created to do its job without needing the said service, so the Civil Service is a place for you to help out where you might enjoy doing so!
A person that is working in the civil service is considered a "junior government member".
A junior government member will be assigned some tasks related to the government office they are helping, ranging from very basic clerical work to helping write and direct policy, depending on level of interest.
For exemple, if a junior government member was working for the Speaker of the Council, that member could be one of the clerks.
You can read more about the clerk's duties in Haymarket's manual:
page=dispatch/id=2539513

How do I apply?
It's very easy to apply to Civil Service, you just need to telegram the Council member you want to help and tell them that you're interested in working with them and mention what your interests in the area are, keep in mind you can apply any time you want, and can message multiple Council members! Current council members are Speaker Far marchen, Director of Relations The Byrdlands, World Assembly Ambassador Moduland, Cultural Curator Sapphica Sororitas, and Chief of Police TesGay

What happens after that?
After that the Council member will contact you and give you a job that fits your interests.

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What is it?
The applications to the Council can be sent in at any time, but must be sent in by 15 days before the day of the end of the next election (currently, November 16) only be considered shortly before elections, which typically occur every three months. The next regular election period will start on November 16, and end on December 1.

How to do it?
To do it you need to fill out this application dispatch and send it to our mayor The Byrdlands.
page=dispatch/id=2627725

What happens after that?
10 days after applications close (currently, November 26) the mayor will send a telegram detailing every position for which she decides to hold an election, and will pick the top two candidates to run for each position in consultation with the Governor. After a short campaign period of 3 days (ending November 29), she will start a 48 hour poll in which every Ridgefield's nation will have to send them their preferred choice for the position. During this period the candidates will be able to campaign and debate with each other.
After the 48 hours the winner will be elected.

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If you found this guide helpful, please upvote!

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Map

Political Map

Legend:
Nekotan

Map provided by Nekotan. Upkept by Nekotan

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Make a Claim

The size of the lease will be weighed against your time and influence in the region.

For Initial Claims, write a Factbook containing this exact format:
"Category: Meta ---> Gameplay
Title: Map Lease [RF]

[b]Nation Name:[/b]
[b]Time Spent in the Ridgefield:[/b]
[b]What area are you leasing?:[/b]
[b]What color would you like your area to be?:[/b]

When leasing a spot on the map it is asked that you provide a drawing of the area that you want, or a very specific description of boundaries.

[b]Nation Name:[/b]
[b]Time Spent in the Ridgefield:[/b]
[b]Where do you wish to expand/relocate your lease to?:[/b]
[b]For what reason do you wish to expand/relocate your lease?:[/b]

Finally, please pass the dispatch along to the current cartographer. Telegram Nekotan or DM @frasier209 on Discord.

Nations that are kicked, leave or CTE will be removed from the map within a week.

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