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What happened to all those other nations?
Topic Started: Jan 17 2008, 05:54 AM (749 Views)
Al Araam
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Demigod of Death & Inactivity

Wow. Those posts made me realize how long I've been around this place and now I'm feeling more than a little bit nostalgic.

It also made me enjoy RD's name change though. Since my nation no longer exists, I might have to get me one of those, although I haven't the faintest idea what I'd change mine to...
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Nag Ehgoeg
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The Devil's Advocate

The Assassination Army
Jan 17 2008, 07:30 PM
I always looked at it in terms of activity. People who posted a lot RP wise, active in the 'international' scheme of things being the 'oldies' and those not quite there yet being the 'newbies'. And of course, those who have 'retired or are in decline' which should be self explainitory.

Certainly, when judging people's worth I go by the quality of posts (not join date or quantity). Those who post well and at least semi-frequently over a peroid of time are those I consider to be Veterans - and everyone else is a Newb.

But it's nice to break things up into generations that reflect the history of the forum - then you get to appriechate the Classics doing what they do best and the Rising Stars coming out of the woodwork and making Veteran quality posts.
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Tristan da Cunha
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Science and Industry
Instead of defining the history of the forum in terms of generations of members, it's possible to view the history of the forum as an evolution of RP style. Cultural milestones delineate each "era" in RP, and consequently each era is clearly different from the eras that preceded and succeeded it. Players define eras but are simultaneously themselves affected by the cultural traditions and innovations of the eras they live through, and hopefully each player, whether veteran or newbie, has grown as an RPer as a result.

You know how I love a hard historical analogy for anything.

Therefore ours has clear parallels with the history of Greek civilization:

The Mycenaean Era
The most ancient period of the forum. The hoariest antiquity. A period of time that will be recalled by no more than 4 or 5 people still here today, like Homeric bards singing of gods and heroes.

Greek Civilization (our forum) was founded by Paradise, and the first RPs took place. In primeval Attica, writing had not been invented yet, so there were no written rules about how to RP, yet the Danaian kings nonetheless ruled their realm effectively and wisely with their honor, backed up by steel. The Achaeans won a war for Helen of Troy only to discover that she was a double-account of Corsairio.

The Dark Ages

For some reason, the Mycenaean RPs gradually faded, and civilization collapsed. Perhaps RD's first disappearance had something to do with this. The knowledge of Bronze toolmaking disappeared. People rarely visited the forums anymore. This time is considered the Dark Age of Greek civilization.

The Archaic Era

Patrua's Elections thread jumpstarted forum activity, and literally sparked a rebirth of civilization. RD returned. Great philosopher-kings such as Wadj, Al Araam, and Egyria came to power and ruled the Greeks wisely. The darkness was lit up by the brilliant flame of the War of Succession thread, and it will never go dim again. The Holy League, the European Peace Conference, Wadj vs. Prussia - all unforgettable RPs from the Archaic era. Heady times, but little did the forum know that its best days were ahead of it.

Still, there were problems in Archaic Greece; civilization had been reborn, but not yet refined. Some people, even respected veterans who weathered the Dark Ages, had difficulty separating OOC from IC, despite Patrua's best attempts to correct this problem. Therefore, the Archaic Era, while producing brilliant RPs, was defined by a cliquishness and difficulty of separating OOC from IC.

The Classical Era

The Classical Era of the forum was ushered in by Egyria's departure and CE's first departure and return. OOC and IC were officially separated once and for all, and despite some exceptions, people abided by that sensible way of life. Patrua's system finally triumphed, thus allowing the forum to reach new heights. Ironically, Patrua himself would not be present to see the fruits of his labor, as he got into a petty dispute with Sistan, and left the forum.

The Classical Era was the height of civilization and Golden Age of RP. All the traditions and useful discoveries and innovations were codified for all time in both written and unwritten forms. The defining RP of the Classical Era was the Baghdad Pact. That was Middle East RP at its finest: overwhelmingly powerful states mobilizing all of their industrial, military, economic, and diplomatic power and influence against each other, for the ultimate stakes of survival and domination vs. failure and death.

The Classical Era was the last "Middle East-centric" era of RP, where the Middle East dwarfed all other regions in terms of importance, influence, and dominance in the NSWR world.

The Hellenistic Era

As Alexander the Great conquered new lands in Asia, Europe, and Africa, he spread Hellenistic civilization to the furthest reaches of the world, and the scope of RP expanded beyond the Middle East. The other regions, long playing second-fiddle to the Middle East, now played an increasing role in RP affairs, due to the inactivity and semi-retirement of various Middle East players, and the efforts of people such as Kasnyia, NRE, Quaon, and E-D.

The Roman Era

Classical Greece ultimately succumbed to Rome, but the Age of Pericles lingers on as fond memories. It is said that fair Greece conquered her conquerors. The Romans, as brutish barbarians and conquerors of Greece, were fascinated with Greek civilization and loved to re-live the past brilliance of Greece, endlessly debating the merits of the ancient Greek philosophers, adopting Greek mannerisms, and even collecting Greek antique objet d' arts. Today our forum indulges in this pastime of cultural nostalgia; we love to go through our past RPs and compile elaborate lists and histories of our "greatest RPs" and "greatest posts," and even this thread itself.

Rome is a state of mind in our forum. Today's Roman RPs are not known for simple elegance or white-hot brilliance like the Classical RPs were. Instead, today's RP's are known for massiveness, complexity, and epicness. We carefully plot out elaborate storylines, as opposed to the spontaneity of Classical RPs. We carefully consider and analyze our writing styles as opposed to the free flowing of words and knowledge in the Classical Era. We have lengthy discursuses about the very nature of RP. The RP style of today is not better or worse than the Classical Era, but definitely different.
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Menhad
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ET2(IDW)
Tristan da Cunha
Jan 17 2008, 07:11 PM
The Wanderers.

Scythirus (83) to Great New France (106)

Strange newcomers from the desert stumbled into the encampment, in search of water. The Wanderers never planned to stay long, but they ended up staying for good. The prophet of the Golden Calf, Corsairio, was cast from the community and banished to the wilderness.

I am right before AA
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Wadj
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The Very Model of a Modern Major General
Hehe, I'm part of the classical age/a patriarch. That's neat.

Anyway, I'm sort of back kind of. I've started a nation in Asia called Far Cathay, and I intend to play it as a sort of new Imperial China. I hadn't thought about NS at all for a long time, but then I talked to Quaon on AIM, and I just sort of got a hankering to come back. I don't know how active I'll be, but I'll try at least to post in the Off Topic forums from time to time.
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Tristan da Cunha
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Science and Industry
Astounding. Welcome back!
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Pascoag
2nd Lieutenant
 *  *  *  *  *
My God the Necronomicon works! Welcome Back!
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Kasnyia
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Chairman of the Bank
The reniassance is coming! ^_^
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New Harumf
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Bloodthirsty Unicorn
Welcome back you Galesburg country bumpkin!! How are things in the Hog Capital of the World??
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Rhadamanthus
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Legitimist

What the fuck? When was the last time we had a Wadj on our forums? Well, I can't say I'm anything but pleased. Well pleased... and confused.
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Quaon
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A Prince Amoung Men-Shoot First and Ask Questions Later
YAY!

Now, it seems that I must speak to Patrua, and then the Second Coming will be upon us! Wait...does that mean Corsario will return as the Anti-Christ?

Also, btw, Wadj, if you want a nation that has considerable population, I've a few nations I no longer use that will be of use to you.
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Wadj
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The Very Model of a Modern Major General
Excellent, I have confused all of you. Now I shall disappear without a trace for months on end! MWUAHAHAHAHA!

Seriously, though, I'm not sure what finally got me to come back. It just seemed like a good idea at the time, and I was feeling nostalgic. Anyway, I have to write a paper for Ancient Egyptian Warfare, but in a couple of days I'll start a thread detailing the formation of Cathay. What's the situation in China at the moment? Is there anything I should know that I can include in my formation RP?

EDIT: Quaon, thanks for the offer, but I like Far Cathay. I want to start fresh with my nation.
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Quaon
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A Prince Amoung Men-Shoot First and Ask Questions Later
You could just use Far Cathay as the RP name and use the nation for population purposes, but suit yourself. Asia, besides the Kasnyian civil war, is a bit dead at the moment.
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Wadj
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The Very Model of a Modern Major General
That's a shame. Perhaps I can spice it up a bit...
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Kasnyia
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Chairman of the Bank
And even THAT's begining to draw to a close.

...but no worries. Asia will once again be the hotbed as it once was. ;)
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Paradise
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Resident bureaucrat

Wow, Wadj is back!

So, what's up?
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Austro-Bayern
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Prime Minister Adolf Galland
 *  *  *  *  *
-cough- RESURGENT SAXE-COBURG SPARKING PAN-GERMAN WAR -cough-

Hello Wadj! I'm the new guy!
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Kasnyia
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Chairman of the Bank
Lets not get hasty now, AB... :lol:
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Menhad
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ET2(IDW)
Wadj
Jan 22 2008, 04:10 PM
That's a shame. Perhaps I can spice it up a bit...

WADJ!
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Ukabanea
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The Resident Evil?....Mayhap?
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uuhh hi
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lebowski2123
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Resident?
welcome back
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Eleytheria-Duo
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Resident Bystander
I never got a chance to know you or RP with you, Wadj, but hopefully I will have the opportunity.

Welcome back.
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Catholic Europe
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Spammer
Where's the mention of the Holy League TC? That was more important than the Baghdad Pact lol! ;)
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Menhad
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ET2(IDW)
Catholic Europe
Jan 22 2008, 09:33 PM
Where's the mention of the Holy League TC? That was more important than the Baghdad Pact lol! ;)

Ah the good ole days
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Catholic Europe
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Spammer
Menhad
Jan 22 2008, 10:07 PM
Catholic Europe
Jan 22 2008, 09:33 PM
Where's the mention of the Holy League TC? That was more important than the Baghdad Pact lol! ;)

Ah the good ole days

Oh I know. It's great that we are doing all these threads remembering those days. We had such a great time then!
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