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Westwind

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Posts posted by Westwind

    Hey TWP, Danlina here

    in Information and Introduction Centre

    Posted

    A Model United Nations sounds like fun. Once upon a time long ago when I was in High School, there was a Student Congress that competed at Forensics meets across the state. I was the Lead of my school's House Delegation, and served as Presiding Officer most meets. It was a blast. Unfortunately, most meets were required to go by Sequential Debate rather than Open Debate - I performed better with Open Debate.  I remember writing Legislation on Decriminalization of Victimless Crimes and Judicial System Reform among others.

    In NS, I would suggest participation in regional Legislatures/Assemblies, debates in the General Assembly/Security Council World Assembly forums ingame, and signing up as an Ambassador. 

    Good luck to you, and welcome!

    New Theme Chatter

    in The Lounge

    Posted

    23 hours ago, Dalimbar said:

    We started out as one of the key pillars of the ADN, and proudly were one of the most effective forces in defenderdom, never mind in-game.

    *nods, rocks, rambles*  During The Crimson Order operations, one of the possible paths we prepared was the restoration of ADN. I owned the domain name (PH gave it to me), created a new forum. We controlled two of the three largest regional former ADN militaries (TNP/Equilism) and I had an insider in Nasicournia (ADN foudning region) ready to declare alliance with us if I triggered that option. TWP had both defender and raider armies, and the TWP Minister of the defender army was a former Equilism Military Minister, so I expect TWP would have participated in some way. Those four regions were the four pillars of ADN.

    I could have been the Defender hero rather than villian. (Of course, all that had to be kept secret from the others we were working with such as Gatesville, The Last Kingdom, LKE....)

    I had three or four very different options mapped out and prepared. If TNP Admin Grosse /Flem hadn't refused to change the North Pacific Army forum name ("OMG West is going to turn us raider because he's changing the name!" *rollseyes*)- thus blocking me and violating the TNP constitution, Crimson Order would have turned out entirely differently. And Grosse and Flem would have been happy about the results. Instead they assumed my intentions incorrectly. Screwed themselves over based on their own metal projections. (Yes, yes....I encouraged those perceptions of course) TNP should stop calling me a rogue delegate. I was duly elected and It was TNP forum admin that violated the constitution, giving me no choice but to abandon the forum. I was duly elected and the constitution gave me full authority. Ah well.

    These days, TNP Admin Elu, who stole the TNP Delegacy from me, was recently asking for my help with TNP's forum move from Tapatalk. I'll never get credit though (I think it's ironic. Demonize me and ask for me help. Wasn't the first time.)

    Of course, there was the time when The Pacific asked for my help, and I never got credit for that either. I think The Pacific should hire me as Emperor and Delegate, I have a good resume for the job.

    23 hours ago, Dalimbar said:

    those of us who should honestly be NS dead by now.

    *chuckles*  I've been planning my NS death for five years. It's very close now. Unless The Pacific wants to hire me as Delegate.  I won't hold my breath.

    42 minutes ago, Overthinkers said:

    Not to mention that the other thread is citizens-only.

    Thank you! 

    I have the ability to post in the Hall, but I don't because I'm not a citizen. Besides, I can ramble a bit off topic here, as thread jacking is traditional in TWP. :P

     

    24 minutes ago, Big Bad Badger said:

    I really like the idea of expanding upon the pirate theme.

    Perhaps combined with the dragon from Ark's flag idea.

    "Dragons coming out of the sea,
    Shimmering silver head of wisdom looking at me.
    He brings down the fire from the skies,
    You can tell he's doing well by the look in human eyes.
    Better not compromise.
    It won't be easy."

     

    New Theme Chatter

    in The Lounge

    Posted

    More old Graphics....I'll spoiler them to spare the thread.


     

    Spoiler

     

    Yes, TWP and Dragons...

    agp02.jpg

     

     

    There was this old TWP Pirates flag...

    twp_rum.jpg

     

    I predominantly used this regional flag during my delegacy:

    twp_flag_1.jpg

     

    Let's see, what else....

    The Tweedy Flags of Yy4u's Delegacy:

    tweedy_behind_flag.jpg

    Another:

    twp_tweed.png

     

    The New West Pacfic Order

    nwpo.jpg

     

    TWP Ministry of State Security:

    MoSS_seal.jpg

     

    The West Pacific Imperium:

    imperium3.jpg

     

    TWP Flag Flying in the wind

    TheWestPacificFlag_gif.gif

     

    Once upon a time this flag used to follow TWPAF into battle:

    send_booze.jpg

     

    Ah...finally found it....the complete Klingon Pirate Flag of TWP  (BTW, "Klingon Pirates" was suppose to be an insult - TSP gave us that nickname. We embraced it instead.)

    pirate_klingon.jpg

     

    The Darkesian TWP/Gatesville Hybrid Flag

    darkesia_gvtwp.jpg

     

    And then, after bringing global peace, TWP, lead by All Good People was faced with the final nation of resistance, lead by Donald Rumsfeld.
    (The road to global NS peace was strewn with thousands of bodies of banjected nations)

    AGP1a_twp.jpg

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    New Theme Chatter

    in The Lounge

    Posted

    I changed themes two or three times during my Delegacy. We started out sort of Dune based with the Laandstrad for the Assembly. But no one could remember how to spell it. *chuckles* Later went to the Sacred Order of The West Pacific and The West Pacific Imperium.  Policies stayed the same, graphics stayed the same. The theme is just a costume you put on :P 

    In the end, it's delegate's choice IMO. I mearly added to titles for my themes, so a Minister became Holy Minister and a Guardian became a Cardinal Guardian.

    In Equilism we went through a period when we changed the theme with each government. By the time they'd gotten to a Game of Thrones theme, they lost me as I didn't know anything about it (still don't) - so was all meaningless to me.  Houses, titles, all irrelevant and confusing to me. 

    I like the dragon imagery in the graphics proposal. You can tie that to TWP having had two Delegates associated with Dragons.  You could take the Eagle and Crossbones flag and replace the Eagle with a Dragon.

    I gotta admit, I haven't been fond of TWPAF flags for some time.

    I think folks are too resistant to making use of the ingame polling. This would still be somewhat restrictive, but it would cast a wider net than the forum and still would be secure:  Set the poll to both Native and Large Nation - it will prevent nations from other regions jumping in to vote, and prevent new founded nations from voting. (A nation would have to be about 6 months old to vote...a nation voting age requirement based on game mechanics).

    You could even form a bi-cameral legislature: ingame based on those polling rules (House), and Hall of Peers voting (Senate), Delegate has veto authority.

    Although, having a bi-cameral legislature is what got TWP into trouble before. The Senate becomes and exclusionary old boys club that eventually goes inactive and blocks the Delegate (I've seen this movie before)

    1 hour ago, Ark said:

    As far as your comment about an oath, I don’t really know what to do about that.

    *chuckles*  Nothing.  I've championed more open citizenship, and removed citizenship oaths when I was delegate. It was never a problem. I haven't been a TWP citizen since oaths were reintroduced. So I'm just being me.   :P  

    New Theme Chatter

    in The Lounge

    Posted

    Hmmmm.

    My first impression:  Any theme needs to incorporate traditional TWP.

    My second impression:  Change can be good, and a theme can be a rallying point. But change for the sake of change is useless.

    *reads other thread*

    My third impression:  These theme proposals don't speak to me. There's nothing wrong with them. But I don't want to live in a Russia or China themed region, I want to live in The West Pacific which has nothing to do with those.

    Be Original, be TWP.

    A pirate theme works.....it's not nationality/location specific. An imperial theme works....if it's not RL nation based...

    TWP should be TWP themed.

    My fourth impression:  None of my prior impressions matter.

    1 hour ago, Ark said:

    The reason we settled on the Hall was covered by Halo, but I'd also like to bring up that having the entire region vote on a theme doesn't make all that much sense when most of the nations that would be voting are only gameside,

    Doesn't the government represent all those gameside nations too? 

    I refuse to sign an oath to prove I'm active in a region. So my opinion has no weight.

    Regarding TWP and the NPO

    in The Lounge

    Posted

    Beyond disappointing to see The Pacific has continued to work with a criminal player such as Block. It's not the first time they've worked with him nefariously, and it's not the first time we've had to call them out about the association.

    Obviously they didn't learn and don't care.

    The Pacific needs to return to sound leadership, and governance based on respect, trust, and merited responsibility. The current leadership needs to step down having stained the proud history of the region once again. 

    Newspaper Editor Wanted!

    in Archived Threads

    Posted

    On 11/7/2018 at 12:12 PM, Elegarth said:

    I think I should have been journalist...

    :wine:

    In the late 70's was editor of my high school newspaper, The Panther's Cry. I got the position from a competition with a fake newspaper layout...mine was the "Four Wings High Times" (one wing had been blown up by the South Wing Sweat Hogs, another wing had simply disappeared - I had fun with it).  Cut and paste layout of typewritten material, PC's were years away yet.

    In 1979 I penned an article about the Iranian Revolution, the US Embassy was being held hostage at the time. I had to get clearance from the School Board to publish it, as it was considered a controversial topic. I got approval and it ran front page. It was a good article, covering Iranian history as well as the current events.

    In the 80's I was editor of Christian Light Ministries newsletter, and the Kansas Avicultural Society Magazine. I had an online newsletter delivered to 35 countries in the 90's called Tales Across The Waters for fans of the German band Triumvirat. Was always surprised how large their fan base was in South America, Japan, and Korea. One subscriber/fan in Japan went to temple to have a blessing made for my daughter when she was born. I sponsored a couple 'cultural exchange' concerts in St. Louis in '99, folks we're asking for my autograph - I told them they were nuts. The band reunited and recorded a new album called "The Website Story" inspired by my work, but the record label went bankrupt and the album was never released. (I have the songs and planned artwork, but the band leader won't follow through further. But for a 2000 album, it sound alot like the 80's. Lead singer on that album is now with the Nervous Germans.)

    At times I've thought about creating an online local news service, the local newspaper is terrible. Live citizen tips and reports would do better.

    I have an idea!

    in The Lounge

    Posted

    On 9/24/2018 at 9:59 AM, Big Bad Badger said:

    I have an TWP conundrum.  

    I am not sure that the requirement to have people post at least once per month is an effective thing for the Hall of Nations.  But we have a beautiful forum and need more activity here.  What can we do to increase activity here?

    Once upon a time in a region somewhere in NS......we required all regional officials to post on the forum at least every other day (preferably daily). And an official was also expected to reply to every thread in his/her jurisdiction frequently. 

    Activity begets Activity.

    The interior official should be posting in interior threads, starting new threads, regularly. Same for Defense, Foreign Affairs, et al. There should be new material in every category frequently. There should never be a category that hasn't had activity in a month or more. Get rid of those categories if you're not using them.

    In other words, streamline your customer's experience and provide them value.

    Part of an official's duties is keeping up activity in their area of responsibility. And maintaining the pinned threads, make sure they are up to date and relevant.

    When officials post regularly, it gives non-officials something of interest to read and maybe respond to. That creates activity. It's really simple.

    If they cannot do that for a time (keep up this activity level), they should post an absence notice. If they fail to post in a certain time span (one week?), or fail to post a notice of absence, or fail to appoint a deputy in their absence, they need to be replaced quickly. Otherwise the gears of activity slow and stop, and the entire region suffers.

    One official that's slowed down or inactive will encourage the same in other officials. It becomes a snowball of inactivity if it's not addressed.

    Today you have Discord, and no one pays attention to the forums because of it. The work needed on the forum doesn't' get done.  (Key disclosure here though - I loath Discord, so I'm very biased. I'm a forum rat, not a chatroomer)

    Some questions:

    - Is not Customer Service part of your job as a regional official?
    - Why should people come to the forum when they are constantly encouraged to go to Discord on the RMB?
    - What value does it provide to your customers that they should sign up for yet another offsite venue?  Or should I say....
    - Why should players, already being asked to go offsite from the game they joined, be expected to visit multiple offsite venues in order to participate in the game? Or rather said...
    -  The more venues, the more you complicate your customer's experience. Doesn't this obviously drive away potential customers (potential active players)?
    - Why do you, as a regional administration, require this of your 'citizens'? Join a forum, join Discord, sign an oath...and finally we accept you into the fold as a customer/player.

    You're demanding too many hoops for your customers (players) to jump through in order to be recognized as 'one of us with the right to have a say'. The game doesn't require this. Player administrations do, and create stagnant oligarchies over the long term.

    Like IRC, Discord is good for instant interaction, and is more accessible for that purpose than the RMB. Unlike IRC or the RMB, it provides you the ability to create multiple rooms/channels....like forum threads...to organize the conversation.  Unlike forums, it does not provide the ability to readily organize and provide easy access to information that hasn't just been posted.  Forums provide a better long term organizational and informational situation than Discord. Information can be pinned for presentation, turned into announcements, archived, reorganized, etc etc. Forums are like a book, it has chapters (catagories) sub-chapters (threads). Discord is like a student's notebook. Lots of scattered disorganized notes and information that only the OP can discern and know it's organization, but of much less use to others and newcomers. 

    And yet, the forums aren't being used in their natural capacity.

    I just noticed yesterday, there are many pinned informational threads here and there around the forum that remain from my Delegacy. Those should have been updated/replaced several Delegacies (years) ago.  This is slack housekeeping by successive administrations. I'm not even a TWP citizen (sidetrack: I loath NS citizenship oaths. I'm already in the region, I'm already participating, I'm already contributing....don't make me sign an oath to anything just for being here in order for the 'region' to acknowledge my contributions - it's simply bullshit to act as a gatekeeper to who gets to be part of the 'IN' crowd/oligarchy. End citizenship oaths! One does not need an oath to be held to the standards of the region. That's false reasoning.)

    Okay.....I gotta run.....

    I have an idea!

    in The Lounge

    Posted

    On 8/24/2018 at 3:27 PM, Fujai said:
    • Have a functioning intelligence division. I've never seen or heard of any real activity in there, though perhaps they just do their jobs really well.

    Sun Tzu called it the 'Divine Manipulation of the Threads'.

    When these five kinds of spy are all at work, no one can discover your secrets and systems. 

    1. Local spies - services of local inhabitants
    2. Inward spies - making use of officials of the enemy
    3. Converted spies - using the enemies spies for your own purposes
    4. Doomed spies - taking false information to the enemy 
    5. Surviving spies - execute operations based on information gathered or situations created by other spies
     

    Nuclear Apocalypse: What you need to know

    in The Lounge

    Posted

    On 6/29/2018 at 12:14 PM, Darkesia said:

    Only pointing out that you are 15 months late with your response.


    Although someone else's gravedig can be used as an opportunity for a traditional TWP threadjack.

    So next time a Nuclear Apocalypse approaches, don't forget the wisdom of Dr. Strangelove.

    "Deterrence is the art of producing in the mind of the enemy, the FEAR to attack."

    Be sure they will fear TWP before the next apocalypse!  :twpflag:

    DrStrangelove060Pyxurz.jpg

    Ask me anything

    in Information and Introduction Centre

    Posted

    On 6/7/2018 at 10:02 AM, Darkesia said:

    But I didn't participate directly other than lobbying GV participation. 

    That was my recollection, but I wasn't sure. I was pretty much working directly with Gates. (Which was good with all the factions I was trying to juggle.)

    13 hours ago, Dilber said:

    I remember CN was expected to be a distraction, but it ended up being more engaging that NS was at the time

    I think CN's impact on NS is often forgotten or discounted. Gameplay was impacted by the talent migration to CN as much as it was by Influence. 

    Although there was dissatisfaction in the NS gameplay ranks before CN that boosted interest.

    Ask me anything

    in Information and Introduction Centre

    Posted

    4 hours ago, Darkesia said:

    Wow!  There are a lot of questions here

    It seemed a little light on questions in your thread :P. Had to give you a chance to expound a bit more.

    4 hours ago, Darkesia said:

    I have long since forgotten it's address

    Can't help you with the password, but:
    http://z11.invisionfree.com/Neutral_Territory/index.php?

    4 hours ago, Darkesia said:

    I was surprised and disappointed at how angry TSP became

    Yeah, they were unhinged. Right when folks signed up for the board it told you - Blue sky thinking here, leave your gameplay biases at the door - and instead they barged in towards the end of the conference and told everyone how evil everyone was for ever even thinking about thinking about raids. On Westwind, Sir Lans (FRA) said, "He's destroying the game!" because I dared to propose 'The Destroyers' to remove 'deadwood' regions from the game. (TAO presented the same general idea in another form).

    Quote

    Liberty something

    Liberty Alliance perhaps? 

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