A History of Ixnay (OOC): Difference between revisions
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– but Ixnay stuck. I don’t know why. I had never really been in a casual roleplaying community. Many, particularly Tyrrhenia, had activity requirements, and I just couldn’t pump out material. I liked the | – but Ixnay stuck. I don’t know why. I had never really been in a casual roleplaying community. Many, particularly Tyrrhenia, had activity requirements, and I just couldn’t pump out material. I liked the | ||
idea of being in a region that cooperated when I had a sudden momentary burst of creativity while simultaneously being a region that would tolerate me sitting around shooting the shit for months with | idea of being in a region that cooperated when I had a sudden momentary burst of creativity while simultaneously being a region that would tolerate me sitting around shooting the shit for months with | ||
nothing important going on in-universe. In hindsight, I'm sure a lot of my failure to produce was a consequence of age; productivity comes with experience. | nothing important going on in-universe. ''In hindsight, I'm sure a lot of my failure to produce was a consequence of age; productivity comes with experience.'' | ||
Though not Delegate, I had launched a major recruiting drive twice, both times primarily relying on roleplay connections I had made on the NationStates onsite forum, especially through a Papal Conclave | Though not Delegate, I had launched a major recruiting drive twice, both times primarily relying on roleplay connections I had made on the NationStates onsite forum, especially through a Papal Conclave | ||
roleplay. These two efforts occurred once in the fall of 2012 surrounding a plotline I introduced that brought Ixnay forward in time, and then again in 2013 when I undid those and adopted the timeline the | roleplay. These two efforts occurred once in the fall of 2012 surrounding a plotline I introduced that brought Ixnay forward in time, and then again in 2013 when I undid those and adopted the timeline the | ||
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despaired, finally, after the second recruiting attempt. I conceded that Ixnay was doomed to dwindle and die – at eleven members following the recruiting failure – and that my dreams of a large vibrant | despaired, finally, after the second recruiting attempt. I conceded that Ixnay was doomed to dwindle and die – at eleven members following the recruiting failure – and that my dreams of a large vibrant | ||
region reminiscent of Tyrrhenia or the other great old ladies of the roleplay world were doomed to not come to pass. I guess, then, the 2013 “coup”, if it could be called that, was simply the result of | region reminiscent of Tyrrhenia or the other great old ladies of the roleplay world were doomed to not come to pass. I guess, then, the 2013 “coup”, if it could be called that, was simply the result of | ||
boredom from being on winter break – I was a Sophomore at the -REDACTED- at the time. I didn’t fully expect it to work – I expected a telegram back from Lacus Magni saying that he just couldn’t | boredom from being on winter break – I was a Sophomore at the '''-REDACTED-''' at the time. I didn’t fully expect it to work – I expected a telegram back from Lacus Magni saying that he just couldn’t | ||
bring himself to join the World Assembly. I would have accepted, stirred that I had failed again, and moved on. That is not what came to pass. I became Delegate and determined that I would conform | bring himself to join the World Assembly. I would have accepted, stirred that I had failed again, and moved on. That is not what came to pass. I became Delegate and determined that I would conform | ||
Ixnay to my ideal while trying to stay true to its history and traditions – an extensive, ten year history. | Ixnay to my ideal while trying to stay true to its history and traditions – an extensive, ten year history. | ||
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to their regional communities. Kirav was an older player – a veteran of the late 2000s “golden age of II” like myself, and I knew he would be a big get. It took some maneuvering and negotiation, but he | to their regional communities. Kirav was an older player – a veteran of the late 2000s “golden age of II” like myself, and I knew he would be a big get. It took some maneuvering and negotiation, but he | ||
came over with his primary nation soon enough. I considered this a move that improved the outward legitimacy of the region. It should be said I didn’t know if Kirav’s presence actually brought a single | came over with his primary nation soon enough. I considered this a move that improved the outward legitimacy of the region. It should be said I didn’t know if Kirav’s presence actually brought a single | ||
member to the region, but my only model for a region at the time was Tyrrhenia, which thrived on the late 2000s-type player. A later recollection of events by Burg confirmed that the presence of Kirav did | member to the region, but my only model for a region at the time was Tyrrhenia, which thrived on the late 2000s-type player. ''A later recollection of events by Burg confirmed that the presence of Kirav did indeed bring the region a certain pedigree of legitimacy, drawing him in.'' In my mind, getting Kirav to join meant that this effort was real. We had landed a pretty decently-sized fish, not a puppet, but the | ||
indeed bring the region a certain pedigree of legitimacy, drawing him in. In my mind, getting Kirav to join meant that this effort was real. We had landed a pretty decently-sized fish, not a puppet, but the | |||
real deal. This set the recruiting goals for the next few months that did not truly come to pass – getting disaffected, veteran players. We did acquire a few, but in hindsight it was not where our bread was | real deal. This set the recruiting goals for the next few months that did not truly come to pass – getting disaffected, veteran players. We did acquire a few, but in hindsight it was not where our bread was | ||
buttered. My view of NationStates as that late 2000s-style place was out of date but it was the only thing I had to go on. | buttered. My view of NationStates as that late 2000s-style place was out of date but it was the only thing I had to go on. | ||
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I don’t know what happened – maybe people getting back from their Christmas breaks, but I seemed to be hitting gold on every telegram for the next three weeks. Ixnay was beginning to be a real time | I don’t know what happened – maybe people getting back from their Christmas breaks, but I seemed to be hitting gold on every telegram for the next three weeks. Ixnay was beginning to be a real time | ||
commitment – and I don’t mean that in a negative. At the time, my then-girlfriend was staying at her father’s new apartment, which was really an illegal basement in someone’s house in -REDACTED-. | commitment – and I don’t mean that in a negative. At the time, my then-girlfriend was staying at her father’s new apartment, which was really an illegal basement in someone’s house in '''-REDACTED-'''. | ||
He worked nights, and she wanted to be there, so I spent something like two weeks in this basement. It wasn’t a shithole per se, just small. Her and I were sleeping on the dirty pullout in the living room. | He worked nights, and she wanted to be there, so I spent something like two weeks in this basement. It wasn’t a shithole per se, just small. Her and I were sleeping on the dirty pullout in the living room. | ||
The first memory of Ixnay ever impacting my life in any meaningful way – and someone else noticing, which would become common with the time commitment – was that, while laying together on our | The first memory of Ixnay ever impacting my life in any meaningful way – and someone else noticing, which would become common with the time commitment – was that, while laying together on our | ||
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By the end of the month of January 2014, as new members came in daily, we had an astounding 43 members. If you asked me at that point, I would have told you my work was basically complete. In the | By the end of the month of January 2014, as new members came in daily, we had an astounding 43 members. If you asked me at that point, I would have told you my work was basically complete. In the | ||
years 2003-2013, Ixnay’s membership height was 44, which I would soon tie in February. We had formed a core membership. The key additions including Aerolah, Malaysii, and Luxew, three players we | years 2003-2013, Ixnay’s membership height was 44, which I would soon tie in February. We had formed a core membership. The key additions including Aerolah, Malaysii, and Luxew, three players we | ||
absorbed from a region we annexed called Audonia. At this time, Ixnay adopted the "subregion" model - annexing existing NationStates regions under the Ixnay umbrella with promises of autonomy and | absorbed from a region we annexed called Audonia. ''At this time, Ixnay adopted the "subregion" model - annexing existing NationStates regions under the Ixnay umbrella with promises of autonomy and | ||
culture retention in addition to separate parts of the forum and self-governance. Audonia was the first such subregion. Kistan agreed to return, an older player named Pauldustllah joined, we annexed a | culture retention in addition to separate parts of the forum and self-governance. Audonia was the first such subregion.'' Kistan agreed to return, an older player named Pauldustllah joined, we annexed a | ||
region called The Darklands, another subregion, and we even had three veteran players called Yalos, Arcerion, and San Pellegrino Romana (albeit through a puppet) join. The annexation of the Darklands | region called The Darklands, another subregion, and we even had three veteran players called Yalos, Arcerion, and San Pellegrino Romana (albeit through a puppet) join. The annexation of the Darklands | ||
was somewhat controversial both on our side and in their region and would prove to be the first fight of many relating to their relationship with us. Other players that would come to stay, such as Sawra, | was somewhat controversial both on our side and in their region and would prove to be the first fight of many relating to their relationship with us. Other players that would come to stay, such as Sawra, | ||
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Another troublemaker named the Eorlingan Empire also came to stir up chaos in the region around this time. He began making broadsides against the fundamental roleplay mechanics of the region at the | Another troublemaker named the Eorlingan Empire also came to stir up chaos in the region around this time. He began making broadsides against the fundamental roleplay mechanics of the region at the | ||
time - mainly, using in-game stats to determine in-character national characteristics, but also general godmodding mini-maxing. He would play a role in helping me redraw the Ixnay region map (he redrew | time - mainly, using in-game stats to determine in-character national characteristics, but also general godmodding mini-maxing. He would play a role in helping me redraw the Ixnay region map (he redrew | ||
the Darklands for me) that is still in use today, but was another individual who was generally curmudgeon-like. As can be noted within the map gallery, at this point I redrew the map to a larger, clearer | the Darklands for me) that is still in use today, but was another individual who was generally curmudgeon-like. ''As can be noted within the map gallery, at this point I redrew the map to a larger, clearer | ||
form, still used mostly today. | form, still used mostly today.'' | ||
It was also around this time that the first true notion of complaining about LOTA came to be. LOTA, the | It was also around this time that the first true notion of complaining about LOTA came to be. LOTA, the “[[Levantia and Odoneru Treaty Association]]”, was an in-character alliance of Kirav, Urcea, Kistan, | ||
Kuhlfros, and the Latin Empire. It was the most powerful alliance in-universe (especially during the era of game stats) and generally complaints were lobbied that its power stifled roleplay. In retrospect I | Kuhlfros, and the Latin Empire. It was the most powerful alliance in-universe (especially during the era of game stats) and generally complaints were lobbied that its power stifled roleplay. In retrospect I | ||
will admit there was probably some truth in this - fear of a LOTA intervention in one’s affairs probably did, indeed, stifle roleplay. This time period was probably the first high watermark for LOTA. LOTA | will admit there was probably some truth in this - fear of a LOTA intervention in one’s affairs probably did, indeed, stifle roleplay. This time period was probably the first high watermark for LOTA. LOTA | ||