Opinions Needed

[Ryan]

On...Ryan's Micronation ConceptsRight, so over the past several months, I've been holding back on the urge to go out on my usual streak and build something new. I don't desire to be classified with the HubertNations, or TroyNations or, for that matter, even the more-popular SanderNations.I would actually like to try and build something that would work for once!And no, before you say it, joining Shireroth would not satiate my desires, no matter how much I do desire to contribute to those factors of this nation which I helped design or influence.So, in the meantime of holding my desires back by biting large sticks into small pieces...... I've come up with nine concept projects. Actually, I have a lot more ideas in my archives. *checks* 375 folders at 1.49gb. That should sum up my creative energy...These nine are my personal favourites among the plethora and also those which have been fleshed out the most. Some have been in my head for years, sitting on my computer, gaining little bits of ideas to them. But, alas, never seeing any realisation. Some, like Chivalria for instance, are so complete that they have fully-finished websites and forum themes ready to go at a moments notice. Others, like Jardinais for example, are intended to be small, isolated projects for me to putter around with in semi-retirement with one or two interested people.The Chekhsovar coat of arms isn't done justice by that shrunken flag either. But it is done in the same manner as the original KGB flag. The COA looks like this when not reduced:There's really a wide range of ideas present. My main intent in all of these was to either use previously untapped cultural areas to emulate, to focus on areas I particularily enjoy, or to use as a basis projects which have, in the past, been successful.Anyways, all I'm asking for is opinions on the concepts. Not opinions on my founding another VoidNation. Pick your favourite, or review each with care and choose what you think would be the most successful or unique in terms of contribution to the hobby itself. Whichever suits your tastes in making an opinion.I'm posting this here since everyone I know visits here often, thus giving me a wide range of opinions. And it is a more personal atmosphere to discuss my thinking than it would be to post this at MNN. Useless art is simply tolerated vandalism. I am a vandal.

[Sebastien Alexandre]

I would be your first and most active citizen if you went with the Treisenberg themed one or Clearport.

[sovereignvikingemperor]

Bretalyon and Chivalria are My favourites.

[Sebastien Alexandre]

The only thing I don't like about Chivalria is that it is definitely merit-based, which means, eventually, it will become a sort of Antican Dinarchy, where, the only way to gain rank is to beat out the people who have been there two years in achievement. In other words, y ou don't gain rank.

[RicLyon]

I'd clearly be interested in seeing the A'arehaka Nation become alive. That is something truly unique I think.

[graius]

Chivalria! Chivalria! Chivalria!Do it! Do it! Do it!I'd join immediately!(Smoke, Smoke, Smoke)

[Bill3000]

I don't like any of them, really, but that's just me.Frankly, I don't see the point. Look at the past - you have never started a successful micronation, unfortuanatly. The most successful would have been the PRH, and that is hardly even a footnote in history now, considering that no one cares about Jasonia. I'd just say to give it up for the same reason why I gave up creating new micronations. Bill Dusch - Archon of SoloralismCitizen of ShirerothBaron of AntyaProud to be Apollonianvar txtList = new Array()txtList[txtList.length]="'Whoa! You're in...college now? You got...older! I guess that's what happens when time passes, but still...' - Scott Siskind";txtList[txtList.length]="'The Hindenburg Uncertainty Principle, by contrast states that before you get on a blimp, you can never be certain whether it's going to catch on fire or not' - Scott Siskind";txtList[txtList.length]="'We.....are.....not....FANTASY!>?!POE' - Scott Siskind, on hearing Bill Dusch say that Shireroth's theme is percieved to be Fiction-Fantasy based";txtList[txtList.length]="'me to. well almost, we have to worship the living god, Bill3000.' - Hubert";txtList[txtList.length]="'Y'know what? I am never going to get out of micronations. I think I need to be assassinated or something.' - Jason Steffke";txtList[txtList.length]="'Bill, you are STILL young and stupid.' - Jason Steffke, Control of Destiny 1";txtList[txtList.length]="'I think we've gotta promote you. You now have slightly more diplomatic skills than a random rock.' - Sirithil nos Feanor, to Bill Dusch";txtList[txtList.length]="'Wow. I'm this close to admitting you're no longer young and stupid.' - Scott Siskind, to Bill";txtList[txtList.length]="'ow! I've been thrwappen! Now I have a sudden urge to enter politics...' - Gryphon the Pure, after being hit by a shard of Pure Mischief";txtList[txtList.length]="'I could probably date Hypatia's Mom. Now THAT'S scary.' - Ryan Caruso"; j=parseInt(Math.random()*txtList.length);j=(isNaN(j))?0:j;document.write(txtList[j]);

[Ryan]

Yes, but you should know by now that I'm too damn stubborn to do that. Useless art is simply tolerated vandalism. I am a vandal.

[Shyriath]

I feel like waxing loquacious at the moment, so I'll give my opinion on each of them...A'arehaka Nation: An online tribal state? Not a bad idea... but I think there would need to be more to define the tribe than just online-ness. How far would the Native American analogy go? Would extend to the kind of culture the nation would have?Romantic Principality of Alpinea: I'm intrigued by the idea behind Alpinea, especially if the mode of government would be like Switzerland's... I'm assuming that there WOULD be a prince if it's a principality, but that he would have a mostly nominal role? Sort of a monarchic-confederation kind of scheme?Grand Duchy of Bretalyon: I'm always for medieval states, although medieval English/French might not be exotic enough to be an immediate attractor for some. If it was set up well, though, it could be enjoyable. ...I have to ask, though... are you sure that Brittany is the area to think of when one is talking French/English conflict? I'm not always up on my history, but it seems to me that Normandy would've been a more bitter battleground, especially since that was William the Conqueror's duchy... I didn't know there were any major conflicts in Brittany.Chekhsovo Republic: Ohhh my... not another Communist state. I haven't looked into the Communist micronations much, admittedly, but what I've seen seemed pretty much alike. I'd have to know more about this one to consider liking it.Knightship of Chivalria: I really like the idea of Chivalria, although maybe not the obvious name. I'm into knighthood and rules of honor and such. Would the code of chivalry have the force of law, by any chance? And would this be a specifically European ideal of chivalry, or could concepts from analogous warrior codes be introduced as well (i.e., Japan's bushido)?Union of Clearport: Not too enthusiastic.Esoteric Order of Exotica: I haven't read any of Lovecraft's stuff, although I've heard about it and I have an idea of the kind of thing you're suggesting here. I think I'd rather see the PRH come back, but I could see myself liking this, depending on the specifics. I can be dark myself sometimes, when called upon it. March of Jardinais: I COULD take this opportunity to get back at you for the estrogen comment, but I shall refrain. Actually, if I were a bit more outdoorsy, I'd probably like this... it seems like more of a "retirement nation" kind of idea, though.Transastran Democracy: Ambitious, but I do like it. It's the kind of thing that I would want to participate in, even if I didn't actually join... I'm a space colonization fanatic.

[Fax Celestis]

To be honest, Transastran is the only one that interests me enough to participate, though a Lovecraftian nation would be interesting. Viatax Sitadi Axdivijink Regigoraauk

[Olorix]

Jardinais looks very interesting (I'm not actually joking). Send me a PM/ message over AIM if you want a hand with it at all: very innovative idea and I'd like to help out with a French themed nation having been reading too much about 18th, 19th and early 20th century French politics recently.

[graius]

Well I know quite a lot about chivalry/knighthood, and I once worked on creating a form of intermicronational chivalric order. I still have the chivalric code I wrote stored somewhere if you're interested, along with quite a few notes regarding the structure of the Chivalric order.

[Bill3000]

You know, part of the problem is that you will obviously be taking citizens from other nations, rather than getting new people. Is this wise? This is usually a bad strategy for a new micronation. Bill Dusch - Archon of SoloralismCitizen of ShirerothBaron of AntyaProud to be Apollonianvar txtList = new Array()txtList[txtList.length]="'Whoa! You're in...college now? You got...older! I guess that's what happens when time passes, but still...' - Scott Siskind";txtList[txtList.length]="'The Hindenburg Uncertainty Principle, by contrast states that before you get on a blimp, you can never be certain whether it's going to catch on fire or not' - Scott Siskind";txtList[txtList.length]="'We.....are.....not....FANTASY!>?!POE' - Scott Siskind, on hearing Bill Dusch say that Shireroth's theme is percieved to be Fiction-Fantasy based";txtList[txtList.length]="'me to. well almost, we have to worship the living god, Bill3000.' - Hubert";txtList[txtList.length]="'Y'know what? I am never going to get out of micronations. I think I need to be assassinated or something.' - Jason Steffke";txtList[txtList.length]="'Bill, you are STILL young and stupid.' - Jason Steffke, Control of Destiny 1";txtList[txtList.length]="'I think we've gotta promote you. You now have slightly more diplomatic skills than a random rock.' - Sirithil nos Feanor, to Bill Dusch";txtList[txtList.length]="'Wow. I'm this close to admitting you're no longer young and stupid.' - Scott Siskind, to Bill";txtList[txtList.length]="'ow! I've been thrwappen! Now I have a sudden urge to enter politics...' - Gryphon the Pure, after being hit by a shard of Pure Mischief";txtList[txtList.length]="'I could probably date Hypatia's Mom. Now THAT'S scary.' - Ryan Caruso"; j=parseInt(Math.random()*txtList.length);j=(isNaN(j))?0:j;document.write(txtList[j]);

[Ryan]

My objective is not to take people away from anything. If you can keep up with your current responsibilities and contribute to a project I wish to develop, then that'd be great. But this is something for me to putter around with, and for anyone wanting to help, should be considered a secondary priority.It's not so much that taking people away bothers me. Indeed, this is a hobby, and you should participate in it wherever your interest is most amplified. But I would feel guilty if people abandoned current responsibilities just to help me out.These projects are all aimed to be conducted at a level which involves minimum commitment time, remain reasonably small, and something which can be, in general, carried out whilst remaining able to fulfill my other obligations.The key points I wish to emulate are cultural uniquity and political simulation. All cultures as of late tend to plagarise the same material over and over again. There hasn't been anything original developed since Hurmu was independent (that's just my opinion, so no offense to any of you dedicated writers out there). And I tried to join Cyberia and participate in a truer political simulation, only to discover they have more deeply-rooted hatred for eachother than we old Apollonians do. So, like usual, if I can't find what I want, I will build what I want.I'll address Shyriath's and other's points momentarily. Shyriath provided and excellent opinion piece which is deserving of an appropriate reply. Useless art is simply tolerated vandalism. I am a vandal.

[Ryan]

In reply to Shyriath...Chekhsovo, Bretalyon, Exotica and Clearport have been crossed out of the list of potentials. There just simply doesn't seem to be much enthusiasm for any of those four. Thus we can narrow the list down to five possibles.A'arehaka Nation: Yes, it would be entirely tribal and emulate itself based on the existing tribal states in the United States. In particular, I gained much of my current inspiration from the Iroquois Confederacy, the present Mohawk Tribe here in New England, and the Mohegan and Pequot tribes more locally here in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Two Indian trails, the Mohawk Trail and the Appalachian Trail, bisect very close to me. So there is a lot of Indian influence in the area. Government would basically follow tribal lines, with an Elder, Medecine Man (or woman), Warriors, and so forth. The culture would be Algonquin, since that is the language the name is derived from and since I wanted it to be more Mohawk than another particular tribe. But Algonquin basically extends to much of the east coast Indians north of Georgia.Alpinea: Yes, there would be a prince. Me, rather obviously. But yes, I would have only a nominal role in the government as my desire is to emulate the cantonment's democratic aspects and generally the united-but-divided community system that has developed in the real Alps. Not to mention the culture, which would focus on Romansch, as it is an interesting language that is unfortunately dying. Not to mention I think the Alps are the most beautiful place on Earth.Chivalria: I traced the name back to its roots as far as I dare. In fact, the name was inspired by the crusader city of Crac des Chevaliers. The code of chivalry would be law, yes. It would be European code expanded upon. Although the knightship would be divided into orders pertaining to each part of the globe. Thus you have an American Order, or, for bushido practioners, there is an Asian Order, and so on and so forth. The problem with Chivalria is that I see it stagnating rather quickly and that it is reusing common material for this hobby. Whereas, for me, I would prefer a more original concept.Jardinais: Indeed, Jardinais is intended to be a "retirement nation". Alexandria doesn;'t cut it for me when I look for a micronation trying to emulate Napoleonic France. In truth, I was looking I culd create that would be akin to what I had intended for the independent Lac Glacei. A small French nation rooted in Napoleonic heritage and basically styled in a setting somewhat similar to Tolstoy's War & Peace.Transastra: Yes, it is quite ambitious. I first joined this hobby with the real, serious intention of forming a physical, 5th world entity out of Audentior. Unfortunately, the micronational applications of such a project would be limited. As, if established, it would be approached from a realistic and logical standpoint. Nothing eccentric and fantastical like these weirdos claiming Mars and so forth. The objective is known - colonisation of the asteroid belt - thus the approach would be how to govern such an establishment and promoting the science to further speed us towards our goal. That being the space programme and related technologies. People who want to roleplay Star Trek need not waste their time applying. Useless art is simply tolerated vandalism. I am a vandal.

[Olorix]

For Jardinais, why not make it slightly more modern, and I guess with less metropolitan associations as Bonapartism would have? Some sort of agrarian paradise in the provincial countryside.

[graius]

For Chivalria you can have many levels of knighthood and organise activities along which knights may participate, as well as creating a "ladder" of ranks for knights to climb. It could also generate a lot of activity along the lines that religion does in many MNs, since Chivalria would appear to be a quasi-religious "theocracy", where people can expand and discuss the existing philosophy, adding to it as well as advancing the culture of the nation. (In short I think there is a lot of scope for culture, intellectual life, and general activity in Chivalria).I also quite like the idea of several different sub-orders, using slightly different approaches to the same goal. Please contact me on AIM, I'd like to talk about this one.

[King of Gotzborg]

I quite like Alpinea and JardinaisACII

[Master R Davis]

I love the idea of a modern chivalric society...so obviously my pick would be The Knightship of Chivalria WEBSITE