Introduction
First of all, let me preface this lecture with a thank you to all of those involved in orchestrating the NS Roleplay Symposium and their gracious invitation to myself to lecture on this particular topic, which is arguably one of the most challenging in NS-Roleplay: Losing. Should anyone have questions you're free to refer to me as Vetalia or Vet, whichever suits you best.
Backstory
At its origin in 2005, Vetalia was originally conceived as a peaceful PMT nation heavily focused on trade and capitalism with the incredible wealth that flows from such a nation, along the lines of the Spacing Guild or Trade Federation. Starting in 2008, back in the days when we were still part of Meditarranica rather than Gholgoth, we formed an alliance with the People's Sovereign Republic of British Londinium (henceforth the "Londinians" given our mutual desire for territorial expansion.
It was also at this time that Vetalia was transformed from a PMT nation to an MT nation with an interesting quirk - its entire culture was based on its own interpretation of the 1950s in the United States, with tailfinned cars, 50's pop music, copious cigarette smoking and the sickly-sweet advertising and culture of the era despite possessing entirely modern, even post-modern technology. The intense capitalism and trade foci remained in place but it was now expanded by a desire to expand our territory and gain colonies, a sentiment eagerly shared by the Londinians.
During the "Golden Age", the joint Vetalian-Londinian forces achieved incredible success, picking up numerous overseas territories and colonies. There were early rifts in our alliance due to the benevolent treatment by the Vetalian administration of the colonial subjects and defeated nations versus the Londinian, which were by any stretch horrific, including the use of giant blenders to execute enemies. But nonetheless, our alliance remained strong and by mid-2009 our alliance was at the height of its power.
That all changed in mid-2009, with the Vivicide (or the War) as it is called in Vetalian and Londinian circles. Long story short, the Londinians pissed off the Freeks of Gholgoth and the response was a nuclear strike of such force that it turned the Londinian home island into a slab of radioactive glass. The Vetalian fleet sailing to assist them were destroyed by kinetic orbital weapons as were the conventional armed forces, but not before launching the Vetalian biological weapons in response, which killed many of the Crimm but were not sufficient to stop the final invasion.
In the end, Vetalia was invaded and occupied by Crimmond and our nation shattered to its core. Vetalia had lost, and it had lost big time.
The Art of Losing
This brings us to the meat of the lecture, which is how to lose in a way that is both fun for you and everyone else and acceptable in NS roleplay. This is embodied in a few key points that I will use for the structure of this lecture:
1. Be Willing to Lose
2. Your People Are People
3. Remember You Can Win Again
4. Have fun!
Be Willing to Lose
This is the first and arguably most important aspect of NS RP. Sometimes you screw up and make a mistake, sometimes you underestimate the enemy, in any case you lose a battle or even the entire war. The most important thing in this case is to accept the defeat and plan accordingly. Unless you are totally crippled by the enemy's strike you can regroup and fight again; the most important thing in this case is to accept the loss and RP it effectively regarding the impact on your remaining forces: does it demoralize them? does it make them desert? or does it make them fight more than ever?
None of these options are wrong, in fact if properly RPed they might provide opportunity for a rich character RP where you expand on the thoughts and actions of a single character in the face of defeat. The point is to always keep in mind how your people would feel and act in these circumstances as well as to accept the fact that you lost and need to address the consequences thereof.
Also keep in mind that any foreign occupation is temporary unless the goal is annexation or total extermination, in which case there are numerous opportunities to interact with other nations to aid the resistance. A war of extermination against a given ethnicity will be very problematic in modern-day NS and should be leveraged. A foreign occupation without these factors would be easy to deal with indeed.
Another consequence of losing is demographic; in the case of Vetalia, every single living Londinian after the War was granted immediate Vetalian citizenship and the right to immigrate. As a result, our population was both significantly expanded and changed by the arrival of two billion Londinians. If you find yourself in a situation where you survive the war but your partner doesn't, be prepared for significant demographic changes as they will naturally desire to live in your nation. If you refuse them, be prepared for serious resistance.
Your People Are People
This one is rather short and to the point but the simple fact is that your nation's citizens are people with their own goals and desires. In the face of a loss they may become unruly and prone to rebellion, especially if they're not an accepted population in your culture, which is an issue in itself, but otherwise you must be able to deal with the realities of a population at war...rationing and censorship are realities for a nation at war and you must be able to RP this in a realistic way, particularly smuggling and the emergence of organized crime in the case of a nation whose war isn't going well.
Also keep in mind the psychological effect of attacks on the homeland; if the enemy is bombing your home territories, that has a much stronger effect than some random outpost being attacked. It may inspire greater efforts to defend the homeland or a fatalism that leads people to be resigned and passive. There will also be political impacts as a result of the circumstances if your nation has free elections; incorporating these elements in your posts regarding the homeland will add that much more flavor than simply having your people bear the war with unrealistic grim stoicism.
And after defeat, also remember the fact that your people are really pissed off and most likely want nothing more than revenge on the enemy. Revanchism may also lead to the rise of fascist or communist movements in your nation, both of which are fun to RP.
In Vetalia after the war, corruption and disorder surged in the aftermath and more radical parties gained power, resulting in the ultimately disastrous election of the National Democratic Party and its ill-fated deal with the Reich. The aftermath has been an ongoing RP where Vetalia has literally no nation to speak of aside from a small government in exile.
Remember That You Can Win Again
Unless you've been nuked into oblivion, you have a chance to win again. Nationstates has existed for nearly 20 years now and during that time countless nations have risen and fallen, their territories shifting across the map as they wax and wane.
It may take time, and your military capabilities may be impaired by occupation but it will eventually end and you can rebuild yourself and finally win the war. Indeed, a rearmament RP by a nation may produce more interest than the original war, with lots of fun to come. The point is to take your loss in stride and leverage the aftermath as best you can.
Just keep in mind what your people would honestly feel if they were in these circumstances.
Have Fun!
Remember, if you're not all dead this is an opportunity to explore the darkest emotions your people have and bring them to a conclusion. Whether pursuing revenge, escape or doubling down on your nation's virtues to the point of extremism the point is to have fun. If it's not fun RPing your losing nation, it's not worth your time.
Also remember that when the dust settles we're all just RPing fictional nations on an internet forum.
Thank you and I appreciate your attention.
-Vetalia
First of all, let me preface this lecture with a thank you to all of those involved in orchestrating the NS Roleplay Symposium and their gracious invitation to myself to lecture on this particular topic, which is arguably one of the most challenging in NS-Roleplay: Losing. Should anyone have questions you're free to refer to me as Vetalia or Vet, whichever suits you best.
Backstory
At its origin in 2005, Vetalia was originally conceived as a peaceful PMT nation heavily focused on trade and capitalism with the incredible wealth that flows from such a nation, along the lines of the Spacing Guild or Trade Federation. Starting in 2008, back in the days when we were still part of Meditarranica rather than Gholgoth, we formed an alliance with the People's Sovereign Republic of British Londinium (henceforth the "Londinians" given our mutual desire for territorial expansion.
It was also at this time that Vetalia was transformed from a PMT nation to an MT nation with an interesting quirk - its entire culture was based on its own interpretation of the 1950s in the United States, with tailfinned cars, 50's pop music, copious cigarette smoking and the sickly-sweet advertising and culture of the era despite possessing entirely modern, even post-modern technology. The intense capitalism and trade foci remained in place but it was now expanded by a desire to expand our territory and gain colonies, a sentiment eagerly shared by the Londinians.
During the "Golden Age", the joint Vetalian-Londinian forces achieved incredible success, picking up numerous overseas territories and colonies. There were early rifts in our alliance due to the benevolent treatment by the Vetalian administration of the colonial subjects and defeated nations versus the Londinian, which were by any stretch horrific, including the use of giant blenders to execute enemies. But nonetheless, our alliance remained strong and by mid-2009 our alliance was at the height of its power.
That all changed in mid-2009, with the Vivicide (or the War) as it is called in Vetalian and Londinian circles. Long story short, the Londinians pissed off the Freeks of Gholgoth and the response was a nuclear strike of such force that it turned the Londinian home island into a slab of radioactive glass. The Vetalian fleet sailing to assist them were destroyed by kinetic orbital weapons as were the conventional armed forces, but not before launching the Vetalian biological weapons in response, which killed many of the Crimm but were not sufficient to stop the final invasion.
In the end, Vetalia was invaded and occupied by Crimmond and our nation shattered to its core. Vetalia had lost, and it had lost big time.
The Art of Losing
This brings us to the meat of the lecture, which is how to lose in a way that is both fun for you and everyone else and acceptable in NS roleplay. This is embodied in a few key points that I will use for the structure of this lecture:
1. Be Willing to Lose
2. Your People Are People
3. Remember You Can Win Again
4. Have fun!
Be Willing to Lose
This is the first and arguably most important aspect of NS RP. Sometimes you screw up and make a mistake, sometimes you underestimate the enemy, in any case you lose a battle or even the entire war. The most important thing in this case is to accept the defeat and plan accordingly. Unless you are totally crippled by the enemy's strike you can regroup and fight again; the most important thing in this case is to accept the loss and RP it effectively regarding the impact on your remaining forces: does it demoralize them? does it make them desert? or does it make them fight more than ever?
None of these options are wrong, in fact if properly RPed they might provide opportunity for a rich character RP where you expand on the thoughts and actions of a single character in the face of defeat. The point is to always keep in mind how your people would feel and act in these circumstances as well as to accept the fact that you lost and need to address the consequences thereof.
Also keep in mind that any foreign occupation is temporary unless the goal is annexation or total extermination, in which case there are numerous opportunities to interact with other nations to aid the resistance. A war of extermination against a given ethnicity will be very problematic in modern-day NS and should be leveraged. A foreign occupation without these factors would be easy to deal with indeed.
Another consequence of losing is demographic; in the case of Vetalia, every single living Londinian after the War was granted immediate Vetalian citizenship and the right to immigrate. As a result, our population was both significantly expanded and changed by the arrival of two billion Londinians. If you find yourself in a situation where you survive the war but your partner doesn't, be prepared for significant demographic changes as they will naturally desire to live in your nation. If you refuse them, be prepared for serious resistance.
Your People Are People
This one is rather short and to the point but the simple fact is that your nation's citizens are people with their own goals and desires. In the face of a loss they may become unruly and prone to rebellion, especially if they're not an accepted population in your culture, which is an issue in itself, but otherwise you must be able to deal with the realities of a population at war...rationing and censorship are realities for a nation at war and you must be able to RP this in a realistic way, particularly smuggling and the emergence of organized crime in the case of a nation whose war isn't going well.
Also keep in mind the psychological effect of attacks on the homeland; if the enemy is bombing your home territories, that has a much stronger effect than some random outpost being attacked. It may inspire greater efforts to defend the homeland or a fatalism that leads people to be resigned and passive. There will also be political impacts as a result of the circumstances if your nation has free elections; incorporating these elements in your posts regarding the homeland will add that much more flavor than simply having your people bear the war with unrealistic grim stoicism.
And after defeat, also remember the fact that your people are really pissed off and most likely want nothing more than revenge on the enemy. Revanchism may also lead to the rise of fascist or communist movements in your nation, both of which are fun to RP.
In Vetalia after the war, corruption and disorder surged in the aftermath and more radical parties gained power, resulting in the ultimately disastrous election of the National Democratic Party and its ill-fated deal with the Reich. The aftermath has been an ongoing RP where Vetalia has literally no nation to speak of aside from a small government in exile.
Remember That You Can Win Again
Unless you've been nuked into oblivion, you have a chance to win again. Nationstates has existed for nearly 20 years now and during that time countless nations have risen and fallen, their territories shifting across the map as they wax and wane.
It may take time, and your military capabilities may be impaired by occupation but it will eventually end and you can rebuild yourself and finally win the war. Indeed, a rearmament RP by a nation may produce more interest than the original war, with lots of fun to come. The point is to take your loss in stride and leverage the aftermath as best you can.
Just keep in mind what your people would honestly feel if they were in these circumstances.
Have Fun!
Remember, if you're not all dead this is an opportunity to explore the darkest emotions your people have and bring them to a conclusion. Whether pursuing revenge, escape or doubling down on your nation's virtues to the point of extremism the point is to have fun. If it's not fun RPing your losing nation, it's not worth your time.
Also remember that when the dust settles we're all just RPing fictional nations on an internet forum.
Thank you and I appreciate your attention.
-Vetalia
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