Welcome to Eras RP, the main roleplay setting for The North Pacific's forum community!
I'm Pry, lead RP moderator in TNP. I'm here to give anyone interested in Eras RP a rundown of the setting, and how it works.
The Map
Eras RP's map can be found here, in Cartography. Claims that don't violate the claim rules are considered valid as soon as they're posted. RPers don't need to wait for approval or addition to the map to start playing if their claim satisfies all map claim conditions.
The Setting
What type of world is Eras?
In NationStates RP terms Eras is a modern tech setting. This means that the "present" in Eras is the present year IRL, and tech levels are roughly at modern levels, with a five to ten year leeway. Which means you can feature future tech so long as you can make a case that it may be viable within five to ten years.
RPs that take place in the past or future are allowed, but the date needs to be specified in the post title or header of the first post.
Additionally we make leeway for mythological and supernatural elements in RP, but we do so in a way to make them ignorable to the broader RP community. So if someone involves magic in a small way and you don't want to recognize it, you're not required to.
This is a two way street. We ask those of our RPers who want strict realism to make some minor allowances for the supernatural elements others may want to use, and we ask those who want to use those supernatural elements to not go so crazy with them that people can't ignore them.
Climate is up to each individual RPer, though we ask that you stay relatively consistent with your map position and collaborate with your neighbours.
Languages
The world of Eras is entirely self contained. Which is to say that there is no canonical tie to our world. This encourages a more immersive experience.
My country of Prydania, for example, speaks Icelandic. "Iceland," however, doesn't exist in Eras. So this language is just called "Prydanian" within the RP setting.
English does exist in Eras, as the language "Mercanti." In the canon of Eras it originated in McMasterdonia, and developed as a mercantile language. As such it's the lingua franca of Eras. Everyone speaks their own language, but Mercanti (ie English) is how most characters from different countries will communicate.
Finances and Trade
NS stats are not used in Eras, we'll get to the specifics on that in a moment.
For the purposes of world-building the international currency of trade is the International Banking Unit, overseen by the International Economic Forum. One IBU = $1 USD.
Of course you're allowed to have your own national currency and to peg it to the IBU at whatever rate you want. The IBU just exists as an in character point of reference.
Additionally it's an accepted rule that unless stated otherwise, everyone has some form of trade with each other.
Still, feel free to RP specific trade deals or embargoes if you'd like!
Stats
As stated, Eras does not use NS stats. Eras RP looks for a balanced RP approach that emphasizes collaboration over competition. Stat wanking and god modding- making your stats as large as possible to "win"- is heavily discouraged.
Eras RP has adopted an easy to follow formula for national population and GDP, which can be found here. All Eras RPers are expected to fit their stats within these broad perimeters, and can do so however they desire.
Additionally, in the spirit of collaboration, natural resources are entirely up to the RPer. Your nation can have whatever resources you desire, however we ask that you not make your nation entirely self-sufficient.
In terms of agricultural stats, the rule is simple. Your nation can be self-sufficient agriculturally if your population density is less than 200 people per sq KM.
Joint RP
As stated elsewhere, Eras aims for collaboration rather than competition. Here at TNP, we view Eras as a large scale collaborative creative writing project.
Any joint RP, or any RP that uses another RPer's characters or country, needs the consent of that other RPer. Additionally this means all wars must be collaborative, with the course of the war and outcome agreed to by all parties.
Community
The Eras RP community is cross platform. It exists as one of many TNP RP communities on the TNP RP Discord server.
Discord is very useful for getting to know your fellow RPers, planning out collaborations, and worldbulding.
All canon posts, however, must be made on the forums. If it's not on the forums, it doesn't count!
We have a variety of social media threads for characters in universe to post in...
Twitcher
RIDO
Viedéo
Osana
Additionally you can use these templates in other posts. Templates found here.
Long form RP and world building, however, happens in a few different sub forums.
National Roleplay
For major RP stories, plots, and news articles.
Negotiations
For trans-national alliances and organizations.
Trade and Economics
For trade deals and other economic agreements.
National Information
For worldbuilding elements of your nation in a factbook or overview style of post.
Oversight
Eras RP is overseen by myself, and the TNP Forum RP mod team. Additionally, the Eras RP Conclave is a separate body overseen by moderation that concerns itself with solving and hashing out issues of canon.
If you as an Eras RPer have any questions, concerns, or pressing issues to report, please contact someone on the RP mod staff. We'll look into it or refer the issue to Conclave, if it's in their wheelhouse.
Spicy Stuff
As a general rule, Eras RP conforms to TNP's PG-13 standards. That is that all RP posts, be they in character or out of character, must be appropriate for a PG-13 audience. RPers who are unsure if a post will exceed this limit or not may submit a draft of the post to a moderator for approval.
Additionally, topics such as slavery, persecution, and genocide are allowed, both in a present day and historical context. That being said, however, moderation will watch these cases closely. Generally speaking we ask RPers who choose to engage in these subjects do so respectfully, with respect shown to the victims of such actions, and not use RP to glorify slavery, persecution, or genocide. Moderation will act if we feel this line is crossed.
Finally... both far right and far left dictatorships are allowed to be worldbuilt and roleplayed, both in the present and in historical context. They should, however, be done so in a way that does not glorify political extremism, persecution, or other hallmarks of authoritarian rule.
Additionally use of IRL fascist symbols including, but not limited to, the Nazi swastika, SS runes, and the Italian fasces are strictly banned. Use of the Soviet hammer and sickle is strongly discouraged. This is a roleplay community, one based on creativity. Invent your own symbols for these sorts of movements and governments if you wish to feature them.
Conclusion
I hope this was helpful! And I hope that if you're interested in Eras RP you give it a try. It's post for post, pound for pound, the best RP community in NationStates!
If you have any questions feel free to reach out, or to refer to the Compendium of Conclave Rulings or the Eras RP FAQs.
I'm Pry, lead RP moderator in TNP. I'm here to give anyone interested in Eras RP a rundown of the setting, and how it works.
The Map
Eras RP's map can be found here, in Cartography. Claims that don't violate the claim rules are considered valid as soon as they're posted. RPers don't need to wait for approval or addition to the map to start playing if their claim satisfies all map claim conditions.
The Setting
What type of world is Eras?
In NationStates RP terms Eras is a modern tech setting. This means that the "present" in Eras is the present year IRL, and tech levels are roughly at modern levels, with a five to ten year leeway. Which means you can feature future tech so long as you can make a case that it may be viable within five to ten years.
RPs that take place in the past or future are allowed, but the date needs to be specified in the post title or header of the first post.
Additionally we make leeway for mythological and supernatural elements in RP, but we do so in a way to make them ignorable to the broader RP community. So if someone involves magic in a small way and you don't want to recognize it, you're not required to.
This is a two way street. We ask those of our RPers who want strict realism to make some minor allowances for the supernatural elements others may want to use, and we ask those who want to use those supernatural elements to not go so crazy with them that people can't ignore them.
Climate is up to each individual RPer, though we ask that you stay relatively consistent with your map position and collaborate with your neighbours.
Languages
The world of Eras is entirely self contained. Which is to say that there is no canonical tie to our world. This encourages a more immersive experience.
My country of Prydania, for example, speaks Icelandic. "Iceland," however, doesn't exist in Eras. So this language is just called "Prydanian" within the RP setting.
English does exist in Eras, as the language "Mercanti." In the canon of Eras it originated in McMasterdonia, and developed as a mercantile language. As such it's the lingua franca of Eras. Everyone speaks their own language, but Mercanti (ie English) is how most characters from different countries will communicate.
Finances and Trade
NS stats are not used in Eras, we'll get to the specifics on that in a moment.
For the purposes of world-building the international currency of trade is the International Banking Unit, overseen by the International Economic Forum. One IBU = $1 USD.
Of course you're allowed to have your own national currency and to peg it to the IBU at whatever rate you want. The IBU just exists as an in character point of reference.
Additionally it's an accepted rule that unless stated otherwise, everyone has some form of trade with each other.
Still, feel free to RP specific trade deals or embargoes if you'd like!
Stats
As stated, Eras does not use NS stats. Eras RP looks for a balanced RP approach that emphasizes collaboration over competition. Stat wanking and god modding- making your stats as large as possible to "win"- is heavily discouraged.
Eras RP has adopted an easy to follow formula for national population and GDP, which can be found here. All Eras RPers are expected to fit their stats within these broad perimeters, and can do so however they desire.
Additionally, in the spirit of collaboration, natural resources are entirely up to the RPer. Your nation can have whatever resources you desire, however we ask that you not make your nation entirely self-sufficient.
In terms of agricultural stats, the rule is simple. Your nation can be self-sufficient agriculturally if your population density is less than 200 people per sq KM.
Joint RP
As stated elsewhere, Eras aims for collaboration rather than competition. Here at TNP, we view Eras as a large scale collaborative creative writing project.
Any joint RP, or any RP that uses another RPer's characters or country, needs the consent of that other RPer. Additionally this means all wars must be collaborative, with the course of the war and outcome agreed to by all parties.
Community
The Eras RP community is cross platform. It exists as one of many TNP RP communities on the TNP RP Discord server.
Discord is very useful for getting to know your fellow RPers, planning out collaborations, and worldbulding.
All canon posts, however, must be made on the forums. If it's not on the forums, it doesn't count!
We have a variety of social media threads for characters in universe to post in...
Twitcher
RIDO
Viedéo
Osana
Additionally you can use these templates in other posts. Templates found here.
Long form RP and world building, however, happens in a few different sub forums.
National Roleplay
For major RP stories, plots, and news articles.
Negotiations
For trans-national alliances and organizations.
Trade and Economics
For trade deals and other economic agreements.
National Information
For worldbuilding elements of your nation in a factbook or overview style of post.
Oversight
Eras RP is overseen by myself, and the TNP Forum RP mod team. Additionally, the Eras RP Conclave is a separate body overseen by moderation that concerns itself with solving and hashing out issues of canon.
If you as an Eras RPer have any questions, concerns, or pressing issues to report, please contact someone on the RP mod staff. We'll look into it or refer the issue to Conclave, if it's in their wheelhouse.
Spicy Stuff
As a general rule, Eras RP conforms to TNP's PG-13 standards. That is that all RP posts, be they in character or out of character, must be appropriate for a PG-13 audience. RPers who are unsure if a post will exceed this limit or not may submit a draft of the post to a moderator for approval.
Additionally, topics such as slavery, persecution, and genocide are allowed, both in a present day and historical context. That being said, however, moderation will watch these cases closely. Generally speaking we ask RPers who choose to engage in these subjects do so respectfully, with respect shown to the victims of such actions, and not use RP to glorify slavery, persecution, or genocide. Moderation will act if we feel this line is crossed.
Finally... both far right and far left dictatorships are allowed to be worldbuilt and roleplayed, both in the present and in historical context. They should, however, be done so in a way that does not glorify political extremism, persecution, or other hallmarks of authoritarian rule.
Additionally use of IRL fascist symbols including, but not limited to, the Nazi swastika, SS runes, and the Italian fasces are strictly banned. Use of the Soviet hammer and sickle is strongly discouraged. This is a roleplay community, one based on creativity. Invent your own symbols for these sorts of movements and governments if you wish to feature them.
Conclusion
I hope this was helpful! And I hope that if you're interested in Eras RP you give it a try. It's post for post, pound for pound, the best RP community in NationStates!
If you have any questions feel free to reach out, or to refer to the Compendium of Conclave Rulings or the Eras RP FAQs.
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