Further Opportunities for Frontiers in 2024

Further Opportunities for Frontiers in 2024

It is late July, which means we are in the middle of “NationStates Summer”; those long dog-days in which the daily activity of this game slows. It is as good a time as any for me to review what the Frontier landscape looks like now, 15 months since the introduction of its titular update. The last big gameplay operation involving frontiers was the LWU-led Arkana Coalition raid, on which the militaries of Talonia and Carcassonne participated. It was an excellent showing for Talonia in particular, which fielded 17 pilers in the operation.

I will let Talonia speak for themselves as to their participation in this raid, but I will say this: their piling in Arkana Coalition is evidence enough that the opinion, occasionally expressed on the Gameplay forums, that Frontierism is “dead” is far from accurate. Still, Frontierists remain in an awkward spot: we are not yet powerful enough to lead operations by ourselves. In the dismantling of wastelands, we are opposed by defenderdom; and for as many pages have been written about the state of defenderdom this year, Frontierists alone cannot yet field enough pilers to overcome a defender siege. In the defense of true Frontiers, meanwhile, we are opposed by the growing raider movement.

The best way to address this issue is for Frontierists to continue recruiting and maintain a focus on gameplay; Frontiers should promote WA membership and military participation among their own members, and keep open lines of communication with each other ahead of operations to maximize cross-participation. None of this is glamorous, and it is often a grind. But it will continue to reap dividends. The massive endorsement rates of the GCRs did not arise overnight, but were the results of years of work.

What strengths do Frontiers have that they could utilize right now? FOCUS, the largest frontier alliance, could implement a shared WA policy. The endorsements of FOCUS regions combined number over 300. This is larger than Lazarus, Balder, Europeia, or the Rejected Realms, and if they united in a shared WA policy they could immediately leverage this power. The addition of other Frontiers to FOCUS would only grow this number further. A stronger FOCUS with shared WA aims immediately becomes a power player in the halls of the General Assembly and the Security Council, just as the other large regions are.

Technology is another avenue to promote regional development, and one that many of the largest Frontiers are already exploring. Further collaboration through shared endotarting tech, for example, could be implemented to leverage this currently-existing strength and improve WA participation further.

And when these efforts bear fruit, growing regional militaries beyond their current levels, Frontiers should act with efficiency in using this resource. From the update’s early days, Frontier militaries have cooperated. This cooperation should be expanded: an active, shared line of communication like Libcord would speed up collaboration between regional militaries and allow for commanders to share plans and orders more quickly.

All of these ideas have one thing in common: they require Frontier governments to share and collaborate. It goes without saying that by supporting one another, instead of competing, Frontiers all become stronger.

From its inception, Frontierism has been described as a “mass movement”, strongest when Frontiers combine their regions to pursue a shared interest. This has caused some to raise comparisons between our movement and Francoism, but they are different in this way: all regions, be they Strongholds, Frontiers, Feeders, Sinkers, or Restorers, have an interest in ensuring new players spawn in regions that can be approached, negotiated with, and befriended.

Frontierism’s long-term goal: of ensuring new players enter NationStates in mature regions with healthy governments and activity, is a goal that all regions should share. Frontier governments should continue to forge diplomatic ties not only with each other, but all kinds of regions. They should prioritize strong diplomatic corps and foreign affairs departments, and keep a close eye on developments even outside their own circle.

NationStates gameplay is in the midst of a great shift: the regions and alliances of old are being replaced by new blood. Coordination and unity among Frontiers strengthens the negotiating position of our movement and raises the profile of each Frontierist region individually. Furthermore, this is an opportunity that Frontiers can pursue immediately while they continue the hard work of region-building. Frontierists should grasp this opportunity by seeking a new path for ourselves.