Issues
Daily issues are dilemmas or controversies confronting a nation, demanding the government take action to resolve them. Nations usually get at least one issue a day, unless they are on vacation mode or have turned off regular issues. All decisions regarding issues take effect during the next running update, and all affect nations in some way, whether through economic upturns/downturns, sudden shifts in freedoms rankings, reclassification into a different government category, even changes in customizable settings or WA membership status. Players should not be shocked if the effects are particularly dramatic, extreme, or even bizarre, at times, either. The game is based on satire, after all.
There is no right or wrong way to answer issues; it all depends on what direction players want to send their nations. If they want their economy to increase, they will probably try something like legalizing gambling or giving corporations more political say. If they want more political freedoms, they will ease up on restrictions to the press or free speech. If they want to form a more dictatorial union, they might do the exact opposite. Anything goes. Even answering in defiance of WA resolutions isn't against the rules! Balancing the effects of issues is a sometimes tricky game to play, however; for example, how to maintain a tightly controlled economy while at the same time keeping a high economic ranking.
After reaching 500 million citizens, players can submit their own issues for consideration by game staff. Editing and adding new issues has seen an increase in recent years, with the game adding on special "Issues Editors" to handle the extra workload. New issues are also drafted on the NS forum.
Additional materials
- NationStates Issues **SPOILER ALERT** - the issues
- Help us fix old issues - report a problem or error in a n existing issue
- Guide to Easter Egg issues (SPOILERS)
- FAQ: Capital City, Religion & Leader (READ BEFORE POSTING) - answers questions on when nations get customizable-fields issues
