Introduction to the game
Welcome to RTP Superpower! RTP Superpower is a free-form, text-based geopolitical roleplaying game based on real-life nations and events. This means that RTP Superpower is based on real-life events, real-life countries, and is conducted in the largest part by the players themselves. RTP Superpower offers a large amount of freedom, as long as things stay realistic. As is common with mast nation simulation games, actions are to be submitted for a variety of matters, but the players can also use their own national newspaper to simulate events and things within their own country. Ultimately moderators will have the final say in certain things, but overall freedom is considered to be large.
RTP Superpower follows real life events. The game rounds (more on this later) start on a specific date, and this start comprehends all real-life issues, events and problems that have happened and occurred until that moment. Once the round has started the game no longer follows real life nor takes real life events into account, but players are expected to begin the game with their nation’s real life leaders, and confront and address their nation’s real life issues. Players are free to change the trajectory and course of their nation, but are required to RP such a change in a realistic fashion. Admins and Moderators will, from time to time, throw in events and crisis, to let players deal with the effects from these.
The topic of ‘realism’ is also debated and interpreted, to the point where it warrants mention. RTP Superpower is a realism-based role-playing game, which in a loose sense means that the game conforms to realistic scenarios and events in the realm of possibility under current conditions. It is situated in the cold-war era and thus based on the cold war’s real-life geopolitics. To that extent, players are expected to behave and play their nations and their leaders in a fashion which is ‘realistic’, given the era’s political climate.
This isn’t to say that a nation can’t take a path in-game that is historically unaligned, but a player would be required to conduct sufficient internal and external role-playing to justify a change in course. RTP Superpower offers a lot of room for player input and players are allowed to role play their entire nation. There is however a catch, administrators or moderators will have to approve all government changes and drastic events, this in order to post news in the international newspapers and to keep the players well-informed of the changes. The golden rule is that if you can RP something well, you can make it happen. For example giving a president a heart-attack is easy and will not be considered great role-playing, however exploiting national problems and utilizing these to fuel demonstrations against the current government, can be considered realistic and possible and will (in general) thus be allowed.
Code of Conduct
There are guidelines for conduct on the Nations website. Violations will result in disciplinary action ranging from poster warnings to permanent banning.
1. Think before you post.
These boards have a certain standard on inappropriate material. Submitted content deemed to be overly profane, violent, graphic, pornographic, or prejudicial is not allowed. Violation of this rule will usually result in a poster warning and deletion of the content in question. The precise standards vary between in-character and out-of-character forums, and we are reasonably liberal in this matter, but please use your common sense. Let it be made clear that you do not have a right to free speech on these boards. We reserve the legal right to restrict access to this site to people who post material contrary to the spirit of these guidelines. While we can be considered liberal and open to a lot of matters, some things will not be tolerated.
2. Harassment will not be tolerated.
This website promotes a friendly environment (whenever possible), and all debate should be constructive. Insults and character attacks (not blatant harassment) are sometimes overlooked in out-of-character forums, but in in-character forums, harassment of any kind not directly within reasonable context of role-playing will result in disciplinary action. In all forums, please recognize the difference between casual, victimless profanity and direct verbal harassment. If you feel you are being harassed on this website, please contact an administrator with your grievance. Punishment will vary depending on seriousness, but will probably involve suspension.
3. Stay in character.
In in-character forums, we have a strict policy on out-of-character comments. To be perfectly clear, “in-character” content is text/comments that are stated from the perspective of your character, the leader of a nation or organization, with no information or phrasing within that would contradict that role. “Out-of-character” content is text/comments that are stated from your own perspective, as a person. In an in-character forum, you should and may not make out-of-character (OOC) comments. There are various section on the board that are intended for OOC comments, use these for OOC discussions and keep the IC sections for what they are intended to.
Admins and Moderators
Administrators are identified by the admin group status on the forum. These are the overarching authorities on all matters, and their rulings are final. They are also primarily responsible for forum’s structural changes and other procedural matters. This said do not go to administrators simply because you disagree with an actions results. We have a well documented policy on how to handle such matters that you can find here in the Right to Review Policy
General Moderators are identifiable by their moderator group, and have general oversight of the forum’s day-to-day affairs. They have authority to rule on most issues.
Forum Overview
The forum of RTP Superpower is considerable and that is something that ca be intimidating for new players. This post will attempt to give a basic run-down of each forum and it’s basic function. And explain that while the things might look immense and scary, the basic system is very simple and easy to access.
RTP Guides, Rules, & Annoucements
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RTP Guides, Rules, & Annoucements is divided into three main areas, the first being an area where the Moderators/Admins post their decrees and general board guidelines, as well as post decisions and changes that affect the majority of the board or general gameplay. You should always pay attention to updates in this forum. Unless a post specifically says otherwise, only moderators and admins can post here. These matters are found in the Announcements. The Announcements section is intended for announcements by the admins or moderators and should be watched closely. Any non IG news coming from the admins will be posted here and it is thus important to watch the news being posted here.
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The next area is the guides sub-category. This is where you will find guides on how to navigate and play RTP Superpower (like this guide)
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The last major section is the rules sub-category, this is where you will find all official documented policies for RTP Superpower. This said, just because something is not written in stone, does not mean you are free to do as you like. There remains an expectation that all players operate in good-faith.
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Besides the three major sections, players (or guests) can also find the Help Desk here.
News & Press Offices
News & Press Offices is the part of the forum were news is published. News can be published in two different manners, namely through the World Wide News and National News. World Wide News is the news that is based upon the actions that players have submitted. Admins and Mods process these actions and a news article is published in the World Wide News Section addressing the action. National News is where each player can make one newspaper for his own nation and post news. All news is moderated and if an article is published it will thus not directly appear. An Admin or Mod will have to approve the article before release. Only news articles related to the nation of the player are allowed (thus no actions affecting other nations), but the player is allowed to create any type of article he wants (though changes in government, or major legislation, spending, or significant policy shifts should ALWAYS be done through an action).
Last the News Zone also houses the Press Office, this is a forum where every nation creates one press office or agency for his/her nation. Through this office other players can pose questions to the government of another nation on any matter or the players can release press releases on events that have happened IG. A Mod will be tasked with oversight on the forum and will grant results to posts made by players (if this is deemed necessary).
Military Affairs Section
The Military Affairs section addresses military affairs related to the game. For this various forums are attached to this section. The section includes the Defence Ministries, and Arms Market, which will be explained now.
Defense Ministries are where nations post topics that are dedicated to their militaries. Each nation should have one, and you should never post in another nation’s Defense Ministry topic. Among things that will need to be placed in your nation’s topic is your nations military budgets, and purchases. This is explained in the pinned post in the category. The Arms Market is the section that addresses the sale of weapons and services of any kind (including donations). Sales agreed to elsewhere, such as in bilateral meetings, must still be posted here. Any agreed sale between nations will have to be posted in the arms sales area of the board.
International Affairs Section
Conferences and Summits are where meetings that are held between nations are posted. Once two (or more) nations decide to hold a meeting, a topic is set up in the International Conferences & Summits area, where the meeting can than be roleplayed.
Treaty Archive is where international agreements are posted. It has two sub-categories, one for general agreements, and one for arms sales. All international agreements must be posted in one of these two areas and confirmed by all related players (or by a moderator for the case of NPC countries)
International Organizations Section
United Nations is where all UN discussion and work takes place. Anyone who is a member of the UN can post in the UN General Assembly sub-category. Another sub-category of the United Nations is the United Nations Security Council, here matters of security and global peace are discussed. Only nations that are members of the UNSC are allowed to post in the forum, or a nation that is invited by the UNSC to attend a specific meeting/discussion. A current list of members can be found as pinned topics in both the UN forum and UNSC sub-category. Passed UN Resolutions are moved to the top level UN category for public record. The top level UN category is read-only, so no one can post there.
Within the International Organizations section is where you will also find the categories for NATO, COMECON, the World Bank, and the IMF.
A Special Thanks
A thank you goes out to Jos1311 for creating the basis of this newbie guide back in our Nations: Dawn of an Era… era.