Ask the Editors
by,
The Editors
Episode 23
Well, hello there! We hope you all had a lovely holiday and are stuffed full of delicious foods. This weeks question is:
I see a lot of nations out there in the game. I'm not sure what really makes them different from one another. Are nations just groups of friends or is there more to it?
~Anonymous
Excellent question anonymous. Let's see what our editors have to say!
First, Jen 'Areni' DeNardis-Rosa:
“At their core, nations are just that - groups of friends that like to hang out together. This often has both an in-game component (nation members usually quest together, and may also decide to NPC together as well) and an out-of-game component (spending time together in "mundane" life). Most of the time, nations correspond to certain geographical regions - which is why you have the "southern" nations, based mostly in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and "northern" nations, whose members live mostly in New Hampshire and also Vermont (it makes sense - it's easier to hang out when you live near each other!)
But many people will tell you that nations are more than just "groups of friends." When you ask someone to describe their nation, the word that most often comes up is "family" - people with a close bond that love and care for one another both in character and out. This concept of family oftentimes transcends individuals nations and can be seen when the greater Realms community comes together to accomplish amazing things together, such as charity events and auctions.
Another important thing to keep in mind in terms of nations is that they often have different principles and philosophies that the group has been built around, and that is used to attract potential new members. These can be as different as the nations themselves; here are just a few - martial prowess, having fun together, service to the community, being a family, etc. Along with heraldry, these core values are part of what makes each nation unique and different from each other and gives each one a different identity beyond being friends that like to hang out.
If you're curious about a particular nation, ask to spend time with them! People are happy to answer questions and tell you about their in and out of character goals, projects, and principles. Many nations have a way for you to spend more time with members without actually joining - called "petitioner" status, it is an opportunity to make sure that the nation is a good fit for you and you can usually leave your petitioner status at any time if you feel things are not working for you.”
Thank you, Jen.
And now, Lani 'Gewn' Grayson
“If you look around the Realms it is very clear to see that nations hold great importance. People proudly display their national heraldry and a person’s nation is a major part of their identity, both in and out of character. While a nation IS made up of friends, there is so much more to it than that, and there are several qualities that make nations unique from one another.
- Different nations have different values. You can ask most people in the game to describe what makes each nation different, and the qualities that they will describe generally align very neatly with the values of that nation. Nations tend to have a few core values that drive their actions and attitudes, and that is what really sets nations apart from each other. Each nation is distinctive, because each nation is formed with a unique goal in mind, and the members that the nation attracts are going to need to share that sense of purpose if they are going to be a member for the long haul.
- Nations are family. Nations are extensions of your family--sometimes you get along, sometimes you argue, but in the end, you have shared values and purposes that keep you together through thick and thin. They make an indelible mark on their members, and national identity is so special that some people choose to make that mark permanently on their skin, which is pretty incredible if you think about it. What makes nations so special is that they are a family that you choose, but just like a family it grows and changes with time. I can only speak from my experience, but for me at least, Rhiassa is home. It’s where my best friends are, the place that I know I can go when I have a crazy idea that I want to try, someplace to laugh and cry.
- National ties extend beyond the game. Perhaps the most interesting thing about nations is that they really extend much further than it might seem on the surface. Although nations are a key organizational tool for the game, those ties don’t stop after the event is over. It is not uncommon to see nation members in people’s wedding parties and other major occasions in their everyday lives. Even people who aren’t active players still generally identify as a member of their nation. The bond of nationhood extends so far beyond the realm of Realms. It is a special thing to be able to choose your perfect family, and so even when our time in Realms ends, our love for our family doesn’t. "
Thank you, Lani.
[Editors note: The following answers and additional text were added after Sara's initial post was composed.]
Now, debuting in his first Ask the Editors, Keith "Saegan" Cronyn!
"Are nations just groups of friends? Of course not.
I mean of course you're going to be in a nation with your friends, and not a bunch of punks you hate. Why would you do that to yourself?
While different player types may be drawn to different nations in particular, whether you like deep character lore, magics, fighting, or laid back partying styles of play, each nation has different bits of culture that make it up.
Whether it’s secret initiations, knightings in open court, how they lay their helmets around the fire, toasts, challenges, or any number of traditions that each individual nation has, they all bring content and immersion to our game, and that’s a huge deal.
You might not notice it at first, like how each member of Neden has an individual N on their tabard to represent them, or how members of Chimeron can challenge each other for the kings cup, or how you should bring a gift to camp if you’re visiting the Northern Alliance, even if it’s just your company, or a good story. These are just some things off the top of my head, there are probably thousands of things that make up the culture of the game, and much of that is brought on by the nations that make it up.
So if you’re not seeing the differences between the nations, then you probably just need to spend more time with them. Ask Folkestone why they punch Deck. Ask Eagle’s Rook what it means to be a Knight. Ask Stonewood about their gods. Ivory may not be around much, but check out their library. Ask Ashenmark how to become one of their swords. Ask all the questions you can, and then you'll see the difference, and the importance of the nations of our game."
Fantastic points and a unique perspective, Keith!
Also appearing for the first time in this column, Steven "Therian" Matulewicz! Take it away Steven!
"Nations and groups, at their core, should be a bunch of people you want to hang out with both IC and OOC for many years, if not for your entire time in the game and well past the day you may leave. That being said, you can make many friends in many different groups, and yet do not need to join their ranks. What usually differentiates the groups is their internal dynamic and their focus within the game. Are they high RP? Questers? Tournament goers? What is the expectation of the group itself towards events and events they may throw? How much effort is put into events/ the Realms on a day to day basis? Do they hang out heavily on line/ OOC? Is it a family friendly group? Larger groups may have a broader scope of interests, and in those cases, finding your niche within the group can be both challenging and rewarding. Ultimately a group should be able to define their higher goals. It is up to you to decide if you believe in those goals, IC and OOC."
A very pragmatic perspective from Steven. Thank you!
[Editors note: This concludes the additional text.]
So there you have it. Nations are indeed groups of friends, but they are also so much more than that. People that share common goals and views tend to come together and form nations, and slowly more people who share that commonality join them as well. If you want to know what goals and views a particular nation has, ask them, I am sure they wouldn't mind telling you all about themselves. If what they stand for sounds like something you also enjoy, then consider getting to know them better and perhaps eventually join them. There is a place for just about everyone in the realms, you just need to find it.
As always, thanks for reading. Please join us next time when we answer the question “There are lots of other LARPs out there that seem to be competitors for Realms. What do you think Realms has as an advantage over those other LARPs and what do you think we could learn from them?”