Nationalized

Nationalized

Nationalized's logo, with the game's map behind it.
Author(s)	zipsegv
Genre	Afterlife
Players	clumsycapy (then thecoolkid26), UltraBigRat (then UltraCraftGames), Tinted_Air (then UK_Countryball), cookiiq (then KooqieCue)
Date Created	March 11, 2019
Server	Warlords 2
Known for	zipsegv's first ever game on Warlords
Successor	Nationalized 2
Inspired	!!!.
Status	Defunct

This article has one or more unfinished sections. Please help fill in any section marked with [TODO].

Nationalized was an Afterlife game hosted by zipsegv. It took place in the year 3500 in a single city in the nation of Asphyxia, an authoritarian nation that claims to control all of Earth and other planets in the solar system. The city that the game takes place in is never explicitly named, only ever referred to as "the city".

Gameplay

The game was segmented into turns, with each turn lasting a single week. Within each turn, work started from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with no days off. Players would then go to sleep at 10:00 PM; if they did not do this, they would get the "tired" debuff (what exactly this entailed was never clarified). Between 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM, players were allowed to do what they wanted, within the limits of the game. During work, players could communicate with eachother or with NPCs, and discuss what is happening in the world around them. Typically, this consisted of political matters, or, in clumsycapy's case, debates over the two competing phone brands available.

During their free time, there were a few things a player could do. Players started with computers, and could buy phones if they wished (which all players did immediately on their first turn). On these devices, players could check the news (via the presumably state-run news station Asphyxian Times), browse the internet, or contact people (using the single social media app Asphyxian Network, or AN for short). During this time, protests or rebellions against the authoritarian state were also commonly observed, although the actual organizations or structures organizing these efforts were never visible.

Plot

Turn 1

During turn 1, the only players were clumsycapy and UltraBigRat. These two players do not interact throughout this turn. In Nationalized, player characters are not given names distinct from their usernames. Turn 1 begins on Monday, at 6:00 PM. Both of these players work at a factory.

clumsycapy

clumsycapy begins in her house. She reads the Asphyxian Times, reading stories about the terraforming of Mars and expeditions to Neptune. She also reads about a fire occurring in a nearby factory, with an unknown cause. She also checks her browser history, and finds an article titled "The Authority might be Lying" on a website called "thetruth.org", and skims it quickly before closing the page. While checking AN, clumsycapy learns of Jonas McMan, her character's friend.

When she gets to work the next day, that fire is brought up as a topic of conversation; one coworker theorizes that it could be the result of arson. One of her coworkers, named Xekanizh, "sweats a lot". The conversation then shifts to discussion of better work prospects. One of her coworkers then mentions the article clumsycapy was reading earlier, saying that they think they're trying to hide something. After work ends, Xekanizh stays. clumsycapy questions this, and he says he is staying for overtime; she then asks him (indirectly) if he is the one responsible for the burning of the building, which he quickly denies. Then, the police appear, and take Xekanizh with them.

When clumsycapy arrives home, she searches Xekanizh on AN, and finds out that their full name is "Xekanizh Iot". Their profile description is written in Lionek, a language that, in Nationalized lore, is primarily spoken in Venus. Using machine translation, they read that Xekanizh previously worked as an investigator.

The next day, clumsycapy meets Rhiob Iot, who instructs her and other coworkers on a new product they are to make. Before Rhiob leaves, clumsycapy asks if he knows Xekanizh, and Rhiob responds that Xekanizh is his brother. One of her coworkers asks what happened to Xekanizh, and clumsycapy responds with what the saw; another coworker guesses that they missed their "inspection" date.

When clumsycapy exits work, she sees soldiers marching towards the direction the previously destroyed factory was at. clumsycapy receives a notification from the Asphyxian Times, stating "Riots in Downtown Lezha", which immediately disappears as soon as she sees it.

When she gets home, she invites Jonas over, and they both go to see what occurred in Downtown Lezha. They both go to the area, and see gunfire raging across both sides. This event is eventually named the "Second Riot of Downtown Lezha". During this event, a wounded person enters clumsycapy's car. They are driven to her house.

UltraBigRat

UltraBigRat likewise begins in his house. He reads the same article about the Neptune expedition, and goes to the store to buy food. He goes to work, and they have a discussion about The Authority and its legitimacy. UltraBigRat dislikes the actions of the protestors, and how burning down a factory just destroys jobs without a good reason. During this conversation, the term "Anti-Governmentalist" is used for the first time, which appears to be a general term used for anyone opposed to The Authority. UltraBigRat then begins a conversation about how their work is ultimately pointless, since they have the machines to be able to automate it. The general response is that without jobs, the economy would cease to function. As UltraBigRat leaves work, he sees protestors running away from the military, many fleeing into the factory as a shootout between both sides begins. This event would be known as the "1st Battle of the Factory" He quickly takes his car back to his home, and locks his doors.

At home, he checks the news, and sees an article titled "Factory overrun by republicanists". Republicanist, or Republican is a term for a specific group of Anti-governmentalists whose slogan is to "Reform the Republic". They are nominally fighting for a democratic state. UltraBigRat looks online for a 3D Printer, but can not find one within his price range. Then, someone knocks on UltraBigRat's door, then proceed to break in. They force his home to be "Republican territory" and replace the flag inside.

Turn 2

clumsycapy and Jonas treat the wounded person's wounds, and then drop them off at their local store. clumsycapy, hearing what happened during UltraBigRat's turn, takes him to her house. The republicans at this point have taken over their workplace, so they can no longer go to work. They lock the door of the house.

They see a group of soldiers outside, and clumsycapy asks to join the Asphyxian military, but is denied, and told that average people ("randoms") are not permitted to join the military. She then asks how they can protect themselves if a Republican attempts to break in, and the soldier responds that they should buy boards and board up their house. They proceed to buy these boards, and some knives, from Asphbox (the equivalent of Amazon) and board their house up. They overhear some fighting outside their home as they're doing this.

clumsycapy attempts to contact Jonas, and receives no response. She then enters her car and drives over to Jonas' house, but is stopped by a militia of Republicans. She then rams right through them, and ends up in a ditch. She exits her car and climbs out of the ditch, to be met by military personnel. The Republicans begin digging into the trench, and clumsycapy hides behind a house, picking up a gun from one of the bodies. She then charges into the ditch from behind at the same time the military begins to overrun the trench. During the whole endeavor, clumsycapy is using their phone as a bodycam, so they have a full recording of what happened. The military questions her after it is over, and she receives a warning to never enter a battle again, else she will be arrested. This event would be known as the "The Battle of the Ditch".

clumsycapy retrieves Jonas, as well as another NPC, Joseph, and they head back to her house. Jonas had his house taken over, similar to UltraBigRat. They discuss the current rebellion, and clumsycapy opines that the rebellion had a point, but that they should not have roped in civilians. Joseph says that overthrowing the government is more trouble than it's worth, and clumsycapy says that they're not supporting the Republicans at all given their actions. She also says that the approach needs to be much more peaceful, and shouldn't inflict harm on civilians.

UltraBigRat says that they need to get their jobs back and that they can't be careless with their spending from now on; clumsycapy reveals their gun, which causes an NPC (either Jonas or Joseph, unclear) to state that holding that gun is illegal.

clumsycapy and UltraBigRat begin driving out, and they're stopped by a Republican. He apologizes for what has happened, saying that they weren't told that they were going to be going after civilians. clumsycapy restates her opinions on the rebellion to him, and asks for it to be forwarded to "whoever controls this shit". He reveals that the leader of the rebellion thusfar has been Xekanizh, however he states that Xekanizh has died and that it's now Rhiob who is in charge. clumsycapy then gives him some advice on what to do next. The Republican hands clumsycapy a badge, which has writing on it in Lionek. He says that it will get the Republicans to not shoot them. They decide to keep it concealed. At this point, the rebellion seems to be mostly crushed, with the Asphyxian government back in control of the entire city.

Turn 3

At this point, two new players (Tinted_Air and cookiiq) join the game. They're both given apartments in an apartment complex.

They both go to work at a factory (the same one that was previously burnt down). An NPC begins taking about the factory, pondering why it was set on fire. They say that those who committed the arson had a point, but that their violence was not the answer. Another NPC says that they can't even be sure of the motivations of the arsonist. They begin questioning the Authority, noting how the Authority rules over them, without them getting much of a say in it. Another NPC mentions that they received a leaflet written by the Authority that says that the Republicans murdered anyone who did not comply with their rule, but states that they can not trust the leaflet due to its source. Tinted_Air remarks that, they effectively just traded one government for one just as bad. cookiiq says how unsettling the whole situation is, and agrees with the other NPC that the Authority could be lying. The topic of automation is brought up again, with one questioning why they need to work when the technology exists to replace them, to which cookiiq replies "no idea why, but it is".

After work, Tinted_Air and cookiiq buy phones, as well as food. They return to their apartment, and check the news, but do not see anything important. Outside, someone is standing on a box, delivering a speech. clumsycapy and UltraBigRat drive over, but remain in their vehicle. The man says that they should not invade people who do not like them, and that instead they should resist by spreading the word. clumsycapy agrees. They mention the topic of automation in their speech.

cookiiq walks out to the speech, and military arrives at the area, which prompt clumsycapy and UltraBigRat to immediately leave. cookiiq attempts to do so too, but is blocked by the military. clumsycapy tells Joseph to take a board, and arms the others with knives. The man delivering the speech insinuates that the government should be removed, which prompts the military to begin shooting into the crowd. UltraBigRat, meanwhile, is trying to find parts to build a makeshift taser. The crowd manages to brake through the military's blockade, and disperses, with cookiiq included. This event would be known as the "3rd Riot of Lezha".

clumsycapy and UltraBigRat arrive back on the scene to take guns and cash from the corpses left behind.

The next day, Tinted_Air and cookiiq are interrupted on their way to work; they are told they have to stay in their apartments as the building is up for inspection for "anti-governmentalists". Tinted_Air goes to sleep, while cookiiq goes on their computer. She tries to apply for a job in the military, but she found that volunteering for the military was removed as a legal option a long time ago. Meanwhile, clumsycapy's house is inspected by police, and they're strip-searched, meaning the guns are found. However, they are not detained, as clumsycapy shows the officer their footage of from the Battle of the Ditch. Their guns are still confiscated, however.

During the inspection of the apartment, combat begins as Republicans do not surrender to the military. During combat, a helicopter arrives to bring in reinforcements, but the helicopter is taken over by the Republicans. Counter-protestors form outside, but they are not targeted by either side. Tinted_Air and cookiiq both head up a floor to pick up guns from the corpses, and proceed to load them. Eventually, all the Republicans are killed and the building is left damaged. It does not get repaired. This event would be known as "The Apartment Battle"

Meanwhile, clumsycapy and UltraBigRat get in the car, and drive to the edge of the city, where they are turned around by military personnel. They then drive to a military installation, however to not look suspicious they immediately continue down the road to the store, where they buy some food. When they return, they see something being constructed across the street from them.

cookiiq walks over to the military station, asking for a job at the military, and is immediately rejected. She then returns back to the apartment, and begins mopping up the blood and bodies. clumsycapy drives over to the apartment building, and asks cookiiq if they re the person there to officially clean up the mess. cookiiq answers no, and that she just doesn't like seeing blood everywhere. clumsycapy enters Tinted_Air's apartment, and takes an extra chair that fell in their room during the Apartment Battle. They all get in cars and go to clumsycapy's house. When doing so, they see that a job opportunity is opened up at the newly constructed Asphbox node, which has already finished construction. clumsycapy, UltraBigRat, and Tinted_Air all fill out the application.

The next day, they are all accepted for employment. clumsycapy starts talking with someone who was at the factory that burnt down when it happened. She mentions that she knew the people who orchestrated the whole rebellion that arson was assumed to be associated with, and that the whole rebellion was just horrible for everyone. She then mentions how the second rebellion (i.e. the one that consisted of only the Apartment Battle) was much more respectful, as they did not gun down counter-protestors. It is then proposed that Asphyxia might just be a city-state, a co-worker questions if anyone has ever left the city, to which nobody responds that they have. Another responds that it wouldn't make sense given that, if Asphyxia was a city-state, there would be no way for them to get as many resources or personnel as they have. An argument starts between people who like Droider phones and those who like Asphyxphones, which does not go anywhere.

After work, they hear another demonstration forming outside. The speaker says mostly the same points as the previous speech, and at the end the crowd applauds him. clumsycapy gets in the car and drives over to Jonas' house, and takes his stuff back to her house.

The military arrives later, but it is a long time after the protest. They check the Asphbox node, and then leave the area.

Turn 4

[TODO]

Technology

Despite taking place ~1500 years from the present, the technological landscape of Asphyxia does not differ much from our own. There were machines that could automate all work, but that's the most stark distinction from today's world; most other things are the same. The internet isn't substantially different, neither are computing devices. In fact, most technological things are given real-world equivalents:

• Blue Arrow OS - A typical desktop computer operating system
• BlueArrow Browser [sic] - A familiar internet browser; the Internet itself uses the same domain-name structure.
• Asphyxian Network - Directly compared to Facebook.
• Droider Phone - Directly compared to Android.
• AsphyxPhone - Directly compared to the iPhone.
• AsphyxTube - Directly compared to YouTube.
• Asphbox - Directly compared to Amazon.

References

• Text:Ultra Nationalized Interview
• zipsegv's Minecraft logs