The Premise
Welcome to Springtime of Nations, the game of alternate history and organized chaos. In this fourth installment, Dear Leader, you play a prominent figure in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, colloquially known as North Korea, working to chart an independent course for your nation despite being surrounded on all sides by potential enemies. The DPRK is characterized by its uncomfortably close ties between the state and the military, making the distinction between political and military figures largely a matter of duties and fashion rather than any real difference.
The game begins on January 22, 1968, following the spectacular if ill-fated attack on South Korean president Park Chung-hee in his official residence the day before. Though the failure is embarrassing, the debacle may not be complete; the United States is neck-deep in the Vietnam War, and other opportunities are always around the corner. After all, the Supreme Leader's prestige is on the line...
The Game
Unlike previous Springtime of Nations games, I've dispensed entirely with the game mechanics. Actual ability means almost nothing in the insular world of North Korean politics and the primary concern of most officials and officers should be in how much regard they are held by the Supreme Leader.
Everyone plays one (1) character. Your character can either be a member of the Kim dynasty or a non-historical original character. Currently playable Kim scions include Kim Jong-il and Kim Man-il (who survived because this is alternate history), with future legitimate sons becoming available for play as the game progresses.
Anyone interested in playing a Kim scion must also include a submission for an original character; if they're not selected for a Kim, then they'll play the original character instead. Non-historical illegitimate Kim children are permitted as original characters, but they don't get special orders and aren't eligible for succession.
Unlike normal games where players have their own independent fiefdoms, armies, and spheres of influence, in Dear Leader the principal aim is to influence the decision-making process of the Supreme Leader, Kim Il-sung (played by the GM). Orders may be used for independent action as well, but personal autonomy is sharply limited within the DPRK and attempts at carving out individual fiefdoms tend to be frowned upon.
One of the principal focuses of the game is the internecine power struggle ongoing within the Kim dynasty. No formal heir has been confirmed or presented to the North Korean hierarchy, so while Kim Jong-il is the most likely candidate due to his status as firstborn, anything is possible. The game will likely end when one of the potential heirs has firmly cemented his position as the anointed successor: the Dear Leader.
How to Play
Players are expected to regularly post in-character statements and to send orders for each turn, which will comprise one year of in-game time. In-character posts should be your character's public actions and rhetoric, ideally on the issues of the day or their personal agenda. Orders should be sent to me in a private conversation using the title format [SoN: DL - Character Name]. Each order submission should include the relevant year, which kind of order is being used, if the order is public or covert, and if the order is part of a conspiracy (if so, name the other participants of whom you're aware).
Everyone gets two (2) regular orders per turn except the Kim scions, who get one (1) regular order and one (1) dynastic order. Regular orders can be used for virtually anything. Dynastic orders are stronger than regular orders and reflect the Kim scions' greater influence with the Supreme Leader. Regular orders can either be public or covert; if they're covert, then the origin of the order is disguised. Dynastic orders are never covert. If you submit one order instead of two orders, it will be more effective. If a Kim scion submits one order, it'll automatically be considered a dynastic order.
Conspiracies are what happens when multiple players work together to submit joint orders. All or part of a conspiracy can be covert and it can comprise either regular or dynastic orders. Conspiracy orders are greater than the sum of their parts and can be used to substantially shift DPRK policy or influence the Supreme Leader. Conspiracy orders, if revealed, are more likely to result in the Supreme Leader experiencing uncomfortable paranoia in your general direction.
If you send covert orders and their results aren't publicly visible in the updates, then you'll probably get a PM from me with the results shortly thereafter.
The public update will be an official news statement from DPRK state media and written in-character from that perspective.
If I don't see you posting in the thread regularly or if you fail to send orders without a valid reason, then I'll give you a warning, followed by the boot.
The North Korean Government
The government of the Democratic People's Republic is intentionally Byzantine and opaque. The DPRK's national legislature, the Supreme People's Assembly, is a rubber-stamp body with regular meetings that routinely confirm all motions put forward by the government. The North Korean judiciary is a joke and most detentions and sentences are imposed arbitrarily by the military.
All actual power in North Korea flows from the Supreme Leader, Kim Il-sung, who also serves as Premier of the Democratic Republic, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army. The Workers' Party of Korea (WPA) and Korean People's Army (KPA) are the two bodies with real influence in the country. Typically, Kim Il-sung's advisors are either Party officials or military officers.
Party officials typically lead a bureau, department, or organization within the DPRK. Players are permitted to use actual known bureaus or make their own. Conflicting bureaus are permitted and even encouraged, as there are many overlapping official organs. Authority is largely a function of what the official is granted by the Supreme Leader.
Likewise, military officers may have whatever rank they like below Supreme Commander, though they may not have original or custom ranks, as such behavior is considered a direct threat to the Supreme Leader's authority. Given the lack of actual military operations following the Armistice, it is unlikely that an officer will actually be called upon to lead in the field. As such, their formal rank is less important than their clout with the Supreme Commander.
Submissions
Any submissions go in the signups thread and should follow the rules there.
Communications
OOC game discussion is handled in IRC on irc.theairlock.net, room #WiR_Main. All communications over IRC are considered to be OOC unless I feel that you're abusing the system.
Welcome to Springtime of Nations, the game of alternate history and organized chaos. In this fourth installment, Dear Leader, you play a prominent figure in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, colloquially known as North Korea, working to chart an independent course for your nation despite being surrounded on all sides by potential enemies. The DPRK is characterized by its uncomfortably close ties between the state and the military, making the distinction between political and military figures largely a matter of duties and fashion rather than any real difference.
The game begins on January 22, 1968, following the spectacular if ill-fated attack on South Korean president Park Chung-hee in his official residence the day before. Though the failure is embarrassing, the debacle may not be complete; the United States is neck-deep in the Vietnam War, and other opportunities are always around the corner. After all, the Supreme Leader's prestige is on the line...
The Game
Unlike previous Springtime of Nations games, I've dispensed entirely with the game mechanics. Actual ability means almost nothing in the insular world of North Korean politics and the primary concern of most officials and officers should be in how much regard they are held by the Supreme Leader.
Everyone plays one (1) character. Your character can either be a member of the Kim dynasty or a non-historical original character. Currently playable Kim scions include Kim Jong-il and Kim Man-il (who survived because this is alternate history), with future legitimate sons becoming available for play as the game progresses.
Anyone interested in playing a Kim scion must also include a submission for an original character; if they're not selected for a Kim, then they'll play the original character instead. Non-historical illegitimate Kim children are permitted as original characters, but they don't get special orders and aren't eligible for succession.
Unlike normal games where players have their own independent fiefdoms, armies, and spheres of influence, in Dear Leader the principal aim is to influence the decision-making process of the Supreme Leader, Kim Il-sung (played by the GM). Orders may be used for independent action as well, but personal autonomy is sharply limited within the DPRK and attempts at carving out individual fiefdoms tend to be frowned upon.
One of the principal focuses of the game is the internecine power struggle ongoing within the Kim dynasty. No formal heir has been confirmed or presented to the North Korean hierarchy, so while Kim Jong-il is the most likely candidate due to his status as firstborn, anything is possible. The game will likely end when one of the potential heirs has firmly cemented his position as the anointed successor: the Dear Leader.
How to Play
Players are expected to regularly post in-character statements and to send orders for each turn, which will comprise one year of in-game time. In-character posts should be your character's public actions and rhetoric, ideally on the issues of the day or their personal agenda. Orders should be sent to me in a private conversation using the title format [SoN: DL - Character Name]. Each order submission should include the relevant year, which kind of order is being used, if the order is public or covert, and if the order is part of a conspiracy (if so, name the other participants of whom you're aware).
Everyone gets two (2) regular orders per turn except the Kim scions, who get one (1) regular order and one (1) dynastic order. Regular orders can be used for virtually anything. Dynastic orders are stronger than regular orders and reflect the Kim scions' greater influence with the Supreme Leader. Regular orders can either be public or covert; if they're covert, then the origin of the order is disguised. Dynastic orders are never covert. If you submit one order instead of two orders, it will be more effective. If a Kim scion submits one order, it'll automatically be considered a dynastic order.
Conspiracies are what happens when multiple players work together to submit joint orders. All or part of a conspiracy can be covert and it can comprise either regular or dynastic orders. Conspiracy orders are greater than the sum of their parts and can be used to substantially shift DPRK policy or influence the Supreme Leader. Conspiracy orders, if revealed, are more likely to result in the Supreme Leader experiencing uncomfortable paranoia in your general direction.
If you send covert orders and their results aren't publicly visible in the updates, then you'll probably get a PM from me with the results shortly thereafter.
The public update will be an official news statement from DPRK state media and written in-character from that perspective.
If I don't see you posting in the thread regularly or if you fail to send orders without a valid reason, then I'll give you a warning, followed by the boot.
The North Korean Government
The government of the Democratic People's Republic is intentionally Byzantine and opaque. The DPRK's national legislature, the Supreme People's Assembly, is a rubber-stamp body with regular meetings that routinely confirm all motions put forward by the government. The North Korean judiciary is a joke and most detentions and sentences are imposed arbitrarily by the military.
All actual power in North Korea flows from the Supreme Leader, Kim Il-sung, who also serves as Premier of the Democratic Republic, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army. The Workers' Party of Korea (WPA) and Korean People's Army (KPA) are the two bodies with real influence in the country. Typically, Kim Il-sung's advisors are either Party officials or military officers.
Party officials typically lead a bureau, department, or organization within the DPRK. Players are permitted to use actual known bureaus or make their own. Conflicting bureaus are permitted and even encouraged, as there are many overlapping official organs. Authority is largely a function of what the official is granted by the Supreme Leader.
Likewise, military officers may have whatever rank they like below Supreme Commander, though they may not have original or custom ranks, as such behavior is considered a direct threat to the Supreme Leader's authority. Given the lack of actual military operations following the Armistice, it is unlikely that an officer will actually be called upon to lead in the field. As such, their formal rank is less important than their clout with the Supreme Commander.
Submissions
Any submissions go in the signups thread and should follow the rules there.
Communications
OOC game discussion is handled in IRC on irc.theairlock.net, room #WiR_Main. All communications over IRC are considered to be OOC unless I feel that you're abusing the system.
