Join the new world

---

Day 3557 of the New World
August 16, 2017








Hey there kids, it’s your eternal Vice President Gnilraps with a brand new issue of 16 Shells!

Speaking of “16 Shells”, I’m having a blast participating in the eRepublik Idol competition which you can follow by clicking. I’ve made it to round 3 so far with the above cover of Tom Waits' Jersey Girl (please don't tell me you thought Bruce Springsteen wrote it) and a hastily-recorded version of Elvis Costello’s God’s Comic (I hadn’t the time to record the instrumentation). But for my third entry I will be fully channelling my Tom Waits muse with my own recording (playing all of the instruments) of 16 Shells From a Thirty-Ought-Six. Here’s what Waits himself had to say about this gem:

“’16 Shells From a Thirty-Ought Six’ is a field holler done with a hammer on an anvil. It’s about this guy who captures this black crow and puts it in his guitar and then bangs on the strings and drives the bird mad on the side of his mule as he goes off.”

I hope my version does it justice.


But that is only a segue to what I want to write about today.


I want to talk about Plato’s Foundation!








This is the best idea to come out of Romania since Comrade Detective (which I strongly recommend on Amazon Prime).

(Speaking of Amazon Prime, also check out Poldark. Wow.)




Anyway, returning to Plato, hopefully you’ve heard about the foundation. Did you know that I am on the Board? Yup, it’s true. There I am along with several other important people and YUI.


How would you like me to give you some sure-fire tips on submitting your idea to Plato’s Foundation? Just follow my handy-dandy guide and your odds of swimming in Plato Gold will rise sky-high.





First: The Idea.

You must understand what Plato is looking for here. He’s not offering cash so that you can get lazy. So don’t try submitting an MU-only supply scheme. If you run an MU, fund it.

No, what Plato wants to do with his Foundation is to fund things that game mechanics don’t otherwise allow for. So for instance, remember my eRepublik Fantasy Military Unit game? Yeah, that idea would have TOTALLY gotten funded by Plato’s Foundation. Why? Because it met the following three criteria (which I have developed… these are not Plato’s):

1 - It promotes people working together within the boundaries of eRepublik.

2 - It requires some extra effort beyond eRepublik to get the job done.

3 - It isn’t trollish or cynical or otherwise idiotic. It’s “fun”.


So, for instance, in the case of the Foundation-Award-Winning and aforementioned eRepublik Idol competition, all three of my criteria are met.

1 - The contest is open to any citizen of eRepublik (though the Foundation is also open to ideas that appeal only to certain eNationalities).

2 - The contest requires technology and activity outside of the game mechanics of eRepublik. In other words this isn’t merely a cash distribution game.

3 - It’s hilariously funny to hear how embarrassingly awful we all sound and what we are willing to do - all without insulting anyone or violating any of eRepublik’s sacred screed of rules. In other words: It's fun.


So start spinning your wheels. The pool of ideas is limitless. There are countless contests you could run inviting people to predict political outcomes, generate writing contests, scavenger hunts involving the eRep Forum, etc. etc. etc. Come on people, TAKE PLATO’S MONEY!!!


SPECIAL NOTE: If your idea requires Plato to make game mechanics changes, you will be rejected. The Foundation is not a forum for improving eRepublik, it is a rewards system for encouraing you to play a little harder than just sitting on the red button.






Secon😛 The Presentation.

Once you’ve got a good idea, it really does need to be packaged properly.

I’m not talking about slick marketing. I am simply saying that your idea needs to be published ingame in your newspaper, in English, in such a way that you anticipate questions and explain everything in a clear way.

Don’t get intimidated by this. This isn’t a grammar and usage contest (though it would be fun to run a contest in which you get paid to re-publish crappily-written articles with corrected grammar and usage… hmmmmm).

What I am saying is that the bar here is not terribly high. What Plato is looking for is effort combined with forethought mixed with good communication.

The Foundation Board should be able to read your article and come away with a good picture of what your idea looks like inside and out. So if publishing is not your strong suit, get help. You can always promise your “ghost-writer” a percentage of the award if the Foundation selects it for a grant.

PRO-TIP: Don't get banned after you present your idea.





Thir😛 The Submission.

While it is true that the members of Plato’s Foundation Board are actively seeking good ideas, don’t leave it up to chance that we will find your article. Your best bet is to make contact with a Board member and call his/her attention to your brilliant scheme.

By far the best way to submit your project to Plato’s Foundation is by visiting the Discord Channel on the eRepublik Server.

If you can’t access Discord, you can always send me a PM with your project idea (for as long as I am on the Board) or if all else fails just post a link on one of the eRep Forum Threads pertaining to the Foundation.


There you have it!






For fun, let’s look at a few fictitious ideas that Plato either would or would not consider for an award.


1 - Activity: Spam YUI’s inbox with images of Justin Beiber. First to receive a rage-reply wins 20K weps.
Nope. But fun.

2 - Contest: Who can shout the most porn in the Friends Feed? Most boobs wins 10kcc.
Nnnnnnn-ope.

3 - Competition: Take a photograph of you playing eRepublik on your cell phone in strange places (must be legal!). Judges determine 3 best photos for prizes.
Probably would be considered. Pretty good idea, actually.

4 - Contest: Crash the eRep Server with DDoS attacks.
Um. No. Not even funny. But you laughed.

5 - Contest: Guess Colin Lantrip’s next Airstrike Target. Winner gets a Combat Stash.
Sort of the right idea, but would probably not be accepted.

6 - Activity: Development of a Mixer Stream dedicated to 24/7 live Q&A from a rotating panel of eRepublik experts.
OMG I WOULD SO LOVE FOR SOMEONE TO DO THIS. Definitely would be a strong candidate for a grant.

You get the idea.

Now get crackin’ before I whittle you into kindlin’





You may now return to your regularly scheduled clicking