I want to write a number of 'digital papers' on several tank-related topics which cover a lot of common problems I see in tank design on NationStates. In the process of outlining the papers I thought about opening a new forum dedicated to these type of papers written by our members - that way we would provide helpful essays for members of the NationStates community. These would be indexed in a stickied thread by subject, so they could be relatively easily found. Ideally, the papers would be sourced extensively to 'prove' accuracy and they would have to be voted in (posted in a subforum and moved when it was voted in) to keep consistent quality.

What do you guys think?

I think I could rant for a long time about the state of powerplants and drivetrains on NS in tanks.

And you All know I can rant about assult rifles but then again I'm far from alone in that respect here...


Soudn lieka good idea to me.

Problem is, there is no easy way of adding footnotes on Invisionfree. I think we are limited to the following code:

And then adding the relevant footnote at the bottom of the paper, or in a second post in the same thread. I know there are free codes for phpBB forums, but this isn't a phpBB forum.

While I think its a good idea, I wouldn't expect a rapid change in quality. After all, it is just a game, and many people do not want to spend months researching and then designing a new aircraft/tank/ship what have you.

Wouldn't these go in Library Archives or something?

Perhaps something like this might also help:

Quick Reference Stickies suggestion

Well, ideally, they wouldn't have to spend months because these 'informatives' provide the necessary information. The idea is that the author has some sort of background or interest in the area, so the author would really already have spent some time researching the topic - since it's his topic.

It isn't forcing anybody to research unwillingly.

Library Archives is really reserved for outside information and books, and such. This would receive it's own forum (forum, as in forum inside this board) and index for 'easy search' (given that we lack a good search engine integrated in Invisionfree).

Something like that, yes. Ideally, this would attract designers from International Incidents.

Ah, I have a link to give for armor of tanks http://www.network54.com/Forum/211833/thre...dern+Tank+Armor

Just a quick thought: what about tactical decision scenarios? One of us writes it up, and the rest evaluate answers to the problem as it comes along.

For now, I would post things like that in the 'Strategy' forum and see if it picks up - otherwise, it might not justify it's own forum. The only reason I create a forum for these 'informatives' is for easy indexing and because I know I'll write a few.

I think Mac's idea and Jeuna's ideas are both great, and could bring benefit to all of us and to other NS players.

I'd be willing to work on at least one. Perhaps a few joint efforts could be done, as well. I know I'd love to work on a document detailing PMT spaceship design with ZMI and Izistan.

I could write one on infantry for the tactical thingy.

I think one needs to be written about turbofan engine sizes... not that I don't use massive ones of my own, but just to get it out there that 50,000 KgF is generally too damn much for a 20m fighter.