The Grand Intoxicating Innocence of
The Armed Republic of Dutch Coolness


What nickname can players use to address you?
Dutch!

Where in the world are you?
I live in the Netherlands. Surprise!

What genre do you personally enjoy?
I mostly enjoy the Fantasy and Science Fiction genres - or a combination of both, of course!

Do you have any roleplaying experience outside of NationStates, such as on other forums, pen and paper, or tabletop gaming?
I've RPd briefly on another forum in the past, and I've been doing Dungeons & Dragons on and off for a few years now. I've also done/am still doing RP in a few video games such as World of Warcraft and Elder Scrolls Online.

All Mentors are volunteers, but what do you do in real life?
I play video ga- I mean, I'm currently a student that will hopefully soon pass on to their second year to go get his degree in Public Administration!

What subforums do you Mentor?
Portal to the Multiverse is my haunt.

Why did you want to become a Mentor?
It sounds very cliche, but to help people, really! I feel being a Mentor puts me in a very good place to go and make a positive contribution to the website that I've enjoyed for years, now.

What are your personal goals as a Mentor?
Other than what I mentioned above, not much. I'd like to help people out if they so desire with Roleplay and help them improve or grow as RPers.

What do you think is the most important concept or idea for a new player grasp about roleplaying on NationStates, regardless of board, tech level, or genre?

Respect! No, seriously. I feel mutual respect for RPers among each other (and also non-RPers!) is a key aspect of it all since, at least to me, RP is essentially collaborative story writing and cooperation requires respect for the other people involved.

The Republic of
Sunset


What nickname can players use to address you?
None. Sunset doesn't shorten well.

Where in the world are you?
US, in the green and currently warm Pacific Northwest.

What genre do you personally enjoy?
FutureTech

Do you have any roleplaying experience outside of NationStates, such as on other forums, pen and paper, or tabletop gaming?
I've been roleplaying pen and paper for twenty-plus years, and tabletop gaming (40k, etc) for just as long. I've also been both a player and developer for the odd MUD, though that's mostly ancient history.

All Mentors are volunteers, but what do you do in real life?
Currently nothing. I'm taking a summer break to write fiction and see how much of 20 years worth of deferred maintenance I can do in 3 months.

What subforums do you Mentor?
NationStates and International Incidents. I'll gladly offer advice about writing in general, but the P2TM side is better served by their competent cadre.

Why did you want to become a Mentor?
It's a good way to share my experiences, good and bad, with the player community. And because everything Kyrusia says is a goat-shaped lie.

What are your personal goals as a Mentor?
Get people to write more.

What do you think is the most important concept or idea for a new player grasp about roleplaying on NationStates, regardless of board, tech level, or genre?
Write, write, and write some more. At its core NationStates RP is about cooperative storytelling and that is expressed through the written word and to become a better writer you must write.

Any advice for those that hope to one day become Mentors?
Help others. You don't have to be minty to help and you can't be minty if you don't help. Importantly, help runs beyond mere criticism but to constructive advice; Whether the idea is good or bad but also how it can be better.

The Empire of the Golden Throne of
The Macabees


What nickname can players use to address you?
Mac works.

Where in the world are you?
Mostly in the US and occasionally in Spain (to visit family)

What genre do you personally enjoy?
I love science fiction, fantasy, history, economics, and just about everything, and that's reflected in what I do on NationStates. I do mostly PMT (post-modern tech) and 'PMT-lite,' although I dabble in FT and in PT (past tech - ancient, medieval, industrial revolution, anything).

Do you have any roleplaying experience outside of NationStates, such as on other forums, pen and paper, or tabletop gaming?
A little table-top gaming, but not really.

All Mentors are volunteers, but what do you do in real life?
I'm the Marketing Director at a San Diego-based digital marketing agency. This was a very recent move. I used to work for Tony Robbins as his marketing analyst, which focuses (a) on the return on advertising spend across various channels and (b) the experience users are going through from the start of their digital history with us to the end (I know when you see an ad, what you do when you click it, if you ever come back to the site, et cetera), so that we can change it to provide the most value to you. I now do a little bit of that, but on a much wider scale and more so managing the strategy and execution of marketing campaigns for clients.

What subforums do you Mentor?
International Incidents, for the most part. But I have experience in NS Sport, GE&T, and the factbook forum.

Why did you want to become a Mentor?
I believe in helping to spread positive knowledge that makes the world a better place. I can do that without being a mentor, but the mentor title helps advertise that about me so that other players know they can come to me for help. And I wanted to get explicitly involved in that development community so I could help grow and guide it, alongside my peers. It's a blessing to be a mentor, but jacket or not, I am who I am, and I like to give my opinion if I think it'd help you if you're willing to listen. Sometimes I get dogmatic with this, but I really do believe that I can raise standards, in writing, in our drive, in how we question, and in the industry my career is in. And I've always been the kind of person to relentlessly pursue that vision, wrongly or rightly.

What are your personal goals as a Mentor?
To help other players become better writers than me.

What do you think is the most important concept or idea for a new player grasp about roleplaying on NationStates, regardless of board, tech level, or genre?
Focus on two things:

1. Having fun
2. The story

Everything else is a distraction. If you can nail those two things, you'll do great.

Any advice for those that hope to one day become Mentors?
Don't focus on being mentors. Anybody can be a mentor and everyone should be a mentor. All "official" mentors were already mentoring people before they got the jacket. Mentors should have personal philosophies that revolve around wanting to help others tell better stories, and around personal excellence and standards, and you know when a person holds this belief because it's manifested in everything they do.

The Kyruption of
Kyrusia



What nickname can players use to address you?
Kyru. "Overgoat," "Goat," "Ram," and "Goatato" are all common monikers, but "Kyru" is what I actually answer to by preference.

Where in the world are you?
Central Timezone, United States

What genre do you personally enjoy?
Science-fiction, science-fantasy, horror (contemporary and gaslight), (neo-)noir, Western/"Spaghetti Western"/"Trope Western", fantasy (particularly low or lacking overt magic), probably others that just escaped my immediate thought processes.

Do you have any roleplaying experience outside of NationStates, such as on other forums, pen and paper, or tabletop gaming?
Indeed. Started-out on chatrooms and MSN Groups; also have pen and paper as well as tabletop experience, though it's been ages.

All Mentors are volunteers, but what do you do in real life?
To keep things simple? I devour dashed hopes and dreams, as well as make the occasional Faustian bargain.

...What?

What subforums do you Mentor?
National & International Roleplaying

Why did you want to become a Mentor?
I was asked and thought it could both assist in endeavors toward helping others in my community that I was already a part of, but that I could also hope to assist in catalyzing portions of the roleplaying community toward greater pro-activity, regardless of their forum masking. My criticism of the Mentor Program when I was jacketed was - and is - well known.

What are your personal goals as a Mentor?
To provide advice and assistance to others, catalyze portions of the roleplaying community to greater involvement and pro-active commitments toward their own communities, and to annoy my fellow Mentors endlessly with lame jokes and puns.

What do you think is the most important concept or idea for a new player to grasp about roleplaying on NationStates, regardless of board, tech level, or genre?
That this is always about the give and take; if you're not here to roleplay with others, but merely for self-indulgence, while you'll likely have fun, you're missing-out on an exceptionally rich, vibrant, and living community simply due to your own choice toward isolation.

Any advice for those that hope to one day become Mentors?
Bribe me.

But no, seriously, you couldn't afford my favor.

...Okay, no, really seriously now...

Learn your community's ins and outs like it were the back of your hand by immersing yourself in it, listening to others, and becoming involved. Volunteer and work toward projects you believe will strengthen and enrich your community, not deride or divide it. Make it your personal duty to see the community to be better when you ultimately leave it than when you first joined.

The Pristine Outerworlds of
Mincaldenteans


What nickname can players use to address you?
Mincivet: "Min" was too common, so the fennec (err, Swith Witherward, that is) renamed me, so it has been!

Where in the world are you?
United States, the West Coast

What genre do you personally enjoy?
Science Fiction, Space Operas and Post-Apoc genres the most. I dabble in other genres when my interest is piqued.

Do you have any roleplaying experience outside of NationStates, such as on other forums, pen and paper, or tabletop gaming?
Back in "my day", RP'ing was considered "Simming" via a chat or email based platform. At the time, AOL, MSN, and Yahoo were predominant in hosting said RPs; groups had their own websites to promote their community and beloved franchise. I belonged to a few Star Trek based RP communities and I gravitated to pbEM (play by email) RPs.

All Mentors are volunteers, but what do you do in real life?
I work in Environmental Regulatory Compliance. I'm also a civet, I poop coffee and look cute doing it.

What subforums do you Mentor?
P2TM

What do you think is the most important concept or idea for a new player [to] grasp about roleplaying on NationStates, regardless of board, tech level, or genre?
I think the most important concept/idea for any new player (even the veterans) is to keep an open mind.

Any advice for those that hope to one day become Mentors?
Be kind; be helpful; be humble; leave ego at the door when assisting others; remember that advice is just that - advice - not word of law. And equally important: don't stop having fun RP'ing.

The White Alpaca Conglomerate of
Esternial


What nickname can players use to address you?
Esty is fine. I'll occasionally search the forum for any mentions of it so anybody that wants me to look at something can use my nickname.

Where in the world are you?
Belgium, born and raised

What genre do you personally enjoy?
Both science fiction and fantasy. I'm big on LOTR and The Witcher series.

Do you have any roleplaying experience outside of NationStates, such as on other forums, pen and paper, or tabletop gaming?
None whatsoever. Do occasionally play Munchkins with some mates but that's not really roleplaying...more "fucking over your friends".

All Mentors are volunteers, but what do you do in real life?
I'm a college student in my sixth and final year, finishing up my Master's of Science in Biotechnology

What subforums do you Mentor?
P2TM. Occasionally point a stray in NSG in the right direction.

Why did you want to become a Mentor?
I didn't explicitly *want* to, but I enjoy helping folks out and writing comprehensive guides. I probably got Minted because I was really invested in adding info to the front page of the new P2TM subforum so newcomers could find their way, which is also why I initially made the Traveller's Café

What are your personal goals as a Mentor?
Don't really have big goals. I just want to do right by everyone to the best of my capacity.

What do you think is the most important concept or idea for a new player grasp about roleplaying on NationStates, regardless of board, tech level, or genre?
Roleplaying is a skill like any other, which has to be trained, but relies strongly on co-operation. Being able to compromise and discuss with others respectfully and not always wanting things to go your way is an important mindset to develop as an RP'er.

Any advice for those that hope to one day become Mentors?
Be helpful, be understanding and don't be (too much of) a dick. Don't overexert yourself in an attempt to make yourself look like an ideal candidate Mentor, especially if it's something you won't be able to keep up once you're a Mentor. Do what you can to the best of your ability and, most importantly, any duties offline go first.

The Landsraad Hegemony of
G-Tech Corporation

What nickname can players use to address you?
I'm G-Tech to most, Corp to vanishingly few, and, amusingly, just "G" to those who I lark about with most often.

Where in the world are you?
'Muricah. I'm technically also a Canadian due to citizenship and how often I travel there, but my home is in the U.S. of A.

What genre do you personally enjoy?
If I had to pick a single genre, I would go for science fantasy. Sci-fi is great and all, but I'm of the opinion that the facts can get in the way of a good story, so a few fantasy elements (FTL etc.) can go a long way in increasing my enjoyment of a setting/literature.

Do you have any roleplaying experience outside of NationStates, such as on other forums, pen and paper, or tabletop gaming?
I've been playing Warhammer 40k since dirt, though less so these days. Also plenty of Warhammer Fantasy Battle, some D+D. I'm a roleplayer of a more classical vibe, though I would be lying if I said the majority of my roleplaying nowadays isn't on NS.

All Mentors are volunteers, but what do you do in real life?
I'm a metallurgical engineer by trade and education, though at present I'm working more with green chemistry and sit on a board for environmental city planning in my current town of residence.

What subforums do you Mentor?
Portal to the Multiverse, you better believe it. Though I'm always happy to provide general Roleplaying advice to anyone from other forums- with the potential exception of NSsports, because their arcane rituals and superstitious dogmas are not my area of expertise.

Why did you want to become a Mentor?
Truth be told, I don't think I ever specifically wanted to be a Mentor. I was one of the first batch through the door when P2TM was created, and hadn't even really considered the position prior to being approached about it. Mentors were far less pervasive in II unless you went looking for them, so I hadn't interacted with the program much before actually becoming part of it.

What are your personal goals as a Mentor?
I'm just along for the ride. I've been here a decade now in various incarnations, and was always happy to help others out with forum conventions and writing tips prior to becoming part of the program- so that's more or less what I've been doing ever since. If I can help a few people stick around and enjoy their stay on our website longer in the course of my tenure here (however long that will be), I'm satisfied.

What do you think is the most important concept or idea for a new player grasp about roleplaying on NationStates, regardless of board, tech level, or genre?
Collaboration and OOC communication. Two concepts, I know, but they go hand in hand. At the end of the day any RP is not about one person's wish fulfillment, or their author insert character conquering the world- RP is about having a good time writing with your mates, or people who might become your mates. Talk everything over with people before you do it, if it is going to effect them. Make sure everybody is on the same page, and don't be a dick, and you'll be a good addition to the community.

Any advice for those that hope to one day become Mentors?
Take your time with your writing, don't flail about in Moderation too loudly, write what you enjoy, and play nicely with others. When we look for new Mentors we look for people who write well, sure, but more who are just good sorts that we feel have the character and attitude to help others.

The Truculent Red Madhouse of
Cerillium

What nickname can players use to address you?
Cer.

Where in the world are you?
Eastern time zone, vacillating between Ohio and Pennsylvania.

What genre/s do you personally enjoy?
Horror/Thriller, Fantasy, Mythology-based...You really want me to list everything?

Do you have any roleplaying experience outside of NationStates, such as on other forums, pen and paper, or tabletop gaming?
Yes. I mostly focus on miniatures and pen&paper, when I have time. Most of my stuff would be considered "old school", I suppose. I get into modern games as well, like "X-Wing".

All Mentors are volunteers, but what do you do in real life?
I serve in a middle-management capacity as director for a "big pharm" research division. I'm also a proud dad, and I'm married to 'that crazy little shit from P2TM'.

What subforums do you Mentor?
P2TM

Why did you want to become a Mentor?
Initially, I didn't. I didn't think I'd have the spare time necessary to assist people. However, thanks to Google docs and chat platforms like Discord, I'm able to offer one-on-one mentoring to players. It allows me to spend time with them while also working on real life projects. (It also means I have countless windows open -with countless tabs in them - cluttering my monitor at any given moment.)

Besides, roleplay is fun. Why not pass that on to the next generation?

What are your personal goals as a Mentor?
1. Continue to learn. Players are good teachers.
2. Continue to help others grow.

What do you think is the most important concept or idea for a new player [to] grasp about roleplaying on NationStates, regardless of board, tech level, or genre?
Tsk. Someone didn't properly proofread this for the fennec before she sent it off.

Consider the way most people learn how to walk: Someone stands behind you and lifts your arms so you can stand on your own feet. You'll never figure out how to balance yourself if you don't wobble and fall a few times. As you get better, you thrash your arms less. Your steps become more assured as you grow into your body. You try new things. You learn to hop. You learn to run. You learn the joy of dancing. Then one day you find yourself holding onto your own kid's arms and easing them to their feet.

So it is with roleplay. Your Mentors and fellow players are here to lift you up and help you. Don't be afraid of the wobble. Don't worry if you fall. Keep working at it. Keep getting better. Grow. Figure out the stuff that makes you happy. Teach what you've learned to those trying to stand up for the first time.

Any advice for those that hope to one day become Mentors?
Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them. - Dalai Lama

The Glorious Borderlands of
Swith Witherward


What nickname can players use to address you?
Swith is fine.

Where in the world are you?
I'm in the US though I've been all over the world as a military brat. My timezone is EST.

What genre do you personally enjoy?
I've found that my tastes are slowly changing. This is probably due to burnout. For example, I love WH40K but I'm so tired of WH40K! I will always love science fiction, but lately I've been getting more into high fantasy.

Do you have any roleplaying experience outside of NationStates, such as on other forums, pen and paper, or tabletop gaming?
My uncle introduced me to roleplaying when I was still very young. I've done it all over the years. I prefer tabletop gaming, but I also enjoy pen and paper. I'm active on a few other roleplay forums, though I've retired from most due to time constraints.

All Mentors are volunteers, but what do you do in real life?
There's life outside of NS?

I'm a nerd. My focus is biochemistry. It's... not very impressive, trust me. It's dull and routine, nothing groundbreaking, and my role is usually that of a flunky. My real life is in limbo. I'm supposed to be on leave from work; they call me in when shit needs done (or when it hits the fan and they need to me to waste hours pouring over documents). I'm supposed to defend my dissertation before a committee; the date has been bumped out (again) for no good reason. I was supposed to go to Mexico for a nice summer vacation; I went to Taco Bell yesterday. So, in real life, I sit on my butt and twiddle my thumbs.

What subforums do you Mentor?
Portal to the Multiverse (P2TM).

Why did you want to become a Mentor?
Someone told me site staff didn't have to pay taxes on collected souls.

I've always been a mentor. We all have the opportunity to mentor someone at least once in life. I joined the NS Mentor Program because I saw an opportunity to help people grow as writers, as roleplayers, and as worldbuilders. These are the hobbies that got me through a lot of turmoil during my younger years. It's only fitting that I pay it forward.

What are your personal goals as a Mentor?
Souls. Did I mention those?

I'm not a perfect Mentor. My goal is to be an effective one. I prefer to give people the support and tools necessary for them to grow. As a Mentor, I hope to train up the next generation of roleplayers. My goal isn't for them to be good roleplayers. It's for them to become confident enough in their own abilities in order to mentor the generation that follows them.

What do you think is the most important concept or idea for a new player grasp about roleplaying on NationStates, regardless of board, tech level, or genre?
It's a game; don't take it too seriously. You're going to screw up. We all do. You're going to fail. We all have at one point or another. Use those mistakes as a valuable lesson, and move onwards. Don't limit yourself to one community or subforum. Explore. Expand. Try new things. Challenge yourself to improve, and then work to do so.

Any advice for those that hope to one day become Mentors?
Give up all hope of tax free souls. Or any souls. Mods hoard them. It's entirely unfair, really.

Mentors are not people that write the best stuff or run the best roleplay games. They aren't the most popular. They don't have to belong to any special groups. When we're assessed as candidates, site staff look at the overall picture. How do we conduct ourselves on the forums? How do we deal with friction? Are we helpful, or are we petty? Do we crave glory, or are we humble? Do we actually contribute to the site in a meaningful way, or is our focus only on our own stuff, our own friends, or our own projects?

I don't wear this jacket because I'm better than anyone else. I wear it because my aim is to help people surpass where I am now as a writer, roleplayer, and forum participant. People see the bright green name and flag me down in TG or in chat. They ask me to make them good. You're already good. You just don't realize it. I'm here to help you discover your hidden talents, and to help you harness your own creativity and potential. It's on you to go the distance.