19-07-2026, 09:50 PM
- How and when did you discover Particracy? How old were you and where were you in life around that time (to the extent you are comfortable sharing)?
Quote:I remembered finding PT while looking for something 'more' than NationStates and Ars Regendi. I had been playing the two games for years before, perhaps since I was 12. I obviously had no idea what I was doing, but I nonetheless came back to them because they were different from what a lot of people in my life and inner circle were playing at the time. I happened upon PT after scrolling in a forum about people talking about the various political simulators they've played throughout the years. I was perhaps 15 at the time and I would say that I was beginning to form my own political opinions, but for the most part, I lacked the knowledge to properly articulate my inner thoughts. At the same time I discovered PT, I also discovered a Battlefield 2 Mod called Project Reality, which, alongside PT, I still to this day, even as the communities in both have shrunk significantly since I first joined.
- What country did you first play in? What was your earliest experience with the forum? What were your first impressions, generally?
Quote:The first country I roleplayed in was Zardugal. The first player I interacted with was PaleRider (who was in Zardugal at the time). For the very first two months of playing the game, I stuck exclusively to the game itself. In first joining Zardugal, I remember an exchange of messages with PaleRider where he basically told me that there was more to the game than just what I saw when I logged on. For me, at the time, I was content with what I saw. The game had the 'more' I had been looking for in NationStates and Ars Regendi. I remember him sending me a message on the message centre with a direct link to Zardugal's newspaper, and when I clicked on it, I was so scared because it was daunting. Many of the forums at the time were some 30+ pages deep. And I remembered that it took me some time to psych myself up to even make a forum account.
- What was your most memorable RP experience or arc? Did you help shape any regions, lore, or political systems that you’re proud of?
Quote:My most memorable RP experience would be the Great Terran War. It was the first time I had ever been exposed to multi-player, planned role-play. I was in Trigunia/Nadiya at the time, and I had become accustomed to the game's players: Kubrick in Vanuku, Farsun/Auditorri in Dorvik, LiuChe in Yindala/Indrala, Doc in Kalistan, Colonelvesica in Hutori etc. To me, the RP was very foundational because it opened my mind to the idea that there was certainly more to PT than just RPing in your corner and that really good stories could be told when you bring the players together.
- What do you think your biggest impact/legacy has been on the game and the community (if any)?
Quote:I don't know whether my impact on the community has been otherwise positive. I still hold myself to a different stand granted my past indiscretions regarding plagiarism (something I still hang over myself to this day). I think in those moments, I lost a lot of the trust of members of the community at the time, and it's something I still feel looming over my head (partly because I continue to remind myself of how incredibly stupid I was). I'd like to think that, insofar as my most authentic work, I hope that I sort of raised the bar on military RP in the community. I understand the community's aversion to such RP now (being on the receiving end), and I'll be the first to admit that I don't have the appetite for such RP as I did in the past. I'll leave the rest to the community.
- Who were some of the players or moderators who had the biggest impact on you? What were your most memorable interactions, collaborations, or rivalries?
Quote: I think I'll link my numerous takes from "The Pub" here to basically show all the people I've come to appreciate and who have been extremely formative for me both ICly and OOC. Both in the community and in my personal life. I intend to do a "Part III" as I become more acquainted with the newer players becoming involved in PT: Reborn.
- How did the community culture evolve during your time within it?
Quote:This is a very loaded question which I think deserves its own thing someday in the future, but for now. I would like to say that the community has shifted away from the hardcore mechanics towards roleplay for the better. I think Greek's innovation with the story arc has been perhaps one of the most transformational things to ever happen to this community.
- How did Particracy influence your interests, writing, or worldview?
Quote:You guys might laugh, you may not. But in the early years of playing in PT (particularly my time in Zardugal and Trigunia), I had very right-wing views. I used to watch Alex Jones and thought that he was some visionary thinker, and I was thoroughly convinced that I could never and would never "abandon" what I believed was the correct sort of thinking for "normal people". My time in Trigunia set that into overdrive because I spent so much time reading news from Russia, be it on RT, Sputnik, TASS or the Moscow Times, that it genuinely started to shift and warp my political views. It was only when I left the country and went to Kazulia that my entire worldview changed. In Kazulia, I played the Labour Party, the very first left-wing party I had played in the game ever. Since then, I have never played a right-wing party. I would like to say that I see myself as a Social Democrat (or perhaps to the left of centre-left), but I also believe that as I interact more with left-wing literature, my views will swing harder to the left. My first time in Lodamun encouraged me to pursue an Economics Degree, and I'm going on to do my Master's soon (this September). I would say that I owe my political journey out of the desert to this game and I think that without it, I don't think I could imagine where I would be today. Career-wise, even relationship-wise (because rediscovering my left-wing origins, I also got back into touch with my queer identity (I'm gay). I tried to get my boyfriend to play with me in Lodamun back in 2022 (he wasn't all that interested, still isn't. But I bounce off a lot of ideas with him for Vorona because he plays another game on Discord religiously).
On writing, I would say that whereas the old me (Maxington) would have wanted to do military RP, I'm no longer inclined to do so. I genuinely enjoy economic RP and as I was conversing with Jorni, I'm beginning to enjoy political RP as well (even though I still struggle on how to make posts sound more authentic). I would say that I want to do way more political posts similar to what everyone else does, you know, the details on elections and the results and whatnot. But I guess I have to begin to realise that I don't have to be as technical as I've historically been.
- How do you feel about the end of Particracy Classic — and what do you hope remains remembered?
Quote:I don't feel anything for Particracy Classic. I think what we've built in its absence is a much better representation of (1) a community of near-like-minded individuals and (2) an advanced political simulator. I honestly believe that there is no community out there that is doing what we have been doing now, and to me, that is special.