First off I would like to say we have had a good run with myBB.

However, there are plenty of issues with myBB that have convinced me that it is time to move to something more stable and feature rich.

It is something I wanted to avoid, as I cringe at the yearly software upgrade cost i.e. $55, which will mean we do have to fundraise a little each year.

It is fair that I list those here:
- MyBB 1.8 is going to transition to 1.9 sometime late this year, or early in the next, and many of the plugins will not be compatible.
- MyBB has a very unstable text editor implementation, and it is dated. The myBB developers seem to be sticking with a clearly buggy editor or can't decide on a new one.
- MyBB crashes a lot database wise, and can't seem to handle even minor glitches with plugins, and the recent crash we had recently of the forum was not the first.
- MyBB is losing a lot of plugin developers, crucially ones that made the money scripts, and there is no dice roller plugin developer. So once the 1.9 switch is made, we lose those plugins, as the developers won't be there to update them.
- If we lose those plugins, then our opportunity to do D&D style RP or have a forum based economy dies with them.
- Forum templates will be changing, so we are going to be losing much of our theme work.

Then, the next question to be asked, is why not other free software?

- SMF is good, but then it is also fairly dated.
- phpBB doesn't really provide anything we wouldn't get with myBB, and it does not solve the editor issue.
- Tapatalk, Vanilla, etc are basic and really boring to look at. Even if they might be 'modern' in style and software.

So paid software became the best bet, and Xenforo vs IPB vs vBulletin.

These aren't necessarily better than one another. So ultimately it came down to features, modification ability, and plugins and add-ons. IPB has no dice roller plugin really on offer, let alone for free, and it charges more aka $160 vs $200. Plus there is less CSS editing flexibility.

So going forward, the old forum will remain active while we transition. No posts or accounts will be lost, as these will be moved to the new forum.

This should be completed by the weekend.

In accordance with Article II of the Citizenship Act, the following will have their shareholder status revoked, for holding no nation in Lazarus:

@"Karloman" (Frankish Peoples)
@"Raemynn Rexus" (United Primal Provinces)
@"United States of Canaidia" (United States of Canaidia)
@"Ladandtopia" (Ladandtopia)
@"Atagait Denral" (Aura Raider)
@"Wolfana" (Wolflandil)
@"Wolf" (The UPG)
@"temmi" (Temmi)
@"epsilonlyrae" (Luilamuin)
@"Jadter1" (Glorious Society)
@"Morozovia" (Morozovia)
@"definitely.not.better" (NoDrugCrimeTown)
@"Loftegen" (loftegen_3)
@"Imaginary" (Your Imaginary Friend)
@"Sarj" (Sarjivo)
@"winner909098#2336" (Winner909098)
@"Casetaria" (Thand Areachns)
@"SouthernKhanate" (Southern Prescott)
@"Rainbow Cat" (The Tokopiaku)
@"Chronim" (Chronim)
@"leandro#2280" (North Supreria)
@"Elven_Pizza_Angel" (Elven Pizza Angel)

1. This is not a leave of absence thread.
   
2. With this thread, let the Speaker know when you update nations.
   

Shareholders of Lazarus,

@"Frankender" has been appointed to serve as the Director of Shareholdership. As per Mandate 12 IV.6, this appointment is subject to a simple majority confirmation by the Shareholders of Lazarus.

The appointment announcement by Managing Director @"moe":

Quote:Hello everyone!

Thank you to all who voted for me, I hope to have a productive term next term.

I would like to appoint joWhatup as director of the regional guard. Jo has indicated that they are willing to stay on, and I am glad to have someone so experienced and knowledgeable in the role.

I would like to appoint Frankender as director of shareholdership. Frankender has served in this role before, and I'm looking forward to working with them in this upcoming term.

I hope to have a nominee for internal management and public relations for you shortly.

Shareholders of Lazarus,

@"joWhatup" has been appointed to serve as the Director of the Guard. As per Mandate 12 IV.6, this appointment is subject to a simple majority confirmation by the Shareholders of Lazarus.

The appointment announcement by Managing Director @"moe":

Quote:Hello everyone!

Thank you to all who voted for me, I hope to have a productive term next term.

I would like to appoint joWhatup as director of the regional guard. Jo has indicated that they are willing to stay on, and I am glad to have someone so experienced and knowledgeable in the role.

I would like to appoint Frankender as director of shareholdership. Frankender has served in this role before, and I'm looking forward to working with them in this upcoming term.

I hope to have a nominee for internal management and public relations for you shortly.

Shareholders of Lazarus,

@"Debussy" has been appointed to serve on the Council on Lazarene Security. As per Mandate 12 VI.4, this appointment is subject to a simple majority confirmation by the Shareholders of Lazarus.

The appointment announcement by Delegate @"Treadwellia":

Quote:Hi everyone! I'll keep this brief. After giving this thought and reviewing the situation, I'm looking to appoint Domais as successor to Debussy as Speaker after the election is over, per Debussy's own recommendation regarding Domais's capabilities. Also I will be looking to appoint Debussy as the newest Security Auditor, when they have left the Speaker position. -- Treadwellia, Delegate of Lazarus

Shareholders of Lazarus,

@"Domais" has been appointed to serve as the Speaker. As per Mandate 12 I.11, this appointment is subject to a simple majority confirmation by the Shareholders of Lazarus.

The appointment announcement by Delegate @"Treadwellia":

Quote:Hi everyone! I'll keep this brief. After giving this thought and reviewing the situation, I'm looking to appoint Domais as successor to Debussy as Speaker after the election is over, per Debussy's own recommendation regarding Domais's capabilities. Also I will be looking to appoint Debussy as the newest Security Auditor, when they have left the Speaker position. -- Treadwellia, Delegate of Lazarus

Hello everyone, seeing as there has been some discussion in relation to this in light of the NPO's condemnation being repealed, I would like to re-open the discussion on how the shareholders of Lazarus feel. 

I believe there are a few discussion points here: 

1. Ending the war with the NPO
2. Repealing/leaving the APC
3. Anything we would want in exchange from them for 1/2
4. Future diplomatic relations if the first two items are passed 
5. Proscription on NPO citizens

Personally, I think that since most of us agreed with abstaining on the SC vote, and with their condemnation being repealed, it makes sense that this would be a good opportunity to revisit our conflict and potentially ending the war and leaving the APC to re-establish some kind of neutral relationship with the NPO. However, I know last time this discussion was opened, a lot of citizens wished to see a delegate change as well, before anything was done. I feel though if the NPO hasn't been actively hostile recently and are looking to change their image, then we could start the discussions to end the war and leave the APC, but wait until we establish any kind of treaty or any agreement past neutrality.

Repeal: “Condemn The Pacific” Discussion

I've been reviewing the text of the repeal, it reads sort of problematic: https://www.nationstates.net/page=sc

We have our initial demands: https://nslazarus.com/showthread.php?tid...87#pid4587

Quote:Furthermore, we intend to take more aggressive action against the NPO unless the following demands are met:

• Permanent removal from office in the NPO of the leaders of the Lazarus Task Force, inclusive of Aleisyr, Pergamon, Svezjacael, Stujenske, and Feux
  
• Other suspicious or undesirable nations known to the NPO to be resident in Lazarus or any off-site property are to be immediately reported to Lazarene regional staff
  
• The NPO may not deploy operations within our borders, unless future Lazarene policy allows support of a legal delegacy transition
  
• An official apology from the NPO for its recently revealed offences against Lazarus and other regions
  

Quote:Noting that while Feux and A mean old man did infiltrate Lazarus and Osiris through puppet nations, these nations were not "notable members of the New Pacific Order" at the time of said infiltration(s), nor were they members of the NPO at all during that time period;

Quote:[...]The initial burst of activity had begun to taper off slightly again when it came to pass that A Mean Old Man and Feux ascended to the Senate. Shortly after this, Milograd followed after his coup of The South Pacific which had been themed on a socialist republic[10]. Milograd was not removed from the region despite claims of intent to punish him, but instead made the head of Foreign Affairs. Not long after this, he, too, joined Krulltopia's Senate.

Quote:[...]This left Feux, A Mean Old Man, Milograd, and Karpathos with a large amount of control of the Pacific Senate. None of them were considered for the position of Regent, however, that instead falling to Elegarth and Rothinzil. Both continued the trend of refusing to take the seat from Krulltopia, and his other options for succession were deemed unwelcome. The New Pacific Order by 2014 had become characterized by contributions from long-term members such as Aleisyr, Foreign Affairs moves by Elegarth, and ambitious seeking of the Delegacy by Feux. However, activity had begun to siphon away from The Pacific after Feux couped Lazarus and took control of the region from the Imperialists.

Quote:Dismissing claims that these infiltrations constituted intelligence operations conducted by the NPO, due to a lack of evidence to demonstrate the NPO knew of these infiltrations while they were ongoing;

Quote:Acknowledging that Aleisyr and Pergamon, at the time the nations chiefly responsible for governing the Pacific, later became aware of these infiltrations but allowed these nations membership and advancement in the NPO, without informing either Lazarus or Osiris of the infiltrations, but that their reprehensible silence and inaction do not prove the aforementioned claims;

Shareholders of Lazarus,

the campaigning period has concluded, and voting has now begun. In this thread, eligible shareholders may submit their ballots. As per Lazarene Elections Act 2.2.c and 5.1.a, the voting period lasts 3 full days starting at the point this thread was posted. 

The eligible candidate is: 

• @"Moe" (Campaign thread)
  

Quote:Moe