Welcome to the Community!
This guide will help you navigate and fully utilize our regional forum. We will cover how to:
Sign Up & Login: Get started with your account.
Profile Customization: Design and edit your private profile.
Start a Discussion: How to initiate or join a conversation.
Tags & Filters: Properly categorize your posts to keep the forum neat.
Stay Updated: Follow the latest news and trends from across the Commonwealth.
By using these tools correctly, you help everyone find relevant topics faster and keep our community organized.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Login/Signup:
While you can view most of the forum as a guest, registering gives you the permissions needed to participate and connect with fellow Commerans & Fronteers.
You can create an account or log in using two methods:
Email: Sign up with a preferred email and password.
Discord: Link your Discord account for instant access.
When you sign up for the first time there will be several information asked of you:
- Username: Your unique ID used to log into the forum.
- Nickname: Most users choose their Nation Name (e.g., United States of Thessara) or their Leader’s Name (e.g., Marcus Thernon).
- Email Address: Used for official communications and password resets.
- Date of Birth (DOB): While FreeFlarum and NationStates allow users aged 13+ under COPPA, we have set our community minimum to 16+. This aligns with European digital privacy standards and the specific nature of our community.
- Additionally you will be asked to read the Code of Conduct & Ethical Guidelines which you must be familiar with.
2. Overall Understanding of the Forum — Part 1
Our forum is a living, evolving community. You will frequently see updates and improvements designed to enhance your experience and support the vital work of our government and citizens.
This platform serves as the official hub for all regional business, including:
Government & Law: Elections, citizenship applications, and permit processing.
Economy: Trade discussions and salary distributions.
Engagement: Immersive roleplay and map applications.
To stay involved, we encourage you to utilize the Calendar for upcoming events and Subscribe to key topics. Your active participation; whether starting new discussions or engaging with existing ones, is what keeps our Commonwealth thriving.
3. Overall Understanding of the Forum — Part 2
The forum is organized into Windows and Side Panels to help you find your way around.
The Side Panel
On the left (or under the menu icon on mobile), you’ll find Quick Links to the essentials:
All Discussions: The main feed for everything happening in the Commonwealth.
User Directory: Connect with fellow citizens and officials.
Private Discussions: Your secure inbox for sensitive or personal messages.
Events Calendar: Keep track of upcoming elections, roleplay events, and regional holidays.
Following & Badges: Track the topics you care about and see your earned honors.
Categories & Tags
Below the links, you will see our Tags. These act as folders for specific topics like Explore, City Hall, or Liberty House. Clicking a tag filters out everything else so you can focus on one department at a time. In case you are not sure what a tag is used for — check the description under the tag to understand it’s purpose (e.g, Tag: Explore, Description: Discover general discussions, news from across the Commonwealth, member suggestions, ideas and more. Anything that does not fit in any other category goes here.)
Pro-Tip: If you ever feel overwhelmed or lost, just click “All Discussions” at the top of the panel to return to the main community feed.
4. How to Start a Discussion
Ready to contribute to the Commonwealth? Follow these steps to ensure your post reaches the right audience:
Click “Start a Discussion”: You’ll find this button at the top of the sidebar.
Choose a Catchy Title: Make it clear what your topic is about (e.g., PROPOSAL: New Trade Agreement with [Nation Name]).
Select the Right Tags: This is the most important step! (Certain Tags are mandatory)
Jobs: To look, apply or advertise a job or business.
Roleplay: For creative writing and international diplomacy.
Lab: To ask or recommend edits, changes and help related to your account or forum.
Note: You can usually select one “Primary” tag and several “Secondary” tags.
Write Your Content: Use the toolbar to add bold, italics, or links to your NationStates page.
Post & Interact: Once you hit “Post,” keep an eye on your notifications (the bell icon) to see when others reply.
Pro-Tip: If you are starting an official debate or a vote, don’t forget to use the Poll feature (the bar chart icon) at the bottom of the text editor!
5. User Profile & Account Settings
In Flarum, the User Profile and Settings are two separate areas. One is for your public “identity” in the Commonwealth, and the other is for how the forum functions for you.
Here is a detailed guide you can share with your members:
1. Your Profile: Your Identity in the Commonwealth
To access your profile, click your Avatar/Username in the top-right corner and select “Profile.”
The Header: You can upload an Avatar (your national flag or leader portrait) and a Cover Image (a landscape or government building) to personalize your page.
Username vs. Nickname: Your Username is for logging in, but your Nickname is what everyone sees in discussions. (We recommend using your Nation Name here!)
Activity Feed: See a history of your past posts and discussions. This is great for tracking old roleplay threads or government debates.
Badges & Honors: Any medals or citizenship ranks awarded by the government will appear here for all to see.
Bio: A short space to describe your nation’s ideology, population, or current goals.
2. Account Settings: Personalizing Your Experience
To change how the forum behaves, go to User Menu > Settings. Here is what you can control:
Account Security
Email & Password: Update your credentials or change your linked Discord account.
Two-Factor Authentication: If enabled by the Admin, you can add an extra layer of security to your government account.
Notifications (The Most Important Part!)
You can choose to receive Web Notifications (the bell icon) or Emails for:
Someone mentioning your nation in a post.
Replies to a discussion you started.
New posts in a tag you are “Following” (e.g., the National Parliament tag).
New Private Discussions (Diplomatic cables).
Privacy
Display
- Theme: If the Commonwealth has a “Dark Mode” enabled, you can toggle between Light and Dark here to save your eyes during late-night roleplay sessions. We currently have avoided activating Dark theme due to technical limitations.
The Commonwealth Neon Chat
While our forum threads are for formal business and long-form roleplay, Neon Chat is our “live” hub for quick FYI’s, out-of-character (OOC) chatter, and real-time alerts.
1. Accessing the Chat
You can find the Chat panel at the bottom or side of your screen (depending on your device).
2. Channels & Rooms
The chat is divided into different sections:
Feed: These are open to all members. This is the best place to say “Hello” or ask quick questions to the community.
Private Groups: These are invite-only rooms used for specialized government departments, military commands, or alliance coordination.
Direct Messages (PMs): Click on any user’s name in the directory to start a secure, one-on-one conversation.
3. Messaging Features
Instant Interaction: No need to refresh! Messages appear live as they are typed.
Rich Text: You can use bold, italics, and links just like you do in forum posts.
Media Previews: If you post a link to an image or a YouTube video, a small preview will automatically appear for others to see.
Editing: Made a typo? Hover over your message to find the Edit or Delete options.
4. Notifications & Alerts
Don’t miss a beat in the Commonwealth:
Mentions: Type @username to ping a specific person; they will receive a notification even if their chat window is minimized.
Sound Alerts: You can toggle chat sounds in your personal Account Settings if you prefer a silent experience.
Pro-Tip for Members:
Please keep formal government applications (like Citizenship or Map requests) in the Forum Tags rather than the Chat. The Chat is for discussion, but the Forum is for the official record!
