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Okay, then why is this?
Well, first there was NationStates. That little game got pretty popular, even though there wasn't a whole lot you could do in it. So thoughts turned to a sequel. Which is this. Just in case the whole "2" thing didn't tip you off.

Beta??
I know! You wouldn't think a game this awesome could get any better. But yes: currently we're missing a feature or two, and some of what is there needs a little more tweaking. The idea is that the best way to add that last 10 or 20% of gameplay goodness is to watch people playing it, so that's what's happening: the last stages of the game are being built around you. Expect things to get a little more polished and user-friendly over the coming weeks. Oh, and war. War is coming.

What do I do?
You create a nation, customize it, and steer it through the treacherous waters of internal politics and international diplomacy.

And how do I do that, exactly?
Glad you asked! You can consider your nation as having two sides: domestic and international.

Domestically, you guide your nation's evolution by addressing two daily Issues. These generally involve some manufactured crisis or other that demands you pick a side: banning gay marriage versus allowing it, for example, or feeding the homeless versus locking them up.

As you address Issues, your nation changes to reflect your ideology, so that over time it may become a beacon of freedom and democracy, an authoritarian police state, a community-minded nation of liberal-leaning scholars, or something else entirely.

On the international stage, your nation's place is defined by its diplomacy--which means, essentially, how you conduct yourself with other nations. You may choose to shun contact or seek it out; refuse invitations to join Alliances or recruit for your own; move aggressively to establishing Trade pacts or simply ride on market prices. Whatever you choose, though, you will probably find yourself drawn inevitably to like-minded nations.

How should I answer the Issues?
That depends on what kind of nation you want to create. Every Issue requires some kind of trade-off: what you believe is worth trading for what is up to you.

Clearly I want a nation with a huge economy and military, right?
You might, but it's not necessary. NS2 is not a war game: it is a nation simulation game that has the possibility of war in it. Your nation does not need to go to war, and probably will not ever be involved in war unless you want it to (and are willing to pay the price). As discussed further below, war is bad. It is impossible to wage continually, and damaging even when brief. You will want to avoid it.

Good diplomacy--in a nutshell, making some friends--will do more to secure your nation than a large military. Tyrannical, militaristic nations may even invite trouble, by appearing threatening to those around them, or locking themselves out of Alliances that require certain minimum standards of democracy or civil rights.

What's the point of an Alliance?
The point of an Alliance is what it says it is. In this way it's much like your nation: it defines its own purpose.

Some Alliances will exist in order to provide mutual defense against aggression. Others will ferment such aggression. Some may exist for trade purposes, or to promote a particular ideology. Many may have no purpose beyond gathering like-minded nations together.

You can join (and create!) as many Alliances as you like. There is no immediate benefit or penalty to joining one, other than that you publicly align your nation with its proclaimed cause. (Many Alliances have a Code of Laws, which members will be expected to honor.)

Alliances are the core of international diplomacy in NS2, and holding membership in a powerful one will enhance your standing. It is usually a good idea to seek out a friendly Alliance early.

And then what?
The founder of an Alliance is free to develop its hierarchy: which ranks it has, how many of each, how votes are conducted, and so on. So even within a single Alliance, there may be politicking for position.

What is Diplomatic Status?
The most basic use of Diplomatic Status is to publicly signal your view of another nation. There are currently five grades: White (Ally), Green (Peaceful), Blue (Neutral, the default), Yellow (Alert), and Orange (Hostile). (Two more are coming: Red and Black.)

You may use these however you choose: to send a diplomatic warning to another nation, for example, or signal your support of it.

The White status (and forthcoming Red and Black statuses) have particular meaning in relation to war (see below).

How will war work?
The forthcoming Diplomatic Status grades Red and Black will be war signals: if you activate them, they will place your nation on a war footing against the specified nation. Your nation will then prepare to launch a military invasion.

This will take time, and consume a great deal of your nation's GDP. Your target may repel you, perhaps with assistance--which is where the White Diplomatic Status comes in. By setting another nation to White, you agree to automatically provide military assistance to defend it from invasion.

Should the target capitulate, though, you occupy them: you cannot eliminate your enemies, but you can topple their governments and make them a little more like you.

How do I customize my nation?
In many ways! First, there is an "Edit nation" link just above the left sidebar menu, under your nation's brief bio. Click that, and you can modify your nation's title, flag, motto, currency, national animal, newspaper, capital city, and citizen moniker.

For true customization, though, become an Ambassador. Then you can visit your "National Summary" page and click the "Edit" link beneath "National History". Here you can tell the world about the true glory of your nation's past: you can even use BBcode to embed images or videos.

When you become an Ambassador, you can also issue Press Releases. You can do this for strategic or diplomatic reasons, or simply to let the world know something of importance about your nation: your press releases show up in the News feed of all interested nations, including those in your Alliances.

How do I manage my nation's economy?
For the most part, your economy will manage itself without you. In fact, markets being what they are, and you being a government, most of the things you can do will hinder your nation's economy, not help it. If you're after a sleek, pro-market economy, then keep your hands off it: leave your Trade Status with all other nations at "Neutral" and hack away at tariffs, minimum wage laws, and any other impediments to business you see in your daily Issues. Of course, some people would call that heartless. But that's your decision.

Can I boost my economy with Trade Statuses?
Usually not, unless you are spectacularly clever. Generally speaking, you are best to leave every Trade Status at Neutral: that way your nation will buy and sell on the world market, getting the best prices. Any deviation from Neutral means your nation will act a little less efficiently: it will, for example, pay a little more than it needs to in order to purchase from a Priority Partner, or pass up an opportunity to buy cheaply from a nation you have Embargoed.

It is in your benefit for another nation to make you a Favored or Priority Trading Partner, though. In that case, your nation may, if circumstances are right, buy and sell even more favorably than world market prices.

Despite this pressure to be Neutral, real beanheads--the kinds of people who study graphs for fun--can form economic cartels if they get together and corner the market. It's possible, for example, for a group of nations who dominate world supply of a particular item to Embargo anyone who doesn't join their Alliance, or set a particular Diplomatic Status, or make them a Favored Trading Partner.

How is this different to NationStates 1?
The main difference is that your nation is no longer a perfect, untouchable entity, floating in a bubble of its own magnificence. You still guide its domestic development through daily Issues, but there is a new sphere of interactive gameplay with other nations.

NS1 Regions are replaced by both Continents and Alliances: there is no longer any need to physically move your nation to enter a social group, nor a restriction on being in just one at any time. Thus, in NS2 your nation is fixed in a particular Continent, but can join, create, and leave Alliances as you wish, and "endorse" others nations for positions within each Alliance.

National economies are dependent on world markets, so your GDP may rise and fall purely because of international factors (particularly if you have open borders: pro-market economies tend to grow more strongly, but are also more vulnerable to global dips and swings).

How many nations can I have?
You may have one nation per world.

What is Espionage?
I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you.

What are Trophies and Commendations?
They are special awards that can be bestowed by nations with Ambassador status, or purchased on a one-off basis with "Jennifers."

What is an Ambassador?
A highly esteemed and greatly valued member of the NationStates 2 community. You can support the game and upgrade your nation by purchasing an Ambassador upgrade: your nation receives a special symbol after its name, so that all may know its magnificence, and enjoys a swathe of benefits:
* Upload custom flags
* Press Releases
* Edit Nation Summary
* Commendations (2)
* Espionage Resources (5)
* Trophy (1)
* Advertising removed
* Ambassador-only worlds
*Private worlds (soon)

As the game grows, Ambassadors will get additional features to help them manage their nations.