The starter's strategy guide to Cyber Nations
The important part to remember is balance, no one resource, purchase or tactic will prove to be the road to success, a measured mix of all the essential parts of this game will result in your growing and prospering.
However, some things are more important than others and this giude is meant to help you get off to a good start and ensure you grasp the basics of the game.
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is the key to growth, the more you get, the quicker you will grow. However, there is one rule you should be aware of....
Your infrastructure should not be more than twice the total of your 'Area of Influence' (Nation land area). If it is, you lose happiness points.
The following examples should help,
Area of Influence = 10, Infrastructure = 22. You will lose happiness points.
Area of Influence = 10, Infrastructure = 19. All is well.
CN forum link...
http://s15.invisionfree.com/Cyber_Nations/index.php?showtopic=25
Military
Soldiers are needed, both as an army and also to act as your police force within your country. try and keep your soldier numbers at 20% at least, as below this percentage causes unhappiness among your population.
Later on you can purchase tanks and cruise missiles and even nuclear weapons, but that is a little way down the line for you.
Area of Influence
This actually means the size of your nation, land is acquired free, every day, but you can also purchase land as well. This will give you a small amount of growth over and above the purchase of infrastructure. Buying land helps lower your poulation density.
Technology
Buying technology helps with your population happiness and also helps in battles
http://s15.invisionfree.com/Cyber_Nations/index.php?showtopic=11
Trade
Trade helps create prosperity, which leads to greater wealth and tax for you to collect. Your choice of which resources to trade for also directly affects the way your nation develops.
Below is the link in the CN forums which shows the effect each resource has for your nation.
http://s15.invisionfree.com/Cyber_Nations/index.php?showtopic=31
Two points to remember...if you trade for the same resource more than once, you get nothing for the 2nd trade
Trading within the same team colour as your nation gives each partner in the trade one extra happiness point.
Your first place to go for new trading partners should be on this forum in the Department of Trade and Aid. If you still require more trading partners then go to your 'View my Nation' page in CN, scroll down the menus until you see 'World Menu and Display All Nations Resources'
Click on it and you will see all the team colours across the top, click Orange and you have a complete list (newest at the top) of Orange team players. Just check each nation before you send a Trade request to make sure their 'Connected Resources' limit of 10 in total has not been reached. If your 4 available Trade slots are full because you have made offers to other nations, but are waiting for replies.....Try sending messages to any other nation that has resources you want. there are no limits on messages and getting those slots filled ASAP is important.
Enviroment
Your enviroment situation affects your population's happiness and growth.
try and avoid trading for coal, oil and uranium as these resources have a negative effect on your enviroment. if you have any of these resources as your starting resources, you receive no penalty.
http://s15.invisionfree.com/Cyber_Nations/index.php?showtopic=1645
Government Type and National Religion
By matching the clues given for both these subjects to the correct answer, your population happiness goes up
(Both subjects and clues are in our Tips and Tricks section)
Tax rates
Go to 'Edit my Nation', scroll down to 'Tax Rate' and alter your tax rate by 1%, note the changes in the amount each member of your population actually pays in tax (your actual income) and set your tax rate at the best rate to produce cash for you. this will change as your natin ages, so I suggest you do this weekly.
NOTE...Altering your tax rate to max just before you collect does NOT give you more money.
Population Happiness
Population desired religion vs actual national religion.
Population desired government vs actual nation government.
Population density Citizens like room to stretch out.
Size and strength of military Citizens like to feel protected.
Military casualties Casualties increase war weariness
Military deployed Too many deployed troops also increases war weariness
Infrastructure level Infrastructure helps increase happiness.
Government tax rate Citizens prefer to pay lower taxes.
Nation age Citizens prefer the stability of older nations.
And a couple of hidden factors as well
The most important effect of population happiness is a nations daily population income. The happier your citizens are, the harder they work and the harder they work, the more money youll have to improve your nation.
Odds and Ends...
Scroll to the bottom of your 'View my Nation page, press ctrl and a together and you will see your enviroment score (low is good) and your population happiness score (high is better)
Connected suggestion... In your 'About (Your nation's name)' type 'Member of the IRON alliance', it may save you being attacked if people know you are in an alliance.
A Military guide will follow soon.
Please post any questions regarding starting your nation on the path to success.