Interest Check Thread

Hosted Games Works In Progress
6240

Can’t wait to be the first Atheist Emperor of France with a harem.

Also name wise: One Minute to Midnight would be best honestly, everything else is kinda generic and unrelated to what the game actually is.

My biggest problem is that you seem to be conflating the US president with the head of the EU. There aren’t any ‘contested elections’ or anything, a candidate is presented to the council, the council must have a majority to accept the candidate, if that fail a new candidate must be presented within a year.

And the Head of the EU doesn’t really rule directly and technically can’t actually overstep a president from any member state, you don’t even have an army.

Like the game literally cannot work like the inspirations you named while playing as the head of the EU.

I know people opposing the EU say its end goal is basically ‘The United States of Europe’ but still, it’s not quite there.

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6241

THIS SOUNDS AMAZING, take my money I want it now. :rage:

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6242

Now that you mention it, 2029 is really soon for that. I just rolled with it originally when I read the description because it takes place in the future, but then again, most of my cognitive processing power was hung on the name :sweat_smile: (and my brain still refuses most of the time to realize 2024 is coming in a month, so there’s also that).

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6243

Addressing the questions from @Random_Person

1: I haven’t decided yet whether democratizing Russia and/or China will be an option. I feel like this may be more feasible to achieve for Russia than China. Unless you would view the Republic of China (Taiwan) retaking mainland China in the context of WW3 as “democratizing” China.

2: My current plan is to allow for the following backgrounds depending on party affiliation:
S&D: Spain, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Sweden
Greens/EFA: Germany, France, Netherlands
Renew: France, Germany, Denmark
EPP: Germany, Spain, Italy, Greece, Austria

Then, the protagonist may also have a parent or grandparent originally from a different country (India, Brazil, Egypt, Belarus, South Africa, Japan, US) [haven’t decided yet on the countries, to be fair].

3.1: Probably a Christian theocracy (democratic, or autocratic). Though excessive mismanagement or deliberately ignoring terrorism may result in parts of Europe falling to groups like ISIS
3.2: A constitutional or absolute monarchy.

Note: the more removed the ideology/outcome is from reality, the more likely it is to only be achievable late-game and require certain conditions to be met.

@Dragomer

Thank you!

I’m aware, however, that the European Parliament also must elect the President of the European Commission (which requires a majority). Thus, if the European Council (composed of the heads of state of the various EU member states) is sufficiently divided (for the sake of the game), and the European Parliament is sufficiently divided between the different groups, it allows the reader to pursue various interests.

Further, I’m fully aware that they cannot rule directly, however, the European Commission can propose or draft bills to become EU laws. Further, the President of the European Commission represents the EU abroad and, for brevity, leads the European Commission, which sets the agenda.

Considering that the EU is not a nation, the President does not have the same power as the US president. However, the EU generally tends to be given more responsibilities (over time). Therefore, while the EU is not a nation at the start, the EU may have more responsibilities than it currently does, which can be justified in response to the geopolitical climate.

Therefore, yes, it can work, just not in the same way as those that I mentioned for inspiration. Instead, one will need to organize majorities, etc.

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6244

@love4tae

Aww, thank you so much.

@LiliArch

I’ve considered setting it in the late 30s or early 40s, but ultimately decided against that for several reasons, which all primarily are a consequence of it being increasingly difficult to predict the future the farther away it still is.
E.g.:
-The Russo-Ukrainian War will probably be over by then. At least there would likely be some kind of status quo, which we can’t predict but could be similar to the border between North and South Korea.
-It is generally argued that if China attempts to take Taiwan it will likely be within this decade or the early 30s. Afterward, other considerations (especially China’s demography) may reduce the risk of a military conflict.
-It is difficult to predict how the EU and its member states would have by then developed in response to international conflicts and other internal and external issues.

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6245

I was just talking about the timeframe for “EU as a nation” evolution being a bit… rushed. If that’s not what you’re going for, 2029 is fine.

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6246

Yes, I agree, the EU definitely won’t be a nation by 2029 (unless some major event forces them to unite, which is unlikely to occur). But I do think that within the context of rising global tensions, (especially within the story/game,) it is not unlikely for some power to shift from national governments to Brussels. Ultimately, European nations are becoming less powerful as new powers emerge and Europe is dealing with its own internal issues. In order to remain relevant European nations will, therefore, need to become more united.

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6247

Rising global tensions tend to do the opposite of uniting people tho. You could very well end up in a post WW2 situation where the rising powers divide Europe into parts within their zones of influences, especially since the EU is generally seen as a USA aligned thing.

Alternate History is a complex topic.

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6248

So which ideology’s would require late game to be achieved?

6249

I would like to see the democratization routes of China and Russia added. There seems to be a route for America to become a dictatorship, so it would be a great contrast.

Well, apart from that, what route are you currently planning for this game?

What would technocracy, socialism, or communism look like?

Finally, the idea for this game is so great that I would love to see a playable demo of it as soon as possible.

6250

On the other hand, there is a lot of potential for unity, especially regional. I think it ultimately depends on interactions with other factors.

6252

Both are already democracies tho, people have votes, representation and all, they are just corrupt ones. ‘Democracy’ doesn’t mean ‘good’ or even ‘fair’

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6253

I mean, America is also a democracy. Corrupt by the balls, even my Russian mind occasionally goes “dude, what the fuck” when I see news from there.

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6254

I think this gets at one of the issues with political sims, especially ones with a huge diplomatic focus. There isn’t a person on Earth with a complete and clear-minded and objective view of how every world and regional power operates. Even people who devote their life to global studies tend to narrow in on specific regions, and even as experts they bring their own human biases and political beliefs. It’s impossible not to.

For example: Let’s say a scene in the game revolves around brokering a deal between the EU and the country of Nonexist. An unofficial part of this deal is the EU pledging to help Nonexist’s relations with the tiny nation of Fakelandia, which is characterized as an unstable nation with backwards views on human rights – similar to Nonexist and Fakelandia’s real world relationship. The EU tries to influence Fakelandia through the diplomatic relationships it has with Thirdcountry, but this backfires horribly as the Fakelandians are shown clinging to their status quo and regressing.

To many readers, this is an accurate depiction of what might occur in real life based on their knowledge of Fakelandia. Another set of readers, some of them with Fakelandian family/friends or are Fakelandian themselves, frown and say, “what the hell? Doesn’t this guy know about the Fakelandian constitutional reform movement? This guy makes Fakelandians seem like idiots, the country isn’t like this at all!” A third set of readers scoffs and says, “This would never happen, Thirdcountry’s diplomatic position has been staunchly noninterventionist since the 70s!”

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6255

…I love your country names.

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6256

(I deleted the previous post as I accidentally posted it.)

@Dragomer

Throughout history, we’ve seen rising global tensions lead to various outcomes, thus, the story would have several possible endings for Europe (and beyond).

The scenario you have described is plausible. At present, the EU should be considered to be US-aligned (NATO-aligned). However, some voices in Europe already propose the creation of a European defense union, and differences in interests (between the US and European nations) may cause European nations (and the EU) to consider realignment. Conflicting interests may lead to increased division within the EU, possibly resulting in countries leaving the union.

Indeed, speculative fiction and alternative history often require research and attention to detail. I believe we agree on this matter.

@Random_Person

This is too soon for me to tell. I will share more information once I’m ready. For example, achieving communism and fascism will likely only be viable late-game.

I will consider how those routes can best be added. I really like the idea though, I will think about it!

What technocracy, socialism, or communism would look like, depends on whether a technocratic/socialist/communist EU is achieved through peaceful/democratic or non-peaceful means, and then if democratic institutions are maintained.

Summary of currently planned routes for the EU:

  • Maintaining the status quo
  • Advancing the status quo (the EU has slightly more responsibilities and more cooperation between the member states, the EU has potentially accepted new member states)
  • Returning responsibilities to national governments, shifting the EU’s focus to be (solely) on economic cooperation
  • A nation leaves/some nations leave the EU
  • Split of the EU (e.g., into a North EU and South EU)
  • Dissolution of the European Union
  • EU within the EU (the original members of the ECSC unite, and the EU also continues to exist in its in-game state, other member states may join later)
  • United States of Europe (the EU becomes a nation)
  • European Technate (the EU becomes a democratic or non-democratic technocratic nation)
  • Socialist Union of Europe (the EU becomes a democratic or non-democratic socialist nation)
  • Commune of Europe/Union of European Communist Republics (the EU becomes a democratic or non-democratic communist nation)
  • European Kingdom (the EU becomes a nation, and exists as a constitutional monarchy)
  • European Empire (the protagonist becomes the absolute leader of an imperial EU)
  • Holy European Union/Empire (the EU becomes a theocratic (Christian) nation but maintains democracy; the EU becomes a theocratic (Christian) nation with the protagonist as its absolute ruler)
  • 4th Reich (the EU becomes a fascist nation, with the protagonist as its absolute ruler)
  • Euro-Corp (EU becomes corporatist [only recently came up with this route, this requires a lot more thought])

Non-exhaustive summary of planned routes that concern the state of the world:

Foreign Relations/Democratization/Autocratization:

  • End the Russo-Ukrainian War (various possible outcomes)
  • Reunification of Korea (either under North or South Korea)
  • End the Israel-Palestine conflict (various outcomes possible)
  • Autocratization of the United States (the US becomes a dictatorship (deliberately or through negligence))
  • Democratization of Russia, and/or China
  • Expand/abandon NATO (certain choices would make other NATO members leave NATO), the EU can take over NATO leadership; the EU can create its own faction; the EU can join the Chinese faction; alternatively, the EU can pursue a policy of isolationism, and/or non-interventionism
  • Increase the influence of the EU on other nations, and increase cooperation to make them join your side (other nations are competing for influence)
  • Europe can end up split into zones of influence by other powers

Third World War:

  • Can start because of US, EU, Chinese, or Russian aggression
  • Europe may preemptively strike other nations (various outcomes possible)
  • A+ for appeasement (to avert a 3rd World War, the “West” and other nations made concessions)
  • The Global “Pax Sinica” (neither the US nor EU intervened, other nations that did intervene were defeated by the Chinese faction, and China is the new superpower)
  • That’s none of our business (the EU remained neutral)
  • The Chinese Century/The West is laid to rest (the Chinese faction won the 3rd World War, the “West” lost; the EU and US were part of the same faction)
  • Olympus Has Fallen (the United States (and its allies) lost the 3rd World War; the EU stayed out of the war, alternatively China and the EU were part of the same faction)
  • Our attempts were in vain (the EU (and its allies) lost the 3rd World War to one faction; the EU was neither allied with China, Russia, nor the US)
  • The End of Europe (the EU lost the 3rd World War and was partitioned by two factions)
  • An Unlikely Alliance (Russia, China, and the US were part of the same faction without the EU)
  • A World War was supposed to occur? (Russia, China, the US, and the EU are all part of the same faction)
  • The New Pax Americana (the “West” won the 3rd World War under the leadership of the US, the EU and US are democracies)
  • Savior of Democracy (a democratic EU (without a secret ideology) won the 3rd World War; the US was neutral)
  • A Global Pax Europaea (the “West” won the 3rd World War, the EU led the faction, the EU and US are democracies)
  • Our allegiance is to democracy (the EU has won the 3rd World War, a secret ideology is the official ideology of the EU)
  • The earth belongs to Europe (A non-democratic EU has won the 3rd World War and conquered the world)
  • The ends always justify the means (conquered the world for your cause)
  • Look at me, this isn’t YOU! (prevented a 3rd World War through diplomacy without appeasement)
  • This is how we get to peace (prevented a 3rd World War by threatening the world with armageddon)
  • The end is nigh (as a result of WW3 the planet is a post-apocalyptic wasteland, and mankind will go extinct)
  • The world’s in ashes (as a result of WW3 significant parts of the planet are post-apocalyptic, and it will take a lot of time for mankind to recover)
  • The dust will settle (as a result of WW3 some parts of the world are post-apocalyptic, and it will take some decades for mankind to recover)
  • Normalcy will soon return (only a few parts of the world are no longer habitable as a result of WW3, mankind will recover within a decade)
  • Europe inherits the world (most of the world is a post-apocalyptic wasteland, except Europe)

Climate:

  • Conquered the climate (reversed climate change)
  • Averted the worst (limited climate change to 2 degrees)
  • This was to be expected (3 degrees of climate change)
  • Any Pole is a Goal (4/5 degrees of climate change)
  • Climate cataclysm (runoff climate catastrophe)
  • The 6th mass extinction (can happen as a result of WW3 or climate cataclysm)
  • Let Us Eat Cake, Let Them Eat Dust: climate opportunism (deliberately accelerated the climate crisis for power)

This is a simplified summary. There will also be many other aspects, and to achieve a non-status quo outcome for the EU, one will need to change EU policies and direct the EU in a direction.

I’m starting to develop the mechanics. I think I need to develop them before making a demo. I assume that introducing them retroactively would be more difficult. I don’t have any previous experience with coding (this is coding right?), so I’m trying to learn how the choicescript works and checked out the guide.

According to whom? The People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation are generally not considered to be democracies. According to the Economist Democracy Index, both are authoritarian regimes. While some of the criticism of said index is valid, other democracy indices tend to indicate that Russia and China are autocratic and/or authoritarian, depending on the terminology used.
For instance, the formal names of the DRPK and DRC, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, respectively include “democratic”. However, simply having “democratic” in the official name, does not make a country democratic. On the contrary, democracy indices also classify the DPRK and DRC as authoritarian regimes.

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6257

How long do you want this IF to last?
(Like throughout years)

6258

Sounds like an excellent concept and even more honored to hear my WIP was a source of inspiration to get you to work towards writing an interactive novel – I definitely think we need more political thrillers in the IF realm!

Best of luck to you and I’m eager to follow your progress as the story develops!

6259

Oh yeah, I agree, I was just mentioning stuff in case you hadn’t thought about. It’s very cool to see you have put a lot of thoughts behind all the rational for your setting.

6260

I’ve been reading Manhwa lately specifically Solo Levelling and Solo Necromancy which has a protagonist who gains the power to raise the dead. As well as skeleton Soldier who failed to protect the dungeon where the main character is a skeleton raised by a Necromancer.

Well, it got me thinking about a story where the protagonist isn’t a necromancer but is actually someone brought back by one.

I.e you were of the seven great heroes, each an avatar of one of the seven gods of the world. During the final battle you all manage to defeat the BBEG but it costs you your life. But then five years later you are brought back by a necromancer working for the new wannabe BBEG.

I think it could be a fun story.

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