Devlog #2 - upcoming update

Dear players,

I know it was a long time since my last activity, but don't worry – the new update is coming soon :)

As stated previously, this update will be focused mainly on expanding accessibility of the game – therefore adding new game modes and translations to other languages. I know it took a lot of time – but the game had to be adjusted technically to the translations, what took most of it.

Unfortunately, to get translations fast and cheaply into so many languages, I have decided to use artificial intelligence :/ I know that players don't like it when developers use the AI, but I hope it won't be a problem if this is only about localization. If the language versions made by the AI turns out to be very innacurate I may decide to seek for real translators – but this will be dependent on money. For now I hope it will be enough – although it might be a bit inaccurate and janky.

New game modes

The next update is going to add two new game modes and a range of new game settings. Beside the default, standard game mode, there will be simplified and lite mode.

Simplified game mode is going to be standard mode with several simplifications. They are going to impact mainly the AI, but beside it they are going to change things like devlopment cost, diplomacy and some game rules. In simplified mode there will be no offensive or defensive alliances against selected countries, but only general alliances and forming them will be much easier.

Lite mode is going to be completely different than the standard mode. Many players seeing simple graphics of the game expected it to be easy, simple and fast – and this mode will be for them. In lite mode a range of mechanics is going to be turned off (including the entire production system – the military is going to run only on money). The AI will work in a similar way as in the simplified mode.

I am planning to release a full list of differences between simplified, lite and standard game mode after the update.

New settings

The next update is going to provide players with a range of new game settings, allowing them to adjust the gameplay however they want. The players will be able to change multipliers of income, political power gain, military supplies production cost, and many more. Additionally, a new game setting is going to be added called “No limits mode”. This mode is going to move limits of development of a single province, increasing max amount of colonial units to 250 and removing max economy and population limit. I know some players would like to see completely no limits at all – but not everything is possible even for a computer.

Statistics

Following the player's suggestions, the next update will add a range of statistics that will allow the players to compare their nations to others and monitor the changes throughout the years. Moreover, to increase competition between countries, a new, simple mechanic will be added – the tittles. Nations will be able to claim tittles such as “the greatest economy in the region/world, “signicifant/global power”, “capital of culture” or “regional/global policeman” providing them some useful boosts. Especially the tittle of the regional or global policeman will be very interesting, as it will not only reduce aggressiveness gain significantly, but also allow the policeman to use new diplomatic options – demanding ceasing attack and warning not to attack other countries.

Other changes

Beside these, the next update is going to provide a range of small changes in many branches of the game, including:

• changing mechanic of taking territories in peace conferences – a warscore mechanic will be intruduced, based on several factors, such as war participation, country size, and peace target size – aggressiveness from territorial gains will occour only in case of exceeding warscore, in simplified mode exceeding warscore will be limited to 100%, in lite mode exceeding warscore won't be possible

• new decisions and national features will be introduced, especially useful for small nations

• intelligence mechanic will be reworked to make it more useful, especially for small nations

• minor changes in military mechanics – taking over a sector will require more power advantage, mobile units will be more useful in attack, heavy units will be more useful as defense against mobile units, numerical advantage will get boost, especially in simplified and lite mode

Also, I am planning to change the graphics of society and production tab – I would appreciate your opinion about the new look.

The update is going to be released, hopefully, this or the next week :)