Devlog: New Election Campaign System Plan

I wanted to share the new campaign system I've been thinking about as the current one is a bit basic and is at a simple implementation so far. I focused heavily on making the experience dynamic and where each election requires a different strategy each time. Also to integrate the other parts of the game into the campaign cycle.

Keep in mind this is currently not fully complete yet but some of the basic ideas are already written down here.

Your Message is Your Anchor

You will now start your campaign by defining a  stump speech with 3-5 core issues. Every time you hold a rally or give an interview, you'll be tempted to talk about other things, like your opponent's latest attack.

• Sticking to your issues builds message discipline, which makes all your campaign activities more persuasive and efficient.
• Reacting to every news story tanks your discipline, confuses voters, and erodes your support.

This creates a constant strategic tension: Do you stay on message, or do you react to the news cycle? A balanced approach may be best.

2. The Ground Game Feeds the Air War

These two systems will finally have unique and vital roles.

• Ground Game (Canvassing) will now be your primary mobilization and intelligence-gathering tool. It's how you get your existing supporters to the polls.
• Air War (Ads) will be your primary persuasion tool, used to win over swing voters.

Crucially, your canvassers will report back what issues voters in a specific district actually care about. You can then use this data to run hyper-targeted, super-effective ads.

3. Free Media: Gaffes and Viral Moments

Media appearances will now be free earned media, but they are a high-risk, high-reward gamble. Based on your candidate's skills, a single interview could become:

• A Viral Moment: A massive, free boost to your polls and name recognition.
• A Media Gaffe: A campaign-ending disaster that tanks your polls with key voter groups.

If you make a gaffe, you'll have to waste precious time and money on a new damage control action just to stop the bleeding, pulling you away from fundraising or canvassing.

4. Attack Ads Have Consequences

No more instant attack ads. This is now a realistic two-step process:

1. Find the dirt: You must first spend time and money on a new opposition research action to dig through records and find a vulnerability.
2. Deploy the attack: Once you have a file, you can run an attack ad.

But be careful. Every attack will have a backfire risk. If you run a hypocritical attack (like attacking an opponent for something you also did) or a low-blow personal attack, it could explode in your face and hurt you more than them.

5. The "Meta" Changes Every Election

This is my biggest tool against solved strategies. The world will no longer be static.

• Macro Environment: The election will start with a clear economic sentiment. High inflation and anger might create a powerful anti-incumbent wave that you have to fight against (or ride to victory).
• National Mood: Each election cycle will have a "meta." A 2016-style anti-establishment wave will favor Insurgent candidates and Aggressive staff. A 2020-style Stability mood will favor establishment candidates and traditional staff. The all-star staff and winning strategy from your last campaign might be totally wrong for the next one.
• Black Swan Events: Major, somewhat potentially random shocks (I would prefer to avoid complete RNG) can strike mid-campaign. A foreign policy crisis, a stock market crash, or a pandemic can instantly change what voters care about, making your perfectly planned strategy obsolete overnight.

6. The Media is Now a Battlefield

I am turning the press into an active, strategic game.

You will leak a financial scandal to an investigative watchdog outlet, but a personal scandal to a sensationalist outlet. Leaking to the wrong type of paper will fail or be ignored.

Your Communications Director's skills, archetype (e.g., Aggressive vs. Traditional), and background (like being a Former Reporter at a specific paper) will give you huge bonuses or penalties. This system connects your staff, your oppo research, and the national mood into one deep, strategic layer.