yup, i give in - had other stuff to do so couldnt get further into the game - there has just been a 256kb update to the demo - i dont know what it is, if thats too small to be a same gave addition i dunno, anywayyy...........
the world............ note Ukraine at war with Russia
Slight disclaimer - this will probably be a eurocentric game - i live there and for old times sakes have worked in every country from Ireland to Russia so theres nostalgia too - that and the guide im following is by a scottish guy
Although its entirely random, on my 3 starts the aliens have crashed in Turkey once and Wuhan, China twice - really? You crash landed in Wuhan Province
The tutorial tasks one of my agents to go investigate the crash site
My other agent is sent to work in Europe. The first stage of the game is all about spreading your factions influence and expanding their power in nations, preferably in nations that have bonuses - research areas, space programs - Khazakstan is a good starter because of their launch facilities, there are bonuses for influencing 'groups' such as the EU as opposed to just nations, and the Russo pact. I decide to concentrate on the EU, which correctly doesnt contain GB. Controlling a nation is one of a myriad of options open to your agents, and its success is based on their persuasion score - again, one of many RPG stats for your guys and so you cant just waltz into major nations like France, Germany, USA and start influencing them, you need to build a network of easier countries to control and then benefit from neighbouring bonuses move on the big boys - fairly central to Europe and touching quite a few of the others are the Alpine States (switzerland luxembourg and Austria to you and me - a total smack in the face to outraged Swiss and Austrians on the steam forum btw) - so we make that our first goal - choose agent, choose control nation and then you get a percentage of your chances to pull it off which can be boosted by spending some of your influence (an adjustable resource) - 82%
As per the tutorial we discover the crash site - this unlocks further research in other alien activity - infiltrate surrounding regions to see if there have been alien abductions been one
The next biggy is expanding the council, i currently have 2, it would have been 3 but he was drunk all the time affecting his persuasion skills - which isnt the be all and end all but at the start of the game influence and persuasion are the big things - so we sacked him
We gain control of the first of 3 sectors in the Alpine regions, i may be wrong but as far as i know its impossible now for an opposing faction to get number 2 without removing me from number 1 which is another agent mission - so youre in a very strong position taking the first of any countries control points and why there is a bit of a land grab in the early part of the game
So we now control the Alpine Sectors state media and all the bonuses that brings, smaller countries have 1 or 2 control points, all the way upto 8 for USA and China and Russia i think - the importance been on the sectors you take - the very last sector contains the administration of that region (think White House, Kremlin, Parliament) and if they are a nuclear power, you can press the button when the time comes
A money shot of the solar system - its not all based on Earth, in time will come the chance to build off world mines, trading companies, space stations, habs, satelites, off world dockyards - the list goes on
The UN convenes, as expected its a shit show - no one can agree on what to do, the meeting does not unite the nations of earth - the options here were to stay hidden, partially reveal my faction, or go fully public - doing this gains a pile of influence but reveals you to other factions and some hidden factions to you - lets see whos out there
The Academy, like us they are opposed to the thought of welcoming our alien visitors but they are based more around deep rooted conspiracy theories and fake news than armed resistance
We get total control of the Czech Republic - this now gives us the chance to steer the nation towards our way of thinking, alter their policies, guide their economy and generally coerce the population into supporting our faction - it also gives us an expanding neighbourhood bonus to taking Poland and Germany - France been leader of the EU the ultimate goal
We fail in Poland on our first attempt
and in doing so reveal our agent to opposing factions - who will now have missions and goals to eradicate, turn or neutralise our agent
After a couple more turns we gain 2 influence in Poland
and here the adventure ended, i havent touched on research, the research tree puts Stellaris and DW2 to shame, anything off world, my last turn saw me with enough confidence to go for France, but another faction has already moved in, i must start a coup, or purge this faction
each and every playthrough gets easier so more advances can be made - i just dont have the time to sit at the PC for 7 hours and get that deep into it
My conclusions are the demo has done its job on me, i think its an incredibly deep, character led game so far and am more excited than i was pre demo for the full game - ill go back into it soon and hopefully get further and bring news here
