History VideoGame / RepublicTheRevolution

Development on the game began in [[https://web.archive.org/web/20070630080914/http://republic.strategyplanet.gamespy.com/elixir2.shtml July 1999]], after the British TabletopGame/{{chess}} and math prodigy [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demis_Hassabis Demis Hassabis]] left Creator/{{Lionhead|Studios}} (where he was the lead [[VideoGameAI AI programmer]] on ''VideoGame/BlackAndWhite''[[note]]he was also the lead programmer on ''VideoGame/ThemePark'' for Creator/{{Bullfrog|Productions}} -- at ''17''[[/note]]) and founded [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elixir_Studios Elixir Studios]] to produce an original [[PoliticalStrategyGame political simulation game]]. Published in August 2003 by Creator/{{Eidos|Interactive}}, ''Republic'' was a critical and commercial flop, prompting Hassabis to step down as CEO to devote more time to his next project, ''VideoGame/EvilGenius'', released a year later to a somewhat better reception. It was too late to save Elixir, however, and the studio closed its doors in 2005[[note]]Hassabis went on to research neuroscience and general artificial intelligence[[/note]]. Both its [=IPs=] then went to Creator/{{Rebellion}}, who [[https://www.gog.com/news/new_release_republic_the_revolution put them]] on Website/GogDotCom in 2009, before [[https://www.gog.com/forum/republic_the_revolution/republic_the_revolution_temporarily_removed_from_sale "temporarily"]] pulling ''Republic'' from sale in 2011. As it has not been reinstated since and Rebellion doesn't even list it in [[https://games.rebellionstore.com/en/product/All its own store]], there is currently[[note]]as of January 2019[[/note]] [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes no legal way to play the game]] other than tracking down an original physical copy by Eidos, although Rebellion's [[https://www.vg247.com/2017/07/04/evil-genius-2-is-finally-happening-at-rebellion/ announcement]] of ''VideoGame/EvilGenius2'' gives us some hope that Elixir's legacy is not entirely dead and gone yet.

''Republic: The Revolution'' is a computer game produced and published in 2003 by the short-lived British developer Elixir Studios (probably better known for developing ''VideoGame/EvilGenius''). The game takes place in the small nation of [[{{Ruritania}} Novistrana]], a fictional country that has just gained independence from the Soviet Union. You play as a political mastermind... whose family was assassinated by the KGB... and unfortunately, the man who was resposible for those murders is currently [[PresidentEvil "president for life"]] of Novistrana and beyond the reach of the legal system.

Development on the game began in [[https://web.archive.org/web/20070630080914/http://republic.strategyplanet.gamespy.com/elixir2.shtml July 1999]], after the British TabletopGame/{{chess}} and math prodigy [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demis_Hassabis Demis Hassabis]] left Creator/{{Lionhead|Studios}} (where he was the lead [[VideoGameAI AI programmer]] on ''VideoGame/BlackAndWhite''[[note]]he was also the lead programmer on ''VideoGame/ThemePark'' for Creator/{{Bullfrog|Productions}} -- at ''17''[[/note]]) and founded [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elixir_Studios Elixir Studios]] to produce an original political simulation game. Published in August 2003 by Creator/{{Eidos|Interactive}}, ''Republic'' was a critical and commercial flop, prompting Hassabis to step down as CEO to devote more time to his next project, ''VideoGame/EvilGenius'', released a year later to a somewhat better reception. It was too late to save Elixir, however, and the studio closed its doors in 2005[[note]]Hassabis went on to research neuroscience and general artificial intelligence[[/note]]. Both its [=IPs=] then went to Creator/{{Rebellion}}, who [[https://www.gog.com/news/new_release_republic_the_revolution put them]] on Website/GogDotCom in 2009, before [[https://www.gog.com/forum/republic_the_revolution/republic_the_revolution_temporarily_removed_from_sale "temporarily"]] pulling ''Republic'' from sale in 2011. As it has not been reinstated since and Rebellion doesn't even list it in [[https://games.rebellionstore.com/en/product/All its own store]], there is currently[[note]]as of January 2019[[/note]] [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes no legal way to play the game]] other than tracking down an original physical copy by Eidos, although Rebellion's [[https://www.vg247.com/2017/07/04/evil-genius-2-is-finally-happening-at-rebellion/ announcement]] of ''VideoGame/EvilGenius2'' gives us some hope that Elixir's legacy is not entirely dead and gone yet.

Development on the game began in [[https://web.archive.org/web/20070630080914/http://republic.strategyplanet.gamespy.com/elixir2.shtml July 1999]], after the British TabletopGame/{{chess}} and math prodigy [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demis_Hassabis Demis Hassabis]] left Creator/{{Lionhead|Studios}} (where he was the lead [[VideoGameAI AI programmer]] on ''VideoGame/BlackAndWhite''[[note]]he was also the lead programmer on ''VideoGame/ThemePark'' for Creator/{{Bullfrog|Productions}} -- at ''17''[[/note]]) and founded [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elixir_Studios Elixir Studios]] to produce an original political simulation game. Published in August 2003 by Creator/{{Eidos|Interactive}}, ''Republic'' was a critical and commercial flop, prompting Hassabis to step down as CEO to devote more time to his next project, ''VideoGame/EvilGenius'', released a year later to a somewhat better reception. It was too late to save Elixir, however, and the studio closed its doors in 2005[[note]]Hassabis went on to research neuroscience and general artificial intelligence[[/note]]. Both its [=IPs=] then went to Creator/{{Rebellion}}, who [[https://www.gog.com/news/new_release_republic_the_revolution put them]] on Website/GogDotCom in 2009, before [[https://www.gog.com/forum/republic_the_revolution/republic_the_revolution_temporarily_removed_from_sale "temporarily"]] pulling ''Republic'' from sale in 2011. As it has not been reinstated since and Rebellion doesn't even list it in [[https://games.rebellionstore.com/en/product/All its own store]], there is currently[[note]]as of January 2019[[/note]] [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes no legal way to play the game]] other than tracking down an original physical copy by Eidos, although Rebellion's [[https://www.vg247.com/2017/07/04/evil-genius-2-is-finally-happening-at-rebellion/ announcement]] of VideoGame/EvilGenius2 gives us some hope that Elixir's legacy is not entirely dead and gone yet.

Development on the game began in [[https://web.archive.org/web/20070630080914/http://republic.strategyplanet.gamespy.com/elixir2.shtml July 1999]], after the British TabletopGame/{{chess}} and math prodigy [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demis_Hassabis Demis Hassabis]] left Creator/{{Lionhead|Studios}} (where he was the lead [[VideoGameAI AI programmer]] on ''VideoGame/BlackAndWhite''[[note]]he was also the lead programmer on ''VideoGame/ThemePark'' for Creator/{{Bullfrog|Productions}} -- at ''17''[[/note]]) and founded [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elixir_Studios Elixir Studios]] to produce an original political simulation game. Published in August 2003 by Creator/{{Eidos|Interactive}}, ''Republic'' was a critical and commercial flop, prompting Hassabis to step down as CEO to devote more time to his next project, ''VideoGame/EvilGenius'', released a year later to a somewhat better reception. It was too late to save Elixir, however, and the studio closed its doors in 2005[[note]]Hassabis went on to research neuroscience and general artificial intelligence[[/note]]. Both its [=IPs=] then went to Creator/{{Rebellion}}, who [[https://www.gog.com/news/new_release_republic_the_revolution put them]] on Website/GogDotCom in 2009, before [[https://www.gog.com/forum/republic_the_revolution/republic_the_revolution_temporarily_removed_from_sale "temporarily"]] pulling ''Republic'' from sale in 2011. As it has not been reinstated since and Rebellion doesn't even list it in [[https://games.rebellionstore.com/en/product/All its own store]], there is currently[[note]]as of January 2019[[/note]] [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes no legal way to play the game]] other than tracking down an original physical copy by Eidos, although Rebellion's [[https://www.vg247.com/2017/07/04/evil-genius-2-is-finally-happening-at-rebellion/ announcement]] of ''Evil Genius 2'' gives us some hope that Elixir's legacy is not entirely dead and gone yet.

Development on the game began in [[https://web.archive.org/web/20070630080914/http://republic.strategyplanet.gamespy.com/elixir2.shtml July 1999]], after the British TabletopGame/{{chess}} and math prodigy [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demis_Hassabis Demis Hassabis]] left Creator/{{Lionhead|Studios}} (where he was the lead AI programmer on ''VideoGame/BlackAndWhite''[[note]]he was also the lead programmer on ''VideoGame/ThemePark'' for Creator/{{Bullfrog|Productions}} -- at ''17''[[/note]]) and founded [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elixir_Studios Elixir Studios]] to produce an original political simulation game. Published in August 2003 by Creator/{{Eidos|Interactive}}, ''Republic'' was a critical and commercial flop, prompting Hassabis to step down as CEO to devote more time to his next project, ''VideoGame/EvilGenius'', released a year later to a somewhat better reception. It was too late to save Elixir, however, and the studio closed its doors in 2005[[note]]Hassabis went on to research neuroscience and general artificial intelligence[[/note]]. Both its [=IPs=] then went to Creator/{{Rebellion}}, who [[https://www.gog.com/news/new_release_republic_the_revolution put them]] on Website/GogDotCom in 2009, before [[https://www.gog.com/forum/republic_the_revolution/republic_the_revolution_temporarily_removed_from_sale "temporarily"]] pulling ''Republic'' from sale in 2011. As it has not been reinstated since and Rebellion doesn't even list it in [[https://games.rebellionstore.com/en/product/All its own store]], there is currently[[note]]as of January 2019[[/note]] [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes no legal way to play the game]] other than tracking down an original physical copy by Eidos, although Rebellion's [[https://www.vg247.com/2017/07/04/evil-genius-2-is-finally-happening-at-rebellion/ announcement]] of ''Evil Genius 2'' gives us some hope that Elixir's legacy is not entirely dead and gone yet.

* BranchAndBottleneckPlotStructure: The game uses the [[https://heterogenoustasks.wordpress.com/2015/01/26/standard-patterns-in-choice-based-games/ branch-and-bottleneck]] approach, dynamically choosing (based on your [[KarmaMeter current ideology]]) one of three ideology-specific branches at several predetermined points in the main quest, before rejoining all branches for the next ideology-neutral plot sequence. For instance:

* StoryBranching: The game uses the [[https://heterogenoustasks.wordpress.com/2015/01/26/standard-patterns-in-choice-based-games/ branch-and-bottleneck]] approach, dynamically choosing (based on your [[KarmaMeter current ideology]]) one of three ideology-specific branches at several predetermined points in the main quest, before rejoining all branches for the next ideology-neutral plot sequence. For instance:
** In Ekaterine, after setting up your party with your friends and freeing and recruiting a political inmate, you then must establish your power base in the city. If your ideology is Force-aligned at this point in the game (and it is unlikely to have changed since character creation), it tasks you with starting an [[LaResistance underground movement]] by setting up illegal printing presses and disseminating anti-establishment propaganda; if you are instead Influence-aligned, you must pressure the [[CorruptChurch Bishop of Ekaterine]] into endorsing you in a highly-publicized Sunday sermon; lastly, if you're mainly into Wealth, you have to secure the [[TheCasino Morozov Casino]] as a source of future income by throwing out the Konstantino Cartel and buying the whole place out. Once you're done with that, all that's left is to meet with the Mayor, to hold a public rally, and to leave for Pugachev.
** Upon arrival in Pugachev, you are immediately given three ideology-specific objectives to gain foothold in the city (in addition to the ideology-neutral task of exposing the corrupt Mayor) and unlike in the previous instance, you can freely decide which one to tackle, forfeiting the others: form a [[TheSyndicate crime syndicate]] (Force), a [[FakeCharity charitable trust]] (Influence), or just network with [[CorruptCorporateExecutive local businessmen]] (Wealth). After your power base is secured and a new mayor, elected, the game checks your ideology (which might have shifted significantly by now) and tasks you with making waves by staging either a [[FootballHooligans football riot]] (Force) or an [[StrikeEpisode general strike]] at the oil refinery, or by securing a CelebrityEndorsement (Wealth). Much later, when you are going after the [[TheMafiya Red Mafiya]]'s leadership, there is also a PromptlessBranchingPoint when you try to convince TheConsigliere to hand over incriminating accounts: should you fail at the PersuasionMinigame, you receive a new objective to hire an [[FromCamouflageToCriminal ex-Special Forces major]] to straight-up assassinate TheDon.

* ItGetsEasier: Quite literally: in Pugachev, the Mayor's assassination by TheMafiya is a massive game-changing event, while your own hit on Red Mafiya's leader takes a ton of in-story preparations and can easily fail, branching the narrative. In Berezina, functionaries of the Business and the Military/Police backgrounds can send hitmen and the Alpha Squad, respectively, after their rivals as a regular gameplay action[[note]]although you still need to gather a lot of information on the mark beforehand for the action to have a chance of success[[/note]]. This is primarily because the assassination actions (as well the Politician's [[TheExile Exile]] action) are unlocked at level 8, and CharacterLevel is {{cap}}ped at 7 in Pugachev.

Development of the game started in 1998, when the British TabletopGame/{{chess}} and math prodigy [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demis_Hassabis Demis Hassabis]] left Creator/{{Lionhead|Studios}} (where he was the lead AI programmer on ''VideoGame/BlackAndWhite''[[note]]he was also the lead programmer on ''VideoGame/ThemePark'' for Creator/{{Bullfrog|Productions}} -- at ''17''[[/note]]) and founded [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elixir_Studios Elixir Studios]] to produce an original political simulation game. Published in August 2003 by Creator/{{Eidos|Interactive}}, ''Republic'' was a critical and commercial flop, prompting Hassabis to step down as CEO to devote more time to his next project, ''VideoGame/EvilGenius'', released a year later to a somewhat better reception. It was too late to save Elixir, however, and the studio closed its doors in 2005[[note]]Hassabis went on to research neuroscience and general artificial intelligence[[/note]]. Both its [=IPs=] then went to Creator/{{Rebellion}}, who [[https://www.gog.com/news/new_release_republic_the_revolution put them]] on Website/GogDotCom in 2009, before [[https://www.gog.com/forum/republic_the_revolution/republic_the_revolution_temporarily_removed_from_sale "temporarily"]] pulling ''Republic'' from sale in 2011. As it has not been reinstated since and Rebellion doesn't even list it in [[https://games.rebellionstore.com/en/product/All its own store]], there is currently[[note]]as of January 2019[[/note]] [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes no legal way to play the game]] other than tracking down an original physical copy by Eidos, though Rebellion's [[https://www.vg247.com/2017/07/04/evil-genius-2-is-finally-happening-at-rebellion/ announcement]] of ''VideoGame/EvilGenius 2'' gives us hope that Elixir's legacy is not dead and gone yet.

Development of the game started in 1998, when the British TabletopGame/{{chess}} and math prodigy [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demis_Hassabis Demis Hassabis]] left Creator/{{Lionhead|Studios}} (where he was the lead AI programmer on ''VideoGame/BlackAndWhite''[[note]]he was also the lead programmer on ''VideoGame/ThemePark'' for Creator/{{Bullfrog|Productions}} -- at ''17''[[/note]]) and founded [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elixir_Studios Elixir Studios]] to produce an original political simulation game. Published in August 2003 by Creator/{{Eidos|Interactive}}, ''Republic'' was a critical and commercial flop, prompting Hassabis to step down as CEO to devote more time to his next project, ''VideoGame/EvilGenius'', released a year later to a somewhat better reception. It was too late to save Elixir, however, and the studio closed its doors in 2005[[note]]Hassabis went on to research neuroscience and general artificial intelligence[[/note]]. Both of its [=IPs=] then went to Creator/{{Rebellion}}, who [[https://www.gog.com/news/new_release_republic_the_revolution put them]] on Website/GogDotCom in 2009, before [[https://www.gog.com/forum/republic_the_revolution/republic_the_revolution_temporarily_removed_from_sale "temporarily"]] pulling ''Republic'' from sale in 2011. As it has not been reinstated since and Rebellion doesn't even list it in [[https://games.rebellionstore.com/en/product/All its own store]], there is currently[[note]]as of January 2019[[/note]] [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes no legal way to play the game]] other than hunting down an original physical copy by Eidos, though with Rebellion's [[https://www.vg247.com/2017/07/04/evil-genius-2-is-finally-happening-at-rebellion/ announcement]] of ''VideoGame/EvilGenius 2'', there is still hope that Elixir's legacy is not lost forever.

Development of the game started in 1998, when the British TabletopGame/{{chess}} and math prodigy [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demis_Hassabis Demis Hassabis]] left Creator/{{Lionhead|Studios}} (where he was the lead AI programmer on ''VideoGame/BlackAndWhite''[[note]]he was also the lead programmer on ''VideoGame/ThemePark'' for Creator/{{Bullfrog|Productions}} -- at ''17''[[/note]]) and founded [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elixir_Studios Elixir Studios]] to produce an original political simulation game. Published in August 2003 by Creator/{{Eidos|Interactive}}, ''Republic'' was a critical and commercial flop, prompting Hassabis to step down as CEO to devote more time to his next project, ''VideoGame/EvilGenius'', released a year later to a somewhat better reception. It was too late to save Elixir, however, which closed its doors in 2005[[note]]Hassabis went on to research neuroscience and general artificial intelligence[[/note]]. Both of its [=IPs=] then went to Creator/{{Rebellion}}, who [[https://www.gog.com/news/new_release_republic_the_revolution put them]] on Website/GogDotCom in 2009, before [[https://www.gog.com/forum/republic_the_revolution/republic_the_revolution_temporarily_removed_from_sale "temporarily"]] pulling ''Republic'' from sale in 2011. As it has not been reinstated since and Rebellion doesn't even list it in [[https://games.rebellionstore.com/en/product/All its own store]], there is currently[[note]]as of January 2019[[/note]] [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes no legal way to play the game]] other than hunting down an original physical copy by Eidos, though with Rebellion's [[https://www.vg247.com/2017/07/04/evil-genius-2-is-finally-happening-at-rebellion/ announcement]] of ''VideoGame/EvilGenius 2'', there is still hope that Elixir's legacy is not lost forever.

Development of the game started in 1998, when the British TabletopGame/{{chess}} and math prodigy [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demis_Hassabis Demis Hassabis]] left Creator/{{Lionhead|Studios}} (where he was the lead AI programmer on ''VideoGame/BlackAndWhite''[[note]]he was also the lead programmer on ''VideoGame/ThemePark'' for Creator/{{Bullfrog|Productions}} -- at ''17''[[/note]]) and founded [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elixir_Studios Elixir Studios]] to produce an original political simulation game. Published in August 2003 by Creator/{{Eidos|Interactive}}, ''Republic'' was a critical and commercial flop, prompting Hassabis to step down as CEO to devote more time to his next project, ''VideoGame/EvilGenius'', released a year later to a somewhat better reception. It was too late to save Elixir, however, which closed its doors in 2005[[note]]Hassabis went on to research neuroscience and general artificial intelligence[[/note]]. Both of its [=IPs=] then went to Creator/{{Rebellion}}, who [[https://www.gog.com/news/new_release_republic_the_revolution put them]] on Website/GogDotCom in 2009, before [[https://www.gog.com/forum/republic_the_revolution/republic_the_revolution_temporarily_removed_from_sale "temporarily"]] pulling ''Republic'' from sale in 2011. As it has not been reinstated since, there is currently[[note]]as of January 2019[[/note]] [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes no legal way to play the game]] other than hunting down an original physical copy by Eidos, though with Rebellion's [[https://www.vg247.com/2017/07/04/evil-genius-2-is-finally-happening-at-rebellion/ announcement]] of ''VideoGame/EvilGenius 2'', there is still hope that Elixir's legacy is not lost forever.

Development of the game started in 1998, when the British chess and math prodigy [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demis_Hassabis Demis Hassabis]] left Creator/{{Lionhead|Studios}} (where he was the lead AI programmer on ''VideoGame/BlackAndWhite''[[note]]he was also the lead programmer on ''VideoGame/ThemePark'' for Creator/{{Bullfrog|Productions}} -- at ''17''[[/note]]) and founded Elixir Studios to produce an original political simulation game. Published in August 2003 by Creator/{{Eidos|Interactive}}, ''Republic'' was a critical and commercial flop, so Hassabis stepped down as CEO to devote more time to his next project, ''VideoGame/EvilGenius'', released a year later to a better reception. It was too late to save Elixir, however, and following its closure in 2005[[note]]after which Hassabis went to research neuroscience and general artificial intelligence[[/note]], the ''Republic'' IP was sold to Creator/{{Rebellion}}, who had [[https://www.gog.com/news/new_release_republic_the_revolution put it]] on Website/GogDotCom in 2009, but [[https://www.gog.com/forum/republic_the_revolution/republic_the_revolution_temporarily_removed_from_sale pulled it "temporarily"]] in 2011. As it has not been reinstated since, there is currently[[note]]as of January 2019[[/note]] [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes no legal way to obtain the game]] other than hunting down Eidos' original release, though with Rebellion's [[https://www.vg247.com/2017/07/04/evil-genius-2-is-finally-happening-at-rebellion/ announcement]] of ''VideoGame/EvilGenius 2'', there is still hope that Elixir's legacy is not lost forever.

Development of the game started in 1998, when the British chess and math prodigy [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demis_Hassabis Demis Hassabis]] left Creator/{{Lionhead|Studios}} (where he was the lead AI programmer on ''VideoGame/BlackAndWhite''[[note]]he was also the lead programmer on ''VideoGame/ThemePark'' for Creator/{{Bullfrog|Productions}} -- at ''17''[[/note]]) and founded Elixir Studios to produce an original political simulation game. Published in August 2003 by Creator/{{Eidos|Interactive}}, ''Republic'' was a critical and commercial flop, so Hassabis stepped down as CEO to devote more time to his next project, ''VideoGame/EvilGenius'', released a year later to a better reception. It was too late to save Elixir, however, and following its closure in 2005[[note]]after which Hassabis went to research neuroscience and general artificial intelligence[[/note]], the IP rights (presumably) reverted to Eidos, before being bought out by Creator/{{Rebellion}} in 2009, who had [[https://www.gog.com/news/new_release_republic_the_revolution put it]] on Website/GogDotCom, but [[https://www.gog.com/forum/republic_the_revolution/republic_the_revolution_temporarily_removed_from_sale pulled it "temporarily"]] in 2011. As it has not been reinstated since, there is currently[[note]]as of January 2019[[/note]] [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes no legal way to obtain the game]] other than hunting down Eidos' original release, though with Rebellion's [[https://www.vg247.com/2017/07/04/evil-genius-2-is-finally-happening-at-rebellion/ announcement]] of ''VideoGame/EvilGenius 2'', there is still hope that Elixir's legacy is not lost forever.

** In Ekaterine, after setting up your party with your friends and freeing and recruiting a political inmate, you then must establish your power base in the city. If your ideology is Force-aligned at this point in the game (and it is unlikely to have changed since character creation), it tasks you with starting an [[LaResistance underground movement]] by setting up illegal printing presses and disseminating anti-establishment propaganda; if you are instead Influence-aligned, you must instead pressure the [[CorruptChurch Bishop of Ekaterine]] into endorsing you with a highly-publicized Sunday sermon; lastly, if you're mainly into Wealth, you have to secure the [[TheCasino Morozov Casino]] as a source of future income by throwing out the Konstantino Cartel and buying the place out. Once you're done with that, all that's left is to meet with the Mayor, hold a public rally, and leave for Pugachev.
** Upon arrival in Pugachev, you are immediately given three ideology-specific objectives to gain foothold in the city (in addition to the ideology-neutral task of exposing the corrupt Mayor) and unlike in the previous instance, you can freely decide which one to tackle, forfeiting the others: form a [[TheSyndicate crime syndicate]] (Force), a [[FakeCharity charitable trust]] (Influence), or just network with [[CorruptCorporateExecutive local businessmen]] (Wealth). After your power base is secured and a new mayor, elected, the game checks your ideology (which might have shifted significantly by now) and assigns you a new task of making waves by either starting a [[FootballHooligans football riot]] (Force) or an [[StrikeEpisode general strike]] at the oil refinery, or by securing an endorsement from a known celebrity (Wealth). Much later after that, when you are going after the [[TheMafiya Red Mafiya]]'s leadership, there is also a PromptlessBranchingPoint when you try to convince TheConsigliere to hand over incriminating accounts: should you fail at this, you are instead directed to hire an [[FromCamouflageToCriminal ex-Special Forces major]] to straight-up assassinate TheDon.

The game's [[KarmaMeter political spectrum]] has three dimensions: Wealth, Force and Influence. Different ideologies draw (or repulse) different voting groups and can make recruiting certain people easier (or harder). The military is more likely to support a person with an interest in force, while the church can be hard to persuade to join the cause unless you share their belief in the power of influence. Corporate salesmen [[NotInThisForYourRevolution care for nothing but]] [[OnlyInItForTheMoney cold hard cash]].

The game's [[KarmaMeter political spectrum]] has three dimensions: Money, Force and Influence. Different ideologies draw (or repulse) different voting groups and can make recruiting certain people easier (or harder). The military is more likely to support a person with an interest in force, while the church can be hard to persuade to join the cause unless you share their belief in the power of influence. Corporate salesmen [[NotInThisForYourRevolution care for nothing but]] [[OnlyInItForTheMoney cold hard cash]].

* PersuasionMinigame: Recruiting new party functionaries, as well as many special events revolve around a negotiation minigame between your functionary and an NPC. First, you get a number of persuasiveness points (dependent on your functionary's Resolve score), which you have to assign to four differently-weighted arguments you will use later. In the first round of negotiation, you must play each of these arguments in any order, not knowing which arguments the other party has. In the second round, the process is repeated, except both parties now know each other's arguments. The party with more successful persuasions (i.e. matching the opponent's argument with a stronger argument) wins the entire negotiation. Also, at one point can try to convince a wealthy businessman to support you. If you mess up the negotiations, he won't give you anything. Win, he pays. Go over the top and he pays extra.

* LetsYouAndHimFight: Late in Pugachev, [[spoiler:a plot-mandated schism splits your party, when two of your highest-level recruits go rogue to form a Wealth-aligned "New Peace Party", taking a full half of your raw support with them, giving them more than enough resources to rival your power base]]. While it is up for debate whether the protagonist or, indeed, any character in the game qualifies as "heroic", the event does give the protagonist's real enemies, the Red Mafiya, time to catch their breaths, while he has to either crush, or reconcile with this new rivals.

* YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters: Karasov and his regime will try to paint you as a terrorist, while naturally you potray yourself as a freedom fighter. Where you actually fall depends on your chosen path.

* CharacterCustomization: Notably averted with the main character's looks (he always appears as the default dude in a leather jacket with a neatly trimmed beard), but his political views are customizable through the

* PresidentEvil: [[NonActionBigBad Karasov]] has not only seized dictatorial power in Novistrana, banned all opposition, and declared himself PresidentForLife, but he has also had [[YouKilledMyFather the protagonist's family disappeared]]!