Hello there brave Cold War strategy fans!

We hope you have started the New Year in style as a new season of the Cold War is brewing. With 2020 behind us, here is a short review of accomplishments:

• A full release of the game in Q3 2020
  
• Terminal Conflict Community has surpassed 1300 members
  
• We started new partnerships and launched the intelligence focused Eyes Only DLC with the Hearts Of Iron: Road to 56 Modding Team
  
• Completed 20 Live Streams hosted by strategy master extraordinaire Lemuel Sora
  
• Achieved our desired game quality and stability. A testament to the remarkable QA team that has worked on a lot of content and optimized the game with 239 bug fixes over the past year thanks to input from the community. Thank you so much! Top reporters in the community without particular order: Python-079, Bojack_Horsefly, and sjgold will be gifted two copies of Terminal Conflict and be promoted to an honorary Masterful Member in the Community Discord (https://discord.gg/VQusSWF).

With the team back at work since the 7th of January, we thought we would devote some time to Decisions in this Development Diary. Played a few games and made a few choices, but what are the inner workings of this part of your terminal?

You and your opponent gain, if available, one decision on each Turn (two on the first Turn of each new TIMELINE). Players do not share a decision, and each decision offers up to three options to select between.

There are two distinct types of decisions:

• Default Decisions (with ‘DECIDE LATER’ button) - Allow postponing a decision until the end of the FOCUS, at the end of which you lose all remaining undecided default decisions without effect.

• Urgent Decisions (without the ‘DECIDE LATER’ button) - If you cannot make a choice by the end of the Turn, your administration will select an option for you, with its effects applied.

These decision rules don’t just apply to you. This also applies to the choices made by the AI.

Remember that a good leader cares about making the right decisions, a great leader on the other hand also take into account when they make those choices. Consider your decision making and you will see your scores much approved.

Mighty Cheers!
The Strategy Mill Team

*********************************************************

I) Weapons Program decision chain in final testing.
II) Development has started of an event chain built around the Contras in Latin America.
III) Policies are getting rolled out with each new patch.
IV) Updates and improvements continue to be made for the Grand Campaign.

GAME

• Fixed an issue where the description text of Leaders would not be shown when the PRESS + HOLD 2 sec function was used over their portrait
  
• Fixed an issue where The Balance of Power scenario did not match the other Wargames
  
• Fixed an issue where if you selected a fighter command and change the theater before returning to it, the attack icons became incorrectly invisible
  
• Updated Eyes Only success and failure decisions to trigger upon launching the decisions
  
• Fixed unit deploying when starting deployment, canceling, using quick access to navigate to another theater and clicking to a region
  
• Fixed an issue where some of the policies where missing from Balance of Power
  
• Expanded MIRVIN’s storytelling - Reach him by selecting the MIRVIN button in the Main Menu to get more information about the functions in your terminal and to find out some of your predecessors ‘secrets’

MULTIPLAYER

• In-editor matches no longer counted in profile

POLICIES

• Ascending Titan policy triggers changed to: 1) USSR INFLUENCE, FALSE FLAG, ASSASSINATE LAUNCHED during the game at least 3 OR 2) USSR INFLUENCE, FALSE FLAG, ASSASSINATE SUCCESS during the game at least 1
  
• USSR Ascending Titan Policy now has the following effect: Place 2 USSR INFLUENCE in EASTERN EUROPE and gain 2 VP.
  
• Fixed a typo in Ideological Sympathizers Policy

DECISIONS

• Updated Encyclopedia description for Decisions
  
• Updated notification text for Urgent Decisions, clarifying that should you fail to make a choice at the end of the Turn, your administration will select an option for you.
  
• Updated the documentation for People's interests
  
• Added meta data for Paralyzing Strikes and fixed an issue where the Decision text for Paralyzing Strikes was too long

STEAM ACHIEVEMENTS

• Added Steam Achievement for Reconnecting the Department of Defense
  
• Steam achievements no longer unlocked in editor matches
  
• Fixed Bites The Dust achievement being incorrectly set as Deep Cover name
  
• Fixed Assured Destruction achievement not firing
  
• Fixed Wasn't Me, Deep Cover, Grapevine achievements not firing
  
• Fixed Minutes To Midnight incorrectly considering current doomsday clock

EDITOR

• Fixed an issue where the Leader Abilities editor would cause an error when accessed.
  
• Added the ability to adjust Interests Alignment from the Cheat Menu when running a game from the in-game editor.

LEADER

• Added Meta data for the default leader imagery
  
• Fixed an issue where some Leaders had incorrect ability setup
  
• Added imagery for default Leaders Male/Female

UI

• Fixed interest background animation not playing when previewing depleted resource
  
• Fixed wrongly colored notifications
  
• Fixed an issue where the Bottom Field text is too long
  
• Fixed interest animation warning text not updating correctly
  
• Implemented better reflections

OTHERS

• Fixed an issue where winning a game in Wargames Mode would bring you to the main menu instead of back to the Wargames Menu.
  
• Fixed an issue where the Encyclopedia for Intel missions was showing the incorrect descriptions
  
• Cleaned up the Policy imagery
  
• Updated Options text

In the spirit of the season, we send you our sincerest appreciation for the support you have awarded us with brand new content. We teamed up once more with our Terminal Christmas Santa and bring you 33% off on Terminal Conflict and all DLCs during this Steam Winter Sale. Ho ho ho!

It was all smoke and mirrors. They knew, now access the background of MIRVIN from the Main menu and find out how it all began. And what about the Soviets? Well... He might not reveal it all in the first conversation but try a second time and you might find him more inclined.



Find secret codes hidden all over the game, and in this message, decrypt them with the key and the FALCON PAWNCH decoder and unlock game elements, and more.



I've you've never played Terminal Conflict before, or you would like to learn more about how to use your terminal, this is where you should start. Discover new policies, decisions, and Cold War archive material, duel to expand your sphere of influence over the globe.



With the in-game Encyclopedia further enhanced, explore buttons and functions in your terminal. When in doubt, contact MIRVIN by pressing his button in-game! He can explain and unlock the game function for you.



With all the magnificent content rolled out this year, a growing community passing 1300+ players and a remarkable year for our team, we wish you all the best. Enjoy your festive holidays and we will see you back here on January the 7th!

Thank you all and Mighty Cheers!
The Tinker Toy elves at Strategy Mill

*********************************************************

I) Weapons Program decision chain in final testing.
II) Development has started of an event chain built around the Contras in Latin America.
III) Policies are getting rolled out with each new patch.
IV) Updates and improvements continue to be made for the Grand Campaign.

AI

• Fixed MIRVIN btn being accessible during scripted setup in tutorial

GAME

• NEW Story-line created for the Big Picture Grand Campaign
  
• NEW Decision chains added to the Big Picture Grand Campaign
  
• Updated to a newer version of the game engine
  
• Removed already used parts of MIRVIN controller
  
• Moved MIRVIN main story back Main Menu and updated the story-line and removed unneeded storytelling elements
  
• Fixed issues where the options would be too numerous in MIRVIN Controller
  
• Rearranged the order of operations for a better flow
  
• Fixed an issue where the last MIRIVN option in Encyclopedia was incorrectly positioned
  
• Removed MIRVIN's interaction in the early part of The Big Picture
  
• Mirvin button no longer an exception in scripted highlighting
  
• Fixed an issue when deploying units where quick switching to another theater would incorrectly remove the deployment

FOCUS

• Implemented the ability to set the minimum amount of focuses launched each timeline for a faction

POLICIES

• NEW USA - RECONCILIATION OF SPAIN: Gain 2 USA INFLUENCE in the CANARY ISLANDS ZONE and 1 VP.
  
• NEW USA - NORTHEAST PASSAGE: Gain 1 MILITARY and 2 VP.
  
• Alignment Policies fully integrated with the Big Picture to allow for Grand Campaign
  
• Fixed an issue where new policies sometimes weren't listed immediately upon activation
  
• Selecting a policy in focus menu prints out effects description instantly
  
• Reconnecting to the Department of Defense no longer provides VP
  
• Fixed an issue where if you avoided reconnecting the Department of Defense, the game could not properly continue
  
• Fixed an issue where the icon for Policy Reconnect the Department of Defense incorrectly looked like a seagull
  
• Updated Enabled policies for The Big Picture
  
• Added Icon for Reconciliation of Spain
  
• Policy interests animation fix
  
• Marshall Plan Now has a custom description

DECISIONS

• Updated the Dutch Emergency Protocol decision image
  
• Moved Doomsday Clock decision to fire after the player opens the relevant policy
  
• Updated Decision about US Strategy and Tactics given by General Curtis LeMay
  
• US Strategy and Tactics now activates the Interests for proper costs to be calculated and visualized
  
• Removal of unlocking Doomsday clock with decision 41008
  
• Fixed an issue where the USSR would incorrectly mismanage Elites right from the start due to forced Focus selection
  
• Fixed a text relating to Rising Discontentment
  
• Victory Points Decision now correctly activates the UI Space Race button
  
• Suspended tutorial launches for Doomsday Clock and Victory Conditions
  
• Fixed Conflicts And Wars Combat Preview trigger event invalid decision
  
• Fixed an issue where Command Reserve would not be properly initiated
  
• Command Reserve properly fires Encyclopedia post when launched for the first time
  
• Command Reserve now activates Interests when activated to represent the costs involved

STEAM ACHIEVEMENTS

• Fixed an issue where Full House achievement would not trigger correctly
  
• Catch Em All achievement now correctly counts leaders that have been activated

UI

• Fixed MIRVIN button being activated too late into THE BIG PICTURE
  
• Updated printing animations
  
• Updated combat animations
  
• Implemented a better reflection mechanism for the terminal

EDITOR

• Fixed Change Influence To Region for Distribute

OTHERS

• Fixed various typos
  
• Fixed an issue where sorting in the data files was incorrect
  
• DLC Manager no longer a prefab

“The supreme art of war is to subdue your enemy without fighting”, Sun Tzu writes in the Art of War. This is a central pillar of the Cold War, but how do you go about making the choices that set you up for victory without war? Today we will look at how you can achieve superiority by managing your resources.

With up to 10 timelines, each with 9 randomized focuses to choose from in a set of hundreds, the total number of combinations is enormous. Though excellent for replay-ability, you got to narrow it down to one path. How can you decide on a winning selection of Focuses through the timelines?

The first major factor that is going to influence your strategy making is how long you expect the game to last. At the start of each timeline, you produce resources as domestic interests according to your alignment value as shown below.



If a game lasts only 4 timelines, even if you take no action, you will end up producing half as much resources from alignment as you would in a game lasting 8 timelines. The cost, however, for most actions, like securing influence, researching, or intelligence remains the same.

Therefore, if the game is going to be short, then you don’t want to waste too much of your starting resources on generating more alignment as the time allowed will probably not be worth the investment. Building up quick victory points and using your interests to wage war or rush a few early Space Race research will grant you a better immediate return.

If the game is going to be long, without alignment you will most likely fall behind in resource generation as those that invest in alignment will, in the long run, produce more and will have sufficient timelines to gain value for their investment.

Guessing how long a game will last, right at the beginning, is a skill and the main factors you should consider are:

1. The opponent you are facing - If you are familiar with the AI or the person or you are challenging and their play style, you might get a clue about how they might act.
   
2. The faction of your opponent - Though weaker influence wise, the Soviets start with a lot more alignment and always have first turn advantage as long as they have equal or lower victory points, which means they can keep the initiative.
   
3. The focuses available - Depending on what focuses you have access to and what theaters your opponents focus on will give you a clue. For example, if your opponent plays the USA and has a lot of focuses far away from their logistical reach, or focuses that provide fewer turns, they are more likely to invest into a longer game rather than rushing for an early victory.

It is important to state that you don’t have to build alignment with either faction to win, as alignment is not a factor when calculating the final score. Yet, here is what you should consider when building alignment.

1. You enact alignment policies in your home theater and each faction has one of each (North America for the USA, Eastern Europe for USSR). These policies are repeatable and they stand out from the others having their interest type as an icon. Select a policy to enact it.



2. All alignment except for Government costs 4 in total to enact and breaks even after 4 timelines. Government instead, costs 6 in total and requires 6 timelines to break even.



Too much alignment can open up any faction for mismanagement of their interests by providing too many resources at the timeline start. This can lead to a path of destruction if a faction cannot spend them leading to mismanagement. It can even be beneficial to select Focuses that grant your opponent a certain type of alignment with the purpose of intentionally causing them mismanagement.



Should this happen to you, it can be beneficial if you find yourself in a game with an enemy known for such overtures to select focuses that activate policies that can convert Alignment into Victory Points.



In closing, remember to make good use of policy blocking intelligence missions as well, and keep an eye out for clues of your opponents’ intentions based on what focuses they select and what alignment granting policies they enact. In the end, the one quietly collecting interests is likely to make use of that.

Mighty Cheers

For more details on the NEW content release walk-through and multiplayer stream hosted by Lemuel Sora, lead game designer Gellert Keresztes, developer William Bois d'Enghien and community challenger Bojack_Horsefly.



******************************************************

I) Development has started of an event chain built around the Contras in Latin America.
II) Policies are getting rolled out with each new patch.
III) Updates and improvements are being made to the Grand Campaign.

Version: AN/GSQ-235(V)930
AI

• Now tries to balance Alignment much more efficiently
  
• Handles resources more efficiently
  
• Warzone declaration sound during AI simulation will no longer occur

GAME

• Fixed compiler error
  
• The China Card Scenario can now be played all the way to 1991-

FOCUS

• FOCUS Updated ENEMIES WITHIN to 'USA: Gain 1 ELITES ALIGNMENT and set GOVERNMENT ALIGNMENT to 0.'
  
• Fixed exception when selecting focus in case player is in focus screen while transitioning focus
  
• Fixed an issue where a focus would be incorrectly timed out

POLICIES

• NEW Added 5 Expansion policies for both factions that grant ALIGNMENT in their respective home theaters (North America for the USA, Eastern Europe for the USSR)
  
• Added POLICIES USSR ANTI-IMPERIALIST AGREEMENT: Reduce FINANCE ALIGNMENT by 1 to gain 1 USSR INFLUENCE in the MIDDLE EAST for each USSR GOVERNMENT.
  
• Policies now correctly show interest alignment animation
  
• Updated the Wargames to house the new rebalanced polices

INTELLIGENCE

• Basic intelligence missions no longer grant alignment
  
• INFILTRATION: Cost reduced from 2 to 1 ELITES and now grants 1 MILITARY if successful
  
• COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE: Cost reduced from 2 to 1 ELITES and now grants 1 GOVERNMENT if successful
  
• ESPIONAGE: Cost reduced from 3 to 1 ELITES and now grants 1 FINANCE and +1 to your ARSENAL
  
• FALSE FLAG: Cost reduced from 4 to 2 ELITES and still grants 2 INFLUENCE in target region.
  
• Updated intelligence mission notifications

LEADER

• Fixed an issue where Lech Walesa was causing an error

MIRVIN

• Adjusted the setup of MirvinStateMenu.controller to match the settings without transition time

STEAM ACHIEVEMENTS

• NEW Steam achievements can fire in tutorials too
  
• Fixed an issue where several achievements would not be gained despite having been completed

UI

• Fixed interests bars not being updated correctly when switching between intel missions
  
• Fixed interests preview UI on switching between different intel missions

OTHERS

• Removed unused Music file from SCN 10
  
• Sorted old text edited files with editor text sorter

Every year we try to mentor one student as part of our development process to support young adults in bringing their passion for games to work, as we set to learn and to teach through our small but influential "new generation tester" position. It is a part time program that runs a couple of hours a week with education about the video game development process and with the aim to provide valuable insights, create lasting relationships and meaningful experiences with students. An opportunity usually open for college, university or non-degree students, last year we were blown away by a young man applying as a High School Junior and this year, we have the pleasure to announce and publish the extraordinary work by Niklas.

Hello! My name is Niklas Rimbach and I am a High School Junior from the Bay Area in California. I’ve been interested in the Terminal Conflict for a long time, considering good Cold War strategy is extremely rare, and I decided to attempt to play-test the game, apply and to my surprise, I was accepted onto the team as a student!



I have been working on Terminal Conflict for around a year at this point and so far, it has been fantastic for learning overall better game development skills, and has been a great experience itself. I first began playing strategy games with Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution on the iPad, and while it was fun at the time, I quickly found it very easy. Eventually, I moved onto Civilization IV and later VI on the Mac VI but now I mainly play Paradox Grand Strategy Games, which I assume most are familiar with. My personal favorite is Crusader Kings 2 and the Hearts of Iron series.

For other interests, I have always been a very avid reader since a young age, normally preferring Fantasy novels, however in the past years I have enjoyed reading and writing Alternate History. I also enjoy playing DnD with a group of friends or sporty activities, like Shaolin Martial Arts, which keeps me healthy and is overall something that I’ve enjoyed for over half of my life.

Game development, has always been something that has interested me along with writing. I’ve started and ended work on many different prototypes, a common genre being a Cold War Strategy game. It has been something I’ve been interested in for quite a long time now, and in my view, nothing had really got it right for quite a long time. Games covering the Cold War were either too linear, buggy, or just not for Mac.

I found Terminal Conflict, and when I saw that a testing position was open for Mac users, I applied. Now, here we are! As for my work on Terminal Conflict itself, I started off as a Tester, but more recently I have worked on something with the development team that I personally am very excited about to see released: the Korean War Chain.



It is a decision chain with the possibility for an alternate history and with a multitude of diverse endings. Having learned the process for development over the year, I researched and designed it, getting feedback and editing it along the way. It has become something that I am very happy to share with you and thrilled to see releasing. I’m excited to continue on the game and I hope you all have brilliant days (or nights, depending on your time zone), and I hope to see you around on the Discord server (https://discord.gg/VQusSWF) sometime.

For more details on the NEW Korean War content release walk-through and strategy, check out our stream hosted by Lemuel Sora and lead game designer Gellert Keresztes, for Terminal Conflict.



******************************************************

I) Development has started of an event chain built around the Contras in Latin America.

II) Policies are getting rolled out with each new patch.


AI

• Various minor tweaks to improve the way the AI handles military units

GAME

• Fixed an issue where player would fail to connect to multiplayer and would cause an exception
  
• Fixed UI exception with selecting policy menu when in the Arctic
  
• Fixed issues with entering/exiting Options menu

LEADERS

• NEW Leader ability for Kim Il-sung - JUCHE(Ends Turn): Spend 2 POWER to gain 1 MILITARY and 1 PEOPLE.
  
• Fixed an issue where leader abilities added via Decisions were not added correctly.
  
• Fixed an issue where Lech Walesa was causing an error

HISTORICAL CHARACTERS

• NEW Historical character Cho Man-sik that provides a historically plausible path without Kim Il-sung for the USSR

FOCUSES

• Updated 2 Focuses with an emphasis on Korea
  
• Updated focuses 851 Jeju Uprising and 853 A Nation Divided, now only available in timeline 1 to 3

POLICIES

• NEW Several Policies to activate and complete for East Asia like - HARMONIZATION OF IDEAS KOREA: Set USSR INFLUENCE to 1 and declare a WAR ZONE in SOUTH KOREA.
  
• Fixed incorrect color tag in policy #29645

DECISIONS

• NEW 25+ decisions for the USSR and 3+ decisions for the USA

AUDIO

• Added Audio slots in the Audio Manager for top right buttons

OTHERS

• Adjusted the positioning of the buttons in the top bar to keep an even 16pxl distance

Greetings strategists! We promised we were working on something substantial. Today we are proud to announce that we sought to improve the way the AI operates and give new powers to MIRVIN for situational awareness.

While before the AI responds and defends when attacked, this could lead to the AI getting trapped by clever play into combat conditions it could not win.



For example, when before defending off a US land invasion into North Korea, the AI would respond by deploying more USSR Army Commands into the North Korean region to counterbalance the attack. Though such a move is initially effective in stemming the tide of US troops heading North and is deceptively historically plausible, this narrow focus has built-in flaws. The main one is that the AI this way has to surrender the initiative, and that is crucial in maintaining the balance of power. Not to mention, it leaves that large concentration of units open for attacks by Bomber Commands.

You’ve doubtlessly heard the saying that “a good offensive is the best defense”, and is what this development diary is all about. As a human player, you try to seek, find, and exploit vulnerabilities of your opponent on and off the battlefield.

We have so done away with the first narrow view and widened it. The AI now to a much higher degree looks for opportunities to turn the table and to keep the initiative when possible, through not only defensive but offensive actions. It also to a much higher degree uses Intelligence to get a better situational awareness.

With an updated notion, US Air Force General Curtis LeMay championed the main metric now make use of. Focusing on the friendly loss per unit of target destruction, we aim to make each AI decisions taken more efficient. Not in the sense of killing more, but more efficient in weakening the adversary by any means.

As we continue to tweak the AI we hope you enjoy the updates and look out as we set our sights to finally deliver the Korean War in the next Development Diary.

Mighty cheers!

******************************************************

I) KIM IL-SUNG: A Communist Ideologue and Supreme Leader will rise to power like the living Sun to establish a People's Republic like never seen before and the first Communist dynasty. Or will his life be cut short and his reign curtailed by US regional power? The rise of North Korea is in final BETA testing and receiving its finalized graphical assets.

II) Development has started of an event chain built around the CONTRAS in Latin America.

III) Policies are getting rolled out with each new patch.


AI

• REWORKED the AI setup
  
• AI tries to gain the initiative with air units in case of attacks instead of reinforcing with more of the same units.
  
• AI only recruits a historical Charac if necessary

GAME

• Fixed carrier fleet strike not clearing click move for regions where carrier fleet strike is not available
  
• Fixed scripted scenarios Sea Combat, Air Combat, Leader Combat
  
• Fixed some decisions that would give incorrect and premature outcomes
  
• Fixed victory screen not showing up in certain cases when defeating the opponent

ORDER OF BATTLE

• Updated OOB switch elements

NUCLEAR WAR

• We update unit special positioning before using it for nuclear combat
  
• Synced sub special position with world overview

UI

• Fixed a diamond showing in tooltip in incorrect contexts
  
• Updated coloring on region unit tooltip

MODS

• Mods with no file ID will be ignored instead of causing exception
  
• Mods with special characters are no longer allowed

Other

• Expanded logging for UI units
  
• Fixed various typos
  
• Fixed most cases where certain tooltips would linger on
  
• Fixed tooltips coloring when quitting a game

Greeting!

You have come at the right moment! It is with great pleasure we present the latest developments in strategy-making Cold War technology, featuring:

• NEW Policies for the Middle East (details in the change-log)
  
• Updated and improved AI
  
• NEW Improved tool-tips
  
• Terminal Conflict Community

A brand new set of policies have been produced and implemented both for the United States and for the Soviet Union. Working incredibly hard to encompass historically plausible outcomes, we created a good mix for a balance between the competing support for the establishment of Israel and supporting Pan-Arabism. Consider what your immediate and long-term priority will be and your strategy will flourish. You will most likely not be able to please both at the same time, but will you lay the foundation for the flame that risks burning so many regions?

As the USSR, you also have the option to recruit Nasser in Egypt. He not only provides much-needed Power in covering the essential strait at Suez, but opens great opportunities to expand the Soviet sphere of influence.


Advances are not limited to policies. MIRVIN received further updates, and we eliminated a cheat that would allow him to deploy more units than the maximum allowed by exploiting disembarking units. Clever, clever MIRVIN, but we saw what you did there!

Our engineers have also been busy with improving the tools at your disposal. Getting information on elements in your terminal has never been easier. Moving your marker over objects will now automatically display detailed information.


This enhanced tool also enables military unit preview displaying both friendly and enemy units.


It also includes unknown units, but can also display Army Commands embarked on Surface Fleets.


The more advanced and skilled you become, the less you will need the tool-tips. For this purpose, our engineers have included the ability in the Options to set the delay time for them to appear.


In closing, we would like to celebrate the passing of the 1100 Steam community members milestones! We are incredibly grateful, and humble to have such a fantastic community. Thank you all for your dedication and the all the wonderful congratulatory messages and kind words you sent out way.

Mighty Cheers

Gellert Keresztes
******************************************************

I) KIM IL-SUNG: A Communist Ideologue and Supreme Leader will rise to power like the living Sun to establish a People's Republic like never seen before and the first Communist dynasty. Or will his life be cut short and his reign curtailed by US regional power? The rise of North Korea is in final BETA testing.

II) Policies are getting rolled out with each new patch.

III) CONTRAS: TOP SECRET!

AI

• AI now properly differentiates between Army Command deployment on Surface Fleet or LAND when checking if the deployment is valid.
  
• The Doomsday clock no longer jumps up and down during AI simulation
  
• Fixed AI not ending a turn in certain Wargames start
  
• Fixed MIRVIN coloring in scripted Wargames

GAME

• Fixed Starting Play notification queuing up
  
• Updated unit OOBs (Order Of Battle) to better reflect the units present.
  
• Added Fog of War to Conflict and War section in Encyclopedia.
  
• Updated Army Command, Fighter Command, Bomber Command, and Carrier Fleet notifications, and wording in Encyclopedia.
  
• Added a missing a) to Nuclear decision for the Encyclopedia
  
• Fixed scripted scenarios Sea Combat, Air Combat, Leader Combat where the wrong unit would be referenced in the battle
  
• Fixed exception when clicking focuses on focus management when timeline transitioning
  
• Fixed UI exception in Wargames with pre-selected focuses for timelines
  
• Fixed victory screen not showing up in certain cases when defeating the opponent
  
• Updated Combat simulator name from Combat Warning to Combat Simulator
  
• Main menu mods split from Wargames so they can be viewed separately
  
• Fixed ability to enter recruitment/enactment dialog directly in policy/allies/research/space race menu when accessing such dialogs during opponent's turn and coming back to such menu during own turn (also solves one related exception)

POLICIES

• Fixed issue with policy conditions being shown relative to the local player and not to the policy owner
  
• Fixed exception with certain policies like Oil Concessions
  
• Fixed Pan-Arabism policy to function and trigger properly
  
• Policies may have block-specific effects
  
• Added for USA Sub-Saharan Africa - POLITICAL REALIGNMENT(once per timeline): Set GOVERNMENT to 5. Chance +20% for Religious Conflict (INFLUENCE set to 0 in one USA CONTROLLED region).
  
• Added for USSR Eastern Europe - BREAK PASSIVE CONTAINMENT: Reduce GOVERNMENT ALIGNMENT by 1.

MIDDLE EAST USA

• OIL FOR SECURITY: Gain 2 FINANCE and 1 VP for each USA INFLUENCE in IRAN, IRAQ, SAUDI-KUWAITI ZONE, EMIRI-OMANI ZONE, and YEMENI ZONE.
  
• STATE OF ISRAEL: Spend 1 GOVERNMENT to gain 5 VP. WAR ZONE in LEVANTIAN ZONE and if available suspend USA Oil for Security policy in the MIDDLE EAST.
  
• FREEDOM GUARANTORS: Gain 4 USA INFLUENCE in the MIDDLE EAST and 3 VP. Set DOOMSDAY to MAXIMUM.
  
• RAMADAN REVOLUTION: Set INFLUENCE to 3 USSR in EGYPT, LEVANTIAN ZONE, or IRAQ.

MIDDLE EAST USSR

• NATIONALIZATION OF WEALTH: Gain 2 FINANCE and 1 VP for each USSR INFLUENCE in NORTHERN ALGERIA, SOUTHERN ALGERIA, LIBYA, IRAN, or YEMENI ZONE.
  
• PAN-ARABISM (Ends if NASSER is lost): Place 4 USSR INFLUENCE in EGYPT, LEVANTIAN ZONE, or IRAQ. Gain 1 VP.
  
• STRATEGIC STRANGULATION: Gain 9 VP.
  
• POLITICAL REALIGNMENT: Reduce FINANCE ALIGNMENT by 1 to gain 1 USSR INFLUENCE in the MIDDLE EAST for each USSR GOVERNMENT.

DECISIONS

• Fixed SetChance triggering exception when referencing non-existing decisions
  
• Decision condition coloring switched to show fulfilled conditions in lit coloring
  
• Fixed an issue where Soviet Finance Mismanagement decision text would overflow into the options
  
• Adjusted decision chain for USA People Mismanagement to handle correctly after bonuses have been selected
  
• Fixed an issue where Existential Threat was incorrectly adding People instead of Finance
  
• Updated decision chain for the Red Scare of USA
  
• Updated text for Grand Campaign
  
• Updated text for China Card Scenario
  
• Updated text for Land Combat Scenario

LEADERS

• NEW Passive abilities for Leaders and historical Characters
  
• Fixed an issue where Western European leaders had the incorrect icon for Support
  
• Fixed an issue where Ho Chi Minh was incorrectly flying a Maoist flag

MAP

• Fixed an issue where the Quick map buttons were too narrow that would sometimes lead to it being hard to select

EDITOR

• There is an issue when trying to improve the softcoding appearance resulting in an error message
  
• Fixed an issue where incorrect game and mods would be copied in the editor
  
• Fixed game always quitting to editor menu once a game is started from the editor

OTHER

• Updated Mouse Markers to better suit tooltips
  
• Fixed wrong cursor on hovering unit buttons in regions
  
• Fixed buttons getting multiple on hold notifications
  
• Tool-tips more aware of what their screen boundaries are
  
• Fixed LogisticsNoPathfindingAvailable iconry
  
• Fixed error when launching save the game in certain instances
  
• Disable autosave when running scripted wargame
  
• Added missing Meta files
  
• Updated the credits with the New DLC system setup

Greetings!

In the twilight's shadow dawn, we have the distinguished pleasure to announce today the latest upgrade to all terminals by the engineering department containing the following features:

• NEW Single Player Campaign - with a dynamic starting guide
  
• NEW in-game Encyclopedia - the MIRVIN button
  
• Improved game rules
  
• Updated and improved AI
  
• and last but not least, the Ranked Play and ranking system implemented and unlocked for play - for details see the past week's development diary here.

The Cold War is a historically rich era, and what particularly stands out are the impacts of the bravery of single individuals with enormous responsibility on their shoulders. What we wanted, is to share their story while creating a new type of Grand Campaign not found in many strategy games. Instead of facing just facing the traditional series of point and click scenarios (which we have created outside of the Grand Campaign and that explaining the very basics), we decided on a novel approach. The new Grand Campaign: The Big Picture is not a scenario or linear tutorial; instead what we have created is a system where you are playing the regular single player game and anchored to it are story elements that you can trigger as you play to win the Cold War.



This kind of storytelling is more difficult to design, but we felt it would be a lot more rewarding. Train as you fight - Fight like you train. Once you pass your mandatory presidential assessment, your terminal starts presenting you with information depending on what you select and as you encounter game elements for the first time.

Selecting Mainland Spain for the first time, for example, will bring up information about Regional Influence, and about Straits. The former for you selecting a region and encountering Influence for the first time and the latter as Mainland Spain has a Strait, and that is unique information tied to that region. You can thus focus on the strategy and MIRVIN can focus on teaching you how to play to your fullest.


Just like presidents and general secretaries of the era, all the game information you will find as you explore The Big Picture and unlock all the features of your terminal you can find through your trusted companion MIRVIN.

Access his knowledge through this memory bank by selecting the MIRVIN button and knowledge is at your fingertips. Structured and divided the same way as the game manual you can browse through the in-game Encyclopedia.



Covering the entire game, note that, any part you ask MIRVIN about in the Encyclopedia while playing the Big Picture he also automatically unlocks for you, preventing it from popping up again when selected. For example, should you read up on straits in the Encyclopedia before having selected a region with a strait for the first time in the grand campaign, he will not bother you again with that information when you finally do select Mainland Spain.
Improved game rules

There have been various minor changes, but the big change in this field is the streamlining of Arms Race posture. Previously Arms Race only allowed for declaration of War Zones in your Focus theater. Though this meant that action would be limited to one theater at a time, this was also creating an unfair drawback for certain styles of play in particular for the United States, feedback that the community also voiced. Analyzing the data and crunching the numbers; we have rebalanced the game and both Arms Race and Disarmament postures are now global instead of local to the selected focus theater.

If you discover a large buildup of Soviet Bombers in Iran but the Pacific is the Focus? Well, it’s time to visit Teheran and we love to see you do so.

MIRVIN not only provides better information, but he has also gotten an upgrade when considering unit deployment and uses Intelligence much better to gage where he puts out units on the map. Though still possible, it will be much more difficult to Ambush his units going forward. Not that you would do that to a friend? Right?

In closing, we have unlocked the Ranked Play ahead of time. Mentioned in last week's development diary, the feature has been fully play-tested during months of production and as we saw that we have gotten so good stability; we rolled it out for you to play. It’s our way of giving back to the quickly growing almost 1100 individuals strong Early Access community for supporting our project and development.

You, the unnamed and unsung heroes who make this happen and whom we meet through Discord messages, posts in Steam forums and not to mention all the emails, Facebook posts, and tweets sent to us. We are very grateful, and very privileged, to have such a fantastic community. A big thanks to you all!

Mighty Cheers

Gellert Keresztes, Lennart Berg and Davide Benedetti
******************************************************

I) KIM IL-SUNG: A Communist Ideologue and Supreme Leader will rise to power like the living Sun to establish a People's Republic like never seen before and the first Communist dynasty. Or will his life be cut short and his reign curtailed by US regional power? The rise of North Korea is in final BETA testing and receiving its finalized graphical assets.

II) Policies are getting rolled out with each new patch.

III) CONTRAS: TOP SECRET!

AI

• AI much better in judging unit deployment
  
• Further improvements made on how AI handles Ambushes
  
• Fixed an issue where the MRIVIN state would not play the sound
  
• Fixed AI simulation not being correctly stopped by Mirvin's skip turn

GAME

• Ranked Play enabled - First-ever Ranked Play Season started
  
• Updated Ranked Play ranks
  
• Implemented shared decision system and imagery for Encyclopedia
  
• Implemented a state machine for the Encyclopedia
  
• China Card now also works with Encyclopedia
  
• MIRVIN button enabled in non-scripted wargames
  
• Mirvin conversation now with proper transitions
  
• Tutorial Fixes and the start of Lore
  
• Disembark order in non-focus theater can now be issued.
  
• Fighter Commands and Bombers Command now allow non-focus action
  
• Fixed ability to launch apocalypse when not in focus
  
• Updated all the Theaters descriptions for Policies and Allies menus
  
• Fixed test game faction overrides not being cleared on normal games
  
• Fixed UI lagging behind logic when starting wargame
  
• Fixed a typo that would cause an error message to be given when launching Balance of Power
  
• Removed a file that was no longer used
  
• JSON error notification reported has been fixed
  
• Wargames can select to load the main game's decisions/policies as well
  
• Fixed an issue where the game would display a series of 9s instead of the turn counter

FOCUSES

• Exception fix in focus management

POLICIES

• Fixed an issue where policy description coloring would be incorrect
  
• Updated three Policies for Grand Campaign: The Big Picture
  
• Reconnect the West Wing: Increase DOOMSDAY to 5 to gain 3 VICTORY POINTS. Enables new policy 'Reconnect Congress'. HINT: Use MIRVIN's ENCYCLOPEDIA to unlock and learn more about the concepts related to the DOOMSDAY clock.
  
• Reconnect Congress: It will be a challenge but increase either your GOVERNMENT or your ELITES' interest ALIGNMENT to 2 to gain 9 VICTORY POINTS. Might take several timelines. Enables new policy 'Reconnect the National Security Council'. HINT: Use MIRVIN's ENCYCLOPEDIA to unlock and learn more about the concepts related to the INTERESTS.
  
• Reconnect the National Security Council: Land on the MOON before the USSR does so to gain 12 VICTORY POINTS. HINT: Use MIRVIN's ENCYCLOPEDIA to unlock and learn more about the concepts related to the SPACE RACE.
  
• Encyclopedia decisions enable UI elements
  
• Fixed an issue where the policy menu scroller was cutting off 3rd row's names
  
• Wargames now have StartingPolicies - all other policies deactivated on startup

NUCLEAR WAR

• Fixed an issue where Nuclear Apocalypse would crash due to UI order change
  
• New border traces for nuclear world wrap around
  
• Fixed an issue there the Apocalypse would cause the screen to fill with hostile nuclear icons

DECISIONS

• Fixed image references in SCN1
  
• Added missing image for A Swift Response
  
• China Card possible breakdown fix
  
• Decisions grammar fixes
  
• Duplicate ID fix

MAP

• Updated Naming and Notifications for Global Maps
  
• Updated an issue where Spain had an incorrectly sized overlay

CHARACS

• Characs now correctly lose 1 POWER each timeline
  
• Favoring characs hurt mutually exclusive characs by 1 power

MULTIPLAYER

• Fixed cross-OS OOS due to Directory.GetFiles() retrieving files in different order between *nix and Windows implementations

OTHER

• Updated name displaying the UI to COMMAND USER INTERFACE
  
• Updated the definition the TRANSIT unit ability
  
• Updated definition for cross theater maneuvers
  
• Fixed small UI bug with space race research dialog
  
• Added missing audio and updated sound clip for Theater map buttons
  
• Added tooltip notification for Focus Objective
  
• Fixed footer bar not resizing in the world overview

With a steadily growing player base, we wanted to upgrade your terminals with a simple system for multi-player games. Coming to you at release on the 24th of September, we are announcing the development of Ranked Play.


Ranked Play is a seasonal tournament system where you select your faction to be automatically match made with an opponent within two (2) ranks of your level. Should none be available within 180 seconds, you will be able to connect to play against an AI in tournament mode instead.




Unlike Challenge Mode, this tournament mode features time management and timed turns. This means that games are snappier as we introduce a format that takes about 45-90 minutes to play for you to test your Cold War terminal skills.

Also noteworthy is that in this mode, the amount of GOVERNEMNT interest you keep, as in real life, affects your frame of action. For each GOVERNMENT below or above five (5), your timer decreases or increases respectively by 10 seconds. User your time wisely!




Ranked Play is seasonal, each season will lasts three (3) months and your rank will not decay once attained.



See you on the battlefield!

Mighty cheers!

******************************************************
Upcoming Development

I) NEW tutorials are in productions!

II) NEW Ranked Play Mode is in Beta testing!

III) KIM IL-SUNG: A Communist Ideologue and Supreme Leader will rise to power like the living Sun to establish a People's Republic like never seen before and the first Communist dynasty. Or will his life be cut short and his reign curtailed by US regional power? The rise of North Korea is in final BETA testing.

IV) NEW in-game Encyclopedia in production.

Boot up your terminals strategy fan! With a rollout planned for September, we are today presenting a brand new combat screen, updates to the Nuclear Launch system, and for the modders in the community, we are announcing brand new additions to the Game Editor.

Having a top-notch retro terminal, masses of conventional forces at the touch of your fingertips, and the threat of nuclear annihilation, we wanted to improve your ability to make the right choices. Selecting a friendly unit, now shows the full range of that unit's movement also across theater boundaries - displayed with a lit-up theater name on the map.


Having a friendly military unit selected also indicates potential enemies within range, blinking to indicate which enemy unit they would most likely combat if issued with an attack order. Once an attack order has been given, an animation plays indicating the current status and the projected end result.


US units are always shown on the left and USSR units on the right and naturally, you can enable/disable the combat screen from the Options menu.


Unknown units are also simulated but to bring clarity in the outcome make sure to use intelligence, Recon or Infiltration will do the trick!


What would a Cold War game be without the potential of a nuclear twilight, but to avoid a fate of needles desolation, we have improved the information at your disposal. The nuclear map mode now lights up potential targets your nuclear forces will hit, in the order, they are prioritized for an attack while at the same time estimating potential targets your military suspects the enemy will target - indicated by an enemy faction colored nuclear symbol.


The projected results shown at the bottom account for the current victory points accumulated so far in the game; the difference in surviving influence, the backlash of your people for launching a first strike, and the difference in military casualties. Thus this attack on the face of it seems doomed to failure.

Worth to mention is that we have re-balanced the impact of the PEOPLE as the VP backlash is now directly proportional to your PEOPLE interest level. If at MAX level the backlash is 0 VP, though having an interest level that high carries its own risks. If you on the other hand disregard the interest of the people and the level is at nothing, the backlash is -90 VP - one for each missing PEOPLE interest level. Thus, your domestic politics has a bigger impact than before so make sure to account for that if you are planning a first strike.

In closing, we hope you enjoy the changes and updates our hard-working team has made to the game editor. With the UI/UX update and many other easy to use features implemented feel free to create your own mods, test out making your own decisions, focuses or policies, or just swing by and play some Tic-Tac-Toe with MIRVIN.


We hope you enjoy the updates to the interface and the improved functions both for editing files and the improved search function to find decisions or elements you are looking for or creating.

Mighty cheers!

******************************************************

I) NEW tutorials are in productions!

II) NEW Ranked Play Mode is in production and Beta testing!

III) KIM IL-SUNG: A Communist Ideologue and Supreme Leader will rise to power like the living Sun to establish a People's Republic like never seen before and the first Communist dynasty. Or will his life be cut short and his reign curtailed by US regional power? The rise of North Korea is in final BETA testing and receiving its finalized graphical assets.

IV) Policies are getting rolled out with each new patch.

AI

• AI will now handle Ambushes much better
  
• AI checks next move instead of current location when evaluating possible moves

GAME

• Added Quick Access buttons on all theater maps - Arms arrows disabled as they are now obsolete
  
• Transiting military units through friendly regions should properly show combat estimate
  
• Transit now show all possible movements for a selected military unit
  
• Transit blocked through regions with leaders (ARMY COMMANDS only) and where max number of units is reached
  
• Military units with blocked movement and destination not adjacent to source region (due to Transit) will bounce back
  
• Movement animations will not show unit's own region as possible choice
  
• Enemy target units now blink to indicate conventional attack target
  
• Combat preview blinks the correct unit types
  
• Added elements for CombatWarnDialogue
  
• Fixed an issue where the mockup for CombatWarn was incorrectly set to "Victory" instead of "Success"
  
• Air attacks are correctly simulated
  
• Combat simulation takes into account all unit types (sea & land) in case of air attacks
  
• Combat simulation properly simulates unit vs leader combat
  
• Combat warn menu checkbox can be enabled/disabled in Options menu
  
• Withdrawn military units do not blink when showing combat estimates on map
  
• Fixed an issue where the Victory Conditions needed to be clarified further
  
• Fix for GetCurrentName() exception

NUCLEAR

• Nuclear Authorization Screen Rework and Nuclear warning screen update
  
• Interests enabled while in nuclear mapmode
  
• Nuclear mapmode button color now matches nuclear button in theater com
  
• Nuclear mapmode button uses same notification as nuclear button in theater com when press + held 2 seconds
  
• Fixed projected estimate calculations in nuclear mapmode
  
• Nuke Simulation added showing target priority and added nuclear opponent icons for estimated enemy strike
  
• Fixed World overview exception when > 144 estimated nukes apply
  
• Nuclear range circle fix no longer causes ranges to mismatch
  
• Fixed estimate for surviving influence for nuclear apocalypse
  
• Various fixes for nuclear combat to prevent out of sync
  
• Nuclear warning now says minor defeat instead of incorrectly displaying a draw

MILITARY UNITS

• Unit ability buttons should now print out reason when clicked & unavailable
  
• Ability DisembarkTransportedNotCombatReady tag fixed
  
• Fixed an issue where an exception could results in the game ending when a unit gets deployed
  
• Blinking combat previews now stops when selecting Rebase
  
• Fixed deployment positioning offset for maneuvering circle displaying unit movement

INTELLIGENCE

• Updated Operation Cylinder to match Softcoding
  
• Operation Cylinder no longer targets submarine fleets and updated the wording for Eyes Only Cylinder and Gold Intel Missions to convey that Submarine Fleets are exempt

MAP

• Added unique names to all Ocean regions
  
• Identified reorganizing and engaged military units stay visible for the duration of their status
  
• Fixed an issue where backgrounds were not correctly shown
  
• Updated all Theater maps and added missing elements where needed
  
• Theater borders no longer disabled in logistics mode

ARCTIC

• Exception fixes when adding movement animations to Arctic from theater not adjacent to Arctic
  
• Small optimization when selecting unit that can move to Arctic
  
• Fixed exception on clicking Allies button in the Arctic
  
• Combat warning properly disabled when a unit enters the Arctic

FOCUSES

• Fixed a typo in Berlin Blockade focus

POLICIES

• Added cool-down function to UI for policies in policy menu
  
• Updated policies activated by Red Dragon Rising

DECISIONS

• Fixed that narrative decision could be triggered during the apocalypse
  
• Fixed an issue where the Clifford Elsey Report had the incorrect Focus wording
  
• USA People mismanagement decisions Priority set to 100
  
• Creating a new decision in the Editor sets its priority to 100 by default

LEADERS

• Fixed Leader supply ability Out of Sync due to taking into account local faction's adjacent units and not leader's faction
  
• Added ability to Ho Chi Minh - The Great Pillar of Asian Communism
  
• MAO ZEDONG no longer has leader ability Consolidate
  
• Fixed an issue where the image size of some Leader abilities was incorrect

CHARACS

• Inactive historical characters no longer shown in allies menu

GAME EDITOR

• Fixed an issue where the wrong header image was used and the font size was incorrect for Audio Select
  
• Option button added in editor
  
• Beautifier can now handle different data types that implement the IJsonFile interface
  
• Beautifier now displays name of file being processed
  
• Focus menu no longer beautifies json when pressing BACK button
  
• Beautifier now beautifies focus file
  
• Focuses.FocusTimeLines is now correctly processed by beautifier
  
• Filter texts pixel nudging
  
• Filter text placeholders now say "Type to filter"
  
• Theater/region selection dialog now takes up the whole screen
  
• Media selection dialog buttons coloring fix
  
• Game editor decision option menu Description field takes up two rows now
  
• Editor dialog screens pixel nudging
  
• Editor focus menu color update on faction update
  
• Deleting a focus now prompts a confirmation dialog first
  
• Leader abilities menu standardized button design
  
• Updated various UI elements in the Editor

RANKED PLAY IMPLEMENTATION

• Added a printout of Opponents name and rank when game begins in Ranked Play
  
• Player v Pplayer notification now includes faction icons and names

OTHER

• Added Game Version to screens with official JETDS designation and versioning for the correct AN system
  
• Standardize the colors of the message log entries
  
• Fixed an issue where the background line would not properly cover the background
  
• Fixed savegame UI exception
  
• Savegame/load now takes into account correct timer
  
• Set the save list in an inverted date list so the last one appears first and savegame list takes into account last date modified
  
• Fixed an issue where the divider would be incorrectly placed
  
• Build date included in game logs
  
• MediaSelectionBtn btns font size set to 40
  
• Fixed various smaller audio issue for MIRVIN
  
• Removed race condition check flag on game end + added logging

Hello there brave Cold War strategy fans!

We are happy to announce that Terminal Conflict is officially set towards release as scheduled this September. Expect an announcement of the release date, events and more in the coming weeks.

We could not have done it without the hard work of our veteran team and the wonderful feedback from all of you in the growing Terminal Conflict community. As of today, that community on Steam has passed 1 000 members and in honor of that, we will be presenting an updated set of Focuses and Policies.

Much of the success of a good Cold War strategy game is about the proper balance between paranoia and excitement. Be it domestic policy or foreign policy, you are playing a set of historically plausible struggles where factions alternate choosing a focus. Each has a particular set of circumstances it will provide. This keeps your opponent second guessing what situation you will be focusing on.

With this update a lot of previously general and repeatable focuses have become unique as we felt we wanted to make the choices even more distinct. These Focuses are now unique and once played cannot be repeated that game allowing for a lot more variation:

• Mujahideen - USA: Gain 3 ELITES. Increase success chance of RECONNAISSANCE, FALSE FLAG and IN-Q-TEL PROGRAM by 15% during this focus.
  
• Khmer Rouge - USSR: Set INFLUENCE in INDOCHINESE ZONE to 0. Gain 2 MILITARY.

• American Aid - USA: Gain 1 FINANCE and at the end of this focus, if USA CONTROLS IRAN, IRAQ, SAUDI-KUWAITI ZONE, EMIRI-OMANI ZONE or YEMENI ZONE, gain 1 USA INFLUENCE for each in the Middle East.
  
• Israel Defense Forces - USA: Gain 2 ELITES and increase success chance of ASSASSINATE by 5%.
  
• Popular Baa'th Party - USA: Gain 5 USA INFLUENCE in Middle East and 1 GOVERNMENT. | USSR: Gain 3 GOVERNMENT.
  
• Tudeh Party of Iran - USSR: Set INFLUENCE in IRAN to 3. Gain 2 PEOPLE. | USA: Gain 1 ELITES.
  
• Mapam of Israel - USSR: Gain 1 ELITES and at the end of this focus, if USSR CONTROLS the LEVANTIAN ZONE gain 5 USSR INFLUENCE in the Middle East.
  
• Free Officers Movement - USSR: GAMAL ABDEL NASSER spends 1 POWER. Gain 2 GOVERNMENT and at the end of this focus, if USSR CONTROLS EGYPT gain 7 USSR INFLUENCE in the Middle East.</color>
  
• Socialist Ba'ath Party - USSR: Gain 3 USSR INFLUENCE in EGYPT, 1 USSR INFLUENCE in LEVANTIAN ZONE and gain 1 GOVERNMENT. | USA: Gain 3 GOVERNMENT.
  
• Polisario Front - USSR: Set INFLUENCE in MOROCCAN-WESTERN SAHARIAN ZONE to 0. Chance +20% for Islamist Jihad (INFLUENCE set to 0 in one USSR CONTROLLED region in the Middle East). | USA: Reduce GOVERNMENT ALIGNMENT by 1.

Being an essential part of your strategy, all focus effects are permanent unless stated otherwise and making the most of their bonuses is one path to victory.

With this patch we have also put a lot of focus on expanding the policy side of the game. These are activated unique policy ideas usually attached to your or your opponents focuses. They are objectives to achieve and usually grant you Influence or Victory Points when completed. Here we put specific emphasis on Western and Eastern European policies updating and adding 20 in depth policies for you to achieve. Let’s look at five of these and how strategies can be built up with them:

• Marshall Plan (USA Conditions: Doomsday at least 3 AND USA FINANCE at least 7) - USA Effect: Spend 2 FINANCE, 2 PEOPLE and 1 GOVERNMENT, gain up to 8 USA INFLUENCE in WESTERN EUROPE, restricted to regions without USSR PRESENCE.
  
  This is a way to quickly establish a US foothold in Western Europe by laying down some much needed influence in the theater.
  
  
• Founding of NATO (USA Conditions: Available from game start) - USA Effect: Set all USA CONTROLLED regions in WESTERN EUROPE to USA DOMINATED.
  
  Combined with Marshall Plan, this can be a good way to convert the US CONTROLLED regions you can gain by making use of the extra influence from Marshall to convert those regions into dominated ones.
  
  
• Finlandization (USSR Conditions: INFLUENCE is 0 in SWEDISH-FINNISH ZONE, with peace and no USA/USSR LAND/AIR units deployed there) - USSR Effect: Gain 1 VP for each USSR LAND/AIR unit deployed in MAINLAND NORWAY and NORTHWESTERN RUSSIA.
  
  With power projection towards the Swedes and Finns, we can hold them up as an example of good neighborly cooperation.
  
  
• Molotov Plan West (USSR Conditions: Doomsday at least 3 AND MOLOTOV’s Power at least 1) - USSR Effect: Spend 2 PEOPLE and 1 GOVERNMENT, gain up to 7 USSR INFLUENCE in WESTERN EUROPE restricted to regions with USSR PRESENCE.
  
  The Soviet equivalent of the Marshall Plan devised by Foreign Minister Molotov. The USSR doesn’t require finance investment but in turn provides a smaller influence bonus and only in regions where the USSR is already established. Yet, don’t underestimate it’s impact.
  
  
• COMINFORM (USSR Conditions: USSR at least 1 region with PRESENCE in WESTERN EUROPE AND ELITES at least 7 AND USA MARSHALL PLAN not enacted) - USSR Effect: Gain 3 VP and 1 USSR INFLUENCE in each region with USSR PRESENCE in WESTERN EUROPE.
  
  As long as the Marshall Plan is not enacted, the USSR can combine the COMINFORM with the Molotov Plan West for maximum effect. French, Italian and Spanish communists unite!

Our engineers have been busy adding a brand new Eyes Only suitcase terminal. To enable your Intelligence bragging rights, (1) start the game and select Options in the top right corner, then (2) Switch the Terminal Screen to the M-103X-Suitcase.


In summary, we hope you grab a few awesome focuses and policies with this update and remember the words of John F. Kennedy - "Domestic Policy can only defeat us; foreign policy can kill us". Enjoy!

Mighty cheers!

*******************************************************

I) NEW tutorials are in productions!

II) NEW Ranked Play Mode is in production and alpha testing!

III) KIM IL-SUNG: A Communist Ideologue and Supreme Leader will rise to power like the living Sun to establish a People's Republic like never seen before and the first Communist dynasty. Or will his life be cut short and his reign curtailed by US regional power? The rise of North Korea is in final BETA testing and receiving its finalized graphical assets.

IV) Policies are getting rolled out with each new patch.

AI - MIRVIN

• Fixed an issue where an error would sometimes be shown at AI focus selection
  
• Fixed an issue where the AI would score 0 for theater selection
  
• AI now favors slightly more policies when making choices
  
• Fixed options being covered by MIRVIN by changing the visual hierarchy
  
• AI logs are now more detailed to identify AI action taken for those that want to track AI behavior
  
• Get AI Score will no longer stall the AI

GAME

• Decision or Policies that block opponent's next policy are not shown when enabled for desired effect
  
• Updated the wording for Technology and Research
  
• Policy enactment dialog conditions now printout instantly
  
• Policy conditions automatically are shown when entering to enact a policy
  
• Current Focuses Description is now correctly displayed when selected and now shows local faction posture
  
• Fixed an issue where interests icons would be missing from the mismanagement warning
  
• Influence value displayed for Central Turkey has been repositioning

MULTIPLAYER

• Network log no longer sends false positive due to disconnecting from Photon when quitting the game even in offline mode

FOCUSES

• Updated the focuses text to better clarify where INFLUENCE was changed when selected
  
• Red Telephone now has the correct effect wording
  
• Fixed an issue where the Grandma Yacht Expedition did not correctly activate Castro
  
• Fixed an issue where Mau Mau rebellion had the incorrect Interest icon
  
• Updated USA focus Red Dragon Dancing from Military to Government to better reflect the relations
  
• with Chiang Kai-shek
  
• Turkish Straits Crisis is no longer a Government supported focus and instead is supported by the Military
  
• Mujahideen is now Unique
  
• Khmer Rouge is Unique
  
• American Aid is now Unique
  
• MAAG Vietnam was correctly set to Indochina
  
• Clarified the description for Guddo Thermal Plant
  
• Israel Defense Forces is now Unique
  
• Popular Baa'th Party is now Unique
  
• Socialist Ba'ath Party is now Unique
  
• Free Officers Movement is now Unique
  
• Polisario Front is now Unique
  
• USSR Focus Tudeh Party of Iran is now Unique and fixed an issue where the wrong Region was references instead of IRAN
  
• Mapam of Israel is now Unique and fixed an issue where this focus would rarely be triggered
  
• Corrective Revolution is no longer a Finance supported focus and instead is supported by the Elites

POLICIES

• Fixed an issue where Hellenic Resistance Policy was incorrectly set up and wouldn't fire
  
• Added, updated and fixed: Rehabilitation of Germany, Marshall Plan, American Culturalization, Founding of NATO, European Communities, Molotov Plan West, Fifth International, Finlandization, COMINFORM, Conventional Superiority, COMECON, Eastern Rapproachment, Venona Project, Sierra-India-Oscar-Papa, Rollback, Purging the Apparatchiks, Molotov Plan East, Conventional Superiority and Regime Of Peace And Love

DECISIONS

• Fixed an issue where VP loss in mismanagement notification would incorrectly have a # in the decisions

LEADERS

• Fixed an issue where Tito had four abilities instead of three

GAME EDITOR

• Fixed an exception given when trigger groups are deleted
  
• Disabled NONE and ALL options for Faction in Policies editing
  
• Policies will automatically have a DisplayTheater
  
• Policies without display image will display a placeholder image instead of nothing
  
• Fixed Leaders not taking into account custom timeline in case of starting timeline is set via the editor
  
• Fixed exception due to ending turn with having used the debug menu
  
• NEW ArgumentType InfluenceInTheater added
  
• NEW ArgumentType UnitTypesInTheater added

OTHER

• Added NEW Terminal-M-103X-Suitcase Eyes Only DLC Terminal (cosmetic)
  
• Added in-game description of the DLCs
  
• Added in-game DLC imagery
  
• Updated the DLC screen
  
• Updated the test decisions suspending a test decision blocking policies
  
• Policy buttons in menu have the VP outlined
  
• Fixed the wording for LOGISTICS notification
  
• Updated the wording for Global Map
  
• Updated Victory Point notifications
  
• Added nuclear apocalypse logging message
  
• Logger is now thread safe
  
• Log files report timestamp once again - both global and current match's if available; compatible with Out Of Sync checker
  
• Fixed a rare exception caused by the Audio manager