World rules
World rules are the global multipliers you set on the start screen — AI aggression, diplomacy, event frequency, hegemon containment, nukes and unrest — each dialed from 0.5× to 2.0× and applied throughout the simulation.
How it works
Six knobs (aggr, diplo, event, coalition, nuke, unrest) are clamped to the 0.5–2.0 range and multiplied into the sim wherever they apply, so 1.0× is the default balance. You can dial each by hand or pick a preset: Peace (low war/events, weak nukes), Normal (all 1.0), or Chaos (aggr 1.8, nuke 1.8, coalition 1.6). Alongside them you set the game length (10–80 years, default 25) and whether ironman is on. All of it persists in localStorage between sessions.
The most distinctive world rule is hegemon containment. From about the third in-game year, the sim tracks how far your rank has climbed from where you started. Rise 2+ ranks and your designated rival's relations sour faster; rise 4+ and the strongest neighbors within reach grow wary, each dropping relations toward you sharply. Climb 7 or more ranks and those strong neighbors may actually declare a limited 'containment' war against you — a small per-check chance, gated so nuclear powers aren't recklessly attacked.
This creates the game's core tension: the higher you climb, the harder the world pushes back, which is exactly what the coalition multiplier scales. Layered on top are designated-rival provocations and regional flashpoints on cooldowns, all kept as limited wars with caps so the world stays dynamic without spiraling. Ironman mode locks you to a single save, raising the stakes on every decision.
Formulas
value = clamp(userValue, 0.5, 2.0) // 1.0 = default balancerose = riseBase − currentRank // +rose = you climbedrose ≥ 7 AND neighbor.power > you.power*0.7 AND rand < 0.03 → limited 'containment' warKey numbers
How to play
- ▸New players should start on the Normal preset (all 1.0×) and only tune knobs once they understand how each pressure feels.
- ▸Turning down 'coalition' softens hegemon containment — helpful if you want to snowball to #1 without the world ganging up.
- ▸Rapid rank climbing is dangerous: cross +7 ranks and strong neighbors can open containment wars, so pace your rise or build deterrence first.
- ▸Ironman locks you to one save with no reloads — only enable it when you want every decision to truly count.