Eleanor Finch
Political Animals is an election simulation game that offers players an insight into the challenges of electoral campaigns. The game is set in a world populated by animals, where players must compete to win an electoral campaign using various means. Players must decide on a character, choose an island and district, and select a staff team, all of which have advantages and flaws that will affect their campaign. The game presents players with situations that reflect real-life political events and offers them the choice to play fairly or use shady shortcuts to gain victory. This game provides an opportunity to discuss and learn about the strategies and challenges of political campaigning, and how to achieve success in a pragmatic campaign.
Characteristics and Values of a Pragmatic Campaign in Political Animals
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Campaign Style | Clean, without succumbing to corruption |
| Campaign Focus | Issues and the best interests of the people |
| Campaign Staff | Lawyer, Preacher, Courier, Security, Activist, Reporter, Thug |
| Campaign Actions | Raising funds, giving gifts, holding rallies, canvassing electors, bribery, fabrication |
| Campaign Strategy | Resource allocation and optimisation, prioritisation, building relationships, meaningful outreach |
| Campaign Toolkit | Donations, number of campaign team members, voters contacted |
| Campaign Timeline | Start early, long lead time |
| Campaign Analysis | Political climate, evolving demographics, salient issues, incumbency impact |
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What You'll Learn
Choose your character and their traits
Political Animals is an election simulation game set in a world of corrupt crocodiles and meritocratic mice. Players must choose a character and decide on their strengths and weaknesses, headquarters, knowledge of political concerns, and more.
When creating your character, you must choose one advantage and one flaw to form their backstory, as well as selecting their special ability. For example, a sincere candidate is great at giving gifts without seeming opportunistic, but if they are irresponsible, they will have trouble getting people to invest. The first trait positively affects the "giving gifts" ability, while the second negatively affects the funds available.
Each character has one strength and one weakness, and these traits will determine how effective your candidate and staff are when performing certain actions in the game. For example, if your character has the "salesman" trait, they could "sell ice to an Eskimouse". As you choose traits, the description text of the candidate will change.
You must also select three staff members, who will each have their own special abilities and two traits that will positively or negatively influence the effectiveness of specific actions. For example, dogs will allow you to gain more logistic points by using your influence in surrounding cities, while turtles can campaign for you without the use of funds.
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Select your island and district
When setting up the game, the player must select the island where they’ll campaign and a district for their headquarters. Each island in the game is divided into districts, and there are four available islands to choose from at the start: Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Spring. The remaining four islands will be unlocked by winning campaigns in these initial islands.
Each district has its own population size, two electoral concerns, and a special bonus available to the player once they’ve won it over. The player's goal is to campaign in the districts that match their Platform. During Character Setup, the player is asked to pick their Platform by selecting two issues and assigning points to their knowledge about those issues. The six issues that citizens in Political Animals are concerned about are: Religion, Education, Law and Order, Public Works, Health, and Employment. Each district will have two major concerns that are most important to its citizens. Electoral concerns comprise five issues: health, religion, employment, law and order, and public works. Players must choose two of them to include in their electoral campaign, making it easier or harder to “capture” certain districts.
The choice of headquarters is important as it will determine the player's starting reputation in the island. If the player chooses a district as their headquarters, all voters in the district will be their supporters. Choosing a large population district will make the game a little bit easier, while choosing a small population district will make the game harder.
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Pick your staff
In Political Animals, a turn-based election simulator game, you must pick three staff members to support your animal candidate in their campaign journey to becoming the island's president. Staff placement is crucial as the districts your staff are in will get a small bonus to your reputation in that district. Each member of your staff has a strength and a weakness, and they also have a daily salary that you must pay.
When choosing your staff, you can select from a range of roles, including thugs, agents, lawyers, couriers, activists, reporters, and security. Each role has a unique ability and traits that can positively or negatively influence specific actions. For example, a lawyer can handle legal work, such as ensuring ballot access and evaluating election laws, while an activist can help with grassroots mobilisation and a reporter can influence public opinion. Consider the strengths and weaknesses of each role and how they align with your campaign goals and strategy.
Additionally, keep in mind that your staff's placement is dynamic. Each turn, you can move your staff to an adjacent district to accomplish specific tasks. This flexibility allows you to adapt your strategy and respond to emerging challenges or opportunities. You can also use your staff to interact with other characters, such as wealthy or influential patrons, to gain their approval and support.
When building your staff team, consider the following:
- Geography: Think about the location of your campaign headquarters and whether you want your staff to work in a specific region or state. This can influence your staff selection, as certain roles may be more effective in particular areas.
- Campaign size: Larger campaigns may have more paid positions, but they can also attract more competition for roles. Smaller campaigns may have fewer paid positions but could offer more opportunities for responsibility and a wider range of tasks.
- Candidate popularity: Highly popular candidates may have more competitive environments for job-seeking. Consider whether you want to join a popular candidate's campaign or seek out opportunities with less competition.
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Assess the political landscape
To win a pragmatic campaign, you must first assess the political landscape. This involves evaluating various factors that will influence your campaign strategy.
Firstly, determine the political climate. Understand the prevailing sentiment towards liberal or conservative ideas in the specific context of your campaign. Are your target voters more liberal or conservative? This will shape the tone and content of your messaging.
Secondly, pay attention to evolving demographics. Note any shifts in the population, such as an increase in urban or progressive cohorts. These changes may influence the reception of your conservative or liberal ideologies. Identify your target audience and tailor your message to resonate with them.
Thirdly, identify salient issues. Recognize prominent topics such as immigration, healthcare, religion, employment, law and order, or public works that heavily shape political discourse and public opinion. Frame your campaign message to address these issues and present your ideas and solutions.
Additionally, consider the incumbency impact. Assess the potential influence of your past actions or incidents during your administration. Decide if you need to take an offensive or defensive campaign approach. This will depend on the successes or failures of your previous term, if applicable, or the performance of your predecessor.
Furthermore, understand voter perspectives and media narratives. Gain insights into how voters think and recognize the power of media in shaping public opinion. Utilize technology and digital communication channels, such as email campaigns, social media platforms, and digital advertising, to reach a broader audience and deliver targeted messages.
Lastly, allocate resources effectively. Assess your budget and distribute funds to critical roles and activities, such as grassroots efforts, local knowledge, and community connections. Optimize your resources by ensuring each outreach activity is well-planned and executed.
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Balance resources and desired outreach
Balancing resources with the desired outreach is a key aspect of a successful political campaign. Here are some strategies to achieve this balance:
Assess Available Resources
Firstly, it is crucial to understand the resources at your disposal. This includes financial resources, staff, volunteers, technology, and promotional materials. Create a comprehensive budget that accounts for staff pay, ballot access, voter outreach, promotional materials, and other campaign expenses. Identify areas where you may need additional resources and plan accordingly.
Identify Target Audience and Stronghold Areas
Research and understand your target audience. Analyze voter demographics, including age range, partisan split, and other relevant factors. Identify the stronghold areas where your campaign has the most support. This knowledge will help you focus your resources and maximize your impact.
Determine Effective Outreach Methods
Evaluate the various outreach methods available to you, such as digital channels (social media, email, text messages), print media, fundraising events, advertising, and face-to-face interactions. Consider the preferences of your target demographic and the success of past campaigns in your district. Select the methods that are most likely to resonate with your audience and align with your campaign goals.
Optimize Resource Allocation
Allocate your resources efficiently by prioritizing the outreach methods that are expected to yield the best results. Ensure that each outreach activity is well-planned and executed. Recruit and train dedicated volunteers, develop compelling messaging and scripts, and integrate technology solutions like phone banking systems. By optimizing your resource allocation, you can increase your campaign's reach and engage with voters more effectively.
Adapt and Evaluate
Stay adaptable and continuously evaluate the effectiveness of your outreach strategies. Analyze data and feedback to assess what is working well and what needs to be adjusted. This iterative process will help you refine your approach, ensuring that your resources are being used efficiently and effectively to achieve the desired level of outreach.
By following these strategies, you can effectively balance your resources and desired outreach, increasing your chances of a successful and pragmatic political campaign.
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Frequently asked questions
Political Animals is a turn-based election simulation game set within a world populated by corrupt crocodiles and meritocratic mice. Players must compete to win an electoral campaign using various means.
To win a pragmatic campaign in Political Animals, you must strike a balance between doing enough without going too far. Try to do one scandalous action (e.g. bribing or fabricating) per turn and see how that goes.
Allocate your efforts towards strategy and implementation, conduct a comprehensive assessment of the political landscape, and leverage email campaigns, social media platforms, and digital advertising to reach a broader audience.
A pragmatic campaign in Political Animals may involve choosing an island and a district for your headquarters, selecting your staff members and their traits, and deciding on the opposing candidate's characteristics, such as clean, corrupt, or unpredictable.
