This guide has been put together by Catspaw on the Suzerain Discord, but draws on insights and information shared by multiple members of the community since and before the release of update 3.1. Credits can be seen throughout and at the end of the guide.


(Image: Dictator Path / Normal Resources)

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Wealthy Family: While any background can safely complete this run, we’ll take the wealthy background to min-max our PW.

Any Resources: This run is suitable for any of the difficulties available. Divergent paths will indicate the different decisions you should select.

Economics Degree & Student Council: This is effectively a free 1ED with no drawbacks, primarily since we have no intention of trading with Lespia.

Join Red Youth: Being a former Red Youth member will offer us an initial boost to Malenyevist points. We will need at least 21 Malenyevist points (Credit: flazeo255 on the Suzerain Discord) before meeting Chancellor Hegel to be correctly flagged as the “Comrade Archetype”.

Other Dialogue

• “…let them slip through.”
  
• “...kept supporting the president.”
  
• “...joined the party effort and campaigned for him.”
  
• “…advised Alphonso to step down.”
  
• “…preserve national values.”

Promote Planned Economy: Starting as a Planned Economy offers a huge increase to our Malenyevist points and reduces our construction costs later in the run.

Remain Neutral: Declaring ourselves neutral will allow us to access both Foreign Aid packages and eventually join the CSP without ruffling too many feathers.

Relaxed Immigration: Essential for our Gasom synergy. (Credit: Hegel Hater on the Suzerain Discord) We will eventually betray this promise on the Emergency path.

Focus Education: Reforms to the Education system will form the backbone of our economic strategy. It will also enable us to get the "Man of the People" achievement.

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Old Guard Collaboration: Refuse to work on the reforms and insist that you’ll work with the Old Guard. You will be required to double-down on this later on.

Dialogue Choices

• “We could work with the Old Guard to protect our existing powers.”
  
• “We can handle it, just like the previous governments did.”
  
• “Only a strong administration can make Sordland great.”
  
• “Cut it out, you two. Are you with me or not?”
  
• “I see that. But we will move towards this direction now.”

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Accept Koronti Invite: Allow Lucian to take the call and accept the meeting with Koronti. This will open up access to Koronti's Deal later on.

(Veto) Campaign Finance Bill: The bill is opposed by Malenyevists and the Bludish. It would be better to Veto this. We do lose some PO, but it's a necessary loss.

Build L-1 Railway: Invest in the infrastructure project and select the L-1 Railway. We will be investing in Lorren later, so the L-1 Railway will offer a slightly higher ED.

Invest in Arcasian Stocks: We have no reason not to invest all of our PW into Armadine Industries. Doing so will enable us to double our starting wealth of 3PW into 6PW.

Support Family: We will be attempting to make Monica happy on all runs in which we can. Prioritise supporting your family and showing physical displays of affection.

Visit Affected Towns: Visiting the affected towns appeals to the Bludish, reduces unrest, and raises our public opinion. We'll need to reduce unrest for the "Helicopter" Synergy.

Accept Tusk’s Bribe: It's not considered corruption to take the bribe and betray Tusk. Insist on a larger bribe and then accept (2PW). Do not admit taking the bribe to Livia.

Stimulus Cheques: Distributing Stimulus Cheques will reduce unrest, boost our Malenyevist points, Bludish opinion, PO, and even contribute to a higher ED.

Appoint Taurus Holdings: Using Taurus Holdings will effectively allow us to pass the Workers’ Rights Act (WRA) for free, saving us some early-game GB.

Accept Koronti's Deal: This is just free PO generated through positive media coverage. As we will be betraying him later, this doesn't count as corruption.

Attend Bernard Circas Funeral: Attending the funeral increases our Malenyevist points and reduces unrest. We should select socialist dialogue to get the most Malenyevist points.

Write Official Diplomatic Response: We'll be peacefully reconciling with Rumburg towards the end of the run. Keep things diplomatic and preserve the peace.

(Sign) Tourism and Cultural Preservation Act: Supports better tourism modifiers, boosts our ED, and supports the regeneration of Gruni. Essential even on the Emergency path.

Solo Invest in Gasom: We need the maximum share of Gasom for our Gasom synergy (Credit: Catsland) and to refill the treasury. Convince Alphonso to provide local housing.

Leave by Helicopter: Leaving by helicopter guarantees avoiding any increase in unrest, making it the safest option for enabling our unrest synergy.

No Alphonso Foundation Donation: The benefit of funding Alphonso’s foundation is to increase PO, but we simply don’t need any. If you have no PW, you won't even see this option.

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Emergency Decree: Do not ban the right to protest, as Taurus asking for more funding is classified as a protest. Ban the WPB so that we can eliminate the BFF leadership.

Decree Choices

• Section I: Workers Party of Bludia
  
• Section II: Increased Police Authority Beyond Legal Limits
  
• Section II: Detention Without Trial
  
• Section III: No External Threats

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No Youth Group Bans: Do not ban the Young Sords or the Red Youth. Banning the Red Youth would ruin our access to Foreign Aid and banning either would increase unrest.

Draft Constitution: We can only access up to 2 Dictator Points (DP) and 2 Reformist Points (RP) to get Gloria’s support for our new constitution. (Credit: Jaher on the Suzerain Discord)

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(Sign) GREEN Act: When paired with Gruni investments, (Credit: Orange-Kun on the Suzerain Discord) the GREEN Act will increase ED. We also get additional Malenyevist Points.

Remove Energy Protection Act: Repeal the EPA to enable the maximum possible Gasom Synergy (Credit: Catsland) and achieve the highest GB returns.

Reject Tusk's Deal: As we've already swindled him out of 2PW at this stage, Tusk is smart enough not to offer us another up-front bribe. We have no reason to accept his deal.

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Ministry Funding

• Increase Education Funding
  
• Increase Healthcare Funding
  
• Increase Law Enforcement Funding
  
• Maintain Defence Funding

This spread maximises ED from ministry funding (Credit: Orange-Kun on the Suzerain Discord) and ensures access to the Anti-Corruption Police. This is essential for passing the constitution.

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(Sign WRA): This will further lower unrest by 1 (enabling the “Helicopter” Synergy) and gives us a hefty chunk of Malenyevist points.

Lorren Investment: As aforementioned, Lorren is at the core of our early-game network of synergies that revolve around Lorren (L-1/Gasom).

Allow Monica's Speech: We should aim to keep Monica happy, which means supporting her and permitting her to speak at the Benfi Festival. Whether she does or not is path dependent.

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Fund Justice Department: The Anti-Corruption Police (ACP) offer a lot of utility by investigating the Oligarchs and Old Guard, and is essential for passing the Dictator constitution. (Credit: BFKelleher on the Suzerain Discord) Varying to SSP is possible on the Emergency path.

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Increase Corporation Taxes: We need the GB and it offers Malenyevist points.

Maintain SME Taxes: We do not need the GB from an increase in SME Taxes and it would lower ED if we did. Increasing taxes is also a hit to our Malenyevist points, which we urgently need.

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L-1 Funding: L-1 ED gains are tied to on-time completion, so we must provide further funding to ensure the project is completed on time.

School Inspection: Do not take down Soll’s portrait. Mostly important for the Dictator path, but generally good practice unless you are min-maxing 166 votes.

Reform & Privatise Education: We’ll be using the Silicon Valley synergy as it is the industrial expansion path with the highest possible ED. We must reform and privatise education to maximise this synergy.

Subsidise New Farms: Subsidies provide the highest total ED, despite costing more. Investing in Gruni is also essential to maximise gains from the GREEN Act ED Synergy. (Credit: Orange-Kun on the Suzerain Discord)

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Gloria’s Support: Deny Gloria any changes to the draft but accept removing Monica from the speaker’s schedule. If Gloria cannot be convinced without changing the draft then you made an error in your constitution.

Dialogue Choices

• "Mrs Tory, please try to understand me. I cannot give concessions now."
  
• "Fine. I'll have Monica taken off the schedule and let him speak."

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Play Chess with Lucian: Although not mandatory, keeping Lucian happy does help to prevent him from leaking any corruption. Defeat him at chess.

Dialogue Choices

• “Black for me. I like the advantage of reacting.”
  
• “Control the center.”
  
• “Press the center.”
  
• “Unleash the Rook.”
  
• “Initiate Rizian Fork.”
  
• “Exploit the back rank”
  
• “Decoy the Queen.”

(Credit: Felix on Steam)

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Albin’s Support: Deny all of his draft requests but offer him the spot of VP in your next term. We don’t need to follow through with the promise.

Dialogue Choices

• "Sure. I'll offer you *something else*"
  
• "If you give us your support, you'll be my VP in my next cabinet."

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(Veto) Religious Harmony Bill (RHB): A deeply unpleasant bill and will rile up the Bluds. If they take arms, you will lose ED, so simply avoid this like the plague.

Accept Arcasian Aid: Accepting aid from Arcasia here will allow us to secure both aid packages later on and provide much-needed GB. This is not possible in reverse.

Invest in FC Anrica: Out of Gus' investment opportunities, FC Anrica is likely the best. The investment offers a PO boost and some unique roleplay options later on.

Keep Immigration Relaxed: As already stated, we need relaxed immigration. Even on the Emergency path it is better for us to keep immigration relaxed for the time being.

Benfi Festival Opening: Depending on the path you’ve taken will depend who is speaking here. Simply try to keep Monica happy without being blatantly rude to Leste.

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Focus ACP on Old Guard: Directing the Anti-Corruption Police at the Old Guard will pressure one Supreme Court judge to support our constitution and allow us to approach Heron without an initial bribe. (Credit: BFKelleher on the Suzerain Discord)

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Leave Military Untouched: We won’t be going to war but let’s not create an influx of unemployed soldiers for no reason. Vary if you wish.

Trade with Agnolia: Accept the default trade deal (-1GB). Do not accept an alliance and do not recognise their claims to the island – doing so would upset Valgsland.

Trade with Wehlen: Accept the trade deal with Wehlen but do not actively participate in Operation Bear Trap (OBT). Simply play coy until he requests for you to simply close your borders. Full participation would prevent our peaceful resolution with Rumburg.

Build Sarna Agriculture Zone: When coupled with the agriculture industry expansion, Sarna Zone offers by far the broadest ED synergies.

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Support Lileas: Draft Lileas' bill to remove the Special Zone of Bergia. The bill will improve ED and will help the Bergia region to recover.

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(Sign) Central Bank Reinforcement Act (CBRA): Part of the Silicon Valley synergy and so must be signed for us to achieve max ED. The act will also allow us to sell our Gasom shares without any negative consequence.

State-Owned Healthcare: Privatising healthcare would give us an inconsistent economy and lose Gloria’s support. Keep healthcare state owned and choose to improve rural healthcare to address your modifiers.

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Accept Garaci’s Demands: If we don’t cave on all of Garaci’s demands here then the Emergency will be declared illegal. Agree to all of his demands, including on tightening immigration – the Gasom synergy is already secured.

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Appoint SSC: Due to passing WRA, SSC will be the cheapest option here and this will also keep us on track for a Mixed Economy.

Build New Schools & Increase Salaries: Purely a min-maxing element. We can improve rural education with our decrees later on, so we may as well select the others.

Mandate Evolution / Ban Creationism: We must do both to maximise the ED gained from the Silicon Valley synergy.

Sell 2/3 of Gasom Shares: We need the GB and this gives us the maximum possible.

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Refuse NFP Deal: The deal with the NFP would force us to stop our education reforms, thus ruining our ED synergies. Simply refuse the deal.

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Accept Bludish Meeting: Accept the meeting with the Bludish leaders. This will allow us to add the Article 6&7 amendments to our constitution. Upon reaching the meeting, accept their offer.

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Full / Full: Nationalise all of Bergia Steel and Heart of Sordland. We must immediately arrest the Oligarchs after this decision. We can also provoke Aven at the initial meeting and arrest him too.

(Veto) Unified Education Language Act: We don’t need NFP support and signing it would lower Bludish opinion. It’s better to veto the act and maintain some Bludish support.

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Full / Majority: Nationalise all of Bergia Steel and a Majority of Heart of Sordland. Doing so will prevent the Oligarchs from fleeing before the ACP can investigate them.

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USP Support: Gloria will be angry at us for editing the constitution so late into the reforms. We must refuse her demands to lower the EPA and propose the operation to both eliminate the BFF and swap the Semi Autonomous Zone bill for Lileas' plan to Remove the Special Zone.

Dialogue Choices

• "I can't stop work on the semi-autonomous zone now. This goes hand in hand..."
  
• "We can't simply leave Bergia as it is. How about this? I'll stop the semi-autonomous zone..."
  
• "How about this? I'll push for the abolishment of the Special Zone and order Ejall's arrest..."

Ricter's Support: Although he actually supports the new changes, Ricter will try to gain some political capital out of us. Simply refuse his demands and he will eventually back down. He will only back down if the constitution is one that he fully supports.

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Send Whistleblower Back: We need a peaceful resolution with Rumburg and accepting the Whistleblower would harm relations.

Negotiate with Valgsland: The Valgsland trade deal offers by far the most GB and ED for us in this run. Don’t even bother approaching Lespia.

Day of Descension: Admit to being a bad husband who hasn’t had time for his family and correctly follow the protocols of the ceremony.

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Send Franc to Holsord State: On this path we will either be decreeing the Women’s Liberation Act or having the assembly block it on our behalf. In both outcomes Monica is actually quite happy with us, so let’s go the extra mile again.

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Convince Justice Edmonds: Required dialogue choices will vary if you altered your constitution from the recommended one. Broadly speaking, simply stress the safety of the centrist judges, that you will not prosecute Soll, and recognise the importance of the Supreme Court.

Convince Justice Garaci: We can send Lucian to arrange a meeting with Garaci. Should you have removed justice immunity in your constitution draft as recommended, he can be convinced for free. If this is not the case then you will need to bribe him.

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Focus on Economy: We should select to focus on the economy going forward, as this will contribute 1ED to our final score. The other options offer little that can compare.

Agree to BFF Operation: We should sign off on Lileas’ operation to eliminate the BFF leadership here. Doing it will provide us a positive modifier.

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Focus on Economy: We should select to focus on the economy going forward, as this will contribute 1ED to our final score. The other options offer little that can compare.

Impeachment of Hawker: We can now remove Orso Hawker from his position and replace him with a new Chief Justice. On the Dictator path, this will also allow us to prosecute Soll.

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Align East: State that the future lies in the east, as this will provide extra Malenyevist points. The rest of the speech is far less important.

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Decree: Fair Trade & Competition Commission (FTCC)
Easily the most powerful decree in the game, bolstering ED, allowing us to pass the Future Children Act (FCA) later on, contributing to tax efficiency, and providing a package of Malenyevist points.

Decree: Rural Education Institutes (REI)
Building the Rural Education Institutes contributes to our agricultural synergy network, will improve rural education standards, and once again gives a package of Malenyevist points.

Decree: Relocate Teachers & Doctors (RTD)
This decree will further enhance our agricultural synergy network and will give another helping of Malenyevist points along with economic consistency.

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Support Experienced Judge: Grecer is the most trustworthy judge to take the place of Chief Justice and he will also support the eventual prosecution of Soll if we're on the Dictator path.

Decree: Fair Trade & Competition Commission (FTCC)
Easily the most powerful decree in the game, bolstering ED, allowing us to pass the Future Children Act (FCA) later on, contributing to tax efficiency, and providing a package of Malenyevist points.

Decree: Rural Education Institutes (REI)
Building the Rural Education Institutes contributes to our agricultural synergy network, will improve rural education standards, and once again gives a package of Malenyevist points.

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Remove Bergia Special Zone: You’ll be asked by Petr to sign off on Lileas’ bill to centralise Bergia. Shortly after the meeting the bill should also appear to be signed and enacted. By doing this as a bill we can skip the need for using one of our decrees.

Valgsland Trade Deal: Due to the Malenyevist points we have accrued, we should be flagged as the “Comrade Archetype” and be able to ask Chancellor Hegel to put in a good word with Malenyev, agree to an alliance, and recognise Heljiland as Valgslandian – ensure you do all three. This will allow us to access both Foreign Aid packages.

Security Breach: We would advise shutting Lucian down and allowing Livia to keep her job. This minimises scandal and prevents a negative modifier from the security breach. Ensure to get the photo of you and Monica if we're on a path that can keep her happy.

No Sordish League of Women Donation: There's very little benefit in donating to the league, so let's simply save our PW so that we can finish as a wealthy man.

Transfer Gendarmerie: Shift the Gendarmerie to under the Ministry of Interior. Mechanically, this does very little, but it does offer positive modifiers and the main drawback of the decision is related to the Rumburg war – we won’t be going to war.

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Continue ACP Investigation: You’ll be asked to confirm continued investigations into the Oligarchs if you focused them as suggested. Continue the investigations. Don’t call Koronti.

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Healthcare Surplus: Build the State of the Art Medical School. This is another part of the Silicon Valley synergy and will allow us to maximise ED. Have Paskal address the Polio outbreak.

Skip Aschraf Anniversary: We do not need to attend the anniversary and it can be safer to avoid the issue entirely. Feel free to attend if you wish, but ensure you are careful with the event.

Accept Both Foreign Aid: Due to accepting Aid from the West earlier on and Hegel putting in a good word with Malenyev, we can accept both Foreign Aid packages here. This gives us 1GB and two free industry expansions (Military & Agriculture), while still being able to invest into another.

Expand Electronics Industry: We’re going for the Silicon Valley synergy here, of which the Electronics Industry is the backbone. This is one of the best synergies in the game.

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Revoke Emergency: We no longer need the Emergency and continuing it beyond this point would have irreversible impact on our ED.

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(Veto) Women’s Liberation Act / Protect Women Act: Unfortunately neither act helps us to achieve a higher ED and we cannot afford to sign them.

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Accept Large Surplus: Since we have greater than 20ED, we will be offered the large surplus (4GB) at this stage. Although rejecting the surplus does reward us with ED, it is far better to have the 4GB at this stage so that we can avoid a debt crisis.

(Veto) Human Dignity Bill: Based on current knowledge this is an overwhelmingly negative act with little reason to ever sign it. Veto it.

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(Sign) Minority Rights Act: In the private meeting with Leke, agree to help him in his cause to address inequality and decree the act. This will support Bergia.

(Veto) Alcohol Tax Act: We do not need the GB and it would harm our ED. On the Reformist path the Assembly will override us, but by trying to veto it we will still save PO.

(Veto) Luxury Tax Act: Same logic as the Alcohol Tax Act, only in this case it does double the ED damage. Unfortunately the Assembly will once again override it on the Reformist path.

No Youth Group Funding: We don’t need to do this. There is no reason for us to.

Pay Reparations to Rumburg: Although we’re not actually worried about Rumburg on this run, paying the reparations does actually give us 1ED, so it must be done.

Join CSP: Accept Malenyev’s state visit, but let’s keep Iosef happy and not blatantly call him a comrade – he already looks angry enough. Upon the state visit, join the CSP for a free 1GB and further ED gains. Joining will also help modernise the military, including our navy.

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Show Photograph: Monica will come home drunk, but happy. Show her the photo you collected earlier and profess your love for her.

Dialogue Choices (Recommended)
“I believe you’re turning into a politician, Mrs. Rayne.”
Show her the framed photo you took from your old office.
“I’m still as madly in love with you as I was the day that photo was taken.”

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Election Campaign Funding: Save your PW, you’ll win re-election whether you fund the campaign or not. May as well finish as a wealthy man.

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Soll Trial: Do not provide false evidence at the Soll trial. Soll will be prosecuted by Grecer and we have now laid the foundations for Lileas challenging our leadership of the USP. This will allow us to eventually form our own party should we wish to.

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Oppose Lileas: Lileas will hand in her resignation and declare her challenge for USP leadership. Do not support her. We will either be leaving Sordland or winning a second term.

Refuse MFI Loan: Put plainly, we have no need for this and it lowers PO.

TV Interview: Simply be diplomatic and yet consistently honest about things. We don’t actually need international support since Rumburg has already been pacified.

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Give Rousing Speech: Since we own a share of FC Anrica we can actually dip into the locker room and give a speech. Done correctly, the team will go on to win the Merkopan Champions Cup.

Dialogue Choices

• “Hello everybody. I hope you are ready for the match of the decade!”
  
• “I want you to know that millions are proud of you for reaching this stage…”
  
• “This match is a celebration, an opportunity to showcase the true essence…”
  
• “You have inspired millions of Sordish men and women…”
  
• “I don’t want to see any regrets after the match…”
  
• “You are an extraordinary team. The best in Sordland…”
  
• “Now go forth my fellow Anrican warriors…”
  
• “All together now. EYE TO EYE. TOOTH TO TOOTH. FC ANRICA!”

(Credit: Bartorus on Steam)

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Alliance of Nations Speech: Simply be diplomatic. You do not need to even address any concerns raised since the issue with Rumburg has already been resolved.


Reject Rumburg Trade Deal: We’ve already pacified the Rummish threat and this deal not only harms our energy prices, but it’s broadly just a bad trade deal for Sordland.

Emergency Path: Safely live out our days as a wealthy individual in Kyrute.
Dictator Path: Win the election with our new party, ending the USP's reign of terror.
Reformist Path: Maintain leadership of the USP and win a second term.

The similarity of your graph to the original image will depend on your path (Image: Dictator / Normal Resources). If you don't have the ED value cited above, please ensure you've completed every step of the guide correctly as even a minor variation can have a significant impact.

All Credits refer to Suzerain Discord identities unless stated otherwise. Support implies a more minor contribution, often clarifying or testing particular components and filling in the blanks.

Complete Run: Catspaw
Economic Consistency: Catspaw
Unrest Synergy: Catspaw (support by Jaher & Prester John)
Women's Rights Synergy Catspaw (support by Orange-Kun)
Malenyevist Points: Catspaw (support by flazeo255)
Emergency Act Variables: Catspaw (support by Zargos & RookieMello)
Ministry Funding: Orange-Kun
GREEN Act ED Synergy: Orange-Kun (support by Catspaw)
Constitution Support (Gloria): Jaher
Regional Recovery: Catsland (support by Jistiecat)
Gasom Synergies: Catsland (support by Jistiecat & Hegel Hater)
Presidential Decrees: Tortellobello45 (Reddit) (3.1 testing by Catspaw)
Industrial Synergies: Unknown (Reddit)
Article 6&7 Constitution: Asinus_Sum (Reddit)

Communist Constitution: BFKelleher (tweaked by Catspaw)
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2753065764
FC Anrica Victory: Bartorus (Steam)
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3013311411
Defeating Lucian at Chess: Felix (Steam)
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3013446337