I wanted to create an up-to-date guide for a democratic socialist Rayne that keeps Sordland neutral, neuters the Oligarchs and starts his own party.

Note that not all the choices I made in this guide are necessary, and that I didn't include every dialogue option if said option makes no difference, or was totally obvious from my strategy outline. Any comments are welcome.

Hope you enjoy comrades!

General: I didn’t make this guide for modifier-maxxing, moreso as a compromise between certain goals and roleplaying.

Politics: we’ll be as reformist and socialist as we can, basically. After we’ve passed our reforms, we’ll make sure Lileas wins the USP leadership, we’ll start our own People’s Party and win re-election. We’ll also be best buds with the Bluds (except for taking out the BFF), and we’ll take down the Oligarchs, of course.

Diplomacy: we’ll be staying neutral, so no joining CSP, but no bilateral alliances either for roleplaying purposes. So, we must get Rumburg kicked out of OMEC and sanctioned by the AN (which is relatively easy and allows us to decrease military funding). We’ll trade with Agnolia and Valgsland, but stay out of the Heljiland crisis, and we’ll trade with Wehlen too but only close our borders (partial OBT).

Reforms: putting the democratic in the socialism! We’ll be reforming the constitution as much as Gloria allows us, basically, and convince her of the changes to Article 6 and 7 when the time comes. She hates privatisation and we’ll be doing none of that, so we can get her support quite easily. We’ll also do something counter-intuitive so we can reverse it to please her. Keep in mind never to antagonise the Supreme Court/Soll or the Old Guard in general before passing your reforms. In speeches focus on unity and don’t say anything overtly commie.

Economy: it’s socialism time, so we won’t privatise anything, and nationalise Bergia Steel. We’ll leave Heart of Sordland untouched, but only to ensure Tusk and Koronti don’t flee the country, so that we can sniff out their corruption with the ACP and jail them (also nice not to get assassinated).

Military coup: we’ll defund the military, which Iosef and Valken will be angry about, but as long as we don’t say anything socialist/Malenyevist in front of them and don’t transfer the Gendarmerie to the Interior, they’ll stay in line.

Corruption: if you want to give Serge money, take the Tusk bribe but don’t give the contract to Underhall. This broken promise won’t count as corruption. But you can keep clean hands and skip this.

Personal: just be a good husband and father. Monica is easy to please if we’re gonna do feminism. And we’re gonna do a lot of feminism!

Start out poor, we need a bit of money to lobby the assembly but no more than that (also, we’re roleplaying socialism).

Pick the economics degree and the student council to econ-max, we can still convince Edmonds and get away with partial OBT with the right dialogue choices.

Feminism! Socialism! You get the drill.

Vote for the USP, or don’t, and escort the refugees back. We need the army opinion and we’ll get plenty of Bludish opinion anyway.

Sacrifice family time for work, and keep supporting Soll all the way. When Alphonso wins, campaign for him, dedicate yourself to the party and advise him to step down.

Democracy here we come!

Promise planned economy, neutrality, relaxed immigration and any ministry beside Defence.
In the political briefing choose democratic reforms, and in the economic briefing stick to the promise of a planned economy. In the media briefing stress the importance of independent media and don’t set up a meeting with Koronti.

Immediately use your veto power for the anti-democratic Campaign Finance Bill.

Invest in mega-infrastructure and choose the L-1 high-speed railway.

Invest in Armadine with all (1) of your personal wealth.

At the inaugural reception, tell the journalist you want to work with the opposition if they’re willing to support us, welcome Ricter’s support and say your veto was for democracy.

In the emergency meeting, refrain from taking sides and protect freedom of speech.

In the security briefing, don’t blame United Contana and show interest in revoking the Bergia Special Zone.

Visit affected towns in person, objectively the best decision to reduce unrest.

I like to keep clean hands and not take the Tusk bribe, but if you do, you can just renege on the promise and pick the SSC for the L-1 project anyway. We’ll be investigating the Oligarchs with the ACP, but this won’t count as corruption if you don’t keep your promise to Tusk. If you *really* want to give Serge money, this is how. (Yay wealth redistribution!) Also remember to tell Tusk he can do better, so you get 2 PW instead of 1.

Hand out stimulus cheques for the economic relief plan, like a good socialist.

For the L-1 project, pick the Sordish State Corporation (SSC).

Attend Circas’ funeral, let in the Red Youth but don’t say commie things.

In the diplomatic briefing, condemn Rumburg’s consulate closure with a letter. This is the first step in getting them kicked out of OMEC and sanctioned by the AN.

Sign the Tourism and Cultural Preservation Act.

In the reform committee meeting reiterate your support for reforms.

When Hawker comes to get you not to reform, do it anyway, but keep it polite. Let him and Garaci tell you about Ricter’s Arcasian adventures if you want.

Agree with Ciara and Paskal in the welfare briefing, we’ll enact all their proposals in the future.

Meet with Gus and Alphonso and show interest in Gus’ plans for Gruni’s development. Be polite, invest in Gasom alone and get Alphonso to provide housing, health care and education.

Leave by car and address the protesters, be moderate and don’t run away when Serge suggests.
Don’t ban either the Red Youth or the Young Sords.

Sign the GREEN Act because why not, we’re doing socialism.

For the constitutional draft, choose the following:

• Limit vetoes (3/5 override)
  
• Remove Supreme Court voting rights
  
• Assembly and Supreme Court may impeach
  
• Confidence vote
  
• Decrease threshold to 8%
  
• Decrees require an Enabling Act
  
• 2-term limit
  
• Justices may be impeached
  
• Abolish Member of Honour (we'll remove this later for Gloria's support)

Now for something very counter-intuitive: we will remove the EPA altogether. That may seem wildly inconsistent with a socialist and/or planned economy, and well, it is! But we can make a remarkable amount of money from Gasom, and later revert the EPA to 10% in exchange for Gloria’s support for the changes to Article 6 and 7. Gasom will struggle and Alphonso will be livid, but in my mind this is just the set-up to nationalise Gasom for pennies in our next term.

In the Business Council meeting just chill, be polite, don’t promise Tusk anything.

Now for the budget, increase everything but Defence, which we will decrease. Iosef will be furious but that’s a storm we can weather.

Sign the Workers’ Rights Act, duh.

Give the increased law enforcement budget to the Ministry of Justice, and let Nia form the Anti-Corruption Police (ACP).

Go on an evening walk with Monica, be feminist as always and agree to let her do the opening speech at the Benfi festival (which we will cancel as the umpteenth concession to Gloria).

Invest in the Lorren region.

Fire the incompetent managers of the SSC, it will delay but that’s not a huge deal.

In the tax meeting increase taxes on big corporations, leave SME taxes unchanged.

Inspect the school in Leiren and be polite, but call out the nonsense and get the principal to make changes. Don’t take down the Soll portrait, we don’t want to anger anyone just yet.

In the education briefing agree to Ciara’s reforms, but don’t privatise.

Mechanise existing farms for the Gruni investment.

Now for one of our biggest obstacles: Gloria. Don’t give in on the threshold or removing the justice immunity, but as concessions remove the changes to the Member of Honour and cancel Monica’s speech in Benfi (she won’t like it, but we’re gonna do a lot of feminism afterwards, so she’ll be fine).

Win the chess game against Lucian (there’s guides for how), and be respectful to him, he’ll be more loyal.

Meet with Albin, he’ll support you. In the speech to the USP don’t target the Old Guard.

Accept United Contanan aid, it’s good money.

Like every other NFP bill, veto the Religious Harmony Bill.

Get money from Armadine! We’ll use it to lobby the Assembly later.

Keep immigration relaxed as promised.

Remember we need 2 PW for lobbying later on, so don't invest in FC Anrica or buy the Erlory vineyard if you went for the poor background.

At the Benfi festival tell Leste that your wife is right, but that it’s a matter for another time and let him finish his awful speech. Back home promise Monica that you’ll work with her for feminism!

Build the Rumburg fortifications, we can spare the money.

Tell Karl to pursue Hawker, but focus the ACP on the Oligarchs.

In Agnolia, gift Hoorten an ornamental sword and accept his deal without an alliance or recognition of Heljiland.

In Wehlen agree only to Smolak’s last offer, which is closing our borders to Bluds (partial OBT).

Tell the Assembly they’ve been overshadowed, focus on unity and don’t target the Old Guard.

Tell Iosef to be lenient on fleeing Bluds, and remove conscription (we can’t pay them anyway).

Invest in the Morna port project.

In the Bergia meeting we will agree to Nia’s plan for a semi-autonomous zone. We will switch to Lileas’ centralisation plan to get Gloria’s support later on, and eliminate the BFF.

Sign the Central Bank Reinforcement Act.

With our increased health care budget, don’t privatise and improve rural treatment.

Meet with Ricter and don’t blame the USP for anything. Chat about Arcasia, but trust him.

For the Morna port project pick the SSC once again.

With our increased education budget, build more rural schools. Also enforce evolution in the school curriculum.

Sell 2/3 of our Gasom shares, for big rewards.

On Victory Day join the PFJP statement on Article 6 and 7.

Spend a generous amount on lobbying MPs (all we have, 2 PW).

Very high returns from Gasom shares, yay!

Be diplomatic and tell Koronti you were planning to leave HOS untouched, but don’t meddle in Oligarch affairs.

Tell Lucian you want to meet with Bludish leaders, and nationalise.

Meet with the Bluds and accept changes to Article 6 and 7 in exchange for the BFF.

Don’t touch Heart of Sordland (HOS), and nationalise Bergia Steel. If you nationalise both, Tusk and Koronti will flee to Arcasia and assassinate you on your re-election (unless you have Serge’s good luck charm, from giving him 2 PW). If they don’t flee we can arrest them both with the ACP, ending their weapon sales to the cartels (Koronti) and the BFF (Tusk), and removing the organised crime modifier.

Meet with Tusk and Koronti, don’t escalate and don’t tell them Tusk is under investigation.

Veto the Unified Education Language Act.

The USP has rallied behind Gloria, so you’ll need to convince her of the Article 6 and 7 changes. Say there’s a reason behind your decision, and that you’re not naive. Explain the BFF deal on the table, and wait for Gloria and the others to discuss. Find common ground: first, say you can’t stop work on the semi-autonomous zone, but agree to change it to Lileas’ centralisation plan instead. Combine that with reverting the EPA to 10%, and it’s a deal. Ricter will try to extort you, but just call his bluff.

During the Assembly vote, get Gloria to speed up the voting so Soll can’t influence people, but leave Soll be. You’ll narrowly win the vote. Don’t agree to a PFJP alliance afterwards.

Accept the Rumburg whistleblower, this is key for AN sanctions later on.

Open negotiations with Valgsland in the diplomatic briefing.

Send Franc to military school, or United Contana, your choice.

Just do the correct things in the Day of Descension ceremony, and don’t let the Archpriest think religion can influence your politics. Also don’t confess to any shady dealings you may have been a part of (no idea if it has any effect, but best not risk it).

Now for convincing Justice Edmonds, which is really hard with a constitution this reformist and no law degree to back us up. Still, these dialogue options should guarantee her support:

• Wait for Edmonds to order.
  
• Stand up for a handshake.
  
• Address her as Justice.
  
• Let her order first.
  
• Also order salad.
  
• How is the situation?
  
• Not if you support us.
  
• It’s about equality and rights.
  
• We need a proper balance of power.
  
• Doing my best to start the change.
  
• Respectable justices against the Old Guard!
  
• Ensure ... transparency.
  
• Please help us achieve this victory.
  
• Judiciary should not have legislative powers.
  
• I’m no Malenyevist.
  
• Together in this, for further reforms.
  
• Court should have power of judicial review.
  
• Ensuring limits of own power.
  
• Threshold affects all of us.
  
• Centrists need not worry.
  
• Stay silent.

Then send Lucian to reach out to Heron. Take his deal so we can impeach Hawker later. Enjoy the win at the Supreme Court.

In the cabinet meeting sign the orders for Lileas to take out the BFF, and don’t promise her a transfer of the Gendarmerie. Announce changes in the manifesto, get the impeachment of Hawker underway, and let Karl continue his investigation.

Time to address the nation! Now that we have passed the reforms we can freely bash the Old Guard, Soll included. Easy on the commie stuff though.

Change the manifesto from Sollist to socialist. Nominate the most experienced judge to the Supreme Court. Pick the three decrees beside lower retirement age, say you want the media council to be independent, and sign the documents for abolishing the Bergia Special Zone.

Sign the Bergia Standardisation and Unity Measure.

Comrade Hegel! Don’t go for the alliance or Heljiland recognition, just trade. Urge Hegel to remain calm on the Heljiland issue.

Drink with Petr and tell him we can weather the affair, but do tell Lucian about it.

Pretend not to believe Lucian in front of Livia, but let him investigate.

Hear the results of the investigation and only blame Livia/Ilana. In the press briefing do the same, and make sure you call her Ilana the Rumburgian spy, we need that to prevent a war.

In the women’s rights briefing, agree with everything Monica and Ciara propose, and support their bill.

Don’t transfer the Gendarmerie to the Interior. Unless you want to get couped by Iosef. If so, do transfer the Gendarmerie.

Allow Nia to use the ACP against Koronti.

Anti-vaxxers BTFO! Tell Paskal to mandate vaccines.

Sign the Less Smoke Bill.

I like building a state-of-the-art medical school, but anything goes.

Attend the Aschraf Anniversary. Raise Mansoun's hand, pick a non-red candle, light the torch together, hold a nice speech and hug Mansoun. It’s reconciliation time!

Accept United Contanan agricultural aid, and expand the automotive industry.

Sign the Women’s Liberation Act.

Add the medium budget surplus.

Veto the Human Dignity Bill.

Sign the Children for Future Act.

Agree to support Mansoun’s bill, then sign the Minority Rights Act.

Sign the Alcohol Tax Act.

Sign the Fair Luxury Tax Act.

Don’t fund a political youth group, it would be authoritarian and we don’t need it.

Arrest Koronti, finally we get some results from the ACP!

In the war room meeting, de-escalate with Rumburg, and don’t allow the military parade.

Now that war with Rumburg seems likely, your cabinet advises you to get into an alliance. Remember not to call Malenyev “comrade” or say you share his values, that’s an easy way to get couped. Don’t take the meeting with Malenyev, we’ll stick to neutrality.

Arrest Tusk with the evidence Lucian provides. Both oligarchs in jail, hell yeah!

Don’t take the loan in the economic briefing, we don’t need it.

In the TV interview:

• Rumburg has been increasingly aggressive.
  
• Willing to avoid conflict.
  
• Willing to work together to achieve peace.
  
• Look up to the international community.
  
• Evidence of Rumburg’s interference.
  
• Ilana Vance.
  
• Share responsibility.
  
• Not taking sides on Heljiland.
  
• Willing to be a peacekeeping force.
  
• Wehlen situation breaks my heart.
  
• Could not distinguish civilians from militants.

After the interview, you should be able to see in Rumburg’s country information that they are no longer a member of OMEC. Up next: AN sanctions.

Lileas will challenge you now! Don’t back her of course.

Enjoy the football match. Alphonso will call you a snake for your Gasom shenanigans, and Soll will even agree with him, lol.

In the Alliance of Nations Assembly, don’t applaud or openly respond to anyone (chatting with Deivid is fine of course). Wait until it’s your turn to give a speech:

• Committed to the ideals of the AN.
  
• Dream of a peaceful and free world.
  
• Faced with dangers of division.
  
• Unite under this charter.
  
• Address topics mentioned.
  
• Saddened by events in Wehlen.
  
• Many unnecessary deaths.
  
• Respond to Hoorten.
  
• Not involved in the Heljiland incident.
  
• Achieve peace in Eastern Merkopa.
  
• Address the Queen of Rumburg.
  
• We want peace, but are threatened by Rumburg.
  
• Diplomatic even when plane was shot down.
  
• Evidence about KA-74s.
  
• Another piece of evidence, very nuclear much wow!
  
• Rumburg must be investigated.
  
• Wish for an AN resolution.
  
• Can no longer ignore enemies of peace.
  
• Long live unity and peace.
  
• Peace in Merkopa/the world.

If you’ve done it the right way, there will be a report in Holsord about the AN ambassador supporting Sordland. This will be followed later by a report and news articles about AN sanctions on Rumburg.

Symon will resign from our cabinet, as far as I know this is unavoidable on this run. Sad to see our nerd go.

In the USP congress you can easily lose to Lileas if you call her a puppet of Soll and the Old Guard, so let her win and found your own People’s Party!

Focus your campaign on anything but the military.

In the presidential debate, bash the USP a bit and call the PFJP too capitalist for you. Promise to pay everyone a living wage in your next term. Take credit for everything you’ve done, like preventing a war and taking down the Oligarchs. Don’t give credit to others or interject on their behalf.

Hold your election speech, say whatever you like, and win! :D

Behold the results!