It's time for the new dev blog and this time we would like to take you on a short journey into the dark world of Punk Wars...
The Dark of the Past
Archives
It's a long way up by the winding stairs, but once you're at the top of the Security Tower, the view sends shivers down your spine. The immensity and hollowness of the wasteland is beautiful, yet overwhelming and sad at the same time. In the middle of the round office sits the vice-superintendent. He's surprised to see you. Rarely ever anyone comes all the way up here. When you asked him about the ancient times, the world before the nuclear holocaust, he answers sneeringly:
- History? Why? Are you going to write a book?
You remind him who you are, and make sure he understands the gravity of your question. He changes his tone and tries to recall to the best of his abilities:
- I don’t think anybody really knows what happened… They say a long time ago, back when the world was still green and fertile, people were preparing for the dawn of the ‘Age of Aquarius’. It was meant to bring peace and spiritual wisdom to the entire planet. End all conflicts once and for all… I guess, in a sense, that’s exactly what happened.
It’s a good thing you’re taking such an interest in the past. After all, if you don’t know where you have come from, how could you know where you are going? But the vice-superintendent can tell you nothing more. He suggests you try to contact the Chief Archivist. Indeed, our database can shed some more light on the dark of the past. You take one last look in the distance and begin your way down again. On the next day you meet with the Archivist and listen to what he has to say:
Steampunk’s version
You see, some believe that the world in ancient times was all splendid and lavish. Nonsense! Humanity was at its last legs, the resources were almost depleted and the environment was devastated. The Hierarch of our organization, who we now remember as the great Father-Director, knew that and he worked hard to replace the world's machinery with new and elegant, steam-powered models.
Regrettably, others were too stubborn to listen. They wanted to suck the world dry till its very last drop. Finally, the world could take no more. Thankfully, we survived thanks to our superior technology, but this can never happen again. That's why we must eradicate everyone who is against us if we want to save the world and bring humanity back to its former glory.
Dieselpunk’s version
Ah, yes, the infamous Great Betrayal, we’ve got the data about in our archives. Our then Leader ran a highly successful global organization that was bringing prosperity and order to the entire world. Our annual rates of return from that time are astonishing! Alas, a group of anarchists formed, determined to destroy us. They wanted to create some sort of democratic government that would later ban and dismantle us.
Of course. We weren’t going to have it, so we did what anyone would do in our place – we took the matter to the court. The judge ruled in our favor, and ‘coincidently’, the attacks began shortly after that. From that day on, our branch has lost contact with the HQ. But I can personally assure you that during that time not a single day has passed when we had violated the procedures in any way.
Steelpunk’s version
What happened? I’ll tell you what happened. After years of bloody and glorious fighting, the world went soft, that’s what happened! Some damned hippies took over and prayed to the skies for ‘peace’ and ‘love’. Then they wanted to create one government to end wars for good. What a sorry bunch of sissies!
After that, some wimp released the nukes. Tell me, what kind of coward hides behind the rockets to do his fighting for him? Anyway, everyone panicked and started blasting. They were shooting at everything and we ended up where we ended up. The good thing is that under our leadership, the world will never go soft again!
Atompunk’s version
Oh, what would I have given to see it with my own eyes! The power of the Atom at its greatest. The legend says the sky gleamed for months after it had happened! Admittedly though, the price was too big. We’ve lost so much knowledge… Such a waste.
Now some blame us for this ‘incident’, but that’s rubbish. We were never interested in politics, not now, not then. Now maybe, just maybe, one of our overseers needed funds for his studies and sold a few missiles here and there, but realistically – can you be blamed for what someone else does with a knife you sold him? Besides, what matters most is the future, not the past. We must do what we can to restore the planet and bring it back its shine!
That’s something to build on, but your knowledge is still limited. You decide there must be more information you can learn. You shall conduct an expedition and scour the wastelands for clues. The truth must be out there!
Summary
That’s something to build on, but your knowledge is still limited. You decide there must be more information you can learn. You shall conduct an expedition and scour the wastelands for clues. The truth must be out there!
Journal from the expedition
Day 1 of the expedition
You have gathered the most skillful scouts and soldiers. There’s an old town, several days of march to the East. This should be a good place to start your mission.
Day 8
You reached the ruins of an old town. It’s inhabited by a group of peaceful locals. When you ask them about the time before, they point you to an elderly woman, who lives in an old mill:
- From what I recall from my grandfather’s stories, everybody was getting ready for a big celebration. On the same day, they were supposed to enter some sort of new, astrological age, and start, uh, what-you-call-it… The World’s Government? You know, like a single tribe for everybody, so they won’t have to fight anymore. Everyone came out to the streets to rejoice. Shortly after they saw the sky burning…
The World's Government? That sounds ludicrous. You should find out more.
Day 21
While searching for cover from a sandstorm, your group enters a former railway tunnel. There you encountered a group of vagrants sitting around a campfire. You spend several hours together, enjoying bottles of the finest wasteland hooch. When the conversation turns towards the ancient times, one vagrant, a man with a bushy, silver beard, takes the lead:
- What happened? The usual son, greed happened! Some big cheeses were afraid they’re gonna lose their power, so in a desperate attempt to save it, they were threatening the world with nukes.
I guess, in the end, one of them couldn’t handle the pressure anymore. He must have lost it and launched the attack. That’s what I’ve heard, anyway.
When the sandstorm ends, you order your crew to pack and return on your path.
Day 33
In the mountains, you found a weird religious cult. They seem to live in harmony with nature, away from the troubles of modern civilizations. They turned out to be unusually friendly. After a grand dinner organized in your honor, you ask the head priest for her version of the events. She looks at you astonished:
- Oh, how can you not know this story? Every child has heard about it! The world was finally to be set free! Set free by the mighty Aquarius, The God of Love. But he was betrayed by the wicked corporations that bow to the evils of technology. They stabbed him in the back! But don’t you worry, he will return! More powerful than ever! He will smite his enemies and laugh at their demise! Those so-called ‘corporations’ will regret the day they crossed his path!
- By the way, where are you from, again?
You carefully avoid answering and quickly change the topic. You enjoy the hospitality of your hosts for a few more days until you return on the trail.
Day 47
While scavenging for supplies, you come across an abandoned business center. You hope to find some data in their archives, but when two of your men fall to their deaths while trying to reach the higher levels, you decide the building is too much damaged to risk it any further. Thankfully, the noise you make brings nearby a group of locals who used to live in the center back when it was in better condition. You asked them if anyone ever read anything from the offices at the higher levels. One man stands up and shares with you what he can remember:
- Yes, I remember reading the old papers… There once was a big war that many modern-day corporations profited from. When it finally ended, people were so tired of fighting that nobody wanted to see another conflict ever again.
There was a sociological change all around the world. People wanted to unify and live in peace. But that would dramatically cut the incomes of these corporations, and that was unacceptable to them… So they provoked a new war, and then it all went to hell… What a shame.
He’s visibly moved and goes quiet for a few moments. You ask if there's a larger community anywhere nearby, the man replies that the only one he can think of lies many days far to the North.
Day 72
After a long march and several encounters with bandits, you find a settlement, located in the ruins of a big city. Ladelphia says the old sign, although part of it is missing. Locals are highly vigilant and unfriendly, nobody wants to talk to you. You notice a poor, starving kid and share some food with him. He points toward the local square, where lives a guy named Rocky, who apparently likes to ‘live in the past’. You find him after a short while. He has a camouflaged face and wears old military clothes.
- Oh, I was there. Ten thousand years ago… Standing in the middle of a street. Waiting for my parade. Bastards, they lied to us! We returned home after the bloody war. We were supposed to be greeted like heroes… But there was no parade! It wasn’t over! Nothing was over! There were only fires coming from the skies, and the next thing I see is my best friend Johnny splattered all over me!
You express doubts about his alleged age, he replies:
- What do you mean I don’t look ten thousand years old? It’s the radiation, man! Or… uh... I don’t remember… Now, where have I put my bottle?
Day 97
While traveling aimlessly, you catch a distress signal coming from an old mine. A small family is being attacked by a group of mutants. You order your people to hurry and you reach them just in time. After a bloody battle with the beasts, you explain who we are. A young woman tells you about someone named Rick who lives in a radio tower several days from here. He may know something about the events that lead to war.
Day 101
You follow the trail and locate the tower. In there you find Rick, an older man, no longer capable of getting down the tower by his own strengths. He refuses to talk with you at first but changes his mood once he learns about the family your group saved. When you ask him about the war, he looks at you puzzled and shortly after begins explaining:
- Now, just between you and me, everybody thinks somebody fired nukes, and then there was a war or whatever… But let me tell you something. My great-great-grandfather worked in some sort of astronomical lab back in the day. Now, it was much higher than this puny little tower. He could literally look into the skies!
One day they noticed a big change coming. But I’m not talking about any of that esoteric stuff, no sir! I’m talking about the actual position of the planet. You see, when that happened, suddenly a cluster of meteors showed up heading towards the Earth. They tried to warn everybody, but it was too late. Then all the defense systems went crazy! They thought they’re under attack so they tried to retaliate, and… Well, you know the rest.
As you're going down the tower, you think to yourself that it’s probably all you can learn for now. You are all deadly tired, and you want to go back home. You will have plenty of time to put all the bits and pieces you’ve gathered together on the way back. No doubt everybody will be curious to know the real story, so there’s just one question remaining,
What do you think has REALLY happened?
Punk Wars Contest
Last but not least, we would like to invite you to take part in our fun and creative little contest in which you can win special prizes from our publisher - including board games, t-shirts, game keys and more.
All you need to do is come up with the idea for an in-game event of your own. Events pop up during your gameplay (screenshot below) and you have a few options (answers) to choose from - each answer can give you a different result. You can check out how the events work in our playable PUNK WARS demo.
Just write down your idea in the comments section, of course the event needs to be coherent with the post-apo atmosphere of game. If this helps, you might also like to check out our previous blogs, where we share a bit more on the world of PUNK WARS. We will choose the best ideas and the winning ones might be implemented in the final game (with your name in the credits), so why not trying your luck, especially with the cool prizes we have prepared for you?
And that's all folks for today! Don't forget to add the game to your wishlist (if you still didn't) and stay tuned for more PUNK WARS updates! Also make sure to join our Discord community!
About a game
Our civilization has fallen. From the ashes, four new powers emerge. Immerse yourself in a combat-heavy twist on a classic turn-based 4X strategy where steam, steel, atom and diesel-punk corporations clash to spread their technology and the way of life.
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