Authors of the New Age

     In the game Authors of the New Age, each player takes control of one of eight factions that operate within the Mono Solari System with the goal of amassing the largest following by the end of 3 rounds. Players will attempt to resolve various galaxy-spanning issues by betting on two resources: Supply and Influence. Whoever ends the round with the most points holds the honor of taking total control of one event by rewriting it in the history books. By the end of the 3rd round, whoever has the most Victory Points is declared the victor and may permanently change an aspect of the galaxy. 

     Fitting with this Game Jam’s theme of “Revision”, the intention behind this game is to educate the players on the concept of revisionist history. There are two phrases commonly taught in history classes that we hoped to touch on in designing this game; 1) History is written by the winners and 2) He who controls the past controls the future. The game’s title is a riff on this concept, where the Faction Leaders, and thus the players are literally (re)writing history to suit their needs. In this game, the winner of each round is able to spin an event that occurred in that round in their favor and gets one step closer to victory in doing so. Players are encouraged to take risks in order to secure power for the faction they represent and be granted the privilege of manipulating the narrative. One can certainly win by playing fair, but they can also win by being underhanded, manipulative and ruthless. The mechanics of the game emphasize strategic play to ensure that one’s faction is powerful enough to throw their weight around (solving the most event cards), respected enough to be seen as heroic (having the least disdain), and wealthy enough to partake in future events (having the most remaining Supply & Influence by a round’s end). Theoretically, three separate players could fill these roles, and at the same time, one player may emerge as fitting all three. 

     The science fiction setting was chosen in order to distance the game from our world, while also holding a mirror up to the issues that we face every day. Each of the factions are equal parts reprehensible and understandable, so as to not create a definitive “good” or “evil” force within the star system. By doing this, the audience is encouraged to look beyond the lore and see the true motives of each faction, finding a gray area within the supposed black-and-white morality that may be present within the game’s content. This can translate into the real world, as an understanding that everyone has their own agenda, no matter how noble the cause may be and no matter what their message is. Being a part of history means taking sides, and understanding that each side has its own motives can lead to more informed decision-making in our everyday lives.