Played another round of PM last night.  I must really suck at it or something, but I cannot consistantly crush McCain.  This last game I had lost Florida and Texas and won with 273 electoral votes, NEVER has Maine mattered to me this much!  My first game was 400 some votes over his far less number.  I think I had spent too little focusing on getting endorsements.

those endorsements really make a difference Loup

i know that generally the first thing I do is upgrade my HQ in my homestate (for long term income); i usually build another Campaign HQ in a battleground state such as Ohio or FL early on (usually Turn 1 or 2), build the one that gets Endorsements in a safe state; and get at least two of those Aides going as soon as possible.  The Smear Agent and Spin Doctor are really useful, especially in tight places.  And don't forget to fundraise.  I know I was about every 5 weeks.  Its part of the reason I make Cali my home state, if the most money is there, i may as well start off with high awareness.

I've found awareness to not have that much impact on fundraising-at least not so much as voter percentage.  My fundraising in Texas is far better as Republican than it is as Democrat, even almost to California's level, while as Democrat it can't even come CLOSE to New York unless I've been milking it like crazy.

But I haven't done extensive testing with multiple awareness levels in a state (particularly as I'd need to reset the game each time to reset fundraiser count).

First time I played through (demo mind you, convinced me to buy it though), I was ecstatic that I managed to take Arizona from McCain.  There's just something about taking a candidate's home state from him...

Since then, I've gone on to both win and lose an epic number of campaigns, and now and then I even get -all- the states.

I personally don't find the endorsements to make that much difference.  I've gotten to the point where I just let my opponent eat up the ones he wants and buy mine later with the marginal resources I get from speeches (yes, speeches), but then again I've been playing longer games as of late and can afford to do that sort of thing.  I'd rather just max out awareness everywhere. 

Spin doctors and smear merchants are ridiculous, though.  I've used them to take Texas and Florida as Democrat, and California, New York, and Pennsylvania as Republican.  At one point I had something like 30 of them combined in either California or Texas, I forget which.  And of course my opponent bought some too, so I had to take them out.

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Incidentally, dependent on your candidate's stamina, if you spend the majority of your first several turns doing nothing, it can be worthwhile as your max stamina increases.  Numbers are as follows:

Note: The game adds 4 stamina to your base.

<Starting Base Stamina>: 0 <Stamina Rest Required>: 0 <Final Base Stamina>: 1
<Starting Base Stamina>: 1 <Stamina Rest Required>: 4 <Final Base Stamina>: 2
<Starting Base Stamina>: 2 <Stamina Rest Required>: 8 <Final Base Stamina>: 3
<Starting Base Stamina>: 3 <Stamina Rest Required>: 12 <Final Base Stamina>: 4
<Starting Base Stamina>: 4 <Stamina Rest Required>: 16 <Final Base Stamina>: 5
<Starting Base Stamina>: 5 <Stamina Rest Required>: 20 <Final Base Stamina>: 6
<Starting Base Stamina>: 6 <Stamina Rest Required>: 24 <Final Base Stamina>: 7
<Starting Base Stamina>: 7 <Stamina Rest Required>: 28 <Final Base Stamina>: 8
<Starting Base Stamina>: 8 <Stamina Rest Required>: 32 <Final Base Stamina>: 9
<Starting Base Stamina>: 9 <Stamina Rest Required>: 36 <Final Base Stamina>: 10

Note: This is cumulative for the next level, so you don't have to get it all in one turn.  Additional note: There does not seem to be any overflow.  For instance, if you are at 3 base stamina (7 total stamina) and have 2 stamina of rest to achieve base 4 stamina, you will still require 16 stamina to achieve base 5 stamina.

From 0 stamina, the additional stamina takes the following turns:

0 to 1: 1 turn (0 stamina rested, up to 4 stamina spent)
1 to 2: 1 turn (4 stamina rested, 0 stamina spent)
2 to 3: 2 turns (8 stamina rested, 4 stamina spent over 2 turns)
3 to 4: 2 turns (12 stamina rested, 0 stamina spent)
4 to 5: 2 turns (16 stamina rested, 8 per turn, 0 stamina spent)
5 to 6: 3 turns (20 stamina rested, 7 stamina spent over 3 turns)
6 to 7: 3 turns (24 stamina rested, 6 stamina spent over 3 turns)
7 to 8: 3 turns (28 stamina rested, 5 stamina spent over 3 turns)
8 to 9: 3 turns (32 stamina rested, 4 stamina spent over 3 turns)
9 to 10: 3 turns (36 stamina rested, 3 stamina spent over 3 turns)

So from zero base stamina, it will take you 2*1 + 3*2 + 5*3 turns to max your stamina, or 2+6+15=23 turns.

Obviously not worthwhile in a 21 week game, but becomes effective in 41 and longer.

Also, I do believe I'm the only guy crazy enough to play with a 0 stamina candidate.  I can't remember if this nulls the staminaless trophy, but I think it does, which means it's impossible to get as you auto go to 1 base stamina even if you don't rest.

A long-time player of the game, and a respected presence on the forums has joined our empire today.  A hearty welcome to SilverBeacher!  

I havent played against McCain yet.  I didnt think he would be too tough to crack.  I think there should be some random events in the game like, "Today presidential candidate John McCain shocked a crowd of his supporters by grabbing the ass of his running mate Sarah Palin!  It remains to be seen what effect this will have on the race."

I thought the endorsements were pretty important too, so after upgrading my HQ to the 3rd level the next thing I do is build a maxed-out structure that lets you buy endorsements.  I pick up the ones oriented towards my party, and 1 or 2 others of the other party.

SoleSoul, never thought of startgin with 0 stamina, but I might give it a try.  Thanks for the info.

Sentient species taste better...

thanks for the welcome KP

As for endorsements in PM08; they will solidify your position generally amongst your strongest demographic, and then will usually sway Independents one way or another. For example, if you win the NAACP (its called something else in the game though) you'll see your vote percentage raise pretty decently in states where there are large minority populations.  The Union Workers one will help solidify the Midwest.

Last night's 273 win was the closest win I've had against him.  Every other win I've had has been in the 400s.  I mainly spend my time bashing his dislike for withdrawing from iraq, his stance on universal health care and social security.  That normally is plenty enough to clinch a state lol.  After my first game and seeing the achivements, I focused on stealing AZ from him out of spite and desire for that achivement lol.

Since I'm only playing the demo, I only have the option to be Obama or McCain.  Also I only have the option for their proper VP...while the AI seems to be able to pick other VPs.  I've seen Kona, Huckabee and that guy from new mexico...his name escapes me right now, Richardson?

Welcome, Silverbeacher! 

What really sux is that in the demo, I can only play multiplayer.  That said, I cannot play in 'icon mode' to save my POS computer from lagging.  Heck, the game starts off (version 1.5) and the edges of the country are jagged and flashing.  Once I open a window and close it, that video glitch goes away.

I guess I really should be looking over in the PM threads now that I've gained some interest lol.

Oh yeah...and welcome SB.

Well, I'll find a race portrait that'll fit. Yeah I know it's unusual looking but so is the race that owns it,

Plus J and I wanted it to give it a very futuristic look with all of the windows and lights.

haha not to be too full of myself, but I singlehandidly brought the Colonial Fleet from 16th to 11th on the MV board just today.

They're a plucky group, those Colonials

Okay for the MV Empire mod I need help, I got only 8 races figured out,

1.Kzinti

2. ToE

3. The Diplomats

4. HCH

5. The Confederation

6. The Gerontocracy

7. The Olympian Gods

8. The Geckodon Alliance

I need more empires that I could use for races 9-12. Origianly the GSC was gonna be the 9th but I removed it.

lol... i just invited GreatCthulhu to join the ToE, no realizing it's KP's other account.

Sentient species taste better...

 I cried myself laughing over that

Welcome SB!

Any hints on how to get some better metaverse scores? Does a military victory provide the most net points?  

Yes, the military victory multiplier is the highest at 2.0.  The best way to improve your scores is to do everything sooner in the game.  Conquer the AIs sooner, maximize your economic output and military strength, grow your population quickly, and increase tech output.  Depending on your playstyle, there are many different strategies to utilize.  If you give a general idea of how you like to play, then we'll get you some specific ways in which to optimize your scores!

Sentient species taste better...

actually I just learned a handy trick for the start of any military game. Have really high diplomacy and influence all the AI's to go to war with each other. then they won't turn on you because their too busy waging war with each other. Then unit them all against the strongest AI. then against the next strongest, and again until it's just you and the weakest AI left. handy trick, I was quiet pleased when I read about this in the ARR's. tested the theory out and it was going great... until I had to go to bed.  

Thanks for the invite KP. I don't play as much as I use to, and don't comment in the forum much, but I accept. My main character has been renamed from my OG days. Say hello to Ferrel Mewler, and side kick 4 20.

Welcome to the Kzinti, Ferrel.  Glad to have at least former Olympian over here with me

Welcome Ferrel...may the Fanged God favor you with countless victories!

Great to have you in the Pride!

I always liked that trick.   Also, if you can only get each of them to go to war with a a few other AIs, better to have them be in conflict with ones as far from each other as possible.  So they will spend a lot of energy and resources on warmaking, but will not accomplish very much.  Best though, is to have everyone at war with everyone!  (except yourself)

Over-rated.   I'm lucky I only need about 5 hours/day of sleep.  Leaves more time for gaming.

Sentient species taste better...

Speaking of Devious Diplomatic Debauchery, I just put a painful pounding on the Thalans by spending my remaining BCs to buy about 5 techs from them just before I toasted their only planet with a spore ship. Sorry unsuspecting bug-soldiers never saw it coming.........