The grand strategy game Gilded Destiny recently released a new dev diary on its YouTube channel, with producer Mark delving deeper into the game’s approach to historical events. He explained the design philosophy and how historical events are modeled using the game’s system, and also provided insight into event configuration within the game editor. This title can be found on Steam.
“Our core approach to historical events is to allow players to experience them as they actually happened—if they choose to. However, faithfully replicating every historical detail, from the micro to the macro level, would make the game incredibly complex or unplayable. Because of this, we sometimes rely on abstractions or creative solutions to achieve the desired outcome,” Mark said and added:
“At the same time, we want players to have the freedom to deviate from history. After all, part of the fun in a historical game is the ability to rewrite it. This can happen through direct decisions during events or through broader geopolitical changes resulting from gameplay. For example, there is no guarantee that a specific state will exist, have the same territories, or maintain certain alliances by a certain date.”
To achieve this balance, events are designed to be adaptable to alternative historical scenarios. Mark here cited the example of 19th-century Prussian history, focusing on the Second Schleswig War and its consequences. The question of Schleswig-Holstein became relevant as the end of Danish rule over the region approached. The First Schleswig War did not resolve the issue, as Prussia withdrew under pressure from the United Kingdom and Russia, resulting in an agreement that prevented Denmark from fully integrating Schleswig-Holstein.
“In Gilded Destiny, we modeled this sequence of events to simultaneously preserve historical accuracy and player freedom. For example, we check if Denmark still owns Schleswig-Holstein and remains a monarchy. If so, Denmark faces a choice: sign a constitution integrating Schleswig or face political unrest. If Denmark chooses integration, Prussia can respond diplomatically or prepare for war,” Mark noted.
Prussian decisions echo throughout the game. It can ally with Austria, offer it Holstein, or risk strengthening liberalism in the German states. The United Kingdom and Russia also play a major role, deciding whether to support Denmark or remain neutral. The decisions are structured so that the AI usually follows historical paths, but players are given the freedom to carve their own course of events.
The event system also models the consequences of these decisions. Political opinions shift, the population reacts, and international prestige adjusts to the player’s actions. Even if Prussia loses the war or avoids the conflict entirely, the game adapts. For example, if Prussia and Austria do not go to war over Schleswig-Holstein, tensions over other territories, such as Silesia, might trigger a conflict.
