Frequently Asked Questions¶
Common questions about Lawmaker, answered.
Getting Started¶
What is Lawmaker?¶
Lawmaker is a multiplayer political simulation game where you manage a political party in a fictional democracy. You propose laws, vote on legislation, compete in elections, and form governments - all while competing against other human players.
See: Game Concept
Is Lawmaker free to play?¶
Check the official website at lawmakergame.com for current pricing and access information.
How much time does Lawmaker require?¶
Minimum: 15-30 minutes per day to vote on proposals and manage your party
Recommended: 1-2 hours per day for active coalition building, proposing laws, and strategic planning
Game time: 1 real hour = 1 game day, so the game progresses even when you're offline. You don't need to be constantly active.
Can I play on mobile?¶
Check the official website for information about platform support and mobile access.
Parties & Politics¶
Can I change my party's ideology after creation?¶
Your party's stated ideology (pillars) are set at creation, but you can:
- Vote differently than your stated positions
- Adjust positions (if game allows editing)
- Build a new record through voting
However, voters judge you by your voting record, not your stated ideology.
Can I create multiple parties?¶
In different countries: Yes, encouraged for experienced players
In the same country: Generally not allowed or discouraged - check your country's rules
Each party you create has independent Political Power, voting record, and seat count.
How do I delete my party?¶
Parties typically become inactive if you stop playing. Check game settings or contact administrators for party deletion options.
What happens if I don't vote on a proposal?¶
Not voting = Abstaining - Your vote is recorded as "Abstain" which doesn't count toward Yes or No.
Electoral impact: Excessive abstentions can make your party look weak or indecisive to voters.
Legislation¶
How long do I have to vote on proposals?¶
60 game days (2.5 real days) from when the proposal opens.
Can I change my vote after casting it?¶
Yes! You can change your vote anytime during the 60-day voting period. Only your final vote counts.
What happens if a proposal ties?¶
Ties go to No - A proposal needs >50% Yes votes to pass. Exactly 50% is not enough.
Can I withdraw a proposal after submitting it?¶
Generally no - Proposals cannot be withdrawn once submitted. The 30 PP cost is spent regardless of outcome.
Lesson: Build support before proposing!
How many proposals can I have active at once?¶
Usually no hard limit, but consider:
- Each costs 30 PP
- Managing multiple proposals requires attention
- Too many proposals can dilute your message
Recommended: 1-2 active proposals at a time
Elections¶
When are elections held?¶
Regular schedule: Typically every 4 game years (~96 game days = ~4 real days)
Early elections: Can be triggered by parties spending 30 PP and winning vote
Check your country's election schedule for specific dates.
Do I need to register for elections?¶
No - All parties with defined ideologies automatically participate in elections. No registration required.
How are seats allocated?¶
Proportional representation:
Your Seats = (Your Votes / Total Votes) × Total Seats
Example: 25% of votes → ~25% of seats
Why did I lose seats despite voting correctly?¶
Possible reasons:
- Inconsistent voting - Voted against your ideology
- Unpopular positions - Voters disagreed with your votes
- Competition - Another party appealed to your voters better
- Timing - Controversial votes right before election
- Low turnout - Your voters stayed home
Solution: Commission polls to diagnose issues, adjust strategy
Can I win a majority alone?¶
Rarely - Proportional systems make majorities uncommon. Most elections result in no party exceeding 50% of seats.
Normal outcome: Coalitions are necessary to form governments
Government & Cabinet¶
Do cabinet positions give me special powers?¶
Mostly symbolic - Cabinet positions provide:
- ✓ Prestige and credibility
- ✓ Character development (authority, followers)
- ✓ Political statement
- ✗ No direct mechanical powers
Real power comes from seats and voting weight, not cabinet positions.
How long does a government last?¶
Until one of these happens:
- Next election occurs
- Coalition collapses
- New cabinet formation is approved
- Government resigns
Typical: One election cycle (4 game years)
Can I be in government without being the largest party?¶
Yes! Coalition governments distribute power among multiple parties. You can join as a junior partner even with fewer seats than the lead party.
Resources¶
How do I get more Political Power?¶
Automatic generation: 1 PP per game day (1 real hour)
Maximum: 120 PP capacity
Only way to speed up: You can't - generation is fixed rate. Manage your PP budget carefully!
What's the best use of Political Power?¶
Priority order:
- Proposing important laws (30 PP) - Core party activity
- Recruiting key activists (10 PP) - Long-term investment
- Commissioning polls (10 PP) - Strategic intelligence
- Calling early elections (30 PP) - Only when advantageous
Avoid: Wasting PP on failed proposals or unnecessary character expulsions
I'm at 120 PP and it's not increasing. What's wrong?¶
Nothing is wrong! 120 PP is the maximum capacity. Once you reach the cap, PP stops generating.
Solution: Spend PP on proposals, recruitment, or polls to drop below cap and resume generation.
Characters¶
How many characters should I recruit?¶
Recommended:
- Early game: 2-3 activists
- Mid game: 5-7 activists
- Late game: 7-10 activists
Quality over quantity - 3 high-trait activists are better than 10 mediocre ones.
Can characters leave my party?¶
Expulsion only - Characters don't leave voluntarily. You must spend 25 PP to expel them.
Once expelled: They're permanently gone from your party.
Do characters have real effects on gameplay?¶
Yes:
- Persuasion affects proposal success likelihood
- Profile determines follower growth rate
- Cabinet positions build authority and followers
- Proposals authored by high-persuasion activists are more compelling
Technical & Gameplay¶
What happens if I stop playing for a while?¶
- Your party remains in the game
- You continue gaining PP (up to 120 cap)
- Elections occur without your votes (abstentions)
- Other parties may perceive you as inactive
- Extended inactivity may result in party removal
Recommended: Log in at least every few days to stay active
Can I see other parties' voting records?¶
Yes! All votes are public. You can view:
- How any party voted on any proposal
- Complete legislative history
- Electoral results
- Current seat counts
Transparency: Everything is visible to all players
How do I contact other parties?¶
Use the messaging system (guide here):
- Send private messages to any party
- Free (0 PP cost)
- Unlimited messaging
Is there voice chat or real-time communication?¶
The game provides text-based messaging. Any additional communication (Discord, etc.) is organized by players independently.
Strategy¶
What's the best ideology to win?¶
No single best ideology - Success depends on:
- Your country's voter distribution
- Existing party competition
- Consistency of your voting
- Coalition-building skills
Key: Find an underserved ideological niche and vote consistently.
Should I join the largest coalition or stay independent?¶
Trade-offs:
✓ Cabinet positions ✓ Legislative influence ✓ Shared resources ✗ Compromise on positions ✗ Share credit
✓ Full autonomy ✓ Clear opposition brand ✓ No compromises ✗ Harder to pass laws ✗ Excluded from government
Recommendation: Join coalitions when ideologically compatible, oppose when not.
How important are polls?¶
Very important - Polls show:
- Your current electoral position
- Whether your strategy is working
- Which voters you're winning/losing
- When to adjust course
Recommended: Commission polls every 30-60 game days (1-2 real days)
When should I propose legislation?¶
Best timing:
- After building coalition support - Don't waste 30 PP
- Early-to-mid election cycle - Allows time for voter memory
- When you have PP to spare - Don't deplete reserves
- After winning election - Claim electoral mandate
Community & Rules¶
Are there rules about party behavior?¶
Common rules:
- No harassment or abuse of other players
- No cheating or exploitation
- No creating multiple parties in same country (check specific rules)
- Follow country-specific guidelines
Enforcement: Handled by game administrators
How do I report a problem?¶
Check the game interface for:
- In-game reporting tools
- Contact information for administrators
- Community Discord or forums
- GitHub issues (for technical problems)
Can I suggest new features?¶
Yes! Most games welcome player feedback:
- Feature suggestions
- Balance proposals
- Bug reports
- Improvement ideas
Check official channels for how to submit suggestions.
Advanced Questions¶
Can I see the game's source code?¶
The game is hosted at GitHub repository. Check the repository for code access and contribution guidelines.
How does the voter simulation work exactly?¶
High-level:
- Each elector has positions on 8+ issues (-1 to +1)
- Electors review each party's voting record
- They compare votes to their personal preferences
- Recent votes weighted more heavily than old votes
- Electors vote for best-matching party
- Seat allocation follows proportional representation
Details: See Elections & Voters
Can I export my party's data?¶
Check game settings for data export options. Most modern games provide:
- Voting history
- Electoral results
- Character rosters
- Legislative records
What happens when game is updated?¶
Typical update process:
- Bug fixes applied seamlessly
- Balance changes announced in advance
- Major features tested before release
- Player data preserved through updates
Your party continues with its existing record and resources.
Still Have Questions?¶
- Read the manual: Explore the full documentation in this manual
- Ask other players: Use messaging system or community channels
- Contact support: Use official support channels
- Check GitHub: Technical issues can be reported at the repository
Welcome to Lawmaker, and good luck building your political legacy!