Getting Started¶
Welcome to Lawmaker! This guide will walk you through your first steps in the game.
Creating Your Account¶
- Visit lawmakergame.com
- Create an account with your email address
- Verify your email (check your spam folder if needed)
- Log in to access the game
Choosing a Country¶
After logging in, you'll need to select a country to play in. Each country is an independent simulation - parties in one country don't interact with parties in another.
Available countries include:
- Avalon - A large parliamentary democracy (65 million population, 650 seats)
- Marianne - French-inspired political system
- Columbia - American-style governance
- Rheinland - German-influenced federation
Choosing Your Country
Pick a country based on which community you want to join. Check each country's activity level and existing parties before deciding. Each player can run one party at a time, so choose carefully!
Creating Your First Party¶
Once you've selected a country, it's time to create your political party.
1. Basic Information¶
Give your party:
- Name - What your party will be called
- Abbreviation - A short form (e.g., "Democratic Party" → "DP")
- Color - Your party's identifying color on charts and maps
- Slogan - A catchy phrase that summarizes your platform
- Description - Explain your party's vision and goals
2. Define Your Ideology¶
This is the most important step! You'll choose 4 policy pillars from the available political issues and set your position on each:
| Issue | Spectrum |
|---|---|
| Gender Equality | Traditional Roles ↔ Full Equality |
| Role of Religion | Secular State ↔ Religious Governance |
| Environment | Economic Growth ↔ Environmental Protection |
| Individual Liberty | Strong Leadership ↔ Maximum Freedom |
| Military | Diplomatic Solutions ↔ Strong Military |
| Immigration | Border Security ↔ Open Borders |
| Economy | Wealth Redistribution ↔ Free Market |
| Workers' Rights | Business-Friendly ↔ Worker Protections |
Choose Carefully
Your ideological positions affect how voters perceive you. Vote consistently with your ideology to maintain credibility, or adjust your positions strategically to appeal to different voter groups.
3. Launch Your Party¶
Once you've defined your party, you're ready to enter the political arena!
Understanding the Dashboard¶
Your party dashboard shows:
- Political Power (PP) - Your resource for actions (you start with 100 PP and gain 1 PP per game day, modified by your positions)
- Current Seats - Your representation in legislatures
- Active Proposals - Laws currently being voted on
- Upcoming Elections - When the next election will occur
- Recent Activity - Latest game events
Your First Actions¶
1. Review Active Proposals¶
Check what laws other parties are proposing. Click on each proposal to:
- Read the proposed changes
- See how other parties voted
- Cast your vote (Yes, No, or Abstain)
Voting Strategy
Every vote shapes your party's legislative record. Voters will judge you based on your voting history, so vote according to your ideology or strategic goals.
2. Check the Current Laws¶
Visit your country's overview page to see:
- All current laws and their settings
- Which parties enacted them
- Historical changes to laws
This helps you understand what's already been decided and what you might want to change.
3. Build Political Power¶
You start with 100 Political Power (PP), and it regenerates at 1 PP per game day (1 real-world hour) up to a maximum of 120. Holding government positions increases your regeneration rate.
PP Costs:
| Action | Cost |
|---|---|
| Propose new legislation | 30 PP |
| Recruit a character | 10 PP |
| Commission a poll | 10 PP |
| Call early election | 30 PP (10 PP for empty legislatures) |
| Form government | 30 PP |
| Constitutional change | 60 PP |
| Found international bloc | 50 PP |
| Apply to bloc | 20 PP |
See Political Power for the full breakdown.
4. Agree to the Rules¶
Before you can fully participate, you'll be asked to read and agree to the game rules. These cover basic expectations like staying in character, not using real-world names, and being respectful to other players.
5. Wait for Elections¶
Elections happen on a regular schedule set per legislature. Your party will automatically participate based on your voting record and ideological positions.
Achievements¶
As you play, you'll unlock achievements that track your milestones:
| Achievement | How to Unlock |
|---|---|
| Party Founder | Create a party |
| Legislator | Propose legislation |
| Democratic Voice | Vote on legislation |
| Elected | Win a seat in a legislature |
| Majority Leader | Win a majority in a legislature |
| Diplomat | Send a DM to another party |
| Cabinet Member | Take a cabinet position |
| Head of State | Become Head of State |
Next Steps¶
Once you're comfortable with the basics:
- Propose Your First Law - Create legislation to change your country
- Recruit Characters - Build your party team with activists
- Study the Voters - Understand how electors make decisions
- Connect with Other Parties - Send messages and negotiate
Tips for New Players¶
!!! success "Starting Strategy" - Vote consistently with your ideology to build a clear party identity - Don't spend all your PP immediately - save some for opportunities - Study successful parties in your country to learn what voters want - Communicate with other parties - coalition building is key - Be patient - electoral success takes time and consistent voting
Game Pace
Remember: 1 real hour = 1 game day. You don't need to be online constantly. Check in once or twice a day to vote and make decisions.
Need Help?
Have questions? Join our Discord community to connect with experienced players, ask for advice, and learn from others' strategies.
Ready to dive deeper? Continue to Game Concept to understand the core mechanics, or jump to specific topics in the Gameplay section.