
AGE OF ATOM AND URANIUM
One of the two new Ages included in Atomic Ambitions, the Age of Atom, explores a more peaceful path. While nuclear power is available in the free update, this new Age provides unique ways to put it to use, at much earlier point in the game. Age of Atom’s final form is the result of a lot of competing concepts and iteration. The initial seed for the Age came from wanting to introduce Uranium before Age 8 (which is where we intend to unlock it for “normal” gameplay). We had a few interesting pitches for how we wanted to handle “early Uranium” (including an “Age of Nuclear Alchemy” where the mysterious properties of Uranium would be expanded in a mythological, superstitious direction). In the end, we found that an ahistoric retro-futuristic Age was perfect for the blend of mechanics and theme we wanted. The retro-futuristic look (or perhaps “futuristic” look if you take the viewpoint of the citizens living within the game), is not just skin-deep. We designed the content of the Age to reflect the emotion of the era we’re inspired by. A sort of fantastical time with near sci-fi technology, creative uses for Uranium with little downside, and a positive view toward future driven by atomic energy. Uranium is still a great a power source in the Age of Atom, but it can also be converted into a variety of new Goods, including Ferrouranium (the substitute for Steel in this Age), Luminous Paints, or Delicacies.


AGE OF WASTELAND AND NUCLEAR BOMBS
Age of Atom’s more warlike cousin is the second new Age introduced in Atomic Ambitions, the Age of Wasteland. This Age focuses primarily on one consequence of nuclear power: nuclear weapons. The upcoming free update brings the ability to unlock the Manhattan Project (a Megaproject, like the Space Race) in each of the Age 8 variants. With the Manhattan Project, you’ll research the secrets of the atom, discovering how to split the atom, then ultimately creating nuclear bombs.







STRATEGIC WARFARE
We’re also rolling out the Strategic Warfare update in the next update, which changes how Siege Units and sieging Cities work. At a high-level, Siege Units have better Unit Actions to attack from a safer distance, and Sieging a City now damages the Buildings in that City. (Find more information about this update in the previous Developer Diary) Those changes came about as a result of how we wanted nuclear weapons to behave, but we’ve also updated the existing Siege mechanics to follow suit. Now that Siege is more interesting in the early Ages, we created a new National Spirit to amplify that experience: the Siege Masters National Spirit, included in Atomic Ambitions. Siege Masters rely on their Pioneers to establish Outposts on the front-lines. These Outposts are homes to the new Siege Camp Improvement, used to build Ballistae, Trebuchet, and Siege Towers at that Outpost. Siege Units built by the Siege Masters also get bonuses to their Barrage damage and Siege damage, cementing their legacy even in the later Ages when you Decommission your wooden war machines in exchange for Cannons and Field Howitzers.