Diarium XVI
Gaudí: Dream of Art Deco
Hello everyone! Welcome to a new diary after a far too long hiatus. Actually, I had planned to be able to report on Curtiss at that time; but the mentioned delays, which unfortunately were beyond my control, messed up the schedule. Therefore, in this dev diary, I will tell about things that are already in the new update. Since I don't see these diaries only as teasers, but also as explanations, as long as I haven't integrated any concepts into the game, I think it's necessary to explain game content that is already known again.
Last time I went into more detail about the monuments and their events. With "Antonelli" I integrated four new monuments: Cologne Cathedral, Gotthardbahn, Cristo Redentor and Mole Antonelliana. Two monuments will follow: the Vienna Ringstrasse and the Sagrada Família. Linked to the latter is an outstanding achievement that will test your skills as a Morgenröte player in archaeology, astronomy, music, and architecture, similar to the existing Kulturnation achievement. I'm confident that the Vienna Ringstrasse will be ready in the coming week, but I can't promise the same for the Sagrada Família with certainty.
The background is simple. The Vienna Ringstrasse has 3 construction stages and should therefore be completed within around 30 years. The Sagrada Família has 10 building stages. You read that right: that means an average construction period of 100 years! That seems appropriate given that the Sagrada Família is still not finished today. However, one should not forget the halt to construction and the destruction caused by the Spanish Civil War. The Sagrada will therefore function somewhat differently. Instead of upon completion, you already get 20 permanent prestige for each completed level. And of course there will be a way for the player, at least in theory, to be able to complete the building, which of course involves an early start and some - shall we say - positive political circumstances...
But enough of that. Because today it is not the monuments that should be in the foreground, but other aspects of architecture. Three different cultural routes were introduced in Elgar: Impressionism (leading to Neoclassicism), Expressionism (leading to Neue Sachlichkeit) and Art Nouveau (leading to Art Deco). With these three technologies, it was already noticeable at the time that the Impressionism choice gives a bonus for musical tradition, while Art Nouveau is the weakest in this value. Art Nouveau is more of an art technology for painting and architecture; and it is precisely this architectural focus that is intended to make up for the lower musical tradition output.
It starts with Art Nouveau. Anyone who explores Art Nouveau has the possibility of establishing a significant artistic association in their nation. Of course, this requires certain circumstances such as a large art academy and the leading position as a producer of fine art. A maximum of three nations can found such an artists' association based on the model of the Vienna Secession. In addition, there is the possibility that Art Nouveau quarters will be founded in your country, so that the respective states can muster a high degree of urbanization, a well-developed art academy, university and opera. If this is the case, there is a point for splendid architecture.
Splendid architecture is the value in a small journal entry. It is about transforming your country into a country of modern and luxurious architecture, primarily in the style of Art Nouveau and Art Deco; especially the latter style dominates once you have explored it. Under certain conditions, your skyscrapers, government offices, airports (with Curtiss) and cinemas will then receive buildings in this modern style.
Speaking of cinema: with mass culture you unlock the ability to set up radio stations. This is a production method in urban centers. They are more cosmetic, but can make music with some electricity (which is why this innovation is also entered in the code under Elgar and not Gaudí). If you own a radio station, you can also start a radio broadcast. Of course, authoritarian systems also have propaganda stations at their disposal. The same applies here: more flavor than gameplay.
In addition, this update includes some small things, such as the invention of the twelve-tone technique for the first nation to research New Objectivity. The Bauhaus movement has a journal entry.
