How to play
Election Mogul is a fictional, turn-based campaign simulation. This page explains the rules and the formulas you can inspect.
The campaign loop
- Choose a candidate, difficulty and optional starting staff.
- Complete the pre-campaign draft. AI campaigns pick using the same legality rules.
- Each week, spend up to 3 candidate action points and assign staff.
- Submit. Payroll, passive effects, actions, events, opponent AI and polling resolve in order.
- Read the report. Every effect lists its drivers; the checksum can be replayed.
- Win the primary, settle the ticket at the convention, then contest the general election.
Actions
| Action | AP | Cost | Roles | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rally or town hall Build enthusiasm and name recognition in one region. Stronger for charismatic candidates. |
1 | $20K | Candidate | Targeted region |
| Door-to-door field push Improve contact rate and turnout readiness. Requires a field or volunteer specialist. |
0 | $30K | Field director, Volunteer captain | Targeted region |
| Paid media buy Buy awareness and message exposure. Costs rise and effects decay with saturation. |
0 | $60K | Communications director, Media consultant | Targeted region |
| Fundraising event Raise campaign funds. Depends on candidate fundraising skill, staff, region wealth and donor fatigue. |
1 | $0 | Finance director | Campaign-wide |
| Debate preparation Raise debate readiness before a scheduled debate. Requires a debate coach for best results. |
1 | $5K | Debate coach | Campaign-wide |
| Policy rollout Shift issue alignment and enthusiasm. A mismatch with the region can backfire. |
1 | $10K | Policy adviser | Targeted region |
| Endorsement meeting Seek an endorsement from a scenario endorser. Relationship and party fit matter. |
1 | $8K | Campaign manager, Surrogate | Targeted region |
| Earned-media interview Earn media attention. Can improve or damage reputation; discipline lowers the risk. |
1 | $3K | Communications director | Campaign-wide |
| Opposition research Fictionalized research that can dent an opponent, with a risk of backlash. |
1 | $15K | Strategist | Targeted region |
| Candidate travel Relocate the candidate for future regional work at a stamina cost. |
0 | $5K | Candidate | Targeted region |
| Rest and recovery Recover candidate and staff fatigue at the cost of immediate campaign impact. |
0 | $0 | Candidate | Campaign-wide |
Roles
Traits
Rallies and field work land harder with volunteers.
Negative coverage stings; interview and scandal risk rises.
Policy rollouts and debates project competence.
Unscripted interviews carry extra risk.
Endorsement meetings and trades are easier to close.
Paid media and interviews get more reach, but scrutiny follows.
Rallies excite the base; interviews are less controlled.
Policy work is credible, fundraising is harder.
Debate preparation and debate performance improve.
Field work and empathy-based persuasion are weaker.
Fundraising raises less money.
Fatigue accumulates more slowly.
Morale drifts upward and poaching is harder.
Fundraising events are substantially more productive.
Field pushes produce more contact and turnout readiness.
Policy rollouts are more effective.
Every action is slightly weaker, but growth is faster.
Opposition research and events are more likely to backfire.
Endorsements and faction outreach are more effective.
Morale falls when left off the plan.
Reduces event and interview risk.