Sept. 2025 Development Log
This Development Log marks the first in what will be an ongoing series of monthly development updates for Global Nexus. These updates are a way to document progress, share what's been worked on, and give those interested a look inside the evolving design of the game and its structure, mechanics, and layers. Each month's post will highlight both major milestones and smaller refinements, and I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them!
September has been one of the busiest months for Global Nexus in recent memory. A lot of systems have taken shape, others have been refined, and several major pieces of the game are inching closer to their final form.
The biggest focus this month has been on Manual One, currently titled Pre-Game Information and Preparation. Large sections have been redrafted to improve clarity and consistency, setting a much stronger foundation for participants before the game even begins.
Alongside that, I've also eagerly been working on a relatively new concept - NPC Factions. The addition of these was first spoken of during a test game, but the idea was put on the backburner until now. This aspect includes mechanics for militant organisations, rebel groups, and other non-state actors. These will add new dynamics to conflict, stability, and both international and domestic politics, ensuring that nations aren't the only parties with agency during the game. These factions are controlled by Moderators using random event rolls (and other mechanics) based on the events and measures of the nation in which they operate.
Several new Measures of Society have also been introduced, including Industrial Capability, Internal Security, and Bureaucratic Efficiency, each designed to give nations more depth and texture in how they're managed and how they respond to challenges. These new additions bring the total number of Measures of Society to 42 (not including concept measures or economic and demographic statistics),
On the military side, I've begun drafting what will likely be the final iteration of war and conflict mechanics. These rules aim to strike a balance between complexity and playability, while also capturing the messy, unpredictable nature of conflict in the world of Global Nexus.
Finally, September also marked the beginning of the Government Systems Guide, which will serve as a supplement rulebook that outlines the mechanics of twelve political systems that nations may adopt. This guide will allow players to explore strengths, weaknesses, and unique gameplay impacts of everything from parliamentary democracies to more authoritarian models.
There's much more in the works (as always) that I don't have time to talk about here, but September 2025 stands out as a month where many threads of the game finally starting weaving together.