Dev diary: planned mechanics

We’re planning to introduce a set of new gameplay mechanics in Bangkok.  Here's a quick update.

Money

The agent needs money to live, to do certain activities, and to buy stuff.  She will earn money from working, mainly as a prostitute at the Hard Cock Cafe.

Stress

The agent becomes stressed by negative events (for example, working as a prostitute).  She can reduce stress through pleasant activities and positive events.  

• High stress affects your gameplay choices (an agent who doesn’t Like Rough Sex can put up with being spanked and fucked hard if her stress is low; if it's high, she might have an emotional outburst).
• Prolonged high stress can cause your agent to crack under the pressure of the assignment, causing the mission to be aborted.

Skills and experience

We’re planning to make more use of skills and skill rolls in Bangkok.  Agents will be able to level up in the skills they use the most – perhaps during this mission, your agent will become a Muay Thai expert, or an ace computer hacker!  Also, she's going to become really good at dancing naked on a stage and having sex with strangers.

Suspicion

Bangkok’s red light districts are infested with organised crime, and your agent’s life is at risk should the gangs suspect there’s more to her than she claims.  Suspicion is a hidden meter that you’ll want to avoid raising.

• High suspicion can lead to your agent being murdered if she doesn’t abort the mission in time.

These mechanics interrelate with each other: for example, you can draw on agency funds should you need money, but doing so can raise suspicion (because spies living beyond their means can draw attention).  If suspicion is high you might attract surveillance, which you can detect if your tradecraft skills are good enough – and realising you’re under surveillance will increase your stress.