Carter creamed me: Why?

from PolMach Forums
There is something fundamental that I am not understanding about the game.

In week 30, I was leading handily nationally and was certainly beating Carter by at least 8 points in Texas, Florida, New York, Ohio, and Illinois. Within two weeks, Carter had turned all of those states Democratic, and by the end of the campaign, he had won with me only polling 172 electoral votes.

He did this despite not winning a single issue in any of the states, save prescription drugs for seniors in Ohio. How is this possible? Awareness was 100% for me in all of the states. Exit polls showed me winning by 80-20 margins, or better, on the top three issues (Iraq, War on Terror, and More Jobs) nationally. I've reloaded the game several times, and I cannot figure out how Carter is erasing huge deficits. I'm outspending him. I used 42 political capital to his 14. I was endorsed by the Christians, Foreign Policy Council, and Tax Payers to his NOW and Chamber and Commerce. But he still destroys me in the key states down the stretch.

What is happening?
15,966 views 24 replies
Reply #1 from PolMach Forums Top

If I had to guess, and this is just a guess based on what you told me, it's your awareness.

Awareness fades (what have you done for me lately?).  Ever notice in the real world that candidates will travel to different states a lot at the last second?

What i suggest is as follows:

1) Build campaign HQs in lots of states.

2) Put newspaper ads in remaining states. Let the people know you care.

3) Remember: Voter turnout matters. Awareness is your ability to get YOUR side out there to vote for you.

Reply #2 from PolMach Forums Top
My awareness is 100% in the states that matter. Furthermore, in my latest attempt to defeat Carter, I spent the last 10 weeks doing nothing but giving speeches in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Texas and Florida. I have yet to win a single one, despite starting ahead of Carter in all of them in week 30.

I have TONS of ads in Texas, Florida, and Illinois. I have webmasters in Ill and FLA and a movie producer in Florida. I have three TV ads in Florida, and two each in Texas and Florida. Doesn't matter. Carter still wins them handily, with only minimal advertising.

I have campaign HQ's in an enormous number of states, including 2nd tier ones in all of the states I mentioned.
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Reply #3 from PolMach Forums Top
I've seent this too. It's ahppened to me at Normal and Tough levels. At the last bit of the campaign the other guy just seems to magically turn states where I have like 5 TV adds playing, a TOP level HQ,, radio, newspaper, etc... I'm wondering the people are just saturated with me?

It's a strange thing.
Reply #4 from PolMach Forums Top
Let me just point out one state that I can't figure out in this campaign.

Week 41: Texas

Carter: 50% Me: 41%
Awareness: 92% 100%
More Jobs: 37 49
Iraq: -8 34
Terror: 5 34
HQ Level: None 2nd
Ads: 2 newspaper 2 Radio, one newspaper

This pattern is repeated in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Indiana, except Carter has HQ's in some of them.

How is he winning this state? Keep in mind, he's come back to win it, because I led in Texas up to week 31.
Reply #5 from PolMach Forums Top
Here's an image of me facing the smae thing in Florida:

http://www.applesnake.net/whatgives.png Seems like something's screwed up if you ask me.
Reply #6 from PolMach Forums Top
That's exactly like my situation and must be some kind of "bug" with the scaled difficulty levels.

Its good to know, at least, that its not a GOP v. Democrat thing since its happening to you as a Democrat and me as a Republican.
Reply #7 from PolMach Forums Top
yeah, me too. I had a 10% lead in NY, Cali, Tex, Flor, Penn, Ohio, and michigan. 2nd tier HQs in each, and running adds and speaking like crazy, and I had 3 endorsements. And carter comes back and wins all of em and I am from Texas!
Reply #8 from PolMach Forums Top
This has to be a bug of some kind.

Are you guys playing campaign mode too?
Reply #9 from PolMach Forums Top
Mine occurs in freeplay or whatever, so it's not limited to campaign mode. I'm satarting to think it's linked to difficulty level maybe? I mean it's got to be some particular setup we do since not everyone's complaining about this. I am using a custom candidate, are you guys?
Reply #10 from PolMach Forums Top
See the other post for my thoughts on this.  I don't think it's a bug, I think it is somethign that isn't displayed.
Reply #11 from PolMach Forums Top
Well then what is this magical thing, because I'd like to know how to take advantage of it. It's getting sorta spooky how states just start flipping really fast to the enemy.
Reply #12 from PolMach Forums Top
Oops, meant to say if it's those other non-displayed chatracteristics, mine shouldn't be that bad as I gave a good interview. Unless the press lies!?!?
Reply #13 from PolMach Forums Top
I'm not an expert on this game, but if its not interviews, political operatives, advertising, issue ratings, and the state's breakdown between GOP and Democrats, what could it be?

I'm with Dearmad. I can't see how this isn't a bug. I guess it could be some really hidden thing in the game, but in my games, I'm winning on most every top 5 issue in the states in question and still getting creamed.
Reply #14 from PolMach Forums Top
Well, possibly inthe other thread Brad is mentioning the picking of our VPs... he says the AI is very good at picking them.

Maybe it makes a huge difference... I'll have to try another game.

But all the same ADVERTINSING UP THE WHAZOOO (hitting CNTRL-M for $5,000,000 instantly) and I STILL can't gain... that's a little much to believe.
Reply #15 from PolMach Forums Top
Also, see my other thread, I just posted ANOTHER screen shot that has me wondering...
Reply #16 from PolMach Forums Top
Can I send a save game in for a diagnostic of this?
Reply #17 from PolMach Forums Top
OK, we're looking into jscott's file. Carter definatly kicks some arse in the last quarter...quite frustrating We'll keep you guys up to date (and thanks for the save game file, jscott, it should lead to the answer)
Reply #18 from PolMach Forums Top
Yay!!!!!!! Hope the bottom can be plumbed here.
Reply #19 from PolMach Forums Top
i have recently had this problem and i just solved it and i have advice for all of you on this. DON"T TAKE ANY STATE FOR GRANTED. You may have noticed that the first few opponents you face are so easy that you can win with little effort. But once you get to your 5th opponent, watch out, take more time to plan your moves, look at all of your opponents ads and counter them with your own on the same subject. On the top 3 issues, only run ads and make speeches on the one's that will improve your partys image and check on this. Even the most loyal state to you can switch on the dime.
Reply #20 from PolMach Forums Top
Well thanks, but it was a bug too.
Reply #22 from PolMach Forums Top
It could be that he's using political operatives to decrease your advantage or increase his advantage. try getting your own political operatives or getting a fixer to get rid of his
Reply #23 from PolMach Forums Top
What about the version 1.01 out?? You should check that out. Some people were complaining about how they couldn't be Theodore Roosevelt, because he was too strong. I suggest you download the 1.01 version. There is a forum out here that tells you all about what has been updated.
Reply #24 from PolMach Forums Top
To clear this up:

Carter was beating me because custom candidates were having many traits set to 0. Therefore, Carter was able to win virtually state by simply raising his awareness. My issue stances couldn't compensate.

This bug was discovered and fixed by 1.01.