I've always had this idea in my head for a game. "Zeitgeist". It'd be an RTS-esque game between two factions. The British Army and some sort of vague amalgamation of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, Socialist Workers, Dissidents, Malcontents, Anarchists and essentially everyone that opposses the British Empire. Set in an alternatve 1888, where the Aeopile (in the 1st Century) actually caught on and helped develop steam technology, to the extent that in 1888 there are tanks, more powerful rifles, a hugely expanded rail network and, of course, massive factories and cities that dot the land.
The British Empire would still exist, as it did in 1888 in the real world, but would be far more powerful. Fighting the War of Independence in America at this stage, attempting to keep order in India and China and dealing with the massive malcontent at home. With a level of steam technology unseen before, but with the ethos of the 19th Century gentleman, there would be huge issues amongst the working class. D'israeli would be Prime Minister for his second term, having survived a heart attack a few years before, and, being so old, would be coerced by his Minister for Internal Affairs into taking an extremely harddline approach against any malcontents on the British Isles.
Oh, and did I mention that magic exists? Not the traditional kind, but more of a cthulhu-cult type. This wouldn't be common knowledge at all, but simply there to add more flavour.
The actual game would take place in Britain. Maps would be based on places like Lewisham, Manchester, Liverpool, Belfast, Dublin etc. Mostly city based. It would be a bit different from other RTS games in that, while the aim is to destroy your opponent, it would be done a bit differently. Maps would only be The British Army v. Rebel Faction. In these maps, there would be huge crowds of NPCs (ie. civilians) going about daily life. These crowds are a valuable resource. Rebels can hide within crowds to escape British army units and, ultimately, incite the population to rise up against the British Army HQ in the area.
There would be a meter called something like "State of Order" or something. It is the aim of the Rebels to deplete this meter completely. They'd do this through varying acts. Graffitti, beating British Army troops, bombing areas of the city, stealing from banks, occupying Great Places (ie. Buckingham Palace, as an extreme example), destroying factories, raiding Police Stations etc.
The British Army would have to try and control this meter by patrolling units around the city, building Propaganda Towers, cleaning up graffitti and public executions. This will raise the State of Order. However, they can inadvertantly decrease this meter by firing on citizens and destroying rebel HQs. As the State of Order meter decreases, the Army gets access to more and more powerful weapons and units, in order to combat the perceived increased threat of rebellion in the area.
If the State of Order decreases enough, the populace will rise up and begin attacking the British Army Military HQ, pressuring them, and giving the rebels the opportunity to destroy the base. Without this support the rebels would not be able to destroy the British Army base, as the British Army would outgun them with more powerful, regimented troops and firepower.
The aim of the British Army is to locate and destroy all the hidden Rebel HQs on the map. They can locate these by patrollin streets, questioning rebels etc. The aim of the Rebels is to destroy the single visible British Army HQ.
Resource allocation works thus; banks and factories are scattered throughout the map. These would be under the control of the British Army and generate money for them. Rebels can committ raids or bank heists to gain income, or blow them up to deny anyone access to them, and also gain more money the more the State of Order decreases.
I've had this in my head for a long time. It's quite jumbled here but makes perfect sense in my head
Oh, and copyrighted 2011 EvilEggCracker
