A sequel is now out! A newer, more open-source (licensing to be decided) version, aimed at streamlining the gameplay is now out:

　　https://bobbytwohands.itch.io/shadows-behind-the-throne-2

　　Shadows Behind the Throne is a strategy game inspired by Crusader Kings, Pandemic and That Which Sleeps. You play as the omnipresent yet weak force of darkness, seeking to bring an end to the current age of light. Your tools are political intrigue and large-scale yet imprecise world-manipulation.

　　Take low-ranking barons under your control, and through political negotiations make them great emperors, secretly spreading your shadow across their entire kingdoms. Take a small county and, though natural rituals, bring a global ice age except for your own small patch of land, and bring the people of the world to you as desperate refugees seeking the last warmth. Or simply take a baron, start a plague, a couple of civil wars and take the world by force as your enemies are divided.

　　State of the game:

　　As it stands, the game is intended to be a framework for more features and further development. That said, it is entirely playable, from beginning to end, features a range of playstyles and strategies.

　　It's unbalanced and chaotic, but possibly in a good and fun way.

　　Two versions are available, the older V13, which is hex-based, and has a wide range of different types of dark magic and powers, but has rather unfinished UI work, and the newer versions, starting at V20. These are location-and-link based, and are more polished, but lack some of the variety of the earlier versions (for now).

　　Credits

　　Overall Game: Bobby Two Hands

　　Cover Art: Derek Restivo

　　Featuring Writing By: Bill Redpath

　　Controls

　　Mouse + Keyboard.

　　Mouse handles camera panning, selecting (left to move/inspect, right to select), menu button clicking.

　　Keyboard camera panning through WASD or arrow keys, map-view lenses bound to 1,2,3,4 and 0.

　　Mouse wheel or z/x keys for map zoom

　　Left shift for quick change between world and societal views

　　Right click on a city to jump to city view, or use the "inspect hex" command with a hex selected to view all armies and cities in that hex.

　　Minimum specs

　　Minor.

　　2D graphics and turn based nature require little in the way of CPU or GPU power. Prefer screen resolutions of 1366x768 or above, but tested and functional on lower. Memory footprint around 200meg.

　　Plan for features which will be added if the kickstarter succeeds are described in the roadmap in this google document:

　　https://docs.google.com/document/d/13cW9jnFTfnX0Fu...

　　Existing features would be expanded somewhat, alongside the addition of these new ones. This would roughly double the content of the game, moreso if the stretch goals get added.