I have been thinking about this question a lot. Why are the factions of subterfuge fighting each other (aside from the fact that it is a game). I was wondering if someone could come up with an explanation that fits some sort of subterfuge lore.

In the rules it says we are fighting to be the first to reach 200 neptunium, but everyone knows that. It also says ice you reach the goal you can construct "The apparatus" nobody knows what it does. There are many theories out there. I Believe the apparatus is a nuclear warhead of some type becuase neptunium can be used to make plutonium, an ingredient in nuclear bombs.

I think the devs confirmed the story was about a planet in destruction. To get away you must construct "the apparatus" to be safe, then once you leave you go to a new planet. Then, a similar thing happens there and the cycle restarts.

Why don't we all work together then?

Only one may survive... *dun dun dun*

One color to rule them all

The lore went something like this:
1. The planet (or more like torus ) has very few inhabitants.
2. Generation by generation they become more and more civilised.
3. A few thousand years later someone finds a forgotten ancient blueprint to a machine called 'The Apparatus' (nobody knows what it does).
4. The race to build it begins.
5. The first faction to build 'The Apparatus' uses it and it destroys most of civilisation.
6. Back to 1.

tw2000 wrote:The lore went something like this:
1. The planet (or more like torus ) has very few inhabitants.
2. Generation by generation they become more and more civilised.
3. A few thousand years later someone finds a forgotten ancient blueprint to a machine called 'The Apparatus' (nobody knows what it does).
4. The race to build it begins.
5. The first faction to build 'The Apparatus' uses it and it destroys most of civilisation.
6. Back to 1.

The game is all about this repeating process but we are only interested in step 4 and 5.

tw2000 wrote:The lore went something like this:
1. The planet (or more like torus ) has very few inhabitants.
2. Generation by generation they become more and more civilised.
3. A few thousand years later someone finds a forgotten ancient blueprint to a machine called 'The Apparatus' (nobody knows what it does).
4. The race to build it begins.
5. The first faction to build 'The Apparatus' uses it and it destroys most of civilisation.
6. Back to 1.

So you're saying there's a while between step 6 and reaching step 4. For a civilization to rebuild, even one as advanced as this, would take a few thousand years like you said. Maybe a bit less. So, looking at me, I've played 106 games. If the time between each game is a few thousand years, then I must be extremely old. Or are there many colonies that all act the same way?

And also, how do we explain domination?

Domination is what takes place inside of that thousand years. The people aren't advanced enough to kill each other with the apparatus, so they have to become strong just by holding a lot of territory and having a lot of drillers to do combat in a more conventional way.