“Through the Darkest of Times” Mac Edition: Complete Guide to Core Interface and Controls

II. Complete Operation Flow: From Start to Export

This section provides a detailed walkthrough of the complete steps from launching the game to completing a chapter (exporting game progress).

2.1 Create/Start a New Game

Operation path: Game launch → Main menu → “Start New Game” → Select difficulty → Create resistance organization.

1. After launching the game, click “Start New Game” in the main menu.
2. Select the game difficulty (e.g., “Historical” mode for realism, “Easy” mode to reduce the challenge).
3. Enter the creation phase:
   • Name your resistance organization.
   • Select your starting members (usually choosing two from four characters with different skill sets).
   • Read the opening narrative to learn about the historical backdrop of 1933 Berlin.
4. Click “Continue” to enter the safehouse interface for the first week, and the game officially begins.

2.2 Core Game Loop (One-Week Flow)

The game progresses in “weeks,” with the following core steps each week:

1. Safehouse Planning Phase (Start of Each Week):
   • Check the member list on the right side to review each person’s status and skills.
   • From the action list at the bottom, select the tasks to be carried out this week (e.g., “Raise Funds,” “Put Up Posters”), and drag and assign them to suitable members. Shortcut Tip: Use left mouse button to click and drag for assignment.
   • Once assignments are complete, click the “Execute Week Plan” button in the bottom right corner (or press the Spacebar) to enter this week’s execution phase.
2. Map Operations & Decision Phase (Midweek):
   • Switch the view to the Berlin map. Assigned missions will flash as icons on the map.
   • Controls: Use left mouse button to click on a flashing mission location and enter the mission details screen.
   • On the mission screen, confirm the participating members and click “Execute Mission” to begin the check. The result (success/failure/side effects) will be displayed immediately.
   • During execution, random events (such as encountering patrols or receiving requests for help) will pop up, requiring you to make instant choices.
   • Use the mouse scroll wheel or two-finger swipe on trackpad to zoom the map view.
3. Safehouse Summary Phase (Weekend):
   • After all missions are completed, you will automatically return to the safehouse.
   • The system summarizes the week’s results, displays resource changes, and advances the narrative.
   • Handle possible member stress events (e.g., deciding whether to rescue a captured member).
   • Click “Continue” to proceed to the next week, repeating the above process.

2.3 Saving the Game & Exporting Progress

The game uses a combination of autosave and manual save.

• Manual Save: Click the menu button in the top-left corner → select “Save Game” → choose a save slot → click “Save.” Shortcut: Command (⌘) + S.
• Auto-Save: The game automatically saves at the end of each week and at key story milestones.
• Load Game: From the main menu or in-game menu, select “Load Game,” choose a save file, and click “Load.” Shortcut: Command (⌘) + L.
• What “Export” Means: In this game, “export” does not refer to outputting a file. Instead, it refers to completing the story progress of a chapter (e.g., Chapter One, “Spark”). All your choices and progress are automatically recorded in the system save and carried over to the next chapter.

III. Advanced Tips for Common Features

1. Member Stress Management:
   • Members with high stress are prone to failing or quitting. Assign them to “safe” tasks (such as internal discussions), or give them a week off with no assignments to effectively reduce their stress.
   • Prioritize upgrading members who have the “Inspire” skill, as they can help lower the stress of other members.
2. Resource Balancing Strategy:
   • “Hope” is the most critical resource—if it drops to zero, the game is lost. Make sure there is at least one task each week that can raise “Hope” (such as distributing flyers or creating art).
   • Prioritize “fundraising” tasks early on to lay the foundation for more complex and resource-intensive actions later (such as purchasing supplies and bribery).
3. Avoiding Risks:
   • On the map screen, always keep an eye out for the red helmet icon (the MI6 patrol team). Before undertaking nearby missions, you can wait for the patrol to move away, or send a member with high “Stealth” skill to reduce the risk of being detected.
   • Do not repeatedly perform the same type of task in the same area, as this will increase the “suspicion level” of that area.
4. Efficient Operations:
   • When assigning tasks in the safehouse, you can drag the task icon directly onto a member’s portrait on the right side, without opening the secondary menu.
   • On the map screen, press the Spacebar to quickly skip the current week’s task execution animation and go straight to the weekend summary.

IV. Common Issues and Solutions

1. Issue: “Hope” drops too quickly, and the game ends in failure soon after.
   
   Solution: Check your task combinations. Overly aggressive or high-risk actions (such as sabotage) will consume Hope. Make sure that at least 1-2 of your weekly tasks are ones that can reliably generate “Hope” (such as “Art Creation” or “Small Gathering”). Also, pay attention to public “Support” — the higher the Support, the easier it is to maintain Hope.
2. Problem: Members are frequently captured or suffer mental breakdowns.
   
   Solution: Avoid assigning members whose Stress value exceeds 2/3 to high-risk missions. On the mission assignment screen, pay attention to the risk indicator for each mission (Low, Medium, High). Assign members with the “Stealth” skill to high-risk missions. Arrange member rotations sensibly.
3. Problem: Funds are never enough.
   
   Solution: Once your organization grows to 3-4 members, make sure one person is dedicated to “collecting funds” each week. Prioritize recruiting members with the “Business” skill, as they collect funds more efficiently. Be cautious when choosing story options that require large amounts of funds.
4. Problem: Mission success rate is too low and missions often fail.
   
   Solution: Strictly follow the “skill matching” principle. Assign missions to members who possess the primary skill corresponding to that mission (highlighted in the mission description, e.g., “Charisma”) and have a high skill level. You can dispatch multiple members to carry out a single mission together to improve the success rate (if the mission allows it).
5. Problem: You don’t know what impact story choices will have.
   
   Solution: This is part of the game’s design, intended to simulate the uncertainty of decision-making in a historical setting. There are no absolutely “correct” choices, but choices that align with the organization’s current core values (such as protecting members, boosting morale) and your resource situation tend to be more reliable. Your choices will shape a unique resistance story.

五、 Mac Shortcuts Summary

Function	Shortcut (Mac)	Description
Open Game Menu	Esc	Bring up the main menu to save, load, and perform other actions
Quick Save Game	⌘ + S	Immediately bring up the save game screen
Quick Load Game	⌘ + L	Immediately bring up the load game screen
Execute Weekly Plan / Quick Advance	空格键	Enter this week’s actions in the safehouse, or skip animations on the map
Pause / Resume Game	P	Pause game progress during the map execution phase
Open Event Log	J	View past historical events and choice records
Switch to Map Overview	M	Quickly return to the Berlin map from any screen
Zoom In/Out Map	鼠标滚轮 or 触控板双指滑动	Adjust the map view
Confirm / Continue Dialogue	回车键 (Return) or 鼠标左键	Advance text in story dialogues and events