Alternative Playthroughs Guide

This page is for unusual playthroughs for a new RimWorld experience other than simply changing the starting scenario. Mods may be used depending on your favor.
It is recommended that you at least have some experience with a regular playthrough before you attempt the below. Hence, this guide will not go into detail the steps to building a base unless necessary.
== Peacekeepers/faction domination ==
This playthrough is for those who wish to stay on the rim for an extended period while constantly encountering combat. The main rule is that you stay to destroy all enemy faction bases- which ones are considered as the enemy is up to the player to decide.
=== Starting scenario ===
The start isn't the main point of the playthrough, so it's alright to start with plenty of supplies, so you can begin sending attack squads earlier. 
What you are recommended to start with:
# 10 colonists, the maximum allowed. They should have mastery of all skills between them, and preferably most if not all should be proficient at combat.
# Enough food to last at least 1 quadrum, that is upwards of 300 packaged survival meals.
# Lots of steel (1500 or above).
# Lots of components (100 or above).
# Sufficient weapons, armor and apparel.
=== First steps ===
After settling down and building a self-sufficient base, you will need to do the following:
# Capture and recruit enough people to assemble an assault squad while leaving enough people to defend your base. Around 10 people are needed for a squad that can reliably take down a base without too many casualties, and ideally you would need half your colonists to remain at base for upkeep and defense, so you will need 20 colonists before you set out first.
# Get enough resources to equip all soldiers with good equipment. Devilstrand clothing, flak armor and mid-game weaponry are recommended.
== Nomadic survival ==
This playthrough deviates from the regular base-building experience of RimWorld, by the extensive use of caravans and base settling.
It is beneficial to use a Tribal start for this scenario. Tribal colonies forage at 170% in biomes and seasons where foraging is possible. They also start the game with pemmican and passive coolers already researched, which are useful to create long-lasting travel food and build short-term shelters every time they stop.
Rimworld is designed to have a colony remain in one place for a long time; some activities such as recreation, research and production can only be accomplished on a map. Even if your colony moves a lot, it is necessary to Settle from time to time. So the main way to approach this play style is to decide on a self-imposed time limit, such as a quadrum or a year, after which you will pack up your colony and move to a new tile.
To minimize how often you Settle or how long you remain in a particular place, you can also get some work done on the event maps that spawn when your caravan is ambushed. However, these typically last for a very short time. Event maps for world quests, or for faction bases you are attacking, last longer. To use this method, you will need to have strong hauling animals such as muffalo or elephants to carry your heavy furniture.
If you Settle on a tile that is within 4 tiles of another faction, it increases their hostility. During the times when you Settle, you will want to settle close to friendly or neutral faction bases to facilitate trading. However, every time you "Abandon" a tile, it becomes inaccessible forever. So you will need to plan carefully to make sure you don't use up all the best locations too quickly.
Another way to approach this kind of playthrough is by using mods. "Set Up Camp" in particular is ideal for a nomadic run. With this mod, a colony could abandon its starting tile immediately and only use temporary campsites. Tiles where a camp has been set up become usable again after a certain amount of time.
== God-King ==
This is a more roleplay-based way to play Rimworld.
To begin, either start with or elevate one of your pawns to be a psycaster. Set this pawn as the leader of your ideoligion. You may also choose to make them a Sanguophage, or other unique xeno-type. Pamper this pawn to the utmost degree. Do not allow this pawn to do any manual labor, and always outfit them in the best equipment you can muster. Their throne and bedroom should also be as luxurious as possible. Other pawns should starve if it means this pawn gets a lavish meal instead of a simple one. If they die, consider the colony lost.
If your leader is a sanguophage, have them regularly feed off of their thralls. You may also introduce a caste system to your colony, with strict warrior, crafter/research, and labor classes. Proselytize your faith across the Rim, and burn those who do not.
Category:Guides