# Game design overview

This folder holds **vision-level** design: what we want players to feel, do, and discover before we lock schemas, APIs, or content pipelines. Use it for brainstorming and alignment; when something is ready to drive implementation, it should gain a path in [`docs/decomposition/`](../decomposition/README.md) or [`docs/plans/`](../plans/).

## Summary

Neon Sprawl’s design work here starts from **concrete visions** of progression, places, risk, economy, social play, combat, and the items/abilities that express them. Documents below are added as we write them; each should stay opinionated and specific enough to argue with, without pretending to be a full GDD.

**Hybrid progression:** [progression.md](progression.md) (vocabulary + why gigs + skills). **Gig** detail: [gigs.md](gigs.md). **Skills** + **seams**: [skills.md](skills.md). **Abilities** (combat vs non-combat actions): [abilities.md](abilities.md). **Items** (loot, craft, equip): [items.md](items.md). **Loose ideas:** [`brainstorm/`](brainstorm/README.md).

## Presentation and target rating (vision)

**Intent:** The world and systems can carry **very grim** **ideas** (e.g. noir crime, body horror *as fiction*, exploitation as something the story *condemns or resists*). **On-screen presentation** stays **restrained**—implication, silhouette, report text, off-camera beats—not graphic **adult-only** depiction. **Overall product goal** is roughly a **teen-oriented** band (think **ESRB Teen–class** framing); **exact** labels, cuts, and territory rules are **out of scope** for per-skill design docs.

**TODO**

- Lock **target band** with stakeholders and (when relevant) compliance counsel—not a commitment to a specific board outcome until submission.
- Write **content guidelines**: grim **concept** vs acceptable **depiction** (UI, cinematics, props, loot naming) before heavy production on sensitive beats.
- Track **regional ratings and storefront policy** (PEGI, CERO, platform rules, etc.) when we approach release—do not block skill or quest design on that in early vision work.

## Artifact index

| Document | Focus | Notes |
|----------|--------|--------|
| [progression.md](progression.md) | Shared **gig + skill** vision, vocabulary, links | Start here for progression |
| [skills.md](skills.md) | Non-combat **skills**; seams; **v0 skill roster** by category | With [gigs.md](gigs.md); roster encodes **Hardshell** / **Softshell** / **Edgesmith** / **Rigging** equip vs **combat-deploy** rules ([Seams](skills.md#seams-gigs-skills)) |
| [gigs.md](gigs.md) | **9-gig roster** (v1 cyberpunk names); hub, sub-gig, party | Recruitment **deferred**; PvP **open indefinite**; niche LFG **if** tool ships |
| [abilities.md](abilities.md) | **Combat** gig kits vs **skill** interactions vs **item** channels; Seams hooks | With [gigs.md](gigs.md), [skills.md](skills.md); [Combat pillars (vision stub)](#combat-pillars-vision-stub) |
| [items.md](items.md) | Buckets (gear, chrome, consumables, mats); craft vs drops; rarity/readability | **Seams** in [skills.md](skills.md); **Epic 3 module map** in [items.md](items.md#epic-3-module-map) |
| [brainstorm/hack-bodyguard-missions.md](brainstorm/hack-bodyguard-missions.md) | Split **skill** (hack) + **gig** (bodyguard) instances—idea capture | Brainstorm |
| *(add rows as files land)* | | |

### Planned topics (stubs)

Link new files here when they exist; remove or rewrite this subsection once the table is populated.

- **Progression** — [progression.md](progression.md): hybrid **gig + skill** overview and vocabulary. **Gigs:** [gigs.md](gigs.md). **Skills** + seams: [skills.md](skills.md). Recruitment channel **deferred**; *professions* stay folded into **skills** + rep unless a future doc defines something separate.
- **Zones** — tone, danger, faction or economic role of a place.
- **Travel & connections** — how places link (gates, costs, downtime, danger en route); complements zone identity.
- **Mechanics** — loops, constraints, what the server vs. client must honor.
- **Items** — [items.md](items.md): categories, rarity philosophy, crafting vs. drops; **Seams** for gig/skill gates.
- **Abilities** — [abilities.md](abilities.md): inputs, timing; combo with items; **gig** vs **skill** gates (see [progression.md](progression.md) vocabulary). **Combat context:** [Combat pillars (vision stub)](#combat-pillars-vision-stub).
- **Gathering & resources** — nodes, competition, exhaustion, what “open world” contesting feels like.
- **Crafting & recipes** — depth vs. breadth, failure, specialization; pairs with items but is its own loop.
- **Economy** — currency velocity, sinks, trade vs. self-sufficiency, how wealth shows up in play.
- **Factions & reputation** — who remembers you, grudges, access gates; **gig** story arcs: [gigs.md](gigs.md), rep + seams: [skills.md](skills.md).
- **Combat pillars** — [Vision stub below](#combat-pillars-vision-stub): PvE vs. PvP stance, readability, time-to-kill, fairness; **items in combat** in [items.md](items.md).
- **Death, loss & recovery** — stakes on failure, recovery paths, anti-grief boundaries.
- **Risk & security bands** — safe pockets vs. wild space; where optional PvP and theft sit (aligns with security-tier thinking).
- **Social play** — squad scale, corps, trust, betrayal affordances, async cooperation.
- **Encounters & enemy roles** — archetypes, what a fight teaches, variety without noise. **Skill + gig split runs:** [brainstorm/hack-bodyguard-missions.md](brainstorm/hack-bodyguard-missions.md).
- **Onboarding** — first session hook, clarity vs. mystery, how much systems the new player sees.
- **Tone & narrative** — how lore shows up (quests, environment, UI), voice of the world. **Presentation / ~teen rating target:** [Presentation and target rating (vision)](#presentation-and-target-rating-vision).

## Combat pillars (vision stub)

Combat is still missing a **single** pillar doc. Until then, use this table for **where** vision lives:

| Pillar | Where to read |
|--------|----------------|
| **Gig kits, inputs, skill vs item actions** | [abilities.md](abilities.md) |
| **Combat gear, loadouts, hub swap, consumables** | [items.md](items.md) (with [skills.md](skills.md) **Seams**) |
| **Roster, roles, party, sub-gig** | [gigs.md](gigs.md) |
| **PvE readability, TTK, encounter fairness** | Stub—future dedicated combat doc; implementation direction in [Epic 5 — PvE combat](../decomposition/epics/epic_05_pve_combat.md) |

**Items in fights:** [items.md](items.md) **Combat gear** is **gig**-tagged for equip/deploy; **consumables** baseline is not gig-gated; **chrome** persists across gig swap. Aligns with [abilities.md](abilities.md) **Item-linked actions**.

## Related repo docs

| Area | Location |
|------|----------|
| Module / epic breakdown | [`docs/decomposition/`](../decomposition/README.md) |
| Implementation plans | [`docs/plans/`](../plans/) |
| Architecture | [`docs/architecture/`](../architecture/tech_stack.md) |