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Epic 2 - Skills and Progression Framework

Source Anchors

  • Master epic reference: neon_sprawl_vision.plan.md — Core Epic Map, System Modules Epic 2
  • Related modules: E2.M1, E2.M2, E2.M3, E2.M4

Ownership and success (Level 1)

  • Ownership focus: Systems Design + Gameplay Engineering
  • Success criteria: Any character can train all non-combat skills tracked as SkillDef, and skill progression stays long-term without dead-end grinds (gig combat roles are separate—see gigs.md).

Objective

Provide a data-driven non-combat skill layer: SkillDef registry, skill XP awards, level curves, and eventually mastery/perk and pacing controls. Gathering and crafting feed skill progression via E2.M2; combat encounters feed gig progression (not SkillDef XP)—see docs/game-design/progression.md. Mission rewards may still grant skill XP when scripted.

Module Breakdown

E2.M1 - SkillDefinitionRegistry

  • Responsibility: Central catalog for non-combat SkillDef rows: stable id, SkillCategory (gather / process / make / tech), displayName, allowedXpSourceKinds (which XpGrantEvent.sourceKind values may grant XP per skill), and unlock prerequisites. Combat roles are gigs, not SkillDef. Detail: E2.M1 — SkillDefinitionRegistry, content/schemas/skill-def.schema.json.
  • Key contracts: SkillDef, SkillCategory, UnlockRequirement; prototype schema requires allowedXpSourceKinds per skill.
  • Dependencies: None
  • Stage target: Prototype
  • Linear (Slice 1 prototype): Epic 2 project — NEO-33 → NEO-36 (label E2.M1); table and ordering in the module doc.

E2.M2 - XpAwardAndLevelEngine

  • Responsibility: XP award rules, level thresholds, level-up event generation.
  • Key contracts: XpGrantEvent, LevelCurve, LevelUpEvent
  • Dependencies: E2.M1
  • Stage target: Prototype
  • Linear (Slice 2 prototype): Epic 2 project — NEO-37 → NEO-38 → NEO-39; NEO-40 in parallel with NEO-39 after NEO-38 (label E2.M2). Detail: E2.M2 — XpAwardAndLevelEngine.
  • Linear (Slice 3 integration): NEO-41 (gather + E3.M1), NEO-42 (craft + E3.M2), NEO-43 (mission rewards + E7.M2), NEO-44 (gig XP from combat, E5.M1 only — no E2.M2 label on NEO-44).
  • Note: E3.M1 and E3.M2 (and mission/reward routers such as E7.M2) integrate as callers of E2.M2 for skill XP. E5.M1 resolves combat and advances gig progression outside E2.M2—see Slice 3. None of these are hard dependencies for implementing the E2.M2 core (stub callers in Slice 2).

E2.M3 - MasteryAndPerkUnlocks

  • Responsibility: Mastery tracks and perk unlock state for skill build expression beyond raw levels.
  • Key contracts: MasteryTrack, PerkUnlockEvent, PerkState
  • Dependencies: E2.M2
  • Stage target: Pre-production

E2.M4 - ProgressionPacingControls

  • Responsibility: Tuning knobs for progression velocity and catch-up policy enforcement.
  • Key contracts: XpModifierProfile, CatchUpRule, PacingPolicy
  • Dependencies: E2.M2, E9.M2
  • Stage target: Pre-production

Implementation Slices (Backlog-Ready)

Slice 1 - Skill registry and prototype skills

  • Scope: E2.M1 with at least three non-combat SkillDef rows loaded from data—e.g. aligned with Gather, Process or Make, and Tech as in docs/game-design/skills.md. Combat role progression is gig-scoped, not a SkillDef line (see docs/game-design/gigs.md, docs/game-design/progression.md).
  • Dependencies: None
  • Acceptance criteria:
    • All prototype activities reference skills by stable IDs.
    • Invalid skill references fail validation in CI or at load time.
  • Telemetry hooks: skill_unlock (if gating exists), schema validation metrics.

Slice 2 - XP engine (E2.M2 core)

  • Scope: Implement XpGrantEvent, LevelCurve, LevelUpEvent, and server-authoritative level resolution on top of SkillDef from E2.M1. No dependency on Epic 3 or Epic 5 modules beyond future call sites.
  • Dependencies: E2.M1 (matches module-level E2.M2 → E2.M1 only).
  • Acceptance criteria:
    • XP and level-up can be triggered from tests or a stub caller without gathering/combat content.
    • Curves and thresholds are data-driven and hot-reloadable or reloadable by policy agreed for prototype.
  • Telemetry hooks: xp_grant, level_up, time-to-first-level-up (once integration slice fires real activity).

Slice 3 - XP award integration at activity sites

  • Linear: NEO-41, NEO-42, NEO-43, NEO-44 (see E2.M2 module breakdown above).
  • Scope: Wire gathering (E3.M1) and crafting (E3.M2) to the E2.M2 skill XP award API so prototype SkillDef lines gain XP from real play. Wire combat (E5.M1) to gig XP only (gigs.md, progression.md)—no hook that maps encounter resolution to skill XP or a combat SkillDef. Mission / quest reward paths may still call the skill XP API when the payout explicitly includes skill XP (not the same as “combat trained this skill”).
  • Dependencies: E2.M2, E3.M1, E3.M2, E5.M1 (integration prerequisites; not part of the E2.M2 module dependency list). Gig XP plumbing may live beside E2.M2 or under Epic 5—split call sites by progression type (skill vs gig).
  • Acceptance criteria:
    • Visible skill XP and skill level-up feedback within first session from real gather/craft actions.
    • Visible gig XP and gig progression feedback from combat (main gig only, per game-design).
  • Telemetry hooks: xp_grant, level_up, time-to-first-level-up for skills; gig progression hooks as agreed when gig model lands (e.g. gig_xp_grant, gig_level_up).

Slice 4 - Mastery and pacing (pre-production)

  • Scope: E2.M3 and E2.M4 for first mastery branch and global pacing policy.
  • Dependencies: E2.M2, E9.M2
  • Acceptance criteria:
    • At least one mastery path unlocks a perk without blocking other skills.
    • Pacing policy can be toggled for test cohorts without redeploy where possible.
  • Telemetry hooks: perk_unlock, pacing_profile_applied.

Risks and Mitigations

  • Risk: XP faucets create runaway leveling in one skill.
    • Mitigation: Diminishing returns per slice; monitor skill distribution via E9.M2.
  • Risk: Skill progression feels flat without mastery expression.
    • Mitigation: Ship E2.M3 early in pre-production with one flagship mastery line.

Definition of Done

  • Prototype uses E2.M1 + E2.M2 for three non-combat SkillDef lines (stable id + allowedXpSourceKinds per E2.M1); gig progression for combat is separate.
  • Pre-production adds E2.M3/E2.M4 with documented tuning workflow.
  • Events align with baseline telemetry in master plan.