Wiki source code of Eco-System System Design

Version 22.1 by Alexandros Mloukie on 2025/12/19 22:14

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1 = 0 - Introduction =
2
3 This documentation describes a system that establishes a framework for creatures' behaviours within the ecosystem. This system aims for consistency, enabling the player to understand and explore more of the organic variations and predict the location or behaviour of the creatures.
4
5 == 0.1 - Disclaimer ==
6
7 In this document, the names and examples used are for illustrative purposes only; they are not creatures or anything else that are designed for this game. This is a living document, and any specifics pertaining to the mechanics, numbers, and more are subject to change. The assignee of this task is free to apply any values, effects, and other unspecified elements, or contact {{mention reference="XWiki.AdamDesign" style="FULL_NAME" anchor="XWiki-AdamDesign-q22x2e"/}} or {{mention reference="XWiki.utkudagli" style="FULL_NAME" anchor="XWiki-utkudagli-rxh00q"/}} to get further guidelines.
8
9 == 0.2 - Terminology ==
10
11 (% class="table-bordered" %)
12 (% class="active" %)|=(% style="width: 204px;" %)Term|=(% style="width: 958px;" %)Meaning
13 |(% style="width:204px" %)PC|(% style="width:958px" %)Player Character
14 |(% style="width:204px" %)NPC|(% style="width:958px" %)(((
15 Non-Playable Character
16 )))
17 |(% style="width:204px" %)Micro-Zone|(% style="width:958px" %)Invisible spawn region, within a biome tied to terrain function
18 |(% style="width:204px" %)State Machine|(% style="width:958px" %)A system for managing the creature's behaviour through states
19 |(% style="width:204px" %)Behavioural State|(% style="width:958px" %)Current behavioural state of the creature
20
21 ----
22
23 = 1 - System Architecture =
24
25 This system operates on four interconnected layers. Each layer builds upon the previous layer.
26
27 * Layer 1: Creature State Machine
28 * Layer 2: Micro-Zoning
29 * Layer 3: Interaction Chains
30 * Layer 4: Environmental Traces
31
32 [[image:Screenshot 2025-12-08 131237.png||alt="System Architecture"]]
33
34 == 1.1 - Layer 1: Creature State Machine ==
35
36 **Core Concept:** Each creature type behaves differently under specific conditions and states, depending on what those states dictate. For now, they are categorized into three groups (prey, predators and scavengers). In the future, changes could include additions and updates to these documents. These creatures’ behavior varies under observable conditions, such as day and weather cycles.
37
38 === 1.1.1 - Core States ===
39
40 (% class="table-bordered" %)
41 (% class="active" %)|=(% style="width: 144px;" %)State|=(% style="width: 1019px;" %)Characteristics
42 |(% style="width:144px" %){{box}}Resting{{/box}}|(% style="width:1019px" %)(((
43 * Low activity, reduced movement
44 * Found in a sheltered location (caves, dense foliage, nest, etc.)
45 * Increased during rain
46 * Creatures are less aggressive and easier to approach.
47 ** **Predator:** When a predator creature notices the player or another predator while resting, it becomes aggressive.
48 ** **Prey & Scavenger:** When the creature detects the player or a predator while resting, it flees or flies away.
49 )))
50 |(% style="width:144px" %){{box}}Feeding{{/box}}|(% style="width:1019px" %)(((
51 * Active foraging/hunting
52 * Found in food sources (water, vegetation, fruit bushes, prey shelters, scavengers scavenging the corpse of other creatures)
53 * Peak activity during sunny conditions.
54 )))
55 |(% style="width:144px" %){{box}}Migrating{{/box}}|(% style="width:1019px" %)(((
56 * Transitional movement between states
57 * Creatures move between micro-zones when there is a situation related to that creature. For instance, if the prey creature is in the feeding state, it can move from the opening to the forest edge to eat tasty berries.
58 * Follows terrain-based pathways, such as waterways and ridgelines.
59 * The most unpredictable state creates variances.
60 )))
61 |(% style="width:144px" %){{box}}Territorial{{/box}}|(% style="width:1019px" %)(((
62 * Defending specific areas.
63 * Aggressive toward all intruders.
64 * Around nests and sheltered locations.
65 * Localised to specific locations.
66 * **Prey:** When the player or another predator enters the prey’s territory, if the prey has an attack chance or can attack (like a deer using its antlers to attack), it will attack to knock the player or the predator down and run away.
67 )))
68 |(% style="width:144px" %){{box}}Scavenging{{/box}}|(% style="width:1019px" %)(((
69 * Drawn to the recent kill sites.
70 * Appears after predators or the player’s hunt
71 * After the prey dies, after a certain time, if the corpse is not touched, scavengers will spawn and start nibbling it.
72 )))
73 |(% style="width:144px" %){{box}}Alert{{/box}}|(% style="width:1019px" %)(((
74 * Auditory awareness increased
75 * They move slowly
76 * More reactive to the sound-based threats. A slight sound cue could trigger the prey to transition into the flee state.
77 )))
78 |(% style="width:144px" %){{box}}Flee{{/box}}|(% style="width:1019px" %)(((
79 * Triggers after the creature feels threatened.
80 )))
81
82 ==== State Transition Diagram ====
83
84 [[image:Screenshot 2025-12-08 162729.png||alt="State Transition Diagram"]]
85
86 (% class="table-bordered" %)
87 (% class="active" %)|=Creature Type|=Morning|=Midday|=Dusk|=Night|=Primary Location
88 |Predator|Resting|Feeding|Feeding|Feeding|Caves → Open areas
89 |Prey|Feeding|Resting|Feeding|Resting|Water → Open Areas →Shelter
90 |Scavangers|Scavanging|Resting|Scavanging|Resting|Kill Sites → Trees → Caves
91
92 === 1.1.2 - Weather System ===
93
94 (% class="table-bordered" %)
95 (% class="active" %)|=Weather|=Characteristics
96 |Sunny (Baseline)|(((
97 * Visibility: 100%
98 * Audio range: 100%
99 * Movement: 100%
100 * Normal creature behaviors
101 * Standard schedules are followed, and creatures operate at full activity level.
102 * Vision-based detection at maximum range
103 * **Player Strategy:** Patterns are more predictable.
104 )))
105 |Rainy|(((
106 * Visibility: 80%
107 * Audio Range: 60%
108 * Movement: 70%
109 * Creatures mostly spawned around shelter, rarely spawned in other areas.
110 * Creatures roam less, stay in sheltered areas, and spend most of their time in a resting state.
111 * The feeding state is reduced by 60%
112 * Movement speed reduced by 30%
113 * The rain muffles audio cues.
114 * Caves could have groups of predators; players must be careful.
115 * **Player Strategies:** Check shelter locations, check caves, check dense vegetation.
116 )))
117 |Foggy|(((
118 * Visibility: 40%
119 * Audio range: 150%
120 * Movement: 70%
121 * Creatures can enter the alert state more frequently. A slight leaf crunch sound could trigger the flee state.
122 * Visual detection is low, auditory detection is high. When the creatures are not in flee mode, they move slowly.
123 * Predators rely on ambush tactics. Players could be hunted if they haven’t noticed the predators.
124 * **Player Strategies:** Move slowly and quietly, but be careful; players can also be hunted if they are unaware of the predator.
125 )))
126
127 (% class="table-bordered" %)
128 (% class="active" %)|=Weather|=Movement Speed|=Roaming Radius from the Spawn Point|=Resting Priority|=Vision Range|=Hearing Range
129 |Sunny|100%|100%|1.0x|100%|100%
130 |Rainy|70%|40%|2.0x|80%|60%
131 |Foggy|80%|60%|1.5x|40%|150%
132
133 [[image:Screenshot 2025-12-09 161553.png||alt="Weather System"]]
134
135 == 1.2 - Layer 2: Micro-zoning ==
136
137 **Core Concept:** Within each biome, there are special micro-zones that determine the creature density and spawn priority. These zones are tied to terrain features.
138
139 (% class="table-bordered" %)
140 (% class="active" %)|=Feature|=Description
141 |High elevation|More like hills, or mountains. Predators and scavengers hide or rest here.
142 |Dense Vegetation|Dense forests with thick vegetation such as trees, bushes, plants, etc. This zone serves as a resting ground for prey.
143 |Cave Entrance|Dark tunnels or just an opening; mostly predators rest; sometimes prey can be found here, too.
144 |Riverside/Seashore|Where all animals drink or hang out. Still, predators and scavengers hunt and feed here. Also, some predators are in the water to hunt fish.
145
146 === 1.2.1 - Micro-zone types ===
147
148 (% class="table-bordered" %)
149 (% class="active" %)|=(% style="width: 200px;" %)Micro-Zone|=(% style="width: 115px;" %)Trait|=(% style="width: 852px;" %)Description
150 |(% colspan="1" rowspan="3" style="width:200px" %){{info}}Water Proximity Zones (Riverside/Seashores){{/info}}|(% style="width:115px" %)0-50m|(% style="width:852px" %)All the creatures drink water. Some predators hunt prey or fish in the water.
151 |(% style="width:115px" %)50-150m|(% style="width:852px" %)Predator ambush zone. Predators could hide in a bush and attack prey or players.
152 |(% style="width:115px" %)150m+|(% style="width:852px" %)General territory. Where the Valley or Vegetation starts. Prey rest or feeding place, depending on vegetation density.
153 |(% colspan="1" rowspan="3" style="width:200px" %){{warning}}Elevation Zone{{/warning}}|(% style="width:115px" %)High Ground|(% style="width:852px" %)Predators and scavengers' resting place. If territorial, they become aggressive when an outsider approaches.
154 |(% style="width:115px" %)Mid Elevation|(% style="width:852px" %)Migration paths, predators, and scavengers pass through or rest here during the late hours.
155 |(% style="width:115px" %)Valley|(% style="width:852px" %)Prey resting, or feeding place, depending on the density of the vegetation.
156 |(% colspan="1" rowspan="3" style="width:200px" %){{success}}Vegetation Density{{/success}}|(% style="width:115px" %)Dense|(% style="width:852px" %)Where the prey primarily hide and rest. If there is a prey nest, the prey are territorial. There could also be predators for players to hunt, but players will mainly find prey. During fog and rain, there will be no predators in here.
157 |(% style="width:115px" %)Forest Edge|(% style="width:852px" %)Where the prey feeds on fruits and berries on trees and bushes. Where predators hunt prey.
158 |(% style="width:115px" %)Clearings|(% style="width:852px" %)Where the prey feeds on bushes and grass. Where the predators haunt prey, and scavengers feast on carcasses.
159 |(% colspan="1" rowspan="2" style="width:200px" %){{error}}Cave{{/error}}|(% style="width:115px" %)Cave Entrance|(% style="width:852px" %)During rain, most prey will hide here from the rain. Other than rainy days, there will be no prey. During foggy periods, predators will be here.
160 |(% style="width:115px" %)Inner Cave|(% style="width:852px" %)A Hide and resting place for predators. Predators in here are territorial because this place also serves as their nest.
161
162 |=State/Creature|=Prey|=Predator|=Scavengers
163 |=Resting|Sunny: Dense vegetation
164 Rain: Dense vegetation and Cave Entrance|Sunny: Inner cave, High Ground and mid elevation
165 Foggy: Cave Entrance and Inner Cave|High Ground and mid elevation
166 |=Feeding|Clearing and forest edge.|Sunny: Mid elevation, Dense vegetation, forest edge, clearings, Water proximity, Zone 1 and Zone 2.
167 Foggy and Rainy: They won’t enter Dense vegetation.|Mid elevation, forest edge, clearings, Water proximity Zone 1 and Zone 2.
168 |=Territorial|Dense vegetation|Inner Cave and High Ground|High Ground
169 |=Scavenging|-|-|Mid elevation, forest edge, clearings, Water proximity Zone 1 and Zone 2.
170 |=Alert|During Fog|During Fog|During Fog
171
172 === **1.3 -  Layer 3: Interaction Chains** ===
173
174 ===
175 (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**Core Concept: **(% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)Creatures interact with each other, which creates readable behavioural changes and environmental clues for the player.(%%) ===
176
177 ==== (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**1.3.1 - Prey-Predator Detection Ranges**(%%) ====
178
179 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**Sunny Weather**
180 ** (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)Creatures' visual detection range will be 100 meters.
181 ** (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)The audio detection range will be 50 meters.
182 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**Foggy Weather**
183 ** (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)Visual Detection will be 40 meters.
184 ** (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)Audio Detection will be 100 meters.
185 ** (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)Within 50 meters, a slight leaf crunch will trigger the flee state.
186 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**Rainy Weather**
187 ** (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)Visual Detection range will be 60 meters.
188 ** (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)The audio detection range will be 30 meters.
189 ** (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)Most of the sounds will be muffled by rain interference.
190 ** (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)Within 10 meters, a slight leaf crunch is audible.
191
192 ==== (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**1.3.2 - Prey-Prey Interaction**(%%) ====
193
194
195 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)During sunny weather, prey will spawn and will stay more dispersed
196 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)During foggy weather, they spawn and remain more clustered. Herd-like.
197 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)Some creatures will be designed as herds. (Will be specified later)
198 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)If herds or herd-like creature groups trigger each other. For instance, if a prey animal detected a predator, triggering the flee state and initiating a run, the rest of the herd would also enter the flee state and run.
199
200 **1.3.3 - Scavenger Interaction**
201
202
203 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)After the player or any other creature kills a creature, scavengers spawn depending on the weather conditions.
204 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)If the weather is sunny, scavengers will spawn in 5 minutes near the carcass.
205 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)If the weather is foggy, scavengers will spawn in 7 minutes near the carcass.
206 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)If the weather is rainy, scavengers will spawn in 10 minutes near the carcass.
207
208 |Time: 0|Kill Occurs
209 |Sunny Weather|5 mins: Scavenger arrives
210 |Foggy Weather|7 mins: Scavenger arrives
211 |Rainy Weather|10 mins: Scavenger arrives
212 |If the carcass is scavenged|The carcass turns to bones, and the bones despawn in 5 minutes
213 |Time: 20+ mins|Carcass despawns if not scavenged
214
215 === **1.4 - Layer 4: Environmental Traces** ===
216
217
218 ==== **1.4.1 - Physical Traces Timeline** ====
219
220 ====
221 (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**Core Concept: **(% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)Creatures leave observable traces behind for their presence and movement. Players can observe these traces to predict the creatures' locations or movements.(%%) ====
222
223 (% style="line-height:1.38" %)
224 (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**Sunny: 8 minutes**
225
226 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)0 min: 100% visibility.
227 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)2 mins: 75% visibility
228 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)4 mins: 50% visibility
229 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)6 mins: 25% visibility
230 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)8 mins: Faded
231
232 (% style="line-height:1.38" %)
233 (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**Rainy: 3 minutes**
234
235 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)0 min: 100% visibility
236 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)1 min: 50% visibility
237 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)2 min: 20% visibility
238 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)3 min: washed away
239
240 (% style="line-height:1.38" %)
241 (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**Foggy: 15 minutes**
242
243 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)0 min: 100% visibility
244 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)5 mins: 65% visibility
245 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)10 mins: 33% visibility
246 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)15 mins: Faded
247
248 ==== **1.4.2 - Audio Range by Weather** ====
249
250
251 (% style="line-height:1.38" %)
252 (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**Audio Detection Comparison:**
253
254 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)Sunny: Source —~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~--> Player
255
256 (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)100m
257
258 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)Rainy: Source —~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~--> Player
259
260 (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)60m
261
262 (% style="line-height:1.38" %)
263 (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %) Muffled by rain
264
265 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)Foggy: Source —~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~--> Player
266
267 (% style="line-height:1.38" %)
268 (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %) 150m
269
270 (% style="line-height:1.38" %)
271 (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %) Echo Effect, harder to pinpoint
272
273
274 **Audio Range Table**
275
276 |=Weather|=Base Range|=Modifier|=Effective Range|=Directionality|=Player Strategy
277 |Sunny|100m|1.0x|100m|Clear|Accurate tracking
278 |Rainy|100m|0.6x|60m|Muffled|Close-range only
279 |Foggy|100m|1.5x|150m|Echoing|Wide area search
280
281 ==== **1.4. - Environmental Disturbance Types** ====
282
283
284 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**Crushed grass: **(% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)When the creature walks on grass or in a wheat field, it crushes the grass or wheat, indicating its presence.
285 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**Broken branches: **(% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)When the creature walks on a tree branch on the ground or near a tree, or breaks a branch, this indicates the creature is nearby.
286 * (% style="color:#000000; font-size:11pt; margin:0px; padding:0px" %)**Disturbed water:** Indicates the creature is passing by, or drank a couple of seconds ago, or is still drinking.
287 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**Mud Tracks: **(% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)Footprints will spawn on rainy days, and the water will fill them. Due to that, the fresh tracks will last longer. But in the following rain, if the footprints are still alive, they will start to fade away, as explained in 2.4.1
288 * **Claw Marks: **Claw marks indicate that a predator is nearby.
289
290 ----
291
292 == ==
293
294 == **2 - Teaching the System** ==
295
296
297 (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)An essential aspect of this concept is that players should never be instructed or told how to hunt or find creatures. The player should learn this system while observing creature behaviours and patterns. Depending on the player types, there may be multiple hints to guide players in the right direction.
298
299 **Player Types**
300
301 * **Explorer**
302 ** Discovers through wandering
303 ** Needs environmental clues
304 * **Achievers**
305 ** Challengers are more beneficial
306 ** Needs quests
307 * **Socialisers**
308 ** Learns from the NPC
309 ** Benefits from community knowledge
310
311 === **2.1 - Learning Through Natural Gameplay Loop** ===
312
313
314 [[image:Screenshot 2025-12-16 230546.png||alt="Learning Through Natural Gameplay Loop"]]
315
316
317 === **2.2 - Creature Behaviour Complexity Progression** ===
318
319
320 (% style="line-height:1.38" %)
321 (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)This section explains the creature behaviours, and to convey the progression to the player, I designed the complexity increase through zone changes. However, when the player reaches the next zone, and its complexity increases, the previous zone's complexity increases as well.
322
323 (% style="line-height:1.38" %)
324 (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**At Zone 1 **
325
326 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)Creatures have more predictable behaviours.
327 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)Creatures make more noise.
328 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)They can be found in more predictable locations, such as openings, along waterways, cave entrances or near bushes.
329 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)They react less to the weather conditions.
330 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)Visual and auditory detection ranges 50% lower than base conditions. As a result, 50% fewer triggers in the flee state.
331
332 (% style="line-height:1.38" %)
333 (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**From Zone 2 to 4**
334
335 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)Creatures have less predictable behaviour.
336 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)Creatures make less noise.
337 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)They can be found in less predictable locations and are more likely to migrate between micro-zones or to areas close to their nests.
338 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)Creatures will interact more frequently with one another.
339 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)They fully respond to weather conditions.
340 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)Visual and auditory detection ranges 30% lower than base conditions. As a result, 30% fewer triggers in the flee state.
341
342 (% style="line-height:1.38" %)
343 (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**From Zone 5 to 6**
344
345 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)Creatures have less predictable behaviour.
346 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)Creatures will fully interact with each other.
347 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)Visual and auditory detection ranges 10% lower than base conditions. As a result, 10% fewer triggers in the flee state.
348
349 (% style="line-height:1.38" %)
350 (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**From Zone 7 to 8**
351
352 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)Every behaviour will be in the base conditions, as explained in the previous section.
353
354 (% style="line-height:1.38" %)
355 (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**Design Notes**
356
357 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)Instead of zones, playing time could be used to set the complexity progression.
358 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)Instead of zones, experience level could be used to set the complexity progression.
359
360 === **2.3 - NPC Dialogue with Subtle Hints** ===
361
362
363 (% style="line-height:1.38" %)
364 (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**Hint Types**
365
366 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**Weather: **(% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)NPC explains the creature's behaviours during the weather changes between texts.
367 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**Hunter Wisdom: **(% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)NPC gives subtle hints on prey behaviour and patterns.
368 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**Old Tales: **(% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)Tells old tales that caution the player on scavenger and predator behaviour and patterns.
369 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**Self Thought: **(% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)The(% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)** **(% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)PC that talks by itself with the observations depending on the pattern findings.
370
371 === **2.4 - Quest Design for Teaching** ===
372
373
374 (% style="line-height:1.38" %)
375 (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**Teaching quest sequence examples**
376
377 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**Q1 **(% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)- Teaches: Location of the creatures and what they do during a specific time frame.
378 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**Q2 **(% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)- Teaches: Creatures' behaviour during the weather changes.
379 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**Q3**(% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %) - Teaches: Creatures’ audio cues
380 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**Q4 **(% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)- Teaches: Environmental traces left by creatures.
381 * (% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %)**Q5**(% style="color:#000000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:11pt; font-style:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; text-decoration:none; white-space:pre-wrap" %) - Teaches: Creature interactions with each other.
382
383 ==== ====
384
385 ~)~)~)