Eco-System System Design

Version 54.1 by Utku Dagli on 2026/03/13 20:26

0 - Introduction

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.

0.1 - Disclaimer

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 @Adam Janus or @Utku Dagli to get further guidelines.

0.2 - Terminology

Term	Meaning
PC	Player Character
NPC	Non-Playable Character
Micro-Zone	Invisible spawn region, within a biome tied to terrain function
State Machine	A system for managing the creature's behaviour through states
Behavioural State	Current behavioural state of the creature

1 - System Architecture

This system operates on four interconnected layers. Each layer builds upon the previous layer.

Layer 1: Creature State Machine
Layer 2: Micro-Zoning
Layer 3: Interaction Chains
Layer 4: Environmental Traces

System Architecture

1.1 - Layer 1: Creature State Machine

Core Concept: Each creature type behaves differently under specific conditions and states, depending on what those states dictate. For now, they are categorised into three groups (prey, predators and scavengers). In the future, changes could include additions and updates to these documents. These creatures’ behaviour varies under observable conditions, such as day and weather cycles.

1.1.1 - Core States

State	Characteristics
Resting	Low activity, reduced movement Found in a sheltered location (caves, dense foliage, nest, deep water, etc.) Increased during rain Creatures are less aggressive and easier to approach. Predator: When a predator creature notices the player or another predator while resting, it becomes aggressive. Prey & Scavenger: When the creature detects the player or a predator while resting, it flees or flies away.
Feeding	Active foraging/hunting Found in food sources (water, vegetation, fruit bushes, prey shelters, scavengers scavenging the corpse of other creatures) Peak activity during sunny conditions. For underwater creatures, unless it's raining, they could be in a feeding state.
Migrating	Transitional movement between states 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. Follows terrain-based pathways, such as waterways and ridgelines. The most unpredictable state creates variances.
Territorial	Defending specific areas. Aggressive toward all intruders. Around nests and sheltered locations. Localised to specific locations. 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.
Scavenging	Drawn to the recent kill sites. Appears after predators or the player’s hunt After the prey dies, after a certain time, if the corpse is not touched, scavengers will spawn and start nibbling it.
Alert	They move slowly More reactive to the nearby threats. A slight sound cue could trigger the prey to transition into the flee state.
Flee	Triggers after the creature feels threatened.

State Transitions

Creature Type	Morning	Midday	Dusk	Night	Primary Location
Predator	Resting	Feeding	Feeding	Feeding	Caves → Open areas
Prey	Feeding	Resting	Feeding	Resting	Water → Open Areas →Shelter
Scavangers	Scavanging	Resting	Scavanging	Resting	Kill Sites → Trees → Caves

1.1.2 - Weather System

Weather	Characteristics
Sunny (Baseline)	Visibility: 100% Audio range: 100% Movement: 100% Normal creature behaviours Standard schedules are followed, and creatures operate at full activity level. Vision-based detection at maximum range Player Strategy: Patterns are less predictable because the creatures will traverse without being in an alert state. However, creatures will be more visible, so the PC could engage more easily, too.
Bad Weather (Rainy, Storm, etc.)	Visibility: 80% Audio Range: 60% Movement: 70% Creatures mostly spawned around shelter, rarely spawned in other areas. Creatures roam less, stay in sheltered areas, and spend most of their time in a resting state. The feeding state is reduced by 60% Movement speed reduced by 30% The rain muffles audio cues. Caves could have groups of predators; players must be careful. Player Strategies: Check shelter locations, check caves, check dense vegetation.
Low Visibility (Fog, Sandstorm, etc.)	Visibility: 60% Audio range: 70% Movement: 70% Fog dampens environmental sounds, reducing audio clarity for both players and creatures. Since the audio was muffled, the source of the sound could not be easily identified. The detection range is reduced during fog. Creatures will be on alert but will easily lose the trace of others in the fog. Fog thickness balanced: not fully obscuring, but enough to limit the visibility and create tension. Visual detection range is limited, so creatures could easily lose their visual connection with other creatures or the PC. Player Strategies: Move carefully, never know where the danger lies. However, can easily escape from danger.

Weather	Movement Speed	Roaming Radius from the Spawn Point	Resting Priority	Vision Range	Hearing Range
Sunny	100%	100%	1.0x	100%	100%
Bad Weather	70%	40%	2.0x	80%	60%
Low Visibility	80%	60%	1.5x	50%	70%

Weather System

1.2 - Layer 2: Micro-zoning

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.

Feature	Description
High elevation	More like hills, or mountains. Predators and scavengers hide or rest here.
Dense Vegetation	Dense forests with thick vegetation, such as trees, bushes, and plants. This zone serves as a resting ground for prey.
Cave Entrance/Old Buildings	Dark tunnels or just an entrance of a cave or just abandoned building and old building ruins; mostly predators rest and if there are no predators around preys could also use it as a shelter during heavy rain.
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.
Shallow Water	Where the small amphibious creatures from the water ecosystem hang out, hunt with small bugs or scavenge the dead animals.
Deep Water	Where the creatures from the water ecosystem hide and shelter from the entities outside of the water ecosystem.

1.2.1 - Micro-zone types

Micro-Zone	Trait	Description
Water Ecosystem	-50-0m	Shallow water. Amphibious creatures hang out, feed, and scavenge from other animals.
Water Ecosystem	-50m and Below	Deep water. Water creatures hide from the entities outside of the water ecosystem. Water creatures' shelter is in deep water.
Water Proximity Zones (Riverside/Seashores)	0-50m	All the creatures drink water. Some predators hunt prey or fish in the water.
	50-150m	Predator ambush zone. Predators could hide in a bush and attack prey or players.
	150m+	General territory. Where the Valley or Vegetation starts. Prey rest or feeding place, depending on vegetation density.
Elevation Zone	High Ground	Predators and scavengers' resting place. If territorial, they become aggressive when an outsider approaches.
	Mid Elevation	Migration paths, predators, and scavengers pass through or rest here during the late hours.
	Valley	Prey resting, or a feeding place, depending on the density of the vegetation.
Vegetation Density	Dense	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.
	Forest Edge	Where the prey feeds on fruits and berries on trees and bushes. Where predators hunt prey.
	Clearings	Where the prey feeds on bushes and grass. Where the predators haunt prey, and scavengers feast on carcasses.
Cave	Cave Entrance	During the rain, if there are no predators around, most prey will hide here from the rain. If there are predators around, the prey will smell their scent and will not even try to use it as a shelter. This will create uncertainty for the player whether they found prey or a predator in here. Other than rainy days, there will be no prey. During foggy periods, predators will be here.
Cave	Inner Cave	A Hide and resting place for predators. Predators in here are territorial because this place also serves as their nest.

State/Creature	Prey	Predator	Scavengers
Resting	Sunny: Dense vegetation Rain: Dense vegetation and Cave Entrance if there are no predators.	Sunny: Inner cave, High Ground and mid elevation Foggy: Cave Entrance and Inner Cave	High Ground and mid elevation
Feeding	Clearing and forest edge.	Sunny: Mid elevation, Dense vegetation, forest edge, clearings, Water proximity, Zone 1 and Zone 2. Foggy and Rainy: They won’t enter Dense vegetation.	Mid elevation, forest edge, clearings, Water proximity Zone 1 and Zone 2.
Territorial	Dense vegetation	Inner Cave and High Ground	High Ground
Scavenging	-	-	Mid elevation, forest edge, clearings, Water proximity Zone 1 and Zone 2.
Alert	During Fog	During Fog	During Fog

1.3 - Layer 3: Interaction Chains

Core Concept: Creatures interact with each other, which creates readable behavioural changes and environmental clues for the player.

1.3.1 - Prey-Predator Detection Ranges

Sunny Weather
- Creatures' visual detection range will be 100 meters.
- The audio detection range will be 50 meters.
Low Visibility Weather (Fog/Desert Storm)
- Visual Detection will be 40 meters.
- Audio Detection will be 70 meters.
- Audio is muffled. The audio source is hard to identify, so predators will be able to easily lose prey's tracks.
Bad Weather
- Visual detection range will be 60 meters.
- The audio detection range will be 30 meters.
- Most of the sounds will be muffled by rain interference.
- Within 10 meters, a slight leaf crunch is audible.

1.3.2 - Prey-Prey Interaction

During sunny weather, prey will spawn and will stay more dispersed
During low-visibility and bad weather, they spawn and remain more clustered. Herd-like.
Some creatures will be designed as herds. (Will be specified later)
If herds or herd-like groups of creatures 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.

1.3.3 - Scavenger Interaction

After the player or any other creature kills a creature, scavengers spawn depending on the weather conditions.
If the weather is sunny, scavengers will spawn in 5 minutes near the carcass.
If the weather is low-visibility, scavengers will spawn near the carcass in 10 minutes.
If the weather is bad, scavengers will spawn near the carcass in 12 minutes.

Time	Kill Occurs
Sunny Weather	5 mins: Scavenger arrives
Low Visibility Weather	10 mins: Scavenger arrives
Bad Weather	12 mins: Scavenger arrives
If the carcass is scavenged	The carcass turns to bones, and the bones despawn in 5 minutes
Time: 20+ mins	Carcass despawns if not scavenged

1.4 - Layer 4: Environmental Traces

1.4.1 - Physical Traces Timeline

Core Concept: Creatures leave observable traces behind for their presence and movement. Players can observe these traces to predict the creatures' locations or movements.

Sunny: 8 minutes

0 min: 100% visibility.
2 mins: 75% visibility
4 mins: 50% visibility
6 mins: 25% visibility
8 mins: Faded

Rainy: 3 minutes

0 min: 100% visibility
1 min: 50% visibility
2 min: 20% visibility
3 min: washed away

Foggy: 15 minutes

0 min: 100% visibility
5 mins: 65% visibility
10 mins: 33% visibility
15 mins: Faded

1.4.2 - Audio Range by Weather

Audio Detection Comparison:

Sunny: Source —-------------------> Player

100m

Rainy: Source —-------------------> Player

60m

Muffled by rain

Foggy: Source —-------------------> Player

70m

Muffled and harder to pinpoint

Audio Range Table

Weather	Base Range	Modifier	Effective Range	Directionality	Player Strategy
Sunny	100m	1.0x	100m	Clear	Accurate tracking
Rainy	100m	0.6x	60m	Muffled	Close-range only
Foggy	100m	0.7x	70m	Muffled	Wide area search

1.4. - Environmental Disturbance Types

Crushed grass: When the creature walks on grass or in a wheat field, it crushes the grass or wheat, indicating its presence.
Broken branches: 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.
Disturbed water: Indicates the creature is passing by, or drank a couple of seconds ago, or is still drinking.
Mud Tracks: 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
Claw Marks: Claw marks indicate that a predator is nearby.

2 - Teaching the System

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.

Player Types

Explorer
- Discovers through wandering
- Needs environmental clues
Achievers
- Challengers are more beneficial
- Needs quests
Socialisers
- Learns from the NPC
- Benefits from community knowledge

2.1 - Learning Through Natural Gameplay Loop

Learning Through Natural Gameplay Loop

2.2 - Creature Behaviour Complexity Progression

In each layer there will be new creatures which may be different in many aspects than the previous layers. Which the player will get used to each creature in the new layer. However there are also suggestions below which may help to improve the complexity of the creature behaviour or the challenge to the player.

Design Notes

Instead of zones, playing time could be used to set the complexity progression.
Instead of zones, experience level could be used to set the complexity progression.

2.3 - NPC Dialogue with Subtle Hints

Hint Types

Weather: NPC explains the creature's behaviours during the weather changes between texts.
Hunter Wisdom: NPC gives subtle hints on prey behaviour and patterns.
Old Tales: Tells old tales that caution the player on scavenger and predator behaviour and patterns.
Self Thought: The PC that talks by itself with the observations depending on the pattern findings.

2.4 - Quest Design for Teaching

Teaching quest sequence examples

Q1 - Teaches: Location of the creatures and what they do during a specific time frame.
Q2 - Teaches: Creatures' behaviour during the weather changes.
Q3 - Teaches: Creatures’ audio cues
Q4 - Teaches: Environmental traces left by creatures.
Q5 - Teaches: Creature interactions with each other.

Main comment by Adam

)))