6. Levels

6. Levels

Define the player experience across spatial and temporal dimensions, from overall content structure to individual level details.

6.1 Level Taxonomy

• Main Story Levels: Core narrative progression stages.
• Side / Commission Levels: Optional quests for resources or world-building.
• Tutorial / Onboarding Levels: Introductory stages for new mechanics.
• High-Difficulty / Endgame Content: (e.g., Abyss, Tower Climbing, Arena).
• Event Levels: Limited-time content associated with seasonal events.

6.2 World / Map Structure

• Organization: How the world is divided (Open World, Chapters, Hubs).
• Unlocking Logic: Prerequisites and recommended progression paths.
• Traversal: Fast travel points, waypoints, and movement mechanics.

6.3 Level Progression

• Flowchart: Sequence of level unlocking (dependencies and branching).
• Difficulty Curve: Rules for escalating challenge (enemy strength, mechanical complexity, resource pressure).
• Mechanic Introduction: Pacing for introducing new gameplay elements (tutorial → practice → mastery).

6.4 Level Template

Use this structure for Level #1, #2, etc., to ensure consistency across the team.

6.4.1 Level #1 – Basic Info

• Level ID: Unique identifier.
• Level Name: Display name.
• Type: (Main, Side, Tutorial, Event).
• Recommended Power / Level: Required stats or level range.

6.4.2 Synopsis

• Role: (e.g., Teaching mechanics, Narrative climax, Resource farming).
• Narrative Context: Where this level fits within the story chapter.

6.4.3 Introductory Material

• Opening: Dialogue, cutscene, or comic-style intro.
• Briefing: Objective text and necessary hints.

6.4.4 Objectives

• Primary Objective: Mandatory condition for success.
• Secondary Objectives: Optional goals for extra rewards.
• Hidden Objectives: Easter eggs or advanced challenges.

6.4.5 Physical Description

• Topology: Layout zones, critical paths, side paths, and dead ends.
• Verticality: Elevation changes, platforms, and jump routes.

6.4.6 Map

• Layout: Schematic or link to the map file.
• Markers: Spawn points, objectives, key items, and interactive objects.

6.4.7 Critical Path

• Walkthrough: The most common path players will take.
• Choke Points: Potential difficulty spikes and mitigation strategies (detours, hints, failsafes).

6.4.8 Encounters

• Waves: Enemy configuration and spawn logic.
• Elites / Bosses: Key mechanics and behaviors.
• Environmental Hazards: Traps, terrain effects, and interactive dangers.

6.4.9 Level Walkthrough

• Player Perspective: Step-by-step description of the experience.
• Feedback: Audio-visual cues and numerical feedback at key moments.

6.4.10 Closing Material

• Settlement: Scoring, rewards, and performance statistics.
• Outro: Dialogue, cutscene, or teaser for the next level.

Duplicate this structure for Level #2, #3, etc.

6.4.11 Numerical & Economy Budget

• Enemy Budget: Stats, expected damage output, and time-to-kill (TTK).
• Player Targets: Expected power range and pass rate for different player segments (Casual / Mid-core / Hardcore).
• Resource Output: Expected yield and variance for currencies, materials, and XP.
• Reward Structure: Tiered rewards for Primary / Secondary / Hidden objectives.
• Time & Cost: Estimated playtime and stamina/resource consumption (aligned with Economic System).
• Exploit Prevention: Safeguards against AFK farming, kiting, or skipping content.

6.4.12 System Hooks

• Quest System: Completion triggers, quest chain progression, daily/weekly task updates.
• Gameplay System: Tutorial triggers, difficulty scaling, event reporting.
• Progression System: Recommended growth goals, breakthrough material drops.
• Monetization: Non-intrusive entry points for acceleration or direct purchase (e.g., revive, stamina refill).
• Telemetry: Entry/Exit logs, duration, failure reasons, resource flow, and feature usage.