26 KiB

Raw Blame History

Skill Mechanics - Detailed Design

Core Design Principles

Walking is NEVER punished - No HP drain from travel. Hiking should be rewarded, not penalized.
Combat is optional and asynchronous - Monsters queue up during your hike, fight them when convenient.
Turn-based battles - Classic RPG style combat when you choose to engage.
Skills alternate - Offensive skills on odd levels, Utility/Defensive on even levels.

Combat System Overview

Monster Encounters

While hiking, you may randomly encounter monsters based on:

Location (different biomes spawn different monsters)
Time of day (nocturnal creatures at night)
Trail difficulty
Player level (scaled encounters)

The Monster Entourage

When you encounter a monster and don't want to fight, it follows you around on the map, yelling insults and taunts at you until you deal with it.

Maximum followers: 2 monsters per player level

Level 1 player: Max 2 monsters following
Level 5 player: Max 10 monsters following
Level 10 player: Max 20 monsters following

If you're at max capacity, new monsters can't spawn until you fight or dismiss some.

Map Display:

        🐺 "FIGHT ME COWARD!"
    🦇 "I'LL GET YOU!"          🧭 You
        🌿 "COME BACK HERE!"     ↓
                               [===trail===]

Monster Taunts (examples):

🐺 Trail Wolf: "I've been chasing you for 2 MILES!"
🦇 Cave Bat: "You can't ignore me forever!"
🌿 Angry Shrub: "I'm a BUSH and I'm faster than you!"
🐗 Wild Boar: "My legs are getting tired but my RAGE isn't!"
🦎 Trail Lizard: "This is embarrassing for both of us!"

Interacting with followers:

Tap a monster icon to start combat with just that one
"Fight All" button for sequential battles
"Dismiss" to shoo them away (no XP, no penalty)
Monsters stay between sessions (persistent)

Comedy escalation:

Monsters following for 10+ min: Taunts get more desperate
Monsters following for 30+ min: Start complimenting you instead
Monsters following for 1+ hour: Existential crisis dialogue

Turn-Based Combat

When you choose to fight:

┌─ BATTLE ──────────────────────┐
│                               │
│   🐺 Trail Wolf               │
│   HP: ████████░░ 45/60        │
│                               │
│   ─────────────────────────   │
│                               │
│   🏃 You (Trail Runner Lv 3)  │
│   HP: ██████████ 100/100      │
│   MP: ████████░░ 40/50        │
│                               │
├───────────────────────────────┤
│ [⚔️ Attack]  [🔥 Double Strike] │
│ [🎒 Items ]  [🏃 Flee        ] │
└───────────────────────────────┘

Combat Flow:

Player turn: Choose action
Action resolves
Enemy turn: Enemy attacks
Repeat until someone hits 0 HP

Victory: Gain XP, possible loot drops Defeat: Lose some gold? Lose queued monsters? (TBD - should be minor)

HP System (Revised)

HP is for COMBAT only

HP does NOT drain from walking
HP only changes during battle, skills, or items
HP persists between battles - adds strategy to combat decisions

HP Recovery (Out of Combat)

Method	Recovery	Notes
Time (passive)	1 HP per minute	Slow but free
Rest at geocache	5 HP per minute	Must be stationary at location
Food items	Varies	Snacks, trail mix, etc.
Healing skills	Varies	Class abilities
Level up	Full restore	Reward for leveling

What Happens at 0 HP?

In Battle:

You lose the fight
Monster escapes (gets dismissed, no XP)
You're left at 1 HP (can't die, just knocked out of that fight)
Any remaining monsters in your entourage keep following you

Strategic Implications:

Can't just chain-fight 20 monsters - need to manage HP
Healing skills become valuable between fights
Might need to dismiss some monsters if HP is low
Adds tension: "Can I take one more fight before resting?"

Skill Leveling System

Skills have their own level that improves with use! This is separate from your character level.

How Skills Level Up

XP per skill: Each time you use a skill, it gains Skill XP

Using a skill in combat: +10 Skill XP
Skill contributes to victory: +5 bonus Skill XP
Using skill effectively (e.g., heal when low HP): +5 bonus Skill XP

Skill XP thresholds:

Skill Level	Total XP Needed
1	0 (starting)
2	50
3	150
4	300
5	500
6	800
7	1200
8+	+500 per level

What Skill Levels Do

Each skill defines its own leveling bonuses. Common patterns:

Cooldown reduction - Use more often
Damage/healing increase - More powerful
MP cost reduction - More efficient
Additional effects - New mechanics unlock

Trail Runner Skills (Revised)

Skill Pattern: Odd levels = Offensive, Even levels = Utility/Defensive

Class Identity: Gear snob, endurance athlete, trail obsessed, owns $200 shoes, has opinions about hydration vests

Level	Skill	Type	Flavor
1	Brand New Hokas	⚔️ Offensive	Lightning fast double-strike in premium footwear
2	Runner's High	💚 Utility	Endorphins are nature's healing
3	Shin Kick	⚔️ Offensive	Targets the most painful spot
4	Gel Pack	💚 Utility	Disgusting but effective energy boost
5	Pole Vault	⚔️ Offensive	Trekking pole to the FACE
6	Foam Roll	💚 Utility	Painful recovery that actually works
7	Downhill Bomb	⚔️ Offensive	Reckless descending attack
8	Aid Station	💚 Utility	Full rest stop recovery
9	Final Kick	⚔️ Offensive	That sprint finish energy
10	Hundred Miler	🌟 Ultimate	You simply refuse to stop

Reserved for Gym Bro (Barbarian) class:

Rep It Out
PR Attempt
Beast Mode
Protein Shake
Max Effort
Drop Set
Pre-Workout
Spot Me Bro

Level 1: Brand New Hokas ⚔️

The Skill

Name: Brand New Hokas
Type: Offensive
MP Cost: 12 (reduces with skill level)
Cooldown: None (usable every turn)
Effect: Attack twice in a single turn

"These cost $180 and they're worth EVERY PENNY."

The Trail Runner's premium cushioned footwear allows for lightning-fast strikes. Two rapid kicks delivered with the confidence that only expensive gear can provide.

Skill Leveling Progression

Brand New Hokas improves its damage and efficiency as you level it:

Skill Level	Damage per Hit	MP Cost	Total vs Normal Attack
1	80%	12	160% damage
2	82%	12	164% damage
3	85%	11	170% damage
4	87%	11	174% damage
5	90%	10	180% damage
6	92%	10	184% damage
7	95%	9	190% damage
8	97%	9	194% damage
9	100%	8	200% damage (two full attacks!)
10+	100% + crit bonus	8	200%+ with +5% crit chance per level

Milestone unlocks:

Level 5: "Swift Strikes" - Animation speeds up (QoL)
Level 9: "True Double" - Each hit deals full damage
Level 10: "Relentless" - +5% critical hit chance per level beyond 10

Combat Mechanics

Base Attack Damage Formula:

Damage = (STR × 2) + WeaponDamage + RandomVariance(0 to STR/2)

For a Level 1 Trail Runner with 12 STR and no weapon:

Base Attack: (12 × 2) + 0 + (0-6) = 24-30 damage

Double Strike at Skill Level 1:

Hit 1: 80% of base = 19-24 damage
Hit 2: 80% of base = 19-24 damage
Total: 38-48 damage (vs 24-30 from normal attack)

Double Strike at Skill Level 9:

Hit 1: 100% of base = 24-30 damage
Hit 2: 100% of base = 24-30 damage
Total: 48-60 damage for only 8 MP!

How It Works In-Game

Scenario: Battle against a Trail Wolf (45 HP)

┌─ BATTLE ──────────────────────┐
│   🐺 Trail Wolf               │
│   HP: ████████░░ 45/45        │
│                               │
│   🏃 You                      │
│   HP: ██████████ 100/100      │
│   MP: ██████████ 50/50        │
├───────────────────────────────┤
│ [⚔️ Attack]  [⚔️⚔️ Double Strike] │
│ [🎒 Items ]  [🏃 Flee         ] │
└───────────────────────────────┘

Player selects Double Strike:

┌─ BATTLE ──────────────────────┐
│                               │
│   ⚔️ Double Strike!           │
│                               │
│   💥 Hit 1: 21 damage!        │
│   💥 Hit 2: 19 damage!        │
│                               │
│   🐺 Trail Wolf               │
│   HP: █░░░░░░░░░ 5/45         │
│                               │
└───────────────────────────────┘

Enemy turn follows, then back to player...

Why This Skill is Good for Level 1

Simple to understand - "Attack twice" is intuitive
Immediately useful - Works in first battle
Teaches MP management - Can't spam it forever
Fighter identity - Establishes Trail Runner as damage dealer

Edge Cases

Not enough MP? Skill greyed out, tooltip shows "Need 12 MP"
Can both hits crit? Yes, each hit rolls independently
Can enemy die on first hit? Yes, second hit is wasted (no overkill bonus)

Level 2: Runner's High 💚

The Skill

Name: Runner's High
Type: Utility (Healing)
MP Cost: 15
Cooldown: Battle-based (improves with Skill Level)
Effect: Restore 30% of maximum HP

"Around mile 8, something magical happens... the pain becomes pleasure."

The Trail Runner taps into that euphoric state where endorphins flood the system and everything feels possible. Pain melts away, replaced by a serene confidence.

Skill Leveling Progression

Runner's High cooldown is based on number of battles, and improves as you level the skill:

Skill Level	Cooldown	In Practice
1	Once per 5 battles	Very limited, save for emergencies
2	Once per 4 battles	Slightly more available
3	Once per 3 battles	Every third fight
4	Once per 2 battles	Every other fight
5	Once per battle	Reliable, use every fight
6	Twice per battle	Now we're cooking
7	Three times per battle	Significant sustain
8+	+1 use per level	Approaching immortality

Cooldown Tracking:

Skill Level 1: [✓ Used] [░ 4 battles left] [░] [░] [░]
Skill Level 5: [✓ Used] [Ready next battle!]
Skill Level 7: [✓ Used] [✓ Used] [░ Available]

Combat Mechanics

For a player with 100 max HP:

Runner's High restores 30 HP (scales slightly with skill level)
Healing increases with skill level:

Skill Level	HP Restored
1-3	30% max HP
4-5	35% max HP
6-7	40% max HP
8+	45% max HP

How It Works In-Game

Scenario: Mid-battle, you've taken some hits. Runner's High is available (cooldown ready).

┌─ BATTLE ──────────────────────┐
│   🐺 Trail Wolf               │
│   HP: ██░░░░░░░░ 12/45        │
│                               │
│   🏃 You                      │
│   HP: ████░░░░░░ 42/100       │  ← Hurting!
│   MP: ██████░░░░ 30/50        │
├───────────────────────────────┤
│ [⚔️ Attack     ] [👟 New Hokas    ] │
│ [🏃‍♂️ Runner's High] [🚪 Flee       ] │
│     Lv.3 (1/1)                     │
└───────────────────────────────┘

Player selects Runner's High:

┌─ BATTLE ──────────────────────┐
│                               │
│   🏃‍♂️ RUNNER'S HIGH!           │
│                               │
│   *Breathes rhythmically*     │
│   *Zones out completely*      │
│   *Achieves flow state*       │
│                               │
│   ✨ Recovered 30 HP!         │
│                               │
│   🏃 You                      │
│   HP: ███████░░░ 72/100       │  ← The endorphins are REAL
│   MP: ████░░░░░░ 15/50        │
│                               │
│   Runner's High: 0/1 (recharges in 3 battles)
└───────────────────────────────┘

Strategic Implications

At Skill Level 1 (once per 5 battles):

VERY precious resource
Only use when absolutely necessary
Might lose fights you could have won if you waste it

At Skill Level 5 (once per battle):

Reliable tool in every fight
Can be more aggressive knowing you have a heal
Still need to time it right

At Skill Level 7+ (multiple per battle):

Major sustain advantage
Can take on tougher monsters
Enables riskier strategies

Edge Cases

Cooldown not ready? Skill greyed out, shows "2 battles remaining"
Multiple uses available? Shows "(2/3)" to indicate uses left this battle
At full HP? Greyed out with "HP Full" tooltip
Would overheal? Caps at max HP (no waste, shows actual heal amount)

Level 3: Shin Kick ⚔️

The Skill

Name: Shin Kick
Type: Offensive
MP Cost: 20
Cooldown: Once per battle
Effect: A devastating strike dealing 250% damage

"Right in the shin. You KNOW how much that hurts."

Every trail runner knows the agony of a shin strike - whether from a hidden root, a rock, or an aggressive trail marker. Now weaponize that pain against your enemies.

Skill Leveling Progression

Skill Level	Damage	MP Cost	Bonus Effect
1	250%	20	-
2	265%	20	-
3	280%	19	-
4	295%	19	-
5	310%	18	"New PR!" - 10% chance to reset cooldown
6	325%	18	15% reset chance
7	340%	17	20% reset chance
8	355%	17	25% reset chance
9	370%	16	30% reset chance
10+	400%	15	"BONE BRUISE" - 35% reset + stuns enemy 1 turn

Combat Mechanics

Comparison to other attacks:

Normal Attack: 100% damage, 0 MP
Brand New Hokas (Lv1): 160% damage, 12 MP
Shin Kick (Lv1): 250% damage, 20 MP

When to use:

Opening move to chunk a tough enemy
Finishing blow on a low-HP monster
When you can afford the MP investment

How It Works In-Game

┌─ BATTLE ──────────────────────┐
│   🐗 Wild Boar                │
│   HP: ██████████ 80/80        │
│                               │
│   🏃 You                      │
│   HP: ██████████ 100/100      │
│   MP: ██████████ 50/50        │
├───────────────────────────────┤
│ [⚔️ Attack   ] [👟 New Hokas   ] │
│ [🦵 Shin Kick] [🏃‍♂️ Runner's High] │
└───────────────────────────────┘

Player selects Shin Kick:

┌─ BATTLE ──────────────────────┐
│                               │
│   🦵 SHIN KICK!               │
│                               │
│   *Winds up*                  │
│   *Aims for the shin*         │
│   *CRACK*                     │
│                               │
│   💥💥💥 62 DAMAGE! 💥💥💥     │
│                               │
│   🐗 Wild Boar                │
│   HP: ██░░░░░░░░ 18/80        │  ← Oof, right in the shin
│                               │
└───────────────────────────────┘

Edge Cases

Already used this battle? Greyed out, shows "Shin Sore" (already gave 'em one)
Not enough MP? Greyed out, shows "Need 20 MP"
Kills the enemy? Displays "CRITICAL SHIN!" celebration text
Cooldown resets (Lv5+)? Shows "OTHER SHIN!" and skill becomes available again

Level 4: Gel Pack 💚

The Skill

Name: Gel Pack
Type: Utility (Buff)
MP Cost: 18
Cooldown: Once per 3 battles
Effect: Boost attack damage by 25% for 4 turns

"It tastes like chemical birthday cake but it WORKS."

The Trail Runner squeezes down an energy gel - that weird gooey substance that costs $3 per packet and has the consistency of toothpaste. Disgusting? Yes. Effective? Absolutely.

Skill Leveling Progression

Skill Level	Damage Boost	Duration	Cooldown
1	+25%	4 turns	1 per 3 battles
2	+27%	4 turns	1 per 3 battles
3	+30%	4 turns	1 per 3 battles
4	+32%	5 turns	1 per 2 battles
5	+35%	5 turns	1 per 2 battles
6	+37%	5 turns	1 per battle
7	+40%	6 turns	1 per battle
8	+42%	6 turns	2 per battle
9	+45%	6 turns	2 per battle
10+	+50%	8 turns	3 per battle, also +10% crit

Bonus at Level 10: "GU Guru" - Also adds +10% critical hit chance

Combat Mechanics

How the buff stacks with attacks:

Normal Attack: 25 damage
With Gel Pack (+25%): 25 × 1.25 = 31 damage

Brand New Hokas: 40 damage (two hits)
With Gel Pack: 40 × 1.25 = 50 damage

Shin Kick: 62 damage
With Gel Pack: 62 × 1.25 = 77 damage

Optimal timing:

Use Gel Pack turn 1, then unload damage skills
4 turns is enough for 3-4 buffed attacks
Pairs especially well with Brand New Hokas (double benefit)

How It Works In-Game

┌─ BATTLE ──────────────────────┐
│   🦎 Trail Lizard             │
│   HP: ██████████ 50/50        │
│                               │
│   🏃 You                      │
│   HP: ██████████ 100/100      │
│   MP: ██████████ 50/50        │
├───────────────────────────────┤
│ [⚔️ Attack   ] [👟 New Hokas   ] │
│ [🦵 Shin Kick] [🧴 Gel Pack    ] │
└───────────────────────────────┘

Player selects Gel Pack:

┌─ BATTLE ──────────────────────┐
│                               │
│   🧴 GEL PACK!                │
│                               │
│   *Tears open packet*         │
│   *Squeezes directly into     │
│    mouth*                     │
│   *Tries not to gag*          │
│                               │
│   ⚡ ATK +25% for 4 turns!    │
│                               │
│   🏃 You [🧴 GELLED]          │
│   HP: ██████████ 100/100      │
│   MP: ████████░░ 32/50        │
│                               │
└───────────────────────────────┘

Buff indicator persists:

│   🏃 You [🧴 3 turns]         │  ← Shows remaining duration

Edge Cases

Already have the buff? Can't stack, refreshes duration instead
Buff expires mid-battle? Shows "Sugar crash..." message
Multiple uses (Lv8+)? Can refresh before expiring for continuous uptime
Does it affect healing? No, damage only (it's SUGAR not PROTEIN)

Synergy Notes

Gel Pack + Brand New Hokas combo:

Gel Pack Turn 1 (+25% damage)
Brand New Hokas Turn 2, 3, 4 (all buffed)
Each Hokas attack now deals ~50 damage instead of 40
Total extra damage over 4 turns: ~30-40 bonus damage

Gel Pack + Shin Kick combo:

Gel Pack Turn 1
Shin Kick Turn 2 for ~77 damage instead of 62
Finish with buffed normal attacks

Level 5: Pole Vault ⚔️

The Skill

Name: Pole Vault
Type: Offensive
MP Cost: 16
Cooldown: None (usable every turn)
Effect: 150% damage attack with 40% chance to stun enemy for 1 turn

"These carbon fiber trekking poles cost $250. Time to get my money's worth."

The Trail Runner plants their premium trekking pole and launches themselves foot-first into the enemy's face. It's not what the manufacturer intended, but it's devastatingly effective.

Skill Leveling Progression

Skill Level	Damage	Stun Chance	MP Cost
1	150%	40%	16
2	155%	42%	16
3	160%	45%	15
4	165%	47%	15
5	170%	50%	14
6	175%	52%	14
7	180%	55%	13
8	185%	57%	13
9	190%	60%	12
10+	200%	65%	12, "Pole Position" - stun lasts 2 turns

Milestone at Level 10: "Pole Position" - Stuns now last 2 turns instead of 1

Combat Mechanics

Comparison to other offensive skills:

Skill	Damage	Special	MP Cost
Brand New Hokas	160% (2×80%)	Two hits	12
Shin Kick	250%	Once per battle	20
Pole Vault	150%	40% stun	16

When to use Pole Vault:

Enemy is about to use a big attack (stun prevents it)
You need breathing room to heal next turn
Setting up for a Shin Kick (stunned enemies can't dodge)

Stun mechanics:

Stunned enemies skip their next turn
Stunned enemies take 10% bonus damage from all sources
Stun doesn't stack (refreshes duration if re-applied)

How It Works In-Game

┌─ BATTLE ──────────────────────┐
│   🐗 Wild Boar                │
│   HP: ██████░░░░ 48/80        │
│   [🔄 Charging up...]         │  ← About to do something bad
│                               │
│   🏃 You                      │
│   HP: ██████░░░░ 55/100       │
│   MP: ████████░░ 40/50        │
├───────────────────────────────┤
│ [⚔️ Attack   ] [👟 New Hokas   ] │
│ [🦵 Shin Kick] [🥢 Pole Vault  ] │
└───────────────────────────────┘

Player selects Pole Vault:

┌─ BATTLE ──────────────────────┐
│                               │
│   🥢 POLE VAULT!              │
│                               │
│   *Plants trekking pole*      │
│   *YEETS self at enemy*       │
│   *Both feet connect*         │
│                               │
│   💥 38 DAMAGE!               │
│   ⭐ STUNNED!                 │
│                               │
│   🐗 Wild Boar [💫 STUNNED]   │
│   HP: ███░░░░░░░ 10/80        │
│                               │
└───────────────────────────────┘

If stun fails (60% chance at Lv1):

│   💥 38 DAMAGE!               │
│   (Boar shakes it off)        │

Strategic Considerations

Pole Vault vs Brand New Hokas:

Hokas: More reliable damage (160% vs 150%)
Pole Vault: Chance to prevent enemy turn entirely
Use Hokas for pure DPS, Pole Vault for control

Pole Vault + Shin Kick combo:

Pole Vault (hope for stun)
If stunned: Free Shin Kick next turn (250% damage + 10% stun bonus = 275%)
Enemy wasted a turn, you dealt massive damage

Pole Vault + Runner's High combo:

Pole Vault to stun
Runner's High to heal safely while enemy is stunned
Resume attacking at higher HP

Edge Cases

Not enough MP? Greyed out, shows "Need 16 MP"
Enemy already stunned? Can still use, refreshes stun duration
Enemy immune to stun? Damage still applies, shows "Immune to stun!"
Critical hit? Stun chance increases to 60% on crits

Implementation Considerations

Data We Need to Track

player = {
  hp: 80,
  maxHp: 100,
  mp: 35,
  maxMp: 50,

  skills: {
    secondWind: {
      unlocked: true,
      cooldownEnds: 1704567890000, // Unix timestamp
    },
    steadyPace: {
      unlocked: true,
      // No cooldown for passives
    }
  },

  // For passive tracking
  stats: {
    hpSavedBySteadyPace: 47,
    distanceTraveledToday: 8500, // meters
    elevationGainedToday: 320,  // meters
  }
}

GPS Integration

The drain system needs to integrate with GPS tracking:

function onPositionUpdate(newPosition) {
  const distance = calculateDistance(lastPosition, newPosition);
  const elevation = calculateElevationGain(lastPosition, newPosition);

  let drain = 0;

  // Base distance drain
  drain += distance / 100; // 1 HP per 100m

  // Elevation drain
  drain += (elevation / 10) * 2; // 2 HP per 10m climbed

  // Apply terrain modifier (from trail data)
  drain *= getTerrainModifier(currentTrail);

  // Apply passive skills
  if (player.skills.steadyPace.unlocked) {
    drain *= 0.85; // -15%
  }

  // Apply racial bonuses
  drain *= player.race.movementDrainModifier;

  // Apply the drain
  player.hp = Math.max(0, player.hp - drain);

  updateUI();
}

Next Steps

Define how MP regenerates
Define what Difficult Terrain actually means (GPS data? Manual marking?)
Design the skills UI
Define Level 3: Trail Legs mechanics

26 KiB Raw Blame History

Skill Mechanics - Detailed Design

Core Design Principles

Combat System Overview

Monster Encounters

The Monster Entourage

Turn-Based Combat

HP System (Revised)

HP is for COMBAT only

HP Recovery (Out of Combat)

What Happens at 0 HP?

Skill Leveling System

How Skills Level Up

What Skill Levels Do

Trail Runner Skills (Revised)

Reserved for Gym Bro (Barbarian) class:

Level 1: Brand New Hokas ⚔️

The Skill

Skill Leveling Progression

Combat Mechanics

How It Works In-Game

Why This Skill is Good for Level 1

Edge Cases

Level 2: Runner's High 💚

The Skill

Skill Leveling Progression

Combat Mechanics

How It Works In-Game

Strategic Implications

Edge Cases

Level 3: Shin Kick ⚔️

The Skill

Skill Leveling Progression

Combat Mechanics

How It Works In-Game

Edge Cases

Level 4: Gel Pack 💚

The Skill

Skill Leveling Progression

Combat Mechanics

How It Works In-Game

Edge Cases

Synergy Notes

Level 5: Pole Vault ⚔️

The Skill

Skill Leveling Progression

Combat Mechanics

How It Works In-Game

Strategic Considerations

Edge Cases

Implementation Considerations

Data We Need to Track

GPS Integration

Next Steps

26 KiB

Raw Blame History