Wayblazer is a single-player, 2.5D isometric exploration and engineering game where the player must solve a unique, procedurally generated deduction puzzle on every new planet to build a portal and advance civilization. The core loop is about transforming vague environmental data into precise engineering solutions.
The player is a lone pioneer, a space engineer, and a scientist. They are tasked with blazing the way forward for a civilization by mastering alien environments, deducing unknown physics, and synthesizing materials that meet the harsh, procedurally generated requirements of each new world.
- Viewpoint: 2.5D Isometric (Tile-based environments).
- Core Mechanic: Deduction and Engineering Synthesis (not simple resource grinding).
- Procedural Generation: World characteristics, resource properties, technology path, and portal requirements are unique to each run.
- Control Scheme: WSAD movement, Left-click (Interaction/Harvest), Right-click (Scanning/Analysis).
The central experience of Wayblazer follows a repeatable, five-step deduction cycle on every planet.
| Step | Action | Tools/Systems Used | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Land & Assess | Establish the initial base and gain vague data. | Hand Scanner (Right-Click) | Vague Resource Descriptions ("Low Strength," "High Resistance"). |
| 2. Deduce & Research | Use Tier 1 and 2 tech to turn vague data into precise formulas. | Field Lab, Planetary Observatory, Research UI | Exact material stats (e.g., Strength: 4.2), Exact planetary constants (e.g., Gravimetric Shear: 3.2), and the Final Portal Requirement (e.g., Foundation Strength |
| 3. Engineer & Synthesize | Use the discovered formulas to craft the required material. | Basic Furnace, Gas Injector, Inventory | A single, high-stat Composite Alloy that meets the required threshold (e.g., Final Strength: 8.2). |
| 4. Simulate & Verify | Construct the portal and run a virtual test on the engineered material. | Portal Foundation, Simulation Core | PASS/FAIL report confirming the deduction and engineering success. |
| 5. Advance & Repeat | Activate the portal and travel to the next, more complex world. | Portal Gate | Progression to the next complexity level. |
The deduction puzzle is built entirely on the interaction between randomly generated World Constants and Resource Characteristics.
Each planet is defined by a unique set of global constants. These values are the variables (
| Constant (VS Focus) | Description | VS Value (Tier 1) | Deduction Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gravimetric Shear | The intensity of the world's gravity and resulting structural stress. | Dictates the Material Strength requirement. | |
| Corrosive Index | The atmospheric acidity and material decay rate. | Dictates the Material Resistance requirement. | |
| Tectonic Volatility | The frequency of ground movement and material stress endurance. | Dictates the Material Toughness requirement. |
Every single raw and processed material in the game is defined by these five core numerical properties.
| Property | Effect | Vague Reading (Scanner) | Precise Reading (Field Lab) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strength | Resistance to sheer force and crushing. | Low / Medium / High Integrity | Float Value (e.g., 2.1, 4.2) |
| Resistance | Resistance to atmospheric, thermal, or corrosive damage. | Low / Medium / High Purity | Float Value (e.g., 5.0, 7.3) |
| Toughness | Resistance to impact and shattering (ductility). | Low / Medium / High Elasticity | Float Value |
| Conductivity | Ability to transfer heat or electrical energy. | Low / Medium / High Flow | Float Value |
| Reactivity | How violently it interacts with other materials. | Low / Medium / High Volatility | Float Value |
The player must discover the Planetary Constant and use the formula (unlocked via research) to determine the exact required material value.
| Portal Component | Required Material Property | VS Deduction Formula | VS Calculated Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation | Material Strength | ||
| Gate | Material Resistance |
The player uses a tiered set of tools, each gated by the Tech Tree, to progress through the deduction loop.
| Tool | Function | VS Usage |
|---|---|---|
| WSAD/Click | Movement and interaction. | Basic harvesting of readily available resources (Soft Wood, Base Ore). |
| Hand Scanner | Vague analysis of nearby materials. | Displays "Low," "Medium," or "High" for resource properties and the general Planetary Constants (e.g., "Gravity is Strong"). |
| Machine | Unlock | Cost/Prereq | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field Lab | Base Analysis V2 Research | 15 Analysis Points |
Turns Vague |
| Basic Furnace | Smelting Research | Basic Ground Resources | Smelting. Consumes Ore + Wood (Fuel) to produce a slightly stronger Metal Bar. |
| Machine | Unlock | Cost/Prereq | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Planetary Observatory | Planetary Survey Research | 25 Analysis Points |
Deduction Input. Measures the planetary constant (e.g., Gravimetric Shear) to reveal the true required portal threshold (e.g., |
| Gas Injector | Advanced Compositing Research | 10 Smelting + 10 Compositing Points |
Compositing. Consumes a Metal Bar + a Modifying Element (e.g., Catalyst Ore) to create the high-stat Composite Alloy (e.g., Strength |
| Machine | Unlock | Cost/Prereq | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simulation Core | Portal Construction Research | 50 Total Points | Verification. Runs a virtual test on the constructed Portal Foundation against the planetary constants. Provides a detailed PASS/FAIL report. |
Progression is driven by the accumulation and spending of specialized Tech Points (Knowledge). This system ensures players must engage in all aspects of the game (science, mining, crafting) to advance.
| Category | Gain Points By... | Drives Unlocks For... |
|---|---|---|
| Analysis | Scanning, using the Field Lab, measuring planetary data. | Advanced analysis tools, Planetary Observatory. |
| Smelting | Using the Basic Furnace to process ore. | Higher-level smelting techniques, refining efficiency. |
| Compositing | Using the Gas Injector to create composite materials. | Advanced alloying, complex resource synthesis. |
The player must follow a sequence of research unlocks, gated by the specialized knowledge points.
| Tech Node ID | Cost | Prerequisite | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlock_PreciseAnalysis | 15 Analysis | None | Unlocks Field Lab to show exact resource stats. |
| Unlock_Observatory | 25 Analysis | None | Allows placement of the Planetary Observatory. |
| Unlock_GasInjector | 10 Smelting, 10 Compositing | Unlock_PreciseAnalysis | Allows construction of the Gas Injector. |
| Unlock_PortalBuild | 50 Total Points | Unlock_GasInjector | Allows construction of the Portal Foundation. |
The 12-Sprint Vertical Slice demonstrates a full, successful run of the deduction cycle (L.D.E.S.A.) on a Complexity 1 world.
| System | Status (Sprint) | Goal Achieved |
|---|---|---|
| Data Architecture | Complete (S1) | C# classes for Resources, Properties, Constants, and Deduction Formulas are linked. |
| World/Player | Complete (S2) | Character movement, tile-based world, and basic resource nodes are implemented. |
| Resource Economy | Complete (S3, S7, S8) | Raw harvest |
| Deduction Tools | Complete (S4, S5, S6) | Hand Scanner (Vague), Field Lab (Precise Resource Data), and Planetary Observatory (Deduction Input) are implemented. |
| Tech Tree | Complete (S9) | Research UI, Knowledge Point tracking, and machine gating are functional. |
| Win Condition | Complete (S10, S11) | Portal Foundation placement, Material Verification against the calculated requirement, Simulation Core check, and Win Scene transition are implemented. |
| Aesthetics | Complete (S12) | Final 2.5D art, UI polish, sound effects, music, and screen shake are integrated. |