⚡ Capacitor Design Document

Overview

Capacitor is a collaborative first-person horror game for 2-5 players, set in a post-apocalyptic world. Players are cyborgs gathering components to repair their deteriorating bodies. The main gameplay revolves around exploring an abandoned industrial complex, collecting components, and surviving traps and monsters.

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🎮 Game Features

🛠 Economy

• Inventory Slots: Each player has 4 slots for equipment or loot.
• Loot Components:
  • 1-5 components per loot item.
  • Player body = 1 component.
  • Most loot: 2-3 components; Rare loot: 4-5 components.
• Loot Visibility: Occasional sheens in dark areas.
• Player Death Penalty:
  • Costs 2 components to reconstruct a player.
  • Components cannot go negative.
• Self-Repair Mechanic:
  • Required every 2 in-game days.
  • Cost: 10 + 5 × (number of repairs).
  • Failure reduces max HP and stamina by 25%. Second failure results in death.

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🌐 Remote Multiplayer

• Peer-to-Peer Hosting:
  • One player hosts the game, others join directly.
  • UPnP automatically sets up port forwarding when possible.
  • Manual port forwarding may be required in some network setups.
• How to Host:
  1. Click "Host" in the multiplayer menu.
  2. Enter your player name.
  3. If UPnP succeeds, your external IP will be displayed.
  4. Share your IP and port (default: 8080) with friends.
  5. Click "START" when all players have joined.
• How to Join:
  1. Click "Join" in the multiplayer menu.
  2. Enter the host's IP address.
  3. Enter your player name.
  4. Wait for the host to start the game.
• Troubleshooting:
  • If UPnP fails, you'll need to manually forward port 8080 (UDP) in your router.
  • If players can't connect, try using a VPN service that supports direct connections.
  • For NAT traversal issues, ensure both the host and clients have UDP port 8080 open.

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⚡ Electricity System

• Generator:
  • Managed with fuel (electricity) and heat levels.
  • Players use coolant to reduce generator heat.
  • BLACKOUT occurs if fuel runs out or generator overheats.
• Electricity Levels:
  • 100-75%: Bright lights; containment cells stay closed.
  • 75-50%: Dim lights; 30% chance of containment cell timers (10-120s).
  • 50-25%: Flickering lights; 80% chance of door timers (10-120s).
  • 25-0%: Heavy flickering; containment cells on timers (10-120s).
• BLACKOUT Events:
  • Fog horn sounds, ambient noise stops.
  • All containment doors open, lights go black.
  • 5 monsters spawn immediately.

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🏗 Level Design

• Randomly Generated Facility with key features:
  • Dimensions: ~2:1:2 ratio.
  • Room Types:
    • Standard Rooms: Loot and monster spawns.
    • Locked Rooms: Require keys to access (0-3 doors).
    • Capacitor Rooms: 1-3 rooms with single-use capacitors.
    • Generator Room: Always near the entrance; includes coolant bottles.
    • Surveillance Station: Offers top-down views of players, enemies, and loot.
    • Containment Cells: Contain medium/large monsters.
    • Stairs Room: For vertical movement.
    • Hallways: Connect rooms.

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🎒 Items

• Flashlight (1 component): Illuminates the area.
• Walkie-Talkie (1 component): Enables long-distance communication.
• Pocket Knife (1 component): Close-range melee weapon.
• Lockpicker (2 components): Instantly opens locks with a beep.
• Chemlight Box (1 component): Contains 10 red chemlights for marking areas.

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👾 Enemies

• Small Enemy: Wanders; aggros to loud noises (6m) or proximity (3m).
• Medium Enemy 1: Chases players; fast but slow to turn.
• Medium Enemy 2: Blind; listens for sound; insta-kills on collision.
• Large Enemy 1: Faster than players; freezes in light but activates in darkness.
• Large Enemy 2: Mimics players; records/replays voice lines.

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🚀 Development Plan

Week 1

• Level Design:
  • Basic room prefabs (standard, stairs, hallways, generator room, etc.).
  • Adjust procedural generation logic.
• Systems:
  • Inventory System: 4-slot inventory, flashlight, walkie-talkie, and loot design.
• Networking: Sync player movements and inventory.
• Enemies: Prototype Small Enemy.

Week 2

• Level Design: Add advanced room types (Capacitor Rooms, Surveillance Stations).
• Systems:
  • Electricity mechanics: Fuel, heat, light thresholds.
• Networking: Debug player synchronization.
• Enemies: Prototype Medium and Large Enemies.

Week 3

• Level Design:
  • Implement spawn logic for loot and coolant bottles.
  • Refine room design.
• Systems:
  • Self-repair system and penalties.
  • Equipment purchasing and loot sheen.
• Networking: Sync electricity system and player respawns.
• Enemies: Integrate spawning logic and BLACKOUT mechanics.

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🎉 DEMO