The-Somnus-Project/docs/brief.md

Project Brief: Stasis Warden

Version: 1.1 Date: August 24, 2025

1. Executive Summary

• Product Concept: The player assumes the role of the amnesiac AI of a generation starship. Following a disaster, the player must repair the ship and save the cryo-sleeping crew, uncovering their own identity by restoring their systems.
• Problem: A starship is derelict and its crew is in peril. The AI controlling it is damaged and must restore functionality and order to save everyone.
• Key Value Proposition: A unique blend of strategic ship-building and deep social simulation, driven by a core narrative of self-discovery and presented with a distinct ASCII/TUI interface.

2. Target Users

• Primary User Segment: Fans of sci-fi, emergent narrative gameplay, strategy games, and ASCII/TUI interfaces (e.g., Dwarf Fortress, Caves of Qud). Players who enjoy titles with deep systems that allow for unique stories to unfold with each playthrough.

3. Goals & Success Metrics

• Project Philosophy: This is a passion project. The primary goal is to create a game that is fun and engaging for its creator, and hopefully for others who share a similar taste. Traditional business metrics like sales figures or KPIs are not a focus.
• User Success Metrics: The game is successful if players feel they are creating a unique story and are consistently engaged by the core gameplay loop.

4. MVP Scope

• Core Features (In Scope):
  • Manual power generation.
  • Awakening crew to automate tasks.
  • "Room Card" selection for ship-building.
  • Crew stats (e.g., Engineering) and personality traits (1 positive, 1 negative).
  • An ASCII-based TUI with a keyboard-driven interface.
  • A dedicated area for "Room Card" choices.
• Out of Scope for MVP:
  • Full narrative reveal of the amnesiac AI.
  • Dynamic relationships (friendship, rivalry).
  • AI-driven influence over crew relationships.
  • Generational system (crew having children).
  • Complex graphics; the focus is on a clean, functional ASCII interface.
• MVP Success Criteria:
  • The core gameplay loop is proven to be engaging.
  • Replayability is high, with each game session unfolding differently.

5. Technical Considerations

• Target Platforms: Windows and Linux.
• Technology Preferences:
  • Framework: Python with the Textual library for TUI
  • IDE: Visual Studio Code

6. Constraints & Assumptions

• Constraints:
  • Resources: The project will be developed by a sole human developer.
  • Assets: Graphics and sound assets are no longer a primary concern due to the ASCII focus.
• Key Assumptions:
  • The "vibe coding" development strategy will be sufficient to complete the project.
  • The blend of social simulation, ship management, and amnesiac AI narrative will be engaging for the target audience.
  • The ASCII/TUI aesthetic will be appealing and enhance the game's unique identity.

7. Risks & Open Questions

• Key Risks:
  • Project Abandonment: As a solo passion project, there is a risk the developer may stop working on it.
  • Technical Blockers: A critical bug may be encountered that AI coding assistants cannot resolve, halting progress.
  • UI/UX Complexity: Designing an intuitive and engaging ASCII interface can be challenging.
• Open Questions:
  • How can we best leverage Textual's features to create a compelling and unique TUI experience?