Setpiece

About this model

This diagram models the progression mechanics of a game with a focus on level advancement and encountering specific challenges such as boss fights. In this system, players start at a specific level, indicated by the "Level start" pool. Progression through the game involves finding keys and required items to unlock the next levels, as represented by gates labeled "Find key" and "Get required item". The system incorporates a cyclical flow where completing one level opens the door to the next, symbolized by resources moving from "Open locked door" to trigger the "Next level" gate, which then loops back to the starting point to simulate advancing to the next level.

A unique aspect of this game model is the introduction of a boss fight mechanic at a specific stage in the game, as indicated by the connection from "Open locked door" to a gate leading to "Boss fight", which then feeds back into the item requirement for level progression. The diagram also includes conditions that modify the game state based on the current level the player is in, with a special emphasis on a significant event or challenge that occurs at the level 4 mark, as described in the text node. Resources and triggers in the diagram ensure that players must meet specific conditions to progress, illustrating a structured yet dynamic way to design game levels and challenges, including a conditionally triggered boss encounter that influences the progression through the game levels.

“Setpiece” is a diagram in the Machinations Community by Cezar Cocias.

You can open the original diagram in the Machinations app, press Play to watch how resources move through it, and change its values to see how the system responds. Machinations is a visual tool for designing, simulating and balancing game economies and other systems, where resources flow through sources, pools, drains, converters and gates.