Gameplay

FeudalSim: Gameplay Mechanics

Overview

FeudalSim is a medieval economic and political simulation set in the historically accurate world of 1455. Players take on the role of individuals in a persistent world where all actions take time, require skill, and utilize tools. The game focuses on realistic economic simulation, political hierarchy, and social interactions within a node-based map system.

Map System

The game world is structured around a node-based system where each location (city, town, village, castle, etc.) is connected by travel routes.

Node Types

• Cities: Regional economic centers with large marketplaces and diverse population
• Towns: Smaller settlements with specialized industries
• Villages: Agricultural centers focused on farming and raw materials
• Castles: Military and administrative centers
• Forts: Strategic military outposts
• Resource Nodes: Specialized locations like mines, forests, quarries, etc.

Travel

• Travel between nodes takes realistic time based on:
• Distance
• Terrain type
• Weather conditions
• Mode of transport (foot, horse, cart)
• Road quality
• During travel, players can encounter:
• Other travelers
• Merchants
• Bandits
• Military patrols
• Natural hazards

Character Progression

Players begin with minimal resources and must work to advance their position in society.

Character Skills

Skills improve through practice and are categorized as:

• Resource Gathering
• Forestry
• Mining
• Quarrying
• Farming
• Fishing
• Hunting

• Crafting
• Carpentry
• Blacksmithing
• Weaving
• Masonry
• Leatherworking
• Brewing

• Knowledge
• Medicine
• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Theology
• Law
• Languages

• Social
• Trading
• Diplomacy
• Leadership
• Deception
• Intimidation

Skill Progression

• Each skill ranges from 0-100
• Skills improve through active use
• Higher skill levels:
• Increase work output quality
• Reduce resource usage
• Speed up production time
• Unlock new crafting recipes

Economic System

The game features a realistic supply-chain and resource processing system.

Resource Categories

• Raw Materials: Gathered directly from resource nodes
• Wood (various types)
• Ore (iron, copper, silver, gold)
• Stone (limestone, granite, marble)
• Clay, sand
• Agricultural products (wheat, flax, vegetables)
• Animal products (wool, hides, meat)

• Processed Materials: Created from raw materials
• Lumber
• Metal ingots
• Cut stone
• Yarn/thread
• Flour
• Leather

• Crafted Items: Created from processed materials
• Tools
• Weapons and armor
• Furniture
• Clothing
• Wagons and carts
• Construction materials

• Luxury Goods: High-value specialized items
• Fine clothing
• Jewelry
• Art
• Exotic spices
• Wine and spirits

Item Properties

Each item in the game has unique properties:

• Weight: Affects carrying capacity and transportation costs
• Quality: Determined by material quality, crafter skill, and tools used
• Durability: Items deteriorate over time at different rates
• Value: Base value affected by quality, local supply/demand

Production Chains

Resources follow realistic production chains. For example:

Tree → Wood → Lumber → Furniture/Construction
Iron Ore + Fuel → Iron Ingot → Tools/Weapons
Wheat → Flour → Bread
Sheep → Wool → Yarn → Cloth → Clothing

Each step in the chain:

• Requires appropriate skills
• Uses specific tools or buildings
• Takes realistic time to complete
• Adds value to the resource

Market System

Markets operate at each node location with realistic economic principles.

Market Features

• Local Markets: Each town/city has its own marketplace
• Supply and Demand: Prices fluctuate based on local availability
• Reserved Sales: Players can reserve items for specific buyers
• Tax: Local authorities collect market taxes
• Currency: Regional currencies with exchange rates
• Regional Specialization: Different regions specialize in different goods

Trade Mechanics

• Merchants: Players can become merchants by buying low and selling high
• Caravans: Transport goods between nodes (with risk of bandit attacks)
• Trade Routes: Established routes develop better roads over time
• Smuggling: Avoid taxes by using illegal routes (with higher risk)

Political System

The game features a realistic political hierarchy based on medieval feudal systems.

Governance Levels

• Local Level: Barons/Baronesses (Europe) or Beys (Ottoman)
• Control individual nodes
• Set local taxes
• Maintain local order

• Regional Level: Counts/Countesses (Europe) or Emirs (Ottoman)
• Oversee multiple nodes
• Coordinate regional defense
• Mediate local disputes

• Provincial Level: Dukes/Duchesses (Europe) or Valis (Ottoman)
• Control multiple regions
• Manage provincial economy
• Raise armies

• Kingdom Level: Kings/Queens (Europe) or Sultans (Ottoman)
• Set national policy
• Declare wars
• Appoint lower nobles

• Imperial Level: Emperors/Empresses (Europe) or Caliphs (Ottoman)
• Rule multiple kingdoms
• Highest authority

Political Mechanics

• Elections: Some positions are elected by councils
• Appointments: Higher nobles appoint lower positions
• Land Ownership: Nobles grant land rights to vassals
• Laws and Edicts: Authorities can set local laws
• Corruption: Ability to make under-the-table deals
• Rebellion: Possibility for uprising against unjust rule

Land Ownership and Buildings

Players can acquire land and construct buildings as they progress.

Land Acquisition

• Players must reach level 1 to buy land
• Land is purchased from local government
• Different types of land are suitable for different purposes:
• Agricultural land for farming
• Urban plots for workshops
• Forest land for lumber

Building Types

• Residential: Houses, manors
• Production: Workshops, smithies, mills
• Agricultural: Farms, pastures, orchards
• Commercial: Shops, warehouses, taverns
• Military: Barracks, armories

Building Mechanics

• Construction requires:
• Appropriate resources (lumber, stone, etc.)
• Workers with needed skills
• Time to complete
• Buildings deteriorate and require maintenance
• Better quality materials increase building durability
• Buildings can be upgraded to improve efficiency

Weather and Seasonal Effects

Weather and seasons impact gameplay in realistic ways.

Weather Effects

• Rain: Slows travel, increases crop growth
• Snow: Severely hampers travel, halts farming
• Drought: Reduces crop yields, increases fire risk
• Storms: Damage to buildings, danger during travel

Seasonal Cycles

• Spring: Planting season, good for travel
• Summer: Growing season, best for construction
• Autumn: Harvest season, stockpiling for winter
• Winter: Reduced production, difficult travel, focus on indoor crafts

Military System

Military conflicts are an integral part of medieval life and politics.

Military Units

• Infantry: Foot soldiers of varying equipment quality
• Cavalry: Mounted soldiers for rapid movement
• Siege Units: Specialized for attacking fortifications
• Naval Units: For controlling water routes and coastal attacks

Military Mechanics

• Only titled characters can raise armies
• Armies require:
• Funds to pay soldiers
• Equipment and weapons
• Food and supplies
• Military campaigns affect:
• Regional stability
• Trade routes
• Resource availability
• Political boundaries

Social Interactions

The game emphasizes social interactions between players and NPCs.

Reputation System

• Actions build reputation with different factions:
• Political factions
• Religious organizations
• Trade guilds
• Military orders
• Reputation affects:
• Trade prices
• Quest availability
• Political opportunities
• Social standing

Social Mechanics

• Alliances: Form business or political alliances
• Rivalries: Compete for resources or positions
• Marriages: Strategic unions for political advantage
• Apprenticeships: Train under masters to learn skills
• Guilds: Join crafting or merchant guilds for benefits

Religion and Culture

Religious and cultural differences play important roles in medieval society.

Religious Systems

• Catholicism: Dominant in Western Europe
• Orthodox Christianity: Eastern Europe and Byzantine remnants
• Islam: Ottoman territories and North Africa
• Judaism: Minority communities throughout Europe

Cultural Mechanics

• Different cultures have:
• Unique architectural styles
• Specialized crafting techniques
• Regional foods and goods
• Different laws and customs
• Cultural knowledge can be an advantage in trade and diplomacy

Implementation Guidelines

This gameplay mechanics document serves as a foundation for implementing the core systems of FeudalSim. Development should focus on:

• First implementing the map node system and basic travel
• Building the resource gathering and processing mechanics
• Creating the market and economic simulation
• Adding character progression systems
• Implementing political and social structures
• Adding environmental and seasonal effects
• Developing advanced systems like military and religion

The goal is to create a realistic, immersive medieval simulation where player actions have meaningful impacts on the persistent world.