Multicellular Entry & Win Conditions

[Deus]

Wanted to make a dedicated thread for this since it’s an over-arching topic we’ve touched on in other threads.

We need some sort of win condition for the Multicellular Stage. I also highly suggest having some sort of entry condition that is different from our current one, which feels very much like a placeholder and can basically allow the player to skip a big portion of the Microbe Stage.

Entry

There were elaborate ideas about how binding agents can be revamped, but they fizzled out due to balancing concerns and uncertainty about how the Multicellular Stage would look.

One simple, slightly gamey suggestion I have: we keep the “collect 5 cells part”, but change how the binding agents work a bit.

• You start with the capability to bind with only one other microbe.
• If you bind with another microbe and spend 1 minute attached to it, your next generation of microbes will be able to bind with an additional cell. So generation one lets you bind with one cell, generation two lets you mind with two cells, etc.
• You reach that count, and once you reach a minute and fill out your reproduction meter, you can click progress.

Exit

We’ve discussed this a bit before already, but I think the general idea that you need to meet certain conditions in order to progress is solid. I will post Hh’s checklist here as a starting point for conversation related to this.

@hhyyrylainen

• Use a more advanced reproduction method (we probably want sporulation also to be allowed for macroscopic?) than just budding
• Have at least 3 different cell types in your body plan
• Have a total of 20 cells
• And maybe some minimum specialization bonus amount so that the cell placement is sensible?

In the future as the Macroscopic Stage is developed more, this checklist can be expanded so that more diversity in start to the macroscopic is allowed. (I have a feeling that this is something someone else brought up, so I don’t want to take credit for this; maybe @Rathalos?)

Some examples:

• Having a certain number of actomyosin results in unlocking specific movement features earlier.
• Having a certain % of specialization around chloroplasts results in some sort of unlock related to photosynthetic macroscopic life.
• Having X membrane unlocks X Skin Attribute at the start.
• Placing an axon enables movement at the start of the game.

That’s all exciting, but for now, we just need a “baseline” progression mechanic.

Thoughts?

[Rathalos]

@Deus

One simple, slightly gamey suggestion I have: we keep the “collect 5 cells part”, but change how the binding agents work a bit.

• You start with the capability to bind with only one other microbe.
• If you bind with another microbe and spend 1 minute attached to it, your next generation of microbes will be able to bind with an additional cell. So generation one lets you bind with one cell, generation two lets you mind with two cells, etc.
• You reach that count, and once you reach a minute and fill out your reproduction meter, you can click progress.

I like the general intent, definitely. Would definitely need a bunch of new UI work to be clear. On the other hand, with that UI I think it at least would be clear, unlike for example several upgrades to the Binding Agent Organelle.

On the downside, the Binding Agent at first only allowing you to bind with one other cell seems a bit anticlimactic perhaps? Also, the amount of time you need to stay bound would have to be carefully balanced.

@Deus

In the future as the Macroscopic Stage is developed more, this checklist can be expanded so that more diversity in start to the macroscopic is allowed. (I have a feeling that this is something someone else brought up, so I don’t want to take credit for this; maybe @Rathalos?)

I have the feeling that “what you end Multicellular with determines what you start Macroscopic with, and what you don’t have will be more difficult to unlock” is just what I assumed from the start?

Funny idea related to this: once we have a lot more work on the Macroscopic Stage finished we could even consider just relaxing whatever restrictions we put in place now. Which would mean "sure you can rush through Multicellular with 20 cells and nothing else. Congratulations you now start Macroscopic as a slimy blob and if you want to go beyond that, you need to slowly catch up on things you skipped in the Multicellular Stage.

But that’s future talk for when we know more about Macroscopic.

@Deus

will post Hh’s checklist here as a starting point for conversation related to this.

I agree this is a pretty solid list actually. It ensures that there is enough complexity for our Macroscopic Stage development to start with. But this is none-restrictive enough that I think plants, fungi, etc. could all be modelled through this.