# Game Plan: Step Line ## Premise You play a private security guard stationed at the top of the steps outside a fictional building on Hollywood Boulevard. Your job is to keep the entrance and steps clear while dealing with tourists, trespassers, performers, protesters, intoxicated pedestrians, and occasional determined intruders. The game is about **judgment, communication, and escalation management**, not simply attacking anyone who approaches. --- ## Core Gameplay Loop 1. Watch the stairs, entrance, and sidewalk. 2. Identify why each person is approaching. 3. Give verbal warnings and directions. 4. Escalate only when necessary. 5. Call for assistance in rare dangerous situations. 6. Maintain public safety, building security, and your employer’s reputation. People should not all behave the same way. Some are confused, some are rude, some are filming, and a very small number are deliberately attempting to enter. ## Authorized Access Some people are authorized to enter the building. The security guard must verify them before granting access. An authorized person can be admitted if either: - The guard already knows and recognizes them. - The person presents a valid event or staff wristband, which the guard checks before opening the entrance. The wristband check should require the player to inspect details such as its color, pattern, date, or event marking. NPCs may have valid wristbands, expired wristbands, counterfeit wristbands, or no wristband at all. The player should avoid relying on appearance or assumptions. A familiar person may still need verification if the building’s current policy requires it, while an unfamiliar person with a valid wristband may be admitted after a successful check. Incorrectly denying an authorized person harms the building’s reputation; admitting someone without authorization creates a security failure. --- ## Escalation System ## Level 0: Observation The guard watches NPC behavior and decides whether intervention is needed. Examples: - Someone taking a photograph from the sidewalk - A tourist reading a map - A person sitting briefly on the edge of the steps - Someone approaching the entrance with a delivery package The player should avoid interrupting harmless behavior. Unnecessary confrontations reduce the guard’s performance rating. --- ## Level 1: Simple Deterrence and Polite Direction The player can begin with a simple, nonverbal deterrent before speaking. These actions are quick and low-pressure, making them useful when someone is only approaching the steps casually or appears unsure. Possible actions include: - Raise an open hand to signal “stop” or “please wait” - Make eye contact - Point toward the public sidewalk - Gesture toward the wristband-check area - Shake the head gently when someone approaches a restricted entrance If the person continues, the player uses a short verbal prompt. Example commands: - “Please keep the stairs clear.” - “The entrance is for authorized guests only.” - “You can’t remain here.” - “Please move back to the sidewalk.” At this stage, most NPCs comply immediately. --- ## Level 2: Formal Warning If the person remains on the steps or continues toward the entrance, the player issues a formal warning. Possible dialogue: > “This is private property. You have been asked to leave. Please move away from the entrance now.” The player may activate a visible security light or body camera. This creates a record of the interaction and can discourage repeat offenders. At this level, the NPC may: - Leave - Argue - Pretend not to understand - Start recording the guard - Call someone else - Move closer to the door --- ## Level 3: Blocking and Physical Positioning The guard moves into a defensive position between the NPC and the building. Gameplay actions: - Stand in front of the entrance - Point toward the public sidewalk - Lock or secure the door - Request the person’s reason for entry - Keep distance while maintaining a clear escape route - Use a flashlight or radio warning tone at night The player should not automatically shove or strike people. Physical contact creates legal, employment, and public-relations consequences. This level is about **denying access without creating a fight**. --- ## Level 4: Radio for Security Assistance If the person refuses to leave, attempts to force the door, threatens staff, or repeatedly returns, the player uses the radio. Possible assistance: - A second security guard - Building management - Police dispatch - Nearby security personnel The radio call takes time, so the player must continue monitoring the person while waiting. The player can choose what information to report: - Location - Description - Behavior - Whether weapons have been seen - Whether anyone is in immediate danger Incorrect or exaggerated reports damage the guard’s credibility. --- ## Level 5: Emergency Response This is reserved for immediate threats, such as: - A person displaying a weapon - An attempted forced entry while people are inside - An assault on the guard or another person - A serious threat against occupants - A violent struggle that cannot be safely disengaged The player presses and holds a clearly marked **Emergency Radio** button. A confirmation prompt prevents accidental activation. The call brings an off-duty law-enforcement officer or armed emergency responder to the location. This character has greater authority and can control a dangerous situation, but the call has serious consequences: - The building may be evacuated - The street may be closed - The guard’s actions are reviewed - The building loses reputation - The player may face an investigation if the call was unjustified - The officer may use force only when the game’s threat assessment supports it The officer should not function as a convenient “stronger attack.” Their role is to handle a crisis the player cannot safely manage. In most scenarios, their arrival results in commands, restraint, evacuation, or arrest rather than automatic gunfire. --- ## NPC Behavior Types ## Tourists - Take photos - Sit on steps - Wander toward restricted doors - Usually respond well to polite directions ## Street Performers - May block stairs - May become argumentative if moved - Can be redirected to a permitted area ## Influencers and Filmmakers - Film the guard - Test boundaries for content - May accuse the guard of overreacting - Create public-relations risk ## Confused Visitors - Have appointments or directions - May genuinely believe the building is public - Reward patient explanations ## Intoxicated Pedestrians - Move unpredictably - May ignore instructions - Require additional distance and assistance ## Trespassers - Repeatedly test entrances - Use distractions - May return after being told to leave ## Violent Threats - Rare - Escalate quickly - Trigger the emergency response system only when their behavior indicates immediate danger ## 51/50s Crazy Homeless Individuals may be referred to as "51/50s" in the context of the game, indicating a person who may be experiencing a mental health crisis and could pose a potential threat to themselves or others. - May loiter near entrances - Can be unpredictable in behavior - Often respond poorly to aggressive confrontation - Require careful de-escalation and patience --- ## Special Systems ## Reputation Meter The player is evaluated on: - Number of incidents resolved peacefully - Response time - Accuracy of radio reports - Number of unnecessary confrontations - Public complaints - Property damage - Whether the entrance remained secure A player who calls armed assistance too often should score poorly, even if no one was injured. ## Evidence and Body Camera Interactions are automatically recorded. After each shift, the player reviews incidents and sees whether their escalation was justified. This encourages players to think before acting. ## Public Crowd Reaction Nearby pedestrians react to the guard’s behavior: - Calm professionalism attracts little attention - Aggressive behavior creates a crowd - Visible weapons or emergency responders cause panic - Good de-escalation keeps the boulevard moving normally ## Limited Radio Battery or Cooldown The emergency radio should not be infinitely available. A call has a cooldown and may require the player to give a short report first. --- ## Shift Structure Each shift lasts 10–15 minutes. ### Early Shift Mostly harmless tourists, delivery workers, and people sitting on the stairs. ### Midday Crowds become heavier. More people attempt to enter the building or film interactions. ### Evening Lighting decreases. Intoxicated pedestrians and aggressive groups become more common. ### Late Shift A rare serious incident may occur, testing whether the player recognizes a genuine threat instead of overreacting to ordinary behavior. --- ## Win and Loss Conditions ## Successful Shift - Building remains secure - Most incidents are resolved without physical force - Public access remains clear - Emergency calls are justified - No bystanders are injured - The player follows company policy ## Poor Performance - Excessive use of force - Repeatedly confronting innocent people - Ignoring a real threat - Making false radio reports - Allowing repeated unauthorized entry - Causing a crowd or panic A shift can be technically “secure” but still receive a poor rating if the guard behaves recklessly. --- ## Venues and Scenarios The game should support multiple venues, each with its own access rules, crowd patterns, equipment, and escalation procedures. The core gameplay remains the same: observe, verify access, communicate clearly, and use the lowest effective level of escalation. ## The Joke Shop **The Joke Shop** is a comedy club scenario where the player works as a door person at the entrance. The player is responsible for checking identification, confirming that guests are attending the correct show, and screening guests for weapons with a handheld security wand. ### Primary Responsibilities - Check each guest’s government-issued ID where required. - Confirm that the guest meets the venue’s age requirement. - Verify that the ID appears valid and belongs to the person presenting it. - Check tickets, reservations, or guest-list status. - Use the handheld wand according to venue policy. - Direct guests through the entrance without blocking the sidewalk. - Refuse entry when a guest has an invalid ID, no valid admission, or a prohibited item. ### Guest Outcomes A guest may have: - A valid ID and ticket - A valid ID but no ticket or reservation - An expired, damaged, or questionable ID - An ID that does not match the guest - A prohibited item detected by the wand - A harmless item that causes a false alarm - No ID when identification is required The player must make decisions based on the venue’s rules and observable evidence, not on a guest’s appearance or attitude. A calm guest with a valid ID should be admitted efficiently, while an aggressive guest with valid credentials may still require assistance if they threaten staff or other patrons. ### Joke Shop Escalation 1. **Nonverbal direction:** Raise a hand, point to the ID-check area, or gesture for the guest to wait. 2. **Routine explanation:** Explain the ID, ticket, or wand-check requirement. 3. **Repeat request:** Clearly state what is missing or what must happen before entry. 4. **Refusal of entry:** Keep the guest outside and direct them away from the entrance. 5. **Manager or security assistance:** Call for a supervisor or another staff member when a guest argues, refuses screening, or blocks the line. 6. **Emergency response:** Call emergency services only for an immediate threat, such as a weapon, assault, or serious attempt to force entry. The handheld wand should not automatically identify an item as a weapon. The player must interpret the alert, ask the guest to identify the item, and follow venue procedure. The goal is to create a believable screening challenge while keeping the emphasis on communication and proportionate responses. ### Scenario Events - A busy weekend comedy show creates a long line. - A performer arrives through the guest entrance and must be recognized or verified. - A guest forgets their ID but appears on the reservation list. - A fake or borrowed ID is presented. - A wand alert comes from keys, a belt buckle, or a phone. - A guest refuses the screening but insists on entering. - A disruptive guest attempts to follow another person through the door. - A late-arriving audience member tries to enter during a performance. ## Hollywood Boulevard Late Night TV Studio This scenario takes place outside a late-night television studio on Hollywood Boulevard. The guard manages the front steps, studio entrance, guest arrivals, deliveries, audience members, and the public crowd gathered around the building. The studio encounters all of the NPC types described in the game plan: - **Tourists** stopping to take photos or watch arrivals - **Street performers** occupying the steps or performing near the entrance - **Influencers and filmmakers** recording the guard, guests, or celebrity arrivals - **Confused visitors** looking for the wrong entrance or trying to attend a show without understanding the access rules - **Intoxicated pedestrians** approaching the entrance or disrupting the crowd - **Trespassers** testing the doors, trying to follow authorized guests, or returning after being directed away - **Violent threats**, which are rare but require careful recognition and emergency escalation The studio also has authorized guests and staff. They must either be recognized by the guard or present a valid wristband, credential, guest-list confirmation, or other approved access marker. The player must check these credentials without holding up the audience line or allowing unauthorized people to enter. ### Studio Responsibilities - Keep the front steps and entrance clear. - Direct tourists and performers away from restricted areas. - Check wristbands, credentials, tickets, or guest-list status. - Admit authorized staff, performers, guests, and audience members. - Manage influencers and filmmakers without unnecessarily obstructing lawful filming. - Protect celebrity arrivals and production equipment from crowding. - Coordinate with studio staff, production assistants, and additional security guards. - Watch for attempts to follow authorized people through the entrance. - Call for emergency assistance only when there is an immediate threat. ### Studio Scenario Events - A crowd gathers to watch a celebrity arrive. - Tourists stop on the steps and block the entrance for photographs. - A street performer sets up in front of the audience queue. - An influencer repeatedly ignores the restricted filming boundary. - A confused visitor believes the studio is open to the public. - An intoxicated pedestrian wanders toward the stage door. - A trespasser tries to blend into an audience group. - An authorized guest arrives without their wristband and must be verified another way. - Someone presents a counterfeit wristband or credential. - A violent threat appears during a crowded arrival, requiring the player to protect the entrance while calling for assistance. The scenario should test the player’s ability to distinguish ordinary Hollywood Boulevard activity from a genuine security problem. The best solution is usually a simple gesture, clear direction, or credential check rather than immediate escalation. Future venues can reuse this structure while changing the rules, equipment, staff roles, and types of access decisions. ## Tech Stack ## Engine: Godot 4 The game is built with the Godot Engine 4.x editor. Godot was chosen for its free and open-source license, built-in 3D rendering, navigation, animation, audio, and UI systems, and its low weight for fast prototyping and iteration. ## Language: GDScript Gameplay logic is written in GDScript. It is tightly integrated with the engine, fast to iterate on, and avoids an external build toolchain for the prototype phase. ## Architecture Mapping The venue-driven architecture maps onto Godot as follows: - **Nodes and scenes:** Each major system (`ShiftCoordinator`, `NPCController`, `InteractionSystem`, `AccessVerifier`, `EscalationManager`, `RadioSystem`, `IncidentRecorder`, `ReputationEvaluator`, `CrowdSystem`, `ShiftReview`) is a Godot node or scene. - **Scenarios as resources:** `VenueScenario` and content such as `NpcProfile`, `Dialogue`, `EventPool`, and `AccessPolicy` are defined as custom Godot `Resource` types so venue content is data-driven and inspectable in the editor. - **Navigation:** `NavigationRegion3D` and `NavigationAgent3D` drive NPC and player movement. - **NPC behavior:** Lightweight custom finite state machines built on the `NPCController` node, with behavior traits coming from `NpcProfile` resources. - **UI:** Godot `Control` nodes and themes for prompts, access inspection, radio reports, dialogue, timers, and the shift review screen. - **Audio:** Godot audio buses and `AudioStreamPlayer` nodes for voices, crowd noise, radio, and environment sound. ## Content and Data - Scenario and entity configuration uses typed Godot `Resource` files (`.tres`), created either in the editor or via scripts. - Localized dialogue and text are stored in JSON files when they need to be editable outside the editor. - Save data and shift results use JSON in Godot's `user://` directory. ## Testing - Unit and scenario tests use the GUT (Godot Unit Test) framework. - Tests run in headless mode so rules, access verification, escalation, and scoring can be verified without rendering or user input. ## Version Control and CI - Source is tracked with git. - GitHub Actions runs headless Godot tests and, in later stages, exports desktop builds. ## Planned Commands The following commands apply once the Godot project is scaffolded: - Open the editor: `godot --editor --path .` - Run the game: `godot --path .` - Run tests headlessly via GUT. ## Export Targets Desktop is the first target: Windows, Linux, and macOS. Web export is a later option. ## Design Direction The game should feel like a tense workplace simulation with occasional crisis moments. The most satisfying outcome is not overpowering an NPC; it is recognizing the situation early and resolving it calmly. A useful guiding rule: > **The player wins by choosing the lowest level of escalation that keeps everyone safe.**