inventory

docs/playable-slices/0.10-Abandoned-Watchpost.md

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+# Ashen Realms – Playable Slice 0.10
+
+## Abandoned Watchpost
+
+**Status:** Implementation Specification  
+**Depends on:** Slice 0.9  
+**Purpose:** Expand the first region beyond the tutorial road and introduce a stronger hunt location, story investigation and the first meaningful gear/reputation check.
+
+---
+
+## 1. Goal
+
+The player now has enough knowledge and basic equipment to leave the Burned Road loop and push deeper into the Ashen Fields.
+
+The Abandoned Watchpost should feel like the first place where the world opens slightly:
+
+- new location artwork
+- stronger encounter pool
+- a surviving/remaining NPC or investigation point
+- new trade goods
+- stronger equipment opportunities
+- route toward the Ash Pit
+
+The player should feel that the Burned Road prepared them for this place.
+
+---
+
+## 2. World Connection
+
+Add or activate:
+
+```text
+Burned Road ↔ Abandoned Watchpost
+```
+
+Initial travel target:
+
+```text
+Duration: ~15 seconds
+Ambush chance: ~10%
+```
+
+Values remain balancing data.
+
+The player is not blocked by character level.
+
+If progression gating is needed, prefer world discovery / quest state / actual combat danger rather than a numeric level requirement.
+
+---
+
+## 3. Local View
+
+The Abandoned Watchpost should use the generic local-location screen pattern.
+
+Minimum interactions:
+
+- Hunt
+- Inspect the Watchpost
+- Speak with the remaining guard/NPC if present
+- Travel back to Burned Road
+- discover or unlock route toward Ash Pit
+
+The location must not be a world-map node with no local identity.
+
+---
+
+## 4. Encounter Pool
+
+Recommended initial enemies:
+
+- Road Bandit
+- Raider Scout
+- Raider Veteran
+- Ash Hound / Burned Hound depending on final content naming
+- optional rare Raider Captain as first elite target
+
+Reuse existing enemy mechanics where possible.
+
+This slice should deepen combinations, not add several new subsystems.
+
+---
+
+## 5. New Enemy Roles
+
+### Raider Scout
+
+- moderate damage
+- simple fast attack pattern
+- primarily a loot/reputation farming target
+
+### Raider Veteran
+
+- higher armor/HP
+- telegraphed Heavy Strike
+- can enter a defensive stance
+- encourages the player to react rather than spam Attack
+
+### Burned Hound
+
+- Bleeding
+- becomes more aggressive at low HP
+- reinforces previously learned status behavior
+
+### Raider Captain – Optional Elite
+
+If included in this slice:
+
+- combines telegraphed attack + defensive behavior
+- should be dangerous on first arrival
+- becomes reliably beatable after several Tier-1 upgrades
+- has a focused desirable equipment drop
+
+Do not confuse this elite with the final **Captain of the Ashen Band** area boss in Slice 0.11.
+
+---
+
+## 6. Loot and Bags
+
+The location should make both current loot categories relevant.
+
+Examples:
+
+- beast enemies → HIDE goods
+- raiders → RAIDER_TROPHY goods
+
+This gives a reason to own both:
+
+- Basic Hide Bag
+- Basic Trophy Pouch
+
+If the player does not own a Trophy Pouch yet, the default capacity of 1 still applies and should naturally point them back toward the merchant.
+
+No direct Silver or reputation from normal kills.
+
+---
+
+## 7. Equipment Progression
+
+The Watchpost should increase the chance of meaningful Tier-1 upgrades.
+
+Relevant items may include:
+
+- Bandit Blade
+- Bandit Hood
+- Plunderer Gloves
+- Reinforced Leather Jacket
+- Watchman's Leggings
+
+The player does not need Best-in-Slot gear to proceed.
+
+The intended feeling is:
+
+> "The enemies here are tougher, but the drops here are also the things that make me ready for the Ash Pit."
+
+---
+
+## 8. Story / Investigation
+
+A simple investigation should reveal that the road attacks are organized and point toward the Ash Pit.
+
+This may be implemented through:
+
+- NPC dialogue
+- inspectable environment interaction
+- quest step
+- persistent discovery flag
+
+Keep text concise.
+
+Example clue:
+
+> "The raiders weren't using the watchpost as shelter. They were using it to watch the road. Fresh tracks lead east, toward the old ash excavation."
+
+---
+
+## 9. Unlocking the Ash Pit Route
+
+The route toward the Ash Pit should become visible through world progress.
+
+Recommended rule:
+
+```text
+Inspect Watchpost OR complete related objective
+→ discover ash-pit connection
+```
+
+Avoid `requiredLevel`.
+
+The player may be allowed to travel there even if still undergeared once the route is discovered.
+
+Actual danger is the soft gate.
+
+---
+
+## 10. Merchant/Reputation Integration
+
+New trade goods from the Watchpost must be accepted by the existing merchant exchange system.
+
+The player should now have a reason to make repeated cycles:
+
+```text
+Graufurt
+→ Burned Road
+→ Watchpost
+→ bags fill
+→ Graufurt merchant
+→ Silver + reputation + Renown
+→ better supplies/bags/gear
+→ return
+```
+
+---
+
+## 11. Tests
+
+- travel connection works both directions as configured
+- Watchpost hunt uses only its own encounter pool
+- Raider Veteran defensive/telegraph mechanics resolve correctly
+- trade goods map to correct loot categories
+- no normal enemy grants direct money/reputation
+- Watchpost investigation persists
+- Ash Pit route is hidden before discovery if that rule is used
+- Ash Pit route becomes available after discovery
+
+---
+
+## 12. Acceptance Criteria
+
+- [ ] Abandoned Watchpost exists as a full playable location.
+- [ ] Travel from Burned Road works with server-authoritative timing.
+- [ ] Location has a stronger, distinct encounter pool.
+- [ ] At least one stronger enemy combines previously learned mechanics.
+- [ ] Both HIDE and RAIDER_TROPHY carrying systems matter.
+- [ ] Tier-1 equipment progression is meaningfully improved here.
+- [ ] Story/investigation points toward the Ash Pit.
+- [ ] Ash Pit route can be discovered without a level gate.
+- [ ] Existing merchant/reputation loop continues to work.
+- [ ] All player-facing content is English.
+
+---
+
+## 13. Out of Scope
+
+Do not add:
+
+- second region
+- crafting
+- procedural watchpost events
+- complex stealth mechanics
+- large dialogue trees
+- final area boss