Overview
The Augment Framework is the foundational system that organizes augments into meaningful playstyle categories. This framework helps players create synergistic combinations that complement their vessel's abilities while providing game designers with a structured approach to augment creation and balancing.
Playstyle Categories
Augments are divided into five core playstyle categories, each supporting different gameplay approaches:
Crowd Control (Utility)
- Focus: Controlling enemy movements and managing battlefield
- Traits: Manipulation, trapping, area denial, slowing progression
- Synergies: Defense, Solo
- Opposites: Cooperative, DPS
- Ideal For: Trapper and puppet-based abilities
Defense
- Focus: Survivability and damage mitigation
- Traits: High defense, structural integrity, strategic positioning, damage reflection
- Synergies: Cooperative, Crowd Control
- Opposites: Solo DPS
- Ideal For: Tanker roles, turtle playstyles
Cooperative
- Focus: Team enhancement and multiplayer synergy
- Traits: Allied buffs, connection mechanics, fast reaction, medium durability
- Synergies: Defense, DPS
- Opposites: Crowd Control
- Ideal For: Support roles, team-based dungeon runs
Solo
- Focus: Self-sufficiency and individual power
- Traits: Individual buffs, damage over time, high risk/high reward, precision
- Synergies: DPS, Crowd Control
- Opposites: Defense
- Ideal For: Solo dungeon runs, assassin playstyles
DPS
- Focus: Raw damage output and rapid progression
- Traits: High damage, rapid attacks, randomness, fast progression
- Synergies: Cooperative, Solo
- Opposites: Defense, Crowd Control
- Ideal For: Glass cannon builds, wizard playstyles
Augment Synergy System
Skill Boost Trees
- Each vessel subrace has dedicated skill augments that enhance their unique ability
- Skill augments form branching pathways that create specialized playstyles
- Players can build "skill trees" by combining complementary augments
- Skill trees can follow one playstyle or combine multiple playstyles
Cross-Playstyle Synergies
- Augments from different playstyle categories can complement each other
- Hybrid approaches allow for customized character builds
- The system encourages experimentation with various combinations
- Players can tailor their vessel to match their preferred gameplay style
Augment Power System
Power Tiers
- Augment power is tied to rarity level
- Higher rarity augments provide stronger effects
- Some special mechanics only appear at Epic or Legendary rarity
- Rarity cannot be upgraded after crafting
Boost Weight
- Newly crafted augments have increased appearance weight
- Higher weights make augments more likely to appear in the first 1-2 dungeon runs
- Allows players to test new augments immediately after acquisition
- Weight system is invisible to players
Strategic Application
Deck Building
- Players can see which playstyle their augment deck favors
- Visual indicators show playstyle distribution in the augment deck
- Encourages intentional deck construction around preferred playstyles
- System supports both specialized and hybrid approaches
Vessel Optimization
- Different vessel subraces naturally align with specific playstyles
- Augment selection can either enhance natural strengths or compensate for weaknesses
- Players can create unexpected combinations for unique gameplay approaches
- Advanced players can design augment decks for specific challenge types
[Last Updated: March 1, 2025]