level-design

name	level-design
description	Game level design — spatial composition, pacing, enemy placement, scripting events, and playtesting methodology
allowed-tools	["Read","Write","Grep"]
effort	medium

When to activate

• Designing game levels, dungeons, or maps
• Planning pacing curves and difficulty progression
• Scripting in-game events and triggers
• Setting up enemy encounters and spawn points
• Creating level design documentation and blockouts

When NOT to use

• For procedural generation algorithms
• For environmental art and asset creation
• For narrative writing (use story skills)

Instructions

1. Define goals. What does this level teach? What emotion should it evoke? What's the core challenge?
2. Pacing curve. Tension → Release → Escalation → Climax → Resolution. Alternate combat and exploration.
3. Spatial composition. Landmarks for navigation. Gating for progression. Loops and shortcuts for backtracking.
4. Encounter design. Enemy count, placement, and variety. Introduce → Develop → Master pattern. Safe rooms between encounters.
5. Scripting. Triggers (area enter, item pickup, time-based). State machines for complex sequences. Fail-safe conditions.
6. Playtesting. Record sessions. Track deaths, time-to-complete, confusion points. Iterate based on data, not assumptions.
7. Documentation. Top-down map with annotations. Encounter descriptions. Item placement rationale. Intended path vs alternatives.

Example

Level Design Doc: "Abandoned Mine" (Level 3)

Theme: Claustrophobic, dark, discovering ancient ruins
Duration: 15-20 minutes
Difficulty: Medium (player has basic abilities)

Pacing:
  0-3min: Exploration, environmental storytelling (tutorial for flashlight)
  3-6min: First enemy encounter (2 weak enemies, teaches combat)
  6-9min: Puzzle section (power restoration, opens new areas)
  9-12min: Combat escalation (4 enemies + 1 elite)
  12-15min: Boss encounter (mine guardian)
  15-18min: Reward area, shortcut back to hub

Key Landmarks: Broken elevator (start), Power room (mid), Guardian chamber (end)