PokerRogue/PokerRogue_Specification.md

PokerRogue – Arcade Poker Roguelike RPG

Technical & Game Design Specification

1. High Concept

PokerRogue is a single‑player arcade roguelike RPG where all combat is resolved through a fast, simplified Texas Hold’em system.
Poker decisions are reimagined as combat actions (attack, block, dodge), enhanced by skills, relics, and RPG progression.

Core fantasy: You don’t just play poker — you fight with it.

Target platform: PC (Desktop)
Engine: MonoGame (DesktopGL)
Runtime: .NET 10

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2. Design Pillars

1. Arcade Speed – short hands (20–40s), minimal betting loops
2. Readable Decisions – clear risk/reward previews (Pot & Damage)
3. Build Identity – skills + relics define playstyle
4. Controlled RNG – randomness is bendable, not dominant
5. “One More Node” Loop – roguelike pacing and rewards

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3. Core Game Loop

1. Start a Run
2. Navigate a procedural map (fight / event / shop / elite / boss)
3. Resolve Poker Combat Fights
4. Gain rewards (skills, relics, upgrades)
5. Defeat the Boss
6. Die → earn Meta Currency → unlock content
7. Start next run

Average run length: 25–35 minutes

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4. Poker Combat System (Arcade Version)

4.1 Hand Structure

Each fight consists of 3–7 Hands.
Each Hand has 3 phases:

1. Deal
   • Player hole cards
   • Flop revealed immediately
2. Clash
   • Player chooses an action
   • Enemy chooses an intent
3. Resolve
   • Turn/River reveal
   • Damage, status effects, cleanup

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4.2 Player Actions

Action	Poker Meaning	Combat Meaning
STRIKE	Raise	Increase Pot, aggressive attack
GUARD	Call / Check	Gain Shield, reduce damage
DODGE	Fold	Avoid heavy damage, lose tempo
SKILL	Cheat / Ability	Special effect (limited)

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4.3 Core Combat Values

• HP – player/enemy health
• Pot – base damage value
• Edge (0–100) – advantage meter (hand strength + synergies)
• Focus – control resource (defensive/utility)
• Grit – aggression resource (risk/reward)

Damage Formula

• If Player Wins

EnemyHP -= Pot * (1 + Edge / 100)

• If Player Loses

PlayerHP -= Pot * (1 + EnemyEdge / 100) - Shield

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5. Skills System

Skills behave like ability cards with costs and cooldowns.

Skill Costs

• Focus (precision, control)
• Grit (risk, aggression)

Examples

• Reroll – replace one hole card
• Power Raise – +50% Pot, increased self-risk
• Clean Fold – dodge without tempo penalty
• Time Stop – delay resolve, take extra action
• All‑In Slam – massive Pot multiplier (once per fight)

Limit: 1 skill per hand (unless modified)

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6. Status Effects

Status effects last 1–3 hands.

Examples:

• Pressure – boosts next STRIKE
• Shield – reduces incoming damage
• Bleed – damage over time
• Stun – enemy can’t STRIKE
• Lucky – free reroll
• Cursed – penalties until removed

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7. Enemies

Enemies use intent‑based AI, not solver logic.

Each enemy has:

• Aggression (STRIKE chance)
• Trickery (skill usage)
• Cowardice (DODGE chance)

Archetypes

• Goblin Maniac – high aggression
• Vampire Caller – sustain & bleed
• Witch – card manipulation
• Knight Nit – defensive, low risk

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8. Boss Design

Bosses modify core rules.

Examples:

• The Tax Collector – blinds increase every hand
• The Oracle – knows future cards
• The Mirror Dealer – copies player skills

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9. Roguelike Progression

Map Nodes

• Fight
• Event
• Shop
• Elite
• Boss

Rewards

• Skills
• Relics (passive modifiers)
• Upgrades
• Healing / Currency

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10. Meta Progression

Between runs, players unlock:

• New skills
• New relics
• New enemies
• New starting loadouts

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11. UI Layout – Fight Screen

Top

• Player HP, Focus, Grit
• Enemy HP, archetype, intent
• Hand counter & tempo

Center

• Board cards
• Edge meter
• Pot & damage preview

Bottom

• STRIKE / GUARD / DODGE buttons
• Skill bar (hotkeys)
• Status icons

Design goal: one‑screen readability, no menus during combat

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12. Technical Architecture

Solution Structure

PokerRogue.sln
 ├─ PokerRogue.Game   (MonoGame DesktopGL)
 ├─ PokerRogue.Core   (Game logic, no rendering)
 └─ PokerRogue.Tests  (optional)

PokerRogue.Core

• Combat state machine
• Card & deck logic
• Enemy AI
• Run & reward generation
• Save/meta systems

PokerRogue.Game

• Screens (Fight, Map, Shop)
• Input handling
• Rendering & animations
• Audio & effects

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13. Technology Stack

• Language: C#
• Runtime: .NET 10
• Engine: MonoGame 3.8+ (DesktopGL)
• UI: SpriteBatch‑based custom UI
• Content Pipeline: MGCB (local dotnet tool)

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14. Development Milestones

1. Playable Fight Prototype
2. Basic Run & Map
3. Skills, Relics, Build Variety
4. Bosses & Meta Progression
5. Polish & Balance

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15. Design Goal Summary

PokerRogue aims to feel:

• Strategic, not random
• Fast, not slow or solver‑heavy
• Skill‑expressive
• Highly replayable

Poker as combat. Risk as power. Builds as identity.