Legends of Lore - Gothic Fantasy Game Development

A comprehensive skill for developing "Legends of Lore," a 2D side-scrolling action-adventure game inspired by Castlevania and Altered Beast. This skill guides you through building a gothic retro pixel art game featuring Gabriel Thorne, a monster hunter with beast transformation abilities.

Project Overview

**Game Type**: 2D side-scrolling action-adventure

**Art Style**: Retro pixel art with dark gothic aesthetic

**Platforms**: Web (primary), iOS, Android

**Monetization**: Free-to-play with $4.99/month subscription + ads

**Target Audience**: 13+ rating, nostalgia-driven 30-50 year olds

**Core Inspiration**: Castlevania + Altered Beast mechanics

Development Workflow with CoralCollective Agents

**CRITICAL**: This project uses the CoralCollective framework for AI-driven development. Always follow this sequence:

Phase 1: Architecture & Planning

1. **Project Architect**: Design overall game architecture and systems

2. **Technical Writer Phase 1**: Document game requirements and specifications from concept materials

Phase 2: Backend & Infrastructure

3. **Backend Developer**: Create Node.js API for authentication, save games, leaderboards, subscriptions

4. **Database Specialist**: Design schema for user profiles, game progress, purchases, analytics

Phase 3: Core Game Development

5. **Frontend Developer**: Implement game loop, player controls, level structure using Phaser.js

6. **AI/ML Specialist**: Create enemy AI behaviors, pathfinding, boss battle patterns

Phase 4: Game Systems

7. **Full Stack Engineer**: Build RPG progression (experience, skills, inventory)

8. **Backend Developer**: Implement transformation system with rage meter and beast forms

Phase 5: Monetization & Security

9. **Backend Developer**: Set up subscription system, IAP handling, ad integration

10. **Security Specialist**: Secure payment processing and protect user data

Phase 6: Polish & Deployment

11. **Performance Engineer**: Optimize for mobile devices

12. **QA Testing**: Test gameplay, progression, monetization flows

13. **DevOps Deployment**: Deploy to web, iOS App Store, Google Play

14. **Technical Writer Phase 2**: Create player guides and documentation

Initial Setup

Environment Setup

```bash

Create virtual environment (ALWAYS DO THIS FIRST)

python3 -m venv venv

source venv/bin/activate # Windows: venv\Scripts\activate

Install dependencies

pip install -r requirements.txt # Python dependencies

npm install # Node dependencies

Install game engine

npm install phaser # Phaser.js for web/mobile

```

Project Structure

```

src/

├── game/ # Core game code

│ ├── scenes/ # Game scenes/levels

│ │ ├── MainMenu.ts

│ │ ├── Level1_HauntedVillage.ts

│ │ ├── Level2_ForbiddenForest.ts

│ │ ├── Level3_Catacombs.ts

│ │ ├── Level4_ClockTower.ts

│ │ └── Level5_CastleKeep.ts

│ ├── entities/ # Game entities

│ │ ├── player/ # Player character

│ │ ├── enemies/ # Enemy types

│ │ ├── bosses/ # Boss enemies

│ │ └── npcs/ # NPCs

│ ├── systems/ # Game systems

│ │ ├── combat/ # Combat mechanics

│ │ ├── transformation/# Beast transformation

│ │ ├── progression/ # RPG elements

│ │ └── inventory/ # Items and weapons

│ ├── ui/ # Game UI

│ │ ├── hud/ # HUD

│ │ ├── menus/ # Menus

│ │ └── dialogs/ # Dialog system

│ └── assets/ # Game assets

│ ├── sprites/ # Pixel art sprites

│ ├── audio/ # Music and SFX

│ └── levels/ # Level data

├── server/ # Backend API

│ ├── routes/ # API endpoints

│ ├── models/ # Data models

│ └── services/ # Business logic

└── mobile/ # Mobile-specific code

```

Core Development Tasks

1. Game Engine Setup

Use Phaser.js (recommended) or PixiJS for web/mobile compatibility.

**Running the game:**

```bash

npm run dev # Development server

npm run build # Production build

npm run test # Run tests

npm run build:ios # iOS build (future)

npm run build:android # Android build (future)

```

2. Using CoralCollective Agents

Access the agent system for specialized development:

```bash

List available agents

python .coral/agent_runner.py list

Run specific agent

python .coral/agent_runner.py run

Run workflow

python .coral/agent_runner.py workflow

```

**Agent invocation examples:**

```

@backend_developer "Create game server API with user authentication and save game management"

@frontend_developer "Build main game UI with HUD and menu system"

@ai_ml_specialist "Implement enemy AI with pathfinding and attack patterns"

```

3. Game Architecture Components

#### Backend Systems

- User authentication & profiles

- Save game management

- Leaderboards

- In-app purchases

- Ad serving integration

#### Game Features Implementation

**Phase 1: Core Gameplay**

**Phase 2: RPG Elements**

**Phase 3: Transformation System**

**Phase 4: Monetization**

Game Design Guidelines

Pixel Art Style

Level Design Principles

Combat System

Performance Optimization

Testing Strategy

Test Coverage Areas

```bash

Unit Tests

Integration Tests

E2E Tests

Performance Tests

```

Deployment Checklist

Web Deployment

Mobile Deployment

Backend Deployment

Monetization Best Practices

Key Configuration Files

Resources

**Game Development:**

**Monetization:**

**CoralCollective:**

Notes

This skill is designed for building a passion project that brings classic gaming nostalgia to modern platforms. Focus on fun gameplay, respectful monetization, and the gothic atmosphere that made games like Castlevania legendary.

Always provide game context when invoking CoralCollective agents, including the game type, art style, platforms, monetization model, and target audience for best results.