2 of 21

Story and Overall Description

"Stellar Haven" is a 2D space settlement and crew management simulation game where you assume the role of the Overseer of a remote trading outpost set on the fringes of known space. In the aftermath of humanity's widespread expansion into the cosmos, pioneers and settlers venture into the unknown in search of resources and new beginnings.

Your outpost serves as a beacon for these travelers—a place of refuge, trade, and opportunity. As the Overseer, your duties include building and expanding the outpost, managing resources, and ensuring the well-being of your crew and settlers.

Random events will introduce new settlers seeking sanctuary or resources, while others may pose threats to your stability. You must make critical decisions, such as sending crew members on missions to scavenge nearby planets for vital supplies. While the player doesn't directly control these missions, the choices made regarding crew assignments and strategic decisions will directly impact their success or failure.

On the home front, you will construct and upgrade various facilities, including housing units, canteens, research labs, storage areas, ships, and engine bays. The goal is to transform your modest outpost into a thriving hub, balancing the needs of your settlers with the challenges of operating in deep space.

3 of 21

Objectives

Build and Expand Your Outpost:

Construct essential modules to support your settlers.
Upgrade facilities to improve efficiency and capacity.

Manage Resources Effectively:

Balance the production and consumption of energy, food, oxygen, and materials.
Store surplus resources and maintain reserves for emergencies.

Oversee and Support Your Crew:

Assign settlers to roles that match their skills.
Maintain crew health, morale, and productivity.
Make strategic decisions that impact mission outcomes.

Conduct Scavenging Missions:

Send crews to nearby planets and asteroids to gather resources.
Navigate through decision-based narratives that influence mission success.

Respond to Random Events:

Handle unexpected situations like new settlers arriving, equipment malfunctions, or external threats.
Adapt strategies to mitigate risks and capitalize on opportunities.

Achieve Long-Term Goals:

Develop advanced technologies through research.
Establish trade routes and diplomatic relations.
Become a pivotal center for commerce and exploration in the galaxy

4 of 21

Genre

Simulation
Management
Strategy
Science Fiction

5 of 21

Target Audience

Age: 13 and above
Sex: All genders
Specific Subgroups:
Fans of simulation and management games.

Science fiction enthusiasts interested in space exploration and colonization themes.
Players who enjoy strategic decision-making and resource management.
Gamers who have enjoyed titles like "Fallout Shelter," "Oxygen Not Included," "FTL: Faster Than Light,", “Barotrauma”, and "Endless Space."

7 of 21

Characters

Settlers/Crew Members

Attributes:

Health: Physical well-being; can be affected by injuries or illness.
Hunger: Needs regular meals; influences health and morale.
Morale: Overall happiness; impacts productivity and behavior.
Skills:

Engineering: Efficiency in construction and repairs.
Science: Effectiveness in research tasks.
Piloting/Exploration: Success rates in missions.
Medicine: Ability to treat injured or sick crew members.

Experience Level: Increases over time with tasks performed.

Roles:

Engineers: Build and repair modules, maintain equipment.
Scientists: Conduct research to unlock new technologies.
Explorers: Scavenge for resources on missions.
Medics: Provide medical care to crew members.
General Workers: Perform essential tasks like food production.

Overseer (Player Role)
The commander of the ship in Stellar Haven.
Make decisions for rest of crew.
Build and expand ship.
Communicate and build relations with the other characters you may befriend or make enemies with.

8 of 21

Enemies/Obstacles

Space Pirates

Behavior:

Attempt to raid the outpost or ambush scavenging missions.
Steal resources, damage modules, or harm crew members.

Player Response:

Build defense systems like turrets or shields.
Assign crew to security roles to bolster defenses.

Environmental Hazards

Meteor Showers:

Cause damage to modules if unprotected.
Require repairs and defensive measures.

Solar Flares:

Disrupt power systems and electronics.
Can lead to temporary module shutdowns.

Radiation Bursts:

Pose health risks to crew members.
Necessitate advanced shielding.

9 of 21

Internal Challenges

Resource Shortages:

Lead to operational inefficiencies and morale drops.
Force prioritization and strategic resource allocation.

Equipment Failures:

Modules may malfunction, reducing efficiency.
Immediate repairs are necessary to prevent cascading effects.

Crew Discontent:

Arises from poor living conditions or overwork.
Can result in decreased productivity or conflicts.

10 of 21

Environments

11 of 21

Space Outpost

Overview:

The main setting; a modular structure that players build and expand.

Design:

Presented in a side-on 2D view.
Modules are connected via doors or platforms.

Customization:

Players can arrange modules to optimize efficiency and aesthetics.

Image of Barotrauma’s Main Ship by FakeFish & Undertow Games

12 of 21

Nearby Planets/Asteroids

Purpose:

Locations for scavenging missions to gather resources.

Representation:

Displayed through mission briefings, decisions, and outcome reports.
May include illustrative graphics to enhance immersion.

Space Surroundings

Backdrop:

Stars, nebulae, and celestial bodies create an immersive space environment.

Dynamic Elements:

Passing asteroids, comets, or ships add visual interest.

13 of 21

Technical Description

14 of 21

Room Modules

Core Modules

Command Center:

Central hub for managing the outpost; enables control over operations.

Power Generator:

Provides energy; options include solar panels, reactors.

Life Support:

Maintains breathable air and climate control.

Functional Modules

Habitation Quarters:

Accommodate settlers; required for population growth.

Canteens:

Where settlers eat; improves health and morale.

Research Labs:

Unlock new technologies and upgrades.

Workshops:

Fabricate equipment and perform repairs.

Medical Bays:

Treat injured or ill settlers.

Storage Facilities:

Increase capacity for resources and supplies.

Mission Modules

Hangar Bays:

House ships for scavenging missions.

Engine Bays:

Upgrade ships for improved mission performance.

Defense Modules

Shield Generators:

Protect the outpost from external threats.

Defense Turrets:

Actively defend against attacks.

15 of 21

Levels

Progression-Based Levels:

The game does not feature traditional levels.
Progression is achieved through:

Outpost Expansion: Building new modules and expanding facilities.
Technological Advancement: Unlocking upgrades via research.
Story Events: Significant occurrences that influence gameplay.

Scavenging Missions:

Treated as instances with their own challenges.
Outcomes affect resource availability and crew status.

16 of 21

Effects

Visual Effects

Animations:

Module operations (e.g., spinning satellite dishes).
Crew movements within the outpost.

Alerts and Indicators:

Visual cues for events like attacks, malfunctions, resource shortages.

Environmental Effects:

Background animations like moving stars or passing comets.

Audio Effects

Ambient Sounds:

Subtle background hums to create immersion.

Notifications:

Audio alerts for important events or critical statuses.

Module Sounds:

Specific sounds for different modules (e.g., machinery in the workshop).

17 of 21

Collision Detection

Module Placement:

Grid-based system prevents overlapping of modules.
Modules must be connected to existing structures.

Crew Movement:

Pathfinding within the outpost to avoid collisions.
Simple collision detection ensures crew navigate around obstacles.

Using a tile based grid approach, collision system checks for tiles of certain types

18 of 21

Physics

Simplified Physics Model:

Due to the space setting, physics are minimal.
Modules are stationary; collision is grid-based.
External movement, like external asteroids or planets, are animated without complex physics.

19 of 21

Algorithms

Resource Management Algorithms

Calculate production and consumption rates.
Update resource levels each game tick.
Factor in efficiency based on crew assignments and module upgrades.

Pathfinding Algorithm

Use simple A* algorithm for crew movement.
Limited to within the outpost modules.

Event Generation

Randomized with weighted probabilities.
Conditions may affect likelihood (e.g., low defenses increase pirate attacks).

Mission Outcome Calculation

Based on crew skills, ship upgrades, and decision points.
Incorporate randomness to simulate uncertainties.

AI Behaviors

Settlers act based on needs and assigned tasks.
Prioritize critical needs (e.g., seek food when hungry).

20 of 21

Software Architecture

Scene Management

Menu, Prologue, Gameplay, Pause scenes
Each inherits from base Scene class

Systems-Based Design

Decoupled systems (Building, Dialog, Resource, Camera)
Event-driven communication between systems

Configuration & Assets

JSON-based configs for rooms, tilemaps

Structured asset management

UI Architecture

Layout system with base components
Reusable UI elements (dialogs, resource bars)

Entity-Component Pattern

Entities (rooms, players) contain game objects
Components add functionality
Systems manage interactions

21 of 21

Summary

"Stellar Haven" blends base-building with strategic resource and crew management in a sci-fi setting. Players expand their outpost by constructing various modules, each serving specific functions like habitation, research, or defense.

Resource management is critical—players must balance production and consumption of vital resources to keep the outpost operational. Assigning settlers to appropriate roles based on their skills enhances efficiency and productivity.

Scavenging missions are a key component. Players select crew members to embark on missions, making decisions that affect their success. Outcomes depend on crew skills, ship upgrades, and player choices during mission events.

Random events and challenges introduce unpredictability, requiring players to adapt strategies. Success in the game is measured by the outpost's growth, the well-being of its settlers, and the player's ability to navigate the dangers of deep space.