Development Guide
Behind the scenes of creating an innovative origami RTS experience
Project Overview
Warigami represents a unique fusion of ancient origami art with modern real-time strategy gameplay. The development focuses on innovative mechanics that reduce micromanagement while maintaining strategic depth.
đ¯ Core Vision
Create an RTS that emphasizes strategic thinking over rapid clicking through the innovative Fold mechanic and dual control system.
- Reduce micromanagement burden
- Maintain tactical depth
- Unique origami aesthetic
- Accessible to new RTS players
đ ī¸ Technical Goals
Build production-ready systems that can scale from small skirmishes to large multiplayer battles.
- Professional RTS feel
- Optimized performance
- Multiplayer-ready architecture
- Modular, maintainable code
Current Development Status
Stage: 3 of 10 - Terrain & Map Setup (In Progress)
Last Updated: January 2025
â Stage 1: Core Input & Camera
Professional fixed orthographic camera system with multi-modal input (WASD, edge scrolling, drag panning). Revolutionary hybrid selection system solving the accuracy vs. camera independence trade-off.
â Stage 2: Advanced Selection & UI
World-anchored selection with camera panning support, 9-platoon system with angle-compensated camera jumping, and complete UI framework with professional minimap.
đ Stage 3: Terrain & Map Setup
Production-quality terrain implementation, NavMesh integration, and unit prefab creation with proper component stacks.
đ Stage 4: Unit Movement & AI
NavMeshAgent-based movement, custom flying unit pathing, and animation integration.
đ Stage 5: Building System & Fold Mechanics
The revolutionary unit production system where Prime, Pupils, and Proteges "fold" units and buildings from paper resources.
Development Roadmap
Warigami follows a 10-stage development plan designed to build complexity incrementally while maintaining a solid foundation.
đī¸ Foundation Phase (Stages 1-3)
66% CompleteCore systems that enable all future development:
- Camera & Input: Professional RTS controls
- Selection System: Industry-leading hybrid approach
- Terrain Setup: NavMesh and unit prefabs
Major Achievement: Solved fundamental RTS selection accuracy problem
đŽ Gameplay Phase (Stages 4-7)
UpcomingCore gameplay mechanics and unique systems:
- Movement & AI: Unit pathfinding and behavior
- Fold Mechanic: Revolutionary unit production
- Resource Systems: Paper, Plumbum, Pitch economy
- Playbook Projector: Non-selectable combat control
Innovation Focus: Dual control paradigm reduces micromanagement
⨠Polish Phase (Stages 8-10)
FutureAdvanced features and production polish:
- Environmental Systems: Storm mechanics and prophets
- Enhanced UI: Fog of war and advanced minimap
- Multiplayer: 4-player competitive support
End Goal: Production-ready multiplayer RTS experience
Technical Innovations
Warigami introduces several groundbreaking technical solutions to long-standing RTS challenges.
Hybrid Selection System
RevolutionaryThe Problem
Traditional RTS selection systems face a fundamental trade-off between accuracy and camera independence. Screen-space is accurate but breaks with camera movement, while world-space is camera-independent but inaccurate with angled views.
Our Solution
The first RTS to solve this trade-off using a hybrid approach:
- World Anchoring: Selection start captured in world coordinates
- Screen-Space Testing: Unit testing uses screen projection for accuracy
- Camera Pan Support: Selection works during camera movement
- Larger-than-Screen: Supports selections extending beyond viewport
Impact: Provides AAA-quality selection feel with advanced features no other RTS has achieved
Dual Control Paradigm
UniqueStrategic Innovation
Separates unit control into two paradigms to reduce micromanagement while maintaining tactical depth:
đ Direct Control
Prime, Pupils, Proteges, Workers
- Click selection and platoons
- Strategic resource management
- Economic decision-making
đī¸ Building-Based Control
All combat units via Playbook Projector
- Group tactical commands
- Formation management
- Strategic combat focus
Angle-Compensated Camera
Technical ExcellenceProfessional RTS Camera
Fixed 45°/45°/0° isometric view with advanced features:
WASD, edge scrolling, and drag panning without conflicts
Space bar toggles between current position and base with angle compensation
Double-click number keys for selection + camera jump to unit center
Origami Integration
ThematicArt Meets Strategy
Deep integration of origami aesthetics with gameplay mechanics:
- Fold Mechanic: Units literally folded from paper resources
- Paper Economy: Resource types reflect paper craft materials
- Environmental Vulnerability: Paper units affected by storms
- Visual Design: Clean, geometric aesthetic matching origami art
System Architecture
Warigami is built with a modular, event-driven architecture designed for maintainability and multiplayer support.
Core Systems
đŽ Input & Camera
Status: Production Ready
- Unity Input System integration
- Device caching for performance
- Conflict-free UI interaction
- Professional RTS feel
đąī¸ Selection & Control
Status: Production Ready
- Hybrid coordinate system
- Layer-based unit filtering
- Event-driven updates
- Platoon management
đēī¸ UI & Minimap
Status: Production Ready
- Auto-terrain detection
- Diamond world representation
- Real-time viewport tracking
- Click-to-navigate
đī¸ Building & Economy
Status: Designed
- Fold mechanic framework
- Resource flow system
- Worker AI architecture
- Building placement ready
Development Standards
đ Organization
- Namespace mirrors folder structure
- Feature-based script organization
- Clear separation of concerns
- Modular, reusable components
⥠Performance
- <0.1ms per frame for core systems
- Cached references, minimal allocations
- Efficient event-driven updates
- Optimized for large unit counts
đ§ Maintainability
- Comprehensive inline documentation
- Clean, readable code structure
- SOLID principles applied
- Extensive debug logging
Completed Milestones
Major achievements and breakthroughs in Warigami's development journey.
Revolutionary Selection System
Achievement: First RTS to solve the fundamental accuracy vs. camera independence trade-off
- Hybrid world-anchored/screen-space approach
- Camera panning during selection
- Larger-than-screen selection support
- Professional AAA-quality feel
Professional Camera System
Achievement: Production-ready RTS camera with advanced navigation features
- Multi-modal input without conflicts
- Base jump with angle compensation
- Optimized performance (<0.1ms per frame)
- Smooth, responsive controls
Advanced UI Framework
Achievement: Complete UI system with professional minimap and platoon management
- Auto-terrain detection and sizing
- Diamond world representation
- 9-platoon system with camera jumping
- Event-driven architecture
Future Development
Upcoming features and long-term vision for Warigami's evolution.
đ¯ Immediate Priorities (Next 2-4 weeks)
Terrain Implementation
Replace test environment with production-quality terrain system
NavMesh Integration
Implement pathfinding foundation for all movement systems
Unit Prefab Creation
Design production units with complete component stacks
đ Core Gameplay (Next 2-3 months)
đ The Fold Mechanic
Revolutionary unit production system where Prime, Pupils, and Proteges transform paper resources into living units through ancient origami arts.
đī¸ Playbook Projector
Innovative building-based combat control system that manages all combat units without individual selection, emphasizing strategic command over micromanagement.
đ Resource Economy
Paper, Plumbum, and Pitch resource system with intelligent worker AI, resource refinement, and automatic transport systems.
⨠Advanced Features (Future)
Storm System
Dynamic weather events that threaten paper units, with Prophet units providing warnings and protective auras.
Multiplayer
4-player competitive matches with server-authoritative architecture for fair, lag-free gameplay.
Visual Polish
Origami-inspired visual effects, paper folding animations, and atmospheric environmental details.
đ¯ Long-term Vision
Warigami aims to redefine real-time strategy gaming by proving that reducing micromanagement can actually increase strategic depth. Through innovative dual-control systems and the unique origami aesthetic, we're creating an RTS that's both accessible to newcomers and deeply satisfying for veterans.
Accessibility: Lower barrier to entry for new RTS players
Strategic Depth: Reward planning and decision-making over speed
Competitive Viability: Tournament-ready multiplayer experience
Unique Identity: Distinctive origami aesthetic and mechanics