STRAIN: The Pacifist Horror (Game Design Document)

Hi everyone, I'm Poleaxe. I am a creator passionate about game design mechanics and lore.

I have designed and authored a complete game proposal—STRAIN, a survival game that combines "Reverse Horror" with a "Pacifist's Burden."

This project is released under CC BY 4.0. I am "open sourcing" this concept because I want to see it come to life.

📂 What is inside this GDD?

This is not just a rough idea. I have completed a detailed Game Design Document (GDD) ready for prototyping, which includes:

• Unique Mechanics: A dynamic "Strain Gauge" system (replacing the traditional HP bar) that balances power vs. sanity.
• Tactical AI Logic: Detailed behavior trees and state machines transforming enemies from passive guards into tactical special forces.
• The "Double Death" Dilemma: You possess the power to destroy the world, but to prove your humanity, you must not kill.
• Complete World Building: Tragic backstories, unique abilities for 3 playable characters, and boss fight puzzle mechanics.

🚀 Why am I sharing this?

I currently lack the time and resources to develop the programming and art assets independently. However, I believe this mechanic has huge potential.

This project is perfect for you if you are:

1. A Beginner in Godot/Unity/Unreal Engine looking for a solid practice project.
2. A Developer with coding skills but struggling to find a unique game script.
3. A Team looking to challenge themselves with "non-lethal combat" systems.

🤝 How to Use & Collaborate

You are free to use these concepts to develop a game. Simply credit the original author (Original Concept: Poleaxe) in your project.

If you have any questions about the mechanics, lore, or logic during development, please feel free to reach out! I would be happy to act as a consultant to help you optimize the game logic or solve design problems.

Let’s bring this tragic hero to life, together.