Survival systems overview
Every system exists to keep the ARK and the crew alive on long hauls. Movement, combat, building, farming, and morale feed the same survival loop across the Basin.
Key systems
Character & movement system
Sprint, climb, vault, swim, sneak, crouch, slide. Stamina and vitals link every move to how you fight, talk, and keep the crew steady.
Inventory & equipment
Pack what you can carry. Weight, quick slots, and durability matter for weapons, tools, medkits, energy cells, crafting parts, and food.
Builder & structures
Drop shelters, storage, crops, generators, collectors, traps, and defenses. Each build needs upkeep against storms and raids.
Fabrication & crafting
Tear down scrap, refine it, and craft tools, weapon parts, ammo, and field gear. Better recipes unlock from fragments, logs, and recovered tech.
Interaction & NPC logic
One interaction layer for loot, switches, terminals, logs, doors, fires, and benches. Conversations stay sharp and reactive to your choices and reputation.
Combat system
Melee and ranged fights with dodge, parry, stagger, flinch, weak points, and weapon condition. Enemies listen, patrol, and escalate when you push them.
Agronomy
Grow crops in layered beds. Plants react to water, light, nutrients, storms, pests, and Swarm traces. Harvests feed your food, crafting, healing, and trade loops.
Level & XP core
XP fuels attributes and perks. Combat, exploration, crafting, farming, and story calls all contribute. Telekinesis grows on its own path in both story and play.
Why they work together
Clear roles
Movement, combat, crafting, farming, AI, and persistence stay clear and testable. Tweaks don’t break the rest of the ship.
One state for all
Weather, AI, crops, vitals, and structures read from the same state. When a storm hits, everyone feels it at once.
Story follows action
No cutscene dump. Storms, encounters, scarcity, telekinesis, NPC moods, and base health all push the narrative forward.