01 Design Philosophy

Principles

| Priority | Rule | Production meaning |

| --- | --- | --- |

| Gameplay > Detail | The player must understand function first. | Role, threat, direction, and action beat costume decoration. |

| Silhouette > Texture | Large shapes carry identity. | Texture can be removed; silhouette cannot. |

| Motion > Rendering | A pose must animate clearly. | Static beauty cannot break walk, attack, block, or hit readability. |

| Readability > Anatomical perfection | Stylized anatomy is allowed when it helps gameplay. | Hands, shoulders, feet, heads, and weapons may be exaggerated. |

Recognition target:

0.25 seconds

  -> read faction / class

  -> read pose

  -> read danger or intent

  -> read hero identity if playable

Studio Tests

• Can the character be recognized as a black shape?
• Can the current action be understood with no texture?
• Does the design still work at 50% scale?
• Would the pose survive a two-frame animation smear?