What role should water play in our game?

[bzm3r]

We haven't spoken much about it. We probably should speak more about it?

This made me think of it: https://nickmcd.me/2020/04/15/procedural-hydrology/

[alice-i-cecile]

Water is needed for plants to live.

[alice-i-cecile]

Water falls from the sky in rain.

[alice-i-cecile]

Water forms rivers and streams.

[alice-i-cecile]

Animals need to drink water.

[alice-i-cecile]

Water is stored in the soil, but can run-off.

[alice-i-cecile]

Water can erode soil.

[bzm3r]

This makes me think that in our game, water engineering is probably something that starts become more relevant after we have implemented more climate related mechanics. This will allow us to determine regions which end up being dry/wet-er, which will then require the user to do various things in order to transport water/irrigate soil.

[alice-i-cecile]

I think you probably want to prototype:

1. Plants need water
2. Water is stored in the soil (start with a default regen rate per tile type)
3. Water can be moved

Then you can start adding more sophisticated "how does water get places" mechanisms :)