World Structure

The world of Project Aether is structured into three distinct layers of navigation. Progression is non-linear but gated, meaning players can choose which quests to pursue, but certain zones and “Mind Dives” require specific keys or narrative milestones to access.

1. The Main HUB (Aether City)

The central social and management layer.

Layout: A static, hand-crafted 3D environment with a fixed camera or limited rotation.
Navigation: Free-roaming exploration on foot. This is where the player interacts with NPCs, manages the Farm, and accesses the Job Board.
Purpose: Acts as the “Safe Zone” and the primary menu for permanent upgrades (Souls-like progression).

2. The Overworld (The Sectors)

Inspired by classic RPGs like Dragon Quest or Super Mario World, the overworld connects the city to the various regions of the supercomputer.

The Map: A “Zone-based” map where the player moves between interconnected sectors (e.g., The Neon Slums, The Data Forest, The Glitched Tundra).
Gated Access: Many paths are blocked by “System Firewalls” or locked gates. Players must find Keys—often held by Bosses in the Mind Dungeons—to unlock new sectors.
Overworld Encounters: While traveling, players will encounter “Normal Battles.” These are non-procedural, single-screen combat challenges that focus on real-time action.

3. The Mind Dungeons (The Roguelike Layer)

This is the core “Action” layer of the game, accessed by “diving” into the consciousness of an NPC or a corrupted entity.

Procedural Generation: Unlike the Overworld, these levels are randomly generated every time the player enters. No two “dives” are the same.
Level Flow: Players move through a series of connected “rooms” or “nodes.” Each room contains either combat, rewards (boons), or narrative fragments.
The Goal: Navigate to the deepest layer of the subconscious to find and delete the Sector Boss.

Progression Flow Chart

Action	Location	Outcome
Prepare	The HUB	Plant crops, upgrade weapons, and accept NPC requests.
Travel	The Overworld	Fight standard enemies and find the entrance to a specific “Mind.”
Dive	Mind Dungeon	Survive procedural floors and collect temporary power-ups.
Purge	Boss Room	Defeat the Corrupted Human to obtain a System Key.
Expand	The Overworld	Use the Key to unlock the next major Sector of Aether.

World Philosophy: “The Fractured Reality”

As the player moves further from the HUB, the world should feel more unstable.

The HUB is perfectly rendered HD2D.
The Overworld features occasional “glitches” in the environment.
The Mind Dungeons are surreal and visually fragmented, reflecting the total breakdown of the human data within. Depending on how affected is the creature you are battling.