This project began with a question about player agency within traditional progression systems. We initiated testing on a new gameplay structure that replaced linear skill trees with a modular, player-assembled system. Our first iterative game experiments revealed that while freedom was high, a sense of purpose was often lost.

The second phase of system prototyping introduced environmental cues and narrative triggers to guide player choice without enforcing a path. We observed that players began to create personal meta-goals, which was a promising sign. The experimental gameplay system started to foster unique stories for each participant.

Further refinement focused on balancing discovery with intuitive understanding. We found that subtle visual language was more effective than explicit tutorials. The current prototype supports a wide range of viable player-created progression builds.