name: gd-design-character description: Character and class design documentation. Use when designing character archetypes, creating class systems, defining abilities and skills, balancing character stats, or designing progression systems.

Character Design

Character Template

## [Character Name/Class]

### Role
[What this character does in the game]

### Fantasy
[The player fantasy this fulfills]

### Base Stats
| Stat | Value | Description |
|------|-------|-------------|
| Health | [X] | Hit points |
| Speed | [Y] | Movement speed |
| Damage | [Z] | Base damage |
| [Etc] | [...] | [...] |

### Abilities

#### Ability 1: [Name]
**Type:** Passive | Active | Ultimate

**Description:** [What it does]

**Trigger:** [How to activate]

**Effect:** [Detailed mechanics]

**Duration:** [How long it lasts]
**Cooldown:** [Between uses]

**Damage/Healing:** [Numbers]

**Visual:** [What player sees]
**Audio:** [What player hears]

### Equipment
- **Primary:** [Weapon/Tool]
- **Secondary:** [Weapon/Tool]
- **Armor:** [Protection]
- **Consumables:** [Items]

### Strengths
- [What this character excels at]

### Weaknesses
- [What this character struggles with]

### Counters
- [Who/what beats this character]

### Synergies
- [Works well with...]

### Progression
| Level | Unlock |
|-------|--------|
| 1 | [Base ability] |
| 5 | [Upgrade 1] |
| 10 | [Upgrade 2] |

Character Design Principles

Rock-Paper-Scissors

Every character should have:

• Strengths - Situations where they excel
• Weaknesses - Situations where they struggle
• Counters - Specific hard counters

Clear Fantasy

Each character should embody:

• An identity - "I am the..." statement
• A fantasy - Power trip or fantasy fulfillment
• A moment - When this character shines

Accessibility

Characters should be:

• Easy to learn - Basic understanding in minutes
• Hard to master - Skill ceiling for dedicated players
• Distinct - No overlap with other characters

Class Types

Offensive

Focused on dealing damage:

• High damage output
• Low survivability
• Skill-based positioning

Defensive

Focused on protection and support:

• High health/armor
• Team utility
• Low damage output

Support

Focused on helping team:

• Healing/buffing
• Utility and control
• Resource generation

Hybrid

Mixed capabilities:

• Multiple roles
• Flexibility
• Jack of all trades, master of none

Balance Considerations

Statistical Balance

Ensure characters are numerically balanced:

Skill Expression

Ensure skill matters:

• Low floor - New players can contribute
• High ceiling - Experts can outplay basics
• Multiple techniques - Different playstyles
• Outplay potential - Can beat stronger opponents

Team Balance

For team-based games:

• No mandatory character
• No trap characters
• Multiple viable compositions
• Each character has a role

Character Review Checklist

Before finalizing a character:

• Clear fantasy and role
• Unique identity
• Balanced stats
• Fun abilities
• Clear strengths and weaknesses
• Has counters
• Has synergies
• Progression path defined
• Technical feasibility confirmed