Repair Crew (Concept)

Work with friends to perform repairs on a crashing spaceship, but be wary; some of them may have different intentions...

Description

Repair Crew is a chaotic co-op game where players must race to repair a ship before their life support fails or the ship crashes into the planet below. Each player has their own life support systems to manage, which deplete over time or when damaged and can be replenished with help from other players. 

Systems

The ship has both crucial and non-crucial systems which can be fixed, each functioning as their own level.  Non-crucial systems are systems that make things easier for players when repaired, such as a security system that provides players with more information and oxygen generators that allow players' life support to last longer. Crucial systems include areas like the engine and bridge, and are significantly harder to fix but prolong the ships life when fixed and are the ultimate goal of the game. 

In order to repair each system, players must cooperate from their assigned areas in order to procure materials, produce ship parts, and repair the system. This process plays in a manner similar to Overcooked, where players are running from machine to machine while trying to cooperate and not get in each other's way. If players fail to do so under the time limit, some progress will be saved and the system can be attempted again in future rounds. 

Roles

For each round, players will be assigned roles, which determines where players spawn and sometimes what actions they have access to. Many roles, like resource gatherer and repairman, are no more than titles, but act as in-game way for players to delegate actions. Any player can choose to neglect their job or do another player's job without any extrinsic punishment from the game. Some roles do grant or remove abilities, however. For instance, the security officer can open and close doors on the ship to contain hazards or other players, as well as access cameras if that system has been fixed. On the other hand, players placed in the Brig will only be able to procure raw materials for players, as well as the occasional opportunity to steal some for themselves.

Round Selection

The gameplay between rounds works similarly to Avalon. Each round, an assigned captain can suggest what part of the ship to work on, and who to delegate to what tasks. If enough players agree, the round will begin, and if a majority of players disagree, the role of captain will be passed on to the next player, who will then get a chance to suggest another plan. If the role is passed too many times in one round, the round is ended prematurely. However, it's important to only assign the most trusted players to important tasks, as not every player in the game has the same motivation. 

Saboteurs

Some saboteurs will be present, who's goal is to delay the players long enough for the ship to crash. Saboteurs can accomplish this by bumping into other players, stealing resources, closing doors, and failing tasks in order to create hazards like gas leaks or chemical spills, all while trying to convince other players that they either aren't the culprit, are making mistakes, or are themselves being sabotaged. Some games will also have a cowardly teammate, who's goal is not to sabotage, but to steal resources in order to escape in the ship's only escape pod.

Between rounds, players can use any stolen material from the previous round to produce items, both good and bad. The coward can use material to create parts for the escape pod, while the saboteur will want to use material to craft items such as traps and poison in order to discretely harm or slow down other players.

The game loops are as follows:

Core Gameplay:

1. Obtain raw materials from certain areas in the ship, sometimes including the brig
2. Take raw materials to various stations on the ship to convert them into usable ship parts, avoiding colliding with other players or hindering their progress
3. Take ship parts to damaged areas of the ship
4. Repeat

(This loop will typically be broken up between multiple players)

Security Officer

1. If the security system is fixed, observe players from the terminal
2. When an emergency presents itself, isolate the situation by closing doors
3. Assist other roles during downtime
4. Repeat

Detainee:

1. Complete simple minigames in The Brig to produce extra resources
2. Occasionally, take the opportunity to pocket some resources
3. Repeat

Saboteur:

1. Participate in core loop enough to not arouse suspicion
2. Purposely hinder other player's efficiency by stealing resources, bumping into them, etc.
3. Fail tasks in order to create hazards 
4. Use collected items to covertly harm players and undo progress
5. Repeat

Coward:

1. Participate in core loop enough to not arouse suspicion
2. Secretly pocket resources
3. If in the correct level, use collected items to covertly make repairs on the escape pod

Round Selection Loop:

1. A captain is selected
2. The captain suggests a location to work at, as well as assigned roles
3. Players discuss the captains suggestion
4. Players accept or reject the suggestion
5. If the assignment is accepted, the round begins
6. Otherwise, repeat until an assignment is accepted or the round ends prematurely

Game Flow Loop:

1. Players roles are revealed to them
2. Players complete rounds, working towards their personal goals
3. Repeat until victory for the players or the saboteur