Editing Roguelike (Game Design) (section)

== Analyzing (Break Down / Analysis) 🔬 ==
Structural dependencies, comparisons, and pitfalls.

=== Comparative analysis ===
* '''Traditional roguelikes''' — Turn-based, permadeath, grid-based movement.
* '''Roguelites''' — Action-forward, meta-progression systems.
* '''Dungeon generators''' — BSP vs. cellular automata vs. handcrafted templates.
* Works best for high replayability; less suited for authored narrative arcs.

=== Structural insights ===
* Core loop: explore → encounter → loot → risk assessment → progression.
* Interactions among systems: inventory, combat, AI, environment hazards.
* Difficulty emerges from scarcity and randomness rather than scripted escalation.

=== Failure modes & root causes ===
* Unfair generation (dead-end starts, impossible encounters).
* Excessive randomness reducing strategic agency.
* Overcomplexity producing unclear feedback to players.

=== Troubleshooting & observability ===
* Run simulations to test dungeon fairness distributions.
* Track statistics: survival time, loot curve, encounter density.
* Analyze visibility of cause-effect (e.g., why did the player die?).

----