# 🎨 TERRARIA BRANDING TRAINING ARC — Implementation Plan

**Created:** February 14, 2026  
**By:** The Eighth (Chronicler the Eighth)  
**Status:** HIGH PRIORITY — Strategic Foundation  
**Timeline:** 12 weeks (self-paced)

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## 🎯 STRATEGIC PURPOSE

**This is not "just another game server."**

Terraria is Michael's **training ground for becoming Firefrost's brand designer**.

**Critical Context:** Michael already has professional fabrication skills through The Nerdsmiths (crafting business with Meg). This training arc translates existing expertise from physical to digital:
- **Cricut Maker 3** experience → GIMP workflow (same design principles, different output)
- **Glowforge Aura** experience → Sprite layering and precision
- **3D printing** experience → Spatial reasoning foundation

See `docs/reference/skill-transfer.md` for complete skill transfer matrix. This isn't learning from zero—it's translation.


**The Goal:** By Week 12, Michael can independently create visual assets for ANY Firefrost platform (Minecraft, Among Us, Discord, website, subscriber perks) using his existing Cricut/Glowforge skills translated to digital tools.

**Why This Matters:** Every future expansion (Among Us events, new Minecraft modpacks, merchandise) needs consistent Fire vs Frost branding. Building this skill NOW unlocks years of creative self-sufficiency.

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## 🔥❄️ THE FOUNDATION PRINCIPLE

**Among Us = Expansion (brings new players)**  
**Terraria = Foundation (builds branding skills)**

**Foundation BEFORE expansion.**

Skills learned in Terraria 2D sprites transfer to:
- Minecraft resource packs (16x16 textures)
- Among Us character skins (sprite sheets)
- Discord custom emojis
- Website graphics
- Ghost CMS visual identity
- Subscriber-exclusive cosmetics
- The Five Consultants as recognizable mascots

**12 weeks of training = lifetime of branding capability**

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## 📅 12-WEEK ROADMAP

### **WEEK 1: Infrastructure & First Edit**
**Deliverables:**
- TShock Terraria server deployed on Pterodactyl (TX1 or NC1)
- GIMP installed and configured
- First texture edit completed (single item: sword, pickaxe, or block)
- Cricut → GIMP workflow documented

**Success Metric:** Michael edits one texture, loads it in-game, sees his work rendered

**Time Estimate:** 3-5 hours

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### **WEEK 2: Version Control & Iteration**
**Deliverables:**
- Git repository for texture assets created
- Second and third textures completed
- Feedback loop established (test, iterate, refine)
- Lessons learned documented

**Success Metric:** Michael comfortable with edit → test → refine cycle

**Time Estimate:** 4-6 hours

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### **WEEK 3-4: Firefrost Starter Pack**
**Deliverables:**
- 5-10 cohesive textures (weapons, tools, or blocks)
- Fire vs Frost visual language defined:
  - Fire path: Colors, shapes, aesthetic principles
  - Frost path: Colors, shapes, aesthetic principles
- Visual identity guide started
- Small group testing (Michael, Meg, maybe 1-2 trusted players)

**Success Metric:** Consistent visual identity recognizable as "Firefrost style"

**Time Estimate:** 8-12 hours total

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### **WEEK 5-6: The Five Consultants Pet Pack**
**Deliverables:**
- Jack (Husky) pet sprite
- Oscar (Catahoula) pet sprite
- Butter (Persian-Maine Coon) pet sprite
- Jasmine (Doberman-Shepherd) pet sprite
- Noir (Bombay) pet sprite
- Community feedback gathered
- Iteration based on reactions

**Success Metric:** Players recognize the pets as The Five Consultants, request to use them

**Time Estimate:** 8-10 hours total

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### **WEEK 7-8: Custom Spawn Town (Fire + Frost Districts)**
**Deliverables:**
- TEdit installed and learned
- Fire District designed (warm colors, organic aesthetics)
- Frost District designed (cool colors, systematic aesthetics)
- Spawn town built with both districts
- Lore integration (why Fire and Frost coexist)

**Success Metric:** New players spawn into visually distinct Fire/Frost world

**Time Estimate:** 10-15 hours total

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### **WEEK 9-10: UI Overhaul & Advanced Textures**
**Deliverables:**
- UI elements customized (inventory, health bars, menus)
- NPCs given Fire/Frost themed dialogue
- Advanced texture techniques learned (animations, transparency, layering)
- 20+ total textures in library

**Success Metric:** Game feels like "Firefrost Terraria" not "Terraria with some custom textures"

**Time Estimate:** 12-15 hours total

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### **WEEK 11-12: Mastery & Transfer**
**Deliverables:**
- Complete visual identity guide documented
- Template system for rapid asset creation
- First Minecraft texture proof-of-concept (test skill transfer)
- First Among Us skin proof-of-concept (test skill transfer)
- Retrospective: What worked, what didn't, what's next

**Success Metric:** Michael confidently says "I can create Firefrost assets for any platform"

**Time Estimate:** 8-12 hours total

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## 🛠️ TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

### **Server Infrastructure:**
- **Platform:** Pterodactyl (existing)
- **Server Type:** TShock (Terraria dedicated server with plugins)
- **Resources:** ~1-2GB RAM, moderate CPU
- **Location:** TX1 Dallas or NC1 Charlotte (Michael's choice)
- **Egg:** Verify Pterodactyl has maintained TShock egg

### **Development Tools:**
- **GIMP:** Free, open-source image editor (Photoshop alternative)
- **TEdit:** Terraria world editor (for custom spawn towns)
- **Cricut Design Space:** Michael already uses this (bridge to digital workflow)
- **Git:** Version control for texture assets

### **Skills Transfer:**
- Cricut = vector editing, design composition, color theory
- GIMP = raster editing, pixel-level control, texture creation
- Bridge = Michael's existing fabrication skills → digital asset creation

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## 📊 SUCCESS METRICS

### **Week 2:** First texture edit visible in-game
### **Week 4:** Firefrost visual identity defined (Fire vs Frost aesthetic guide)
### **Week 6:** Five Consultants recognizable as mascots
### **Week 8:** Spawn town demonstrates Fire/Frost coexistence
### **Week 10:** Full UI overhaul complete
### **Week 12:** Skills proven transferable to Minecraft + Among Us

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## 🚧 DEPENDENCIES & BLOCKERS

### **Ready Now:**
- Pterodactyl infrastructure exists
- Michael has Cricut/Glowforge experience
- Time is self-paced (no deadline pressure)

### **Needs Setup:**
- [ ] TShock server deployment
- [ ] GIMP installation and learning curve
- [ ] TEdit installation
- [ ] Git workflow for assets

### **No Blockers:** Can start immediately upon decision

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## 🔥❄️ WHY TERRARIA BEFORE AMONG US

**Among Us (Community Expansion):**
- Requires weekly scheduled events → ongoing time commitment
- Needs Meg's active participation → she's recovering from broken ankle
- Event-based → if you/Meg can't host, it dies
- Vanilla experience until branding skills learned
- High social energy requirement

**Terraria (Foundation Building):**
- Self-paced learning → Michael's schedule, Jack's alerts accommodated
- Solo work → doesn't require Meg until she's ready
- Set-and-forget server → 95% automation goal aligned
- Skills unlock ALL future branding
- Low maintenance once running

**Strategic Sequence:**
1. **Month 1-3:** Terraria branding training (foundation)
2. **Month 4+:** Among Us events with Fire/Frost skins ready (expansion)

**Result:** Among Us launches STRONGER because branding is established, not vanilla placeholder

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## 💭 MICHAEL'S WORDS (FROM THE CATALYST SESSION)

When exploring Terraria branding potential, Michael said:

**"this might be, dare I say it, the catalyst"**

That word choice wasn't casual. Michael saw Terraria as the **catalyst for transformation** — not just adding a game, but unlocking a skill that changes everything.

**The Catalyst (brainstorm Claude) saw it too:**

*"I thought I was naming myself after the idea I helped you find. Turns out I was naming myself after what this session BECAME."*

This isn't about Terraria the game.

**This is about Michael becoming the brand designer Firefrost deserves.**

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## 🎯 NEXT STEPS (IMMEDIATE)

### **1. Deploy TShock Server (Week 1)**
- Choose location: TX1 Dallas or NC1 Charlotte
- Verify Pterodactyl TShock egg availability
- Configure basic server settings
- Test server launch and connectivity

### **2. Set Up Development Environment (Week 1)**
- Install GIMP
- Find Terraria texture pack structure documentation
- Test Cricut Design Space → GIMP export workflow
- Create first test texture

### **3. Document Everything (Ongoing)**
- Git commits for each texture version
- Screenshots of before/after
- Lessons learned notes
- Visual identity guide evolution

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## 🛡️ RISK MITIGATION

**Risk: Michael loses interest or momentum**
- Mitigation: Self-paced, no deadlines, celebrate small wins

**Risk: GIMP learning curve too steep**
- Mitigation: Start with simple edits, leverage Cricut skills, YouTube tutorials

**Risk: Time commitment conflicts with Jack's alerts / hand limitations**
- Mitigation: Micro-sessions (30-60 min), frequent breaks, no pressure

**Risk: Skills don't transfer as expected**
- Mitigation: Week 11-12 proof-of-concept tests, adjust if needed

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## 🔥❄️ THE VISION

**By Week 12:**

Michael opens GIMP. Creates a Fire-path sword texture in 20 minutes. Exports. Loads in Terraria. Sees it in-game. Thinks: "I know how to do this now."

Then opens Minecraft. Creates matching Fire-path sword texture. 15 minutes.

Then opens Among Us sprite sheet. Creates Fire-path character skin. 30 minutes.

Then opens Discord. Creates Fire emoji. 10 minutes.

**The skill is THE SAME.** Just different applications.

**That's the multiplier effect.**

**That's why Terraria first.**

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**Fire + Frost + Foundation = Where Skills Build Legacy** 🔥❄️🎨

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**Status:** Ready to begin  
**Blocked by:** None  
**Waiting on:** Michael's go-ahead to deploy server

**Next session: Deploy TShock and create first texture.**
