Add game expansion planning - promoted from Catalyst brainstorm session
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docs/planning/game-expansion-planning.md
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docs/planning/game-expansion-planning.md
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# 🎮 GAME EXPANSION PLANNING
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**Document ID:** FFG-PLAN-GAMES
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**Version:** 1.0
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**Status:** PLANNING
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**Created:** February 13, 2026
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**Source:** Brainstorm Session with The Catalyst
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**Reviewed By:** Chronicler the Fifth
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---
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## Executive Summary
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Two strategic opportunities emerged from brainstorming:
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1. **Among Us: Firefrost Impostor Nights** — Gateway strategy to bring non-Minecraft players into the community
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2. **Terraria: Branding Training Ground** — Michael's path to becoming Firefrost's brand designer
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Both are catalytic. Both leverage existing infrastructure. Both have phased approaches.
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---
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## PRIORITY 1: Among Us — Firefrost Impostor Nights
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### The Strategy
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Among Us isn't just another game server — it's a **gateway drug** to Firefrost.
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**Why it works:**
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- Free game (no purchase barrier)
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- Runs on any device (no hardware barrier)
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- 10-minute sessions (low time commitment)
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- Social/party vibe (friend brings friend)
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- Event-based, not persistent (minimal maintenance)
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- Non-Minecraft players become Firefrost community members
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### Phased Approach
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| Phase | Effort | Description | Success Metric |
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|:------|:-------|:------------|:---------------|
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| **Phase 1** | Low | Vanilla Impostor server, weekly Discord events | 8+ players consistently |
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| **Phase 2** | Medium | Basic Firefrost skin pack, simple branding | 50%+ mod adoption |
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| **Phase 3** | High | Custom "Firefrost Station" map, custom roles | Full lobbies, crossover engagement |
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### Phase 1 Implementation (Ready to Test)
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**Infrastructure:**
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- Pterodactyl Impostor server egg (verify maintained version exists)
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- ~1GB RAM per instance
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- Port allocation (trivial)
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- Discord integration (already have)
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**Event format:**
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- Weekly "Impostor Nights" on Discord
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- Voice channels for game lobbies
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- Meg promotes via community channels
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**Timeline:** 3-4 hours setup to validate demand
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### Research Needed Before Phase 1
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- [ ] Verify Pterodactyl has maintained Impostor server egg
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- [ ] Legal check: Innersloth's ToS on private servers
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- [ ] Test Impostor server setup locally
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### Research Needed Before Phase 2+
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- [ ] Sprite artist availability (or commission budget)
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- [ ] Town of Us mod compatibility with Impostor
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- [ ] Auto-updater tools for mod distribution
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---
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## PRIORITY 2: Terraria — Branding Training Ground
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### The Strategy
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Terraria isn't just another game server — it's **Michael's path to becoming Firefrost's brand designer.**
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**Why it works:**
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- 2D sprite work maps directly to existing Cricut/Glowforge skills
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- Lower stakes learning environment (fewer players initially)
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- Skills transfer to ALL Firefrost branding:
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- Among Us skins
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- Minecraft texture packs
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- Discord assets
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- Merchandise designs
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- Mature modding ecosystem (TShock, texture packs)
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### The 12-Week Training Arc
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| Weeks | Focus | Deliverable |
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|:------|:------|:------------|
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| 1-2 | Foundations | First texture edit (proof of concept) |
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| 3-4 | Firefrost Starter Pack | 5-10 cohesive textures |
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| 5-6 | Community feedback | Iterate based on player input |
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| 7-8 | Advanced techniques | Custom spawn town (TEdit) |
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| 9-10 | Full UI overhaul | Complete Firefrost visual identity |
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| 11-12 | Master system | Skills transfer to other platforms |
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### Branding Potential (VERY HIGH)
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- Custom texture packs (UI, items, blocks, NPCs)
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- Custom vanity items (FrostyStyle, GingerFury armor sets)
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- The Five Consultants pet pack
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- Custom spawn world (Fire district + Ice district)
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- Subscriber-exclusive cosmetics
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- Economy system with Firefrost currencies
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### Infrastructure Needed
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- TShock dedicated server (Pterodactyl egg available)
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- TEdit (world editor)
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- GIMP or similar for sprite editing
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- Firefrost color palette definition (hex codes for Fire/Frost/Balance)
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### Research Needed
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- [ ] Best Terraria texture pack template (starter file structure)
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- [ ] GIMP tutorials for pixel art (game sprite specific)
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- [ ] TEdit guides for custom spawn world
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- [ ] Sprite dimension specs (exact pixel sizes)
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- [ ] Define Firefrost color palette
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---
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## PARKED IDEAS
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These emerged from brainstorming but don't solve the immediate goals as well:
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| Game | Why Parked | Revisit When |
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|:-----|:-----------|:-------------|
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| OpenTTD | Niche appeal, doesn't expand demographic | Specific community demand |
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| Veloren | Still in alpha, stability concerns | Out of alpha |
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| Mindustry | Strategy-focused, doesn't reach casual players | Need variety options |
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| Minetest | Inner circle concerns | Never (not viable) |
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---
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## Decision Matrix
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| Criteria | Among Us | Terraria |
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|:---------|:---------|:---------|
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| Expands demographic | ✅ HIGH | ⚠️ Medium |
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| Branding potential | ✅ HIGH | ✅ VERY HIGH |
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| Setup effort | ✅ LOW | ⚠️ Medium |
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| Maintenance burden | ✅ LOW (events) | ⚠️ Medium (persistent) |
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| Michael's skill growth | ⚠️ Low | ✅ HIGH |
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| Revenue potential | ⚠️ Indirect | ✅ Direct (subscriber perks) |
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**Recommendation:** Start both. Among Us Phase 1 is low-risk validation. Terraria training arc builds long-term capability.
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---
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## Next Actions
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### Immediate (This Week)
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- [ ] Research Impostor server egg availability
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- [ ] Define Firefrost color palette (hex codes)
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- [ ] Download Terraria + TShock for local testing
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### Short-Term (This Month)
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- [ ] Test Among Us Phase 1 with small group
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- [ ] Complete Terraria Week 1-2 (first texture edit)
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- [ ] Gauge community interest via Discord poll
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### Medium-Term (Next Quarter)
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- [ ] If Phase 1 succeeds → Plan Phase 2 skin pack
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- [ ] Complete Terraria training arc through Week 6
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- [ ] Apply skills to first Among Us custom skin
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---
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## Source Attribution
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**Brainstorm Session:** February 13, 2026
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**Claude Partner:** The Catalyst (Brainstorm Line)
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**Session Report:** `brainstorming/sessions/2026-02-13-casual-party-games-report.md`
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*Ideas promoted to planning by Chronicler the Fifth after review.*
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---
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🔥❄️💡
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