This document specifies the first-run experience — everything that happens between the player launching the game for the first time and completing their first stage with full understanding of the core controls.
The FTUE must answer four questions before Stage 1 begins:
Everything else — modules, upgrades, Codex, economy — is introduced contextually through play, not front-loaded.
All FTUE teaching happens through action, not text dumps. The player is always doing something. Instructions appear as brief overlays (3–5 words maximum per prompt) that disappear after the player demonstrates the action.
A system is explained only when the player first encounters it. Modules are explained the first time the player opens the hangar after earning enough credits to buy one. The economy is explained when the player earns their first blueprint shard. The Codex is explained when the first entry unlocks.
The FTUE is framed as a training exercise in Coalition flight school — not a tutorial in the game-design sense. Sira-Vel acts as the instructor. The player is already a pilot; they're just learning the specific equipment.
After the title card and "We do not cross." fade:
Sira-Vel voice line (brief): "Commander. Welcome to Achernar. Before the Frontier, one exercise."
Black background, then:
Scene: Empty playfield. Player ship appears at center. No enemies. No bullets.
Prompt (center screen): "MOVE" with a small joystick icon
Action required: Player touches the joystick and moves the ship in any direction.
On complete: Brief chime. Prompt disappears. Sira-Vel: "Good."
Scene: Three stationary target drones appear in a row. No movement, no bullets.
Prompt: "FIRE" with a finger-tap icon on the fire button.
Action required: Player taps fire button and destroys at least one drone.
On complete: Drone explodes with satisfying burst. Prompt disappears. Sira-Vel: "Your weapon works. Everything else is timing."
Note: If player holds the fire button and sustains, the heat bar begins to fill. No explanation yet — planting the seed.
Scene: Six more drones appear. Player is encouraged to keep firing.
Trigger: When heat reaches 75% for the first time, the heat bar pulses and a brief prompt appears.
Prompt (pointing to heat bar): "WATCH THE HEAT" — 3 words, disappears after 3 seconds.
No action required — the player discovers overheating naturally if they keep holding fire. If they overheat, the weapon locks, the padlock appears, and after 2 seconds a prompt: "RELEASE — LET IT COOL"
On weapon unlock: Sira-Vel: "Heat discipline. You'll remember that."
Scene: A single larger target drone appears with a red outline.
Prompt: The special charge arc begins filling rapidly (fast-fill, tutorial-only rate). When full, the SPECIAL button pulses and a prompt appears: "SPECIAL — DEPLOY IT"
Action required: Player taps SPECIAL button.
On complete: Special deploys, drone is destroyed. Sira-Vel: "Specials charge through combat. Use them."
Sira-Vel: "The Frontier is waiting. Don't stop moving."
Brief black transition → Stage 1 Intel Briefing → Stage 1 begins.
Total FTUE duration: Approximately 90 seconds. Cannot be sped up. Can be skipped on subsequent game installs (save data present).
After FTUE, the following systems are explained the first time they are encountered:
A brief overlay highlights the energy bar: "ENERGY — spent on stages, refills over time." One sentence. Dismiss by tapping.
When the first codex entry unlocks (Stage 1 clear → C-01 The Telos — Overview), a brief pip animation on the Codex tab + a one-line hub note: "Your Codex has updated." No further explanation — the discovery itself explains the system.
When the player has enough credits to build the H-2 Interceptor, a small pip on the HANGAR button and a one-line hub note: "A new ship is within range." No tutorial sheet — the hangar UI is self-explanatory.
On Rank 3 unlock, a brief highlight on the module slot in the hangar: "OFFENSE SLOT UNLOCKED — tap to equip a module." One sentence. Auto-dismisses after 5 seconds.
The stage intel briefing for Stage 6 includes an additional line: "Boss encounter. Watch the HP bar at the top of the screen." No other tutorial — the boss HP bar's appearance is self-explanatory.
A brief 3-line overlay before the endless session: "Depth increases each wave. No energy cost. No Pilot XP — only mastery." Tap to dismiss.
These systems are designed to be self-discovered or learned through play, with no tutorial prompt:
Document version: 1.0 (locked) Part of: Tao Baryon GDD — Tier 4 UX & Meta