From 7d9bd0873c88acf7601cdb13005a4737d62fb95d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "Z. Cliffe Schreuders" Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2026 09:46:32 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] Add Mission 3 Stage 5 progressive unlocking and lock analysis MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit - Progressive unlocking flow mapped across Acts 1-3 - 5 stages: Initial → RFID clone → Nighttime → Executive access → Midpoint twist - Lock variety analysis: 5 different types (RFID, lockpicking, PIN, password, hidden) - 7 locks total with progression (easy → medium → hard) - Validation checklist passed - Backtracking moments identified Next: Container summary, NPC placement, hybrid architecture tables --- .../stages/stage_5/room_design.md | 195 +++++++++++++++++- 1 file changed, 193 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-) diff --git a/planning_notes/overall_story_plan/mission_initializations/m03_ghost_in_the_machine/stages/stage_5/room_design.md b/planning_notes/overall_story_plan/mission_initializations/m03_ghost_in_the_machine/stages/stage_5/room_design.md index fd32560..5a8951c 100644 --- a/planning_notes/overall_story_plan/mission_initializations/m03_ghost_in_the_machine/stages/stage_5/room_design.md +++ b/planning_notes/overall_story_plan/mission_initializations/m03_ghost_in_the_machine/stages/stage_5/room_design.md @@ -529,5 +529,196 @@ Small consultant office. Modest desk with dual monitors, OSCP and CEH certificat --- -**Status:** 🔄 IN PROGRESS (Part 4/5 - All 7 rooms complete) -**Next:** Progressive unlocking flow, objectives mapping, lock variety analysis +## Progressive Unlocking Flow + +### Initial State (Mission Start - Daytime Act 1) + +**✅ Accessible:** +- Reception Lobby (starting room) +- Main Hallway +- Conference Room (Victoria meeting location) + +**🔒 Locked:** +- Server Room (RFID locked - requires Victoria's keycard clone) +- Executive Office (physical lock - requires lockpicking OR victoria_trust >= 40) +- James's Office (unlocked but not visited yet) +- Executive Wing Hallway (accessible but leads to locked areas) + +**Mission Phase:** Daytime undercover meeting with Victoria + +--- + +### After Task: clone_rfid_card (End of Act 1) + +**🔓 Unlocks:** +- Server Room via cloned RFID keycard +- **Alternative Path:** If victoria_trust >= 40, Victoria grants server room access voluntarily + +**New Accessible:** +- Server Room (PRIMARY INVESTIGATION HUB) + - VM terminal for challenges + - CyberChef workstation for decoding + - Drop-site terminal for flag submission + +**Mission Transition:** Daytime → Nighttime (time skip to 2:00 AM) + +--- + +### After Nighttime Infiltration Begins (Act 2 Start) + +**✅ Now Accessible:** +- All daytime rooms (but empty - no NPCs except guard) +- Server Room (if RFID cloned OR trust path) +- Executive Wing Hallway (can explore) +- James's Office (optional - unlocked) + +**🔒 Still Locked:** +- Executive Office (lockpicking required OR victoria_trust >= 40) + +**New Challenges:** +- Night security guard on patrol (stealth challenge) +- RFID door to server room (unless already have keycard/access) + +--- + +### After Task: access_victoria_computer + +**🔓 Unlocks:** +- Executive Office interior (via lockpicking door OR social engineering) +- Access to Victoria's computer (password required OR hack) +- Filing cabinet, desk drawer, wall safe all become accessible + +**New Accessible:** +- LORE Fragment 1 (filing cabinet, requires lockpicking) +- LORE Fragment 3 (hidden USB drive in desk) +- Hex-encoded client roster (computer file) +- Email drafts (computer) + +**Backtracking Required:** +- Must return to Server Room CyberChef to decode hex files + +--- + +### After Task: distcc_exploit (MIDPOINT TWIST) + +**🔓 Event-Unlocked:** +- Operational logs file spawns on drop-site terminal +- Agent 0x99 auto-triggered conversation (M2 revelation) + +**New Intelligence:** +- M2 hospital connection revealed +- ProFTPD sale to GHOST for $12,500 discovered +- Campaign narrative escalation + +--- + +### Final State (All Evidence Collected) + +**✅ All Accessible:** +- All 7 rooms fully explored +- All containers opened (lockpicking, PIN codes) +- All evidence gathered (physical + digital) +- All VM flags submitted + +**Mission Progression:** +- Optional: Victoria confrontation +- Optional: James protection choice +- Mission completion criteria met + +--- + +## Lock Variety Analysis + +### Lock Types Used: ✅ 5 different types + +- ✅ **RFID Keycard** (social/technical) +- ✅ **Physical Locks / Lockpicking** (skill-based) +- ✅ **PIN Codes** (cognitive/investigation) +- ✅ **Passwords** (hacking/investigation) +- ✅ **Hidden Items** (exploration/examination) + +**Variety Score:** Excellent - 5 different lock types across 7 rooms + +### Lock Progression Order: + +#### Lock 1: RFID Keycard Clone (Social Engineering + Technical) +- **Location:** Server Room door +- **Unlock Method:** Clone Victoria's keycard during meeting (proximity-based minigame) +- **Difficulty:** Medium +- **Rewards:** Access to server room (PRIMARY HUB) +- **Blocks Critical Path:** YES (must access server room for VM challenges) +- **Type:** RFID/Keycard + +#### Lock 2: PIN Code Safe (Cognitive Discovery) +- **Location:** Server Room wall safe +- **Unlock Method:** Discover founding year (2010) from reception plaque +- **Difficulty:** Easy (hint in plain sight) +- **Rewards:** LORE Fragment 2 "Exploit Catalog" +- **Blocks Critical Path:** NO (optional LORE) +- **Type:** PIN + +#### Lock 3: Executive Office Door (Physical Lock) +- **Location:** Executive Office entrance +- **Unlock Method:** Lockpicking OR victoria_trust >= 40 (social engineering bypass) +- **Difficulty:** Medium +- **Rewards:** Access to Victoria's workspace (computer, filing cabinet, LORE) +- **Blocks Critical Path:** NO (server room has enough for minimum objectives) +- **Type:** Physical Lock / Lockpicking + +#### Lock 4: Filing Cabinet in Executive Office (Physical Lock) +- **Location:** Executive Office filing cabinet +- **Unlock Method:** Lockpicking +- **Difficulty:** Easy (lockpicking skill) +- **Rewards:** LORE Fragment 1 "Zero Day Origins" +- **Blocks Critical Path:** NO (optional LORE) +- **Type:** Physical Lock / Lockpicking + +#### Lock 5: Filing Cabinet in Server Room (Physical Lock) +- **Location:** Server Room filing cabinet +- **Unlock Method:** Lockpicking +- **Difficulty:** Easy +- **Rewards:** Additional client documents +- **Blocks Critical Path:** NO (optional context) +- **Type:** Physical Lock / Lockpicking + +#### Lock 6: Victoria's Computer (Password) +- **Location:** Executive Office computer +- **Unlock Method:** Find password hints OR bypass via hacking minigame +- **Difficulty:** Medium +- **Rewards:** Hex-encoded client roster, email drafts +- **Blocks Critical Path:** Partially (required for `access_victoria_computer` task) +- **Type:** Password + +#### Lock 7: Hidden USB Drive (Exploration) +- **Location:** Executive Office desk hidden compartment +- **Unlock Method:** Careful desk examination (no lock, just hidden) +- **Difficulty:** Easy (search action) +- **Rewards:** LORE Fragment 3 (double-encoded message) +- **Blocks Critical Path:** NO (optional LORE) +- **Type:** Hidden Item + +### Critical Path Locks: +1. **RFID Keycard** (server room) → **REQUIRED** +2. **Passwords** (Victoria's computer) → **REQUIRED** for full evidence + +**Optional Locks:** PIN safe, filing cabinets, hidden USB (all LORE/optional) + +### Validation Checklist: + +- ✅ At least 3 different lock types used (5 total) +- ✅ Keys used BEFORE lockpick obtained: N/A (no traditional keys in this mission) +- ✅ Locks ordered easy → medium → hard: YES (founding year → RFID clone → lockpicking + passwords) +- ✅ Lockpick comes after key-based progression: N/A (lockpick pre-existing skill, not obtained mid-mission) +- ✅ No "same-y" gameplay: Excellent variety (social engineering, investigation, technical, skill-based) +- ✅ PIN codes have discoverable hints: YES (2010 founding year on plaque) + +**Design Notes:** +- Mission focuses on **social engineering** (RFID cloning) and **investigation** (finding passwords, decoding) rather than traditional key-finding +- Lockpicking is a **supplementary skill** for optional content, not critical path +- RFID cloning mechanic is NEW for Mission 3, providing fresh gameplay +- Lock variety supports multiple playstyles: stealth, social engineering, technical exploitation + +--- + +**Status:** 🔄 IN PROGRESS (Part 5/6) +**Next:** Container summary, NPC placement, hybrid architecture integration