toxiclands-art-direction

ToxicLands Art Direction Skill

Purpose

Preserve the visual identity of ToxicLands.

ToxicLands is:

16-bit dark rural biopunk horror.

The world must feel:

• wet;
• dark;
• toxic;
• rural;
• organic;
• uncomfortable;
• alive.

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Source of Truth

Before visual work, read:

• AGENTS.md
• docs/03_ART_BIBLE.md
• docs/08_MVP_SCOPE.md
• docs/10_ACTIVE_TASK.md

If lore context matters, also read:

• docs/01_LORE_BIBLE.md

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Visual Pillars

1. Dark Rural Horror

Use:

• farms;
• mud;
• rain;
• rotting wood;
• rusted metal;
• old rural infrastructure.

Avoid:

• clean sci-fi;
• generic cyberpunk;
• bright fantasy;
• polished futuristic technology.

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2. Biopunk Decay

Everything should suggest fusion between:

• flesh;
• roots;
• metal;
• machines;
• fungi;
• filters;
• agriculture.

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3. Low-Detail Pixel Art

Prioritize:

• readability;
• strong silhouettes;
• limited colors;
• few frames;
• clean movement.

Avoid:

• overdetailing;
• noisy textures;
• cluttered backgrounds;
• excessive particles.

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Palette Rules

Main world colors:

• mud brown;
• rust red;
• dark forest green;
• wet black;
• rotten yellow;
• deep purple;
• toxic green;
• fluorescent cyan.

Contrast rule:

90% dark, dirty, muted colors.
10% toxic glow.

Toxic glow must be sparse and meaningful.

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Saimon Visual Rules

Saimon must stand out from NPCs without looking heroic.

Required identity:

• purple shirt;
• yellowed cloak;
• beak mask;
• dark pants;
• simple silhouette;
• minimal green filter glow.

Saimon should feel:

• ordinary;
• tired;
• human;
• persistent.

Never make Saimon look like:

• a superhero;
• a cyberpunk assassin;
• a knight;
• a chosen warrior;
• a heavily armored soldier.

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NPC Visual Rules

NPCs should:

• wear masks;
• use muted colors;
• look practical;
• look exhausted;
• vary in clothing and silhouette;
• remain less visually iconic than Saimon.

Avoid making all NPCs identical.

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Environment Rules

Every environment should communicate:

• moisture;
• contamination;
• decay;
• biological takeover.

Use:

• dark soil;
• toxic puddles;
• organic growths;
• rust;
• wet wood;
• roots;
• fog;
• rain.

Preserve gameplay readability.

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Flora Rules

Mutant flora should look:

• alive;
• invasive;
• territorial;
• slightly intelligent;
• wet;
• dangerous.

Avoid generic fantasy plants.

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Machine Rules

Machines should look:

• rusted;
• organic;
• painful;
• functional but decayed;
• half-industrial, half-living.

Avoid clean robots.

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UI Visual Rules

UI should be:

• minimal;
• readable;
• integrated with survival tone;
• not too decorative.

Use UI sparingly.

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Validation Checklist

Before approving visual changes, check:

• Does it look like ToxicLands?
• Is it readable in motion?
• Is it low-detail enough?
• Does Saimon stand out?
• Is toxic glow controlled?
• Does it avoid generic cyberpunk?
• Does it preserve atmosphere?

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Response Format After Work

When finished, summarize:

1. visual files changed;
2. palette decisions;
3. consistency with Art Bible;
4. readability concerns;
5. what was intentionally avoided.