Auto Warz — Achievements Design Document¶

Document Type: Design Document Version: 1.0 Status: Draft Last Updated: 2026-03-08 Vault destination: 01_Design Documents Author: Solo Developer Parent Document: [01_Master GDD](<./01_Master GDD.md>) Related Documents: [02_Server Architecture Document](<../02_Technical Documents/02_Server Architecture Document.md>) · [03_Monetization Design Document](<../04_Project Management/03_Monetization Design Document.md>) · [[08_Economy & Progression Design]]

Purpose & Philosophy¶

Achievements in Auto Warz serve three goals:

Reward natural play — players who engage deeply with the factory should feel recognised without having to chase arbitrary checklists.
Surface hidden depth — some players will never try certain systems unless an achievement draws them in. Achievements are a gentle teacher.
Give cosmetics meaning — earned cosmetics (building skins, Genesis skins) are exclusively achievement-gated. They can never be purchased. This keeps them prestigious.

The target for Early Access launch is ~25 achievements — tight and curated. Every achievement on this list must feel worth it. No padding.

Design Principles¶

No missable achievements — all achievements can be earned across any session.
No punishing achievements — nothing locked behind a single specific failure state (e.g. "never let a belt break"). Challenge achievements exist but are clearly labelled.
Hidden achievements are for surprises, not frustration — hidden ones cover Easter eggs and narrative moments, not grinds.
Tiered achievements for production and scale — three tiers (I / II / III) apply to resource production and factory scale milestones. Each tier is a separate Steam achievement and grants a separate reward.
Single milestones for story, discovery, and multiplayer — these are one-shot moments that don't need a tier chain.
Achievement cosmetics are exclusive — no achievement skin is available via DLC or purchase. DLC cosmetics are entirely separate designs.

Reward Tiers¶

Tier	Rarity	Reward Type	Description
Common	~60% of achievements	Building colour variant	Alternate accent colour scheme for a specific building
Rare	~30% of achievements	Full building skin	Unique visual model variant for a specific building
Legendary	~8% of achievements	Genesis skin	Unique Genesis visual design — full body rework
Special	~2% of achievements	Particle effect	Animated particle trail or badge effect on Genesis

Tier I achievements in a chain give Common rewards. Tier II give Rare. Tier III give Legendary.

Achievement Categories¶

Category	Count	Mode	Description
First Steps	5	Both	First-time discovery achievements — placing core buildings for the first time
Factory Scale	6	Both	Tiered production volume milestones (3 chains × 2 tiers each at EA)
Research	4	Both	Research tree progression milestones
Defence	4	Both	Alien threat response milestones
Challenge	3	Solo only	Efficiency and constraint run achievements
Multiplayer	3	Multi only	Co-op specific achievements

Total: 25 achievements

Full Achievement List¶

🏗️ First Steps (Single milestone — Both modes)¶

These trigger the first time the player does something meaningful. They reward natural discovery, not grinding.

ACH_FIRST_DRILL Name: Dig In Description: Place your first Mining Drill. Flavour text: "Genesis watches the drill bite into the ground. It says nothing. That's probably fine." Mode: Both Hidden: No Reward: Common — Mining Drill colour variant (Rust Orange) Steam ID: ACH_FIRST_DRILL

ACH_FIRST_BELT Name: On the Line Description: Place your first Conveyor Belt. Flavour text: "The first belt. The first step toward something that will definitely get out of hand." Mode: Both Hidden: No Reward: Common — Belt colour variant (Safety Yellow) Steam ID: ACH_FIRST_BELT

ACH_FIRST_SMELTER Name: Heat of the Moment Description: Place your first Smelter. Flavour text: "Ore goes in. Metal comes out. This is the whole game, really." Mode: Both Hidden: No Reward: Common — Smelter colour variant (Char Black) Steam ID: ACH_FIRST_SMELTER

ACH_FIRST_RESEARCH Name: Something to Think About Description: Complete your first research. Flavour text: "Genesis nods approvingly. You're not sure how you know this. It has no neck." Mode: Both Hidden: No Reward: Common — Research Lab colour variant (Deep Blue) Steam ID: ACH_FIRST_RESEARCH

ACH_FIRST_LAUNCH Name: Planet Bound No More Description: Launch your first ship. Flavour text: "Genesis watches the exhaust trail disappear into the sky. Then it goes back to work." Mode: Both Hidden: No Reward: Rare — Launch Pad skin (Burnished Chrome) Steam ID: ACH_FIRST_LAUNCH Note: This is the planet milestone / "Factorio rocket moment" from the Win Conditions doc. Biggest First Steps reward.

📦 Factory Scale (Tiered — Both modes)¶

Three production chains, each with Tier I and Tier II at EA launch. Tier III reserved for post-launch.

Chain 1 — Metal Production¶

ACH_METAL_I Name: Ironworker Description: Produce 1,000 Metal Plates in a single session. Mode: Both Hidden: No Reward: Common — Smelter colour variant (Forge Red) Steam ID: ACH_METAL_I

ACH_METAL_II Name: Metal Magnate Description: Produce 10,000 Metal Plates in a single session. Mode: Both Hidden: No Reward: Rare — Smelter skin (Industrial Hulk — heavy riveted plating visual) Steam ID: ACH_METAL_II

Chain 2 — Power Infrastructure¶

ACH_POWER_I Name: Current Affairs Description: Sustain a power grid of 50 MW or more for 10 continuous minutes. Mode: Both Hidden: No Reward: Common — Power Plant colour variant (Electric Cyan) Steam ID: ACH_POWER_I

ACH_POWER_II Name: Power Broker Description: Sustain a power grid of 200 MW or more for 10 continuous minutes. Mode: Both Hidden: No Reward: Rare — Power Plant skin (Reactor Core — glowing cooling vents) Steam ID: ACH_POWER_II

Chain 3 — Factory Footprint¶

ACH_SCALE_I Name: Sprawl Begins Description: Have 50 or more factory buildings active simultaneously. Mode: Both Hidden: No Reward: Common — Buffer Chest colour variant (Olive Drab) Steam ID: ACH_SCALE_I

ACH_SCALE_II Name: Industrial Complex Description: Have 150 or more factory buildings active simultaneously. Mode: Both Hidden: No Reward: Rare — Buffer Chest skin (Vault — armoured plating with combination lock door) Steam ID: ACH_SCALE_II

🔬 Research (Single milestone — Both modes)¶

ACH_RESEARCH_TREE_I Name: Curious Mind Description: Unlock 5 research nodes. Mode: Both Hidden: No Reward: Common — Research Lab colour variant (Amber) Steam ID: ACH_RESEARCH_TREE_I

ACH_RESEARCH_TREE_II Name: Deep Dive Description: Unlock 15 research nodes. Mode: Both Hidden: No Reward: Rare — Research Lab skin (Overgrown — vines and bioluminescent panels) Steam ID: ACH_RESEARCH_TREE_II

ACH_RESEARCH_FULL Name: Nothing Left to Learn Description: Unlock every research node available. Mode: Both Hidden: No Reward: Legendary — Genesis skin: Archon — sleek white and gold Genesis body, four orbital rings instead of visor, broader head silhouette Steam ID: ACH_RESEARCH_FULL

ACH_RESEARCH_FAST Name: Speed Reader Description: Unlock 10 research nodes within the first 30 minutes of a session. Mode: Both Hidden: No Reward: Common — Research Lab colour variant (Hot Pink) Note: This doubles as a soft challenge achievement — rewards players who dedicate early resources to research. Steam ID: ACH_RESEARCH_FAST

👾 Defence (Single milestone — Both modes)¶

ACH_FIRST_WAVE Name: They're Here Description: Survive your first alien attack wave. Flavour text: "Genesis assessed the situation. You built faster. For now, that was enough." Mode: Both Hidden: No Reward: Common — Turret colour variant (Gunmetal) Steam ID: ACH_FIRST_WAVE

ACH_ALIENS_100 Name: Pest Control Description: Defeat 100 aliens across any sessions. Mode: Both Hidden: No Reward: Common — Turret colour variant (Acid Green) Steam ID: ACH_ALIENS_100

ACH_BREACH_SURVIVED Name: That Was Close Description: Survive an alien breach that destroys at least one factory building. Flavour text: "Genesis flagged the damage. You were already rebuilding." Mode: Both Hidden: No Reward: Rare — Turret skin (Battle-Scarred — scorched casing, cracked barrel, still functional) Steam ID: ACH_BREACH_SURVIVED

ACH_NO_DAMAGE Name: Untouchable Description: Complete a full session without losing a single factory building to alien attack. Mode: Both Hidden: No Reward: Legendary — Genesis skin: Sentinel — dark matte armoured Genesis body, red visor, shoulder pauldrons, angular silhouette Steam ID: ACH_NO_DAMAGE Note: This is the prestige challenge achievement. Bragging rights tier.

⚡ Challenge (Solo only)¶

These are specifically flagged as solo-only. They don't count in multiplayer — partly for fairness, partly because the challenge is personal.

ACH_SOLO_SPEED Name: Blitz Description: Launch a ship in under 90 minutes in a solo session. Mode: Solo only Hidden: No Reward: Rare — Launch Pad skin (Scorched — blackened blast marks, speed-run aesthetic) Steam ID: ACH_SOLO_SPEED

ACH_SOLO_NO_POWER_FAIL Name: Never Dark Description: Complete a solo session without a single power failure. Mode: Solo only Hidden: No Reward: Common — Power Plant colour variant (Vivid White) Steam ID: ACH_SOLO_NO_POWER_FAIL

ACH_GENESIS_ONLY Name: Just the Two of Us Description: Place your first 20 buildings exclusively using Genesis (no auto-build queue). Flavour text: "You could have automated this. You chose not to. Genesis appreciated that. Probably." Mode: Solo only Hidden: Yes Reward: Special — Genesis particle trail: Builder's Light — soft golden particle stream following Genesis during construction Steam ID: ACH_GENESIS_ONLY Note: Hidden because it's a discovery achievement. Players who engage manually with Genesis get rewarded for noticing it.

🤝 Multiplayer (Multi only)¶

ACH_FIRST_COOP Name: Better Together Description: Complete a session with at least one other player. Mode: Multi only Hidden: No Reward: Common — Belt colour variant (Co-op Blue — team stripe pattern) Steam ID: ACH_FIRST_COOP

ACH_COOP_LAUNCH Name: All Hands Description: Launch a ship in a session where every player has placed at least 10 buildings. Flavour text: "Every hand built this. Even the one who kept placing things slightly off-grid." Mode: Multi only Hidden: No Reward: Rare — Launch Pad skin (Crew Edition — player faction colours on the launch gantry) Steam ID: ACH_COOP_LAUNCH

ACH_COOP_DEFENSE Name: Fortress Description: Survive an alien attack wave with 3 or more players actively building defences simultaneously. Mode: Multi only Hidden: No Reward: Common — Turret colour variant (Team Gold) Steam ID: ACH_COOP_DEFENSE

Achievement Count Summary¶

Category	Count	Mode
First Steps	5	Both
Factory Scale	6	Both
Research	4	Both
Defence	4	Both
Challenge	3	Solo only
Multiplayer	3	Multi only
Total	25	—

Cosmetic Reward Catalogue¶

Genesis Skins (Legendary)¶

Skin ID	Name	Description	Unlocked By
`genesis_archon`	Archon	White and gold body, four orbital rings replacing visor, broader head	Nothing Left to Learn
`genesis_sentinel`	Sentinel	Dark matte armour, red visor, shoulder pauldrons, angular silhouette	Untouchable

Genesis Particle Effects (Special)¶

Effect ID	Name	Description	Unlocked By
`fx_builders_light`	Builder's Light	Soft golden particle stream during construction	Just the Two of Us

Building Skins (Rare)¶

Skin ID	Building	Name	Description	Unlocked By
`smelter_industrial_hulk`	Smelter	Industrial Hulk	Heavy riveted plating, industrial aesthetic	Metal Magnate
`power_reactor_core`	Power Plant	Reactor Core	Glowing cooling vents, reactor aesthetic	Power Broker
`chest_vault`	Buffer Chest	Vault	Armoured plating, combination lock door	Industrial Complex
`research_overgrown`	Research Lab	Overgrown	Vines and bioluminescent panels	Deep Dive
`turret_battle_scarred`	Turret	Battle-Scarred	Scorched casing, cracked barrel, still firing	That Was Close
`launch_scorched`	Launch Pad	Scorched	Blackened blast marks, speed-run aesthetic	Blitz
`launch_chrome`	Launch Pad	Burnished Chrome	Polished chrome panels, clean finish	Planet Bound No More
`launch_crew`	Launch Pad	Crew Edition	Player faction colours on the launch gantry	All Hands

Building Colour Variants (Common)¶

Variant ID	Building	Name	Unlocked By
`drill_rust`	Mining Drill	Rust Orange	Dig In
`belt_safety`	Belt	Safety Yellow	On the Line
`belt_coop`	Belt	Co-op Blue	Better Together
`smelter_char`	Smelter	Char Black	Heat of the Moment
`smelter_forge`	Smelter	Forge Red	Ironworker
`power_cyan`	Power Plant	Electric Cyan	Current Affairs
`power_white`	Power Plant	Vivid White	Never Dark
`chest_olive`	Buffer Chest	Olive Drab	Sprawl Begins
`research_blue`	Research Lab	Deep Blue	Something to Think About
`research_amber`	Research Lab	Amber	Curious Mind
`research_pink`	Research Lab	Hot Pink	Speed Reader
`turret_gunmetal`	Turret	Gunmetal	They're Here
`turret_acid`	Turret	Acid Green	Pest Control
`turret_gold`	Turret	Team Gold	Fortress

Implementation Notes¶

AchievementDatabase Structure¶

Each achievement is a dictionary entry in AchievementDatabase.gd:

{
    "id": "ach_metal_ii",
    "name": "Metal Magnate",
    "description": "Produce 10,000 Metal Plates in a single session.",
    "steam_id": "ACH_METAL_II",
    "category": "factory_scale",
    "mode": "both",           # "both" | "solo_only" | "multi_only"
    "hidden": false,
    "reward_id": "smelter_industrial_hulk",
    "reward_tier": "rare"     # "common" | "rare" | "legendary" | "special"
}

Stat Tracking¶

The following stats must be tracked per-player per-session by AchievementManager:

Stat Key	Type	Triggers
`metal_plates_produced`	int	Factory Scale Chain 1
`power_grid_mw_sustained`	float	Factory Scale Chain 2
`power_sustained_minutes`	float	Factory Scale Chain 2
`buildings_active`	int	Factory Scale Chain 3
`research_nodes_unlocked`	int	Research achievements
`research_nodes_unlocked_time`	float	Speed Reader
`aliens_defeated`	int	Defence achievements (cumulative across sessions)
`waves_survived`	int	Defence milestones
`breach_occurred`	bool	That Was Close
`buildings_lost_to_aliens`	int	Untouchable
`power_failures`	int	Never Dark
`session_duration_minutes`	float	Blitz
`genesis_manual_placements`	int	Just the Two of Us
`ship_launched`	bool	Planet Bound No More, Blitz
`coop_session_completed`	bool	Better Together
`players_building_count`	Dictionary	All Hands
`players_defending_simultaneously`	int	Fortress

Session vs. Lifetime Stats¶

Session stats reset each new session: production volumes, power grid, buildings active, aliens defeated this session, breach occurred, power failures, session duration, manual placements.
Lifetime stats persist in PlayerProfile: total aliens defeated (for Pest Control), total sessions completed, coop sessions played.

Multiplayer — Per-Player vs. Shared¶

Research achievements are shared — any player unlocking a node counts for all players in the session.
Production achievements are per-player — each player's output tracked individually. This prevents one dedicated factory player accidentally unlocking achievements for everyone.
Defence achievements are shared — wave survival and breach events affect the whole session.
Multiplayer-specific achievements require all qualifying players to be present at time of trigger.

Steam Integration¶

All achievements map 1:1 to a Steam Achievement. The SteamManager autoload handles stat storage and achievement unlock calls.

func unlock_steam_achievement(steam_id: String) -> void:
    if not SteamManager.is_active():
        return
    Steam.setAchievement(steam_id)
    Steam.storeStats()

Achievement progress (for tiered chains) is synced to Steam stats so the Steam overlay can display progress bars:

func update_steam_stat(stat_name: String, value: int) -> void:
    if not SteamManager.is_active():
        return
    Steam.setStatInt(stat_name, value)
    Steam.storeStats()

Steam stat names mirror achievement IDs (e.g. STAT_METAL_PLATES, STAT_ALIENS_DEFEATED).

Open items for this document are tracked in docs/open-items.md, area achievements.

Revision History¶

Version	Date	Changes
1.0	2026-03-08	Initial full achievement list. 25 achievements across 6 categories. Full cosmetic catalogue. Implementation notes and Steam integration.