ENEMY - SHAMBLER

Creature visual appearence designed and modelled by Daymon Mancini
AI programmed by Michael O’Driscol

NARRATIVE & THEMES FEATURES and DESIGN
Shamblers are the first stage of one of the two evolutionary paths of the alien infection that overrun the facility.
They were human beings, staff members that used to work at the facility, which became infected by the virus and who’s genetic makeup had been spliced with the makeup of the original infection.

At this stage, most of the human physiology still remains but, as the genetic alternation rapidly takes over the organism, offshoots and growths of the new makeup begin to eat away, replace or expand the flesh and body parts.

The Shambler strain transforms the human host into a carrier and, eventually, into a disseminator of infectious spores. Shamblers are the primary propagators of the infection.

GAMEPLAY FEATURES and DESIGN
DESIGN INTENT
Shamblers have been designed with the intent of delivering a threat for the player with the single purpose to push the player around and put pressure. They achieve this by closing the distance with the player and by placing environmental hazards as they die.
They are also meant to deterr the player from frontal engagement, as close proximity to Shamblers becomes increasingly more hazardous as they ara damaged.
Shamblers are the frontline enemy of Project Eden’s threats roster.

AI BEHAVIOUR
All traces of human intelligence and consciousness have dissipated, and now the body of the host has become merely a vehicle for the transmission of the infection. As such, Shamblers act with the single minded and single focus characteristic of any viral vector, whose only purpose is its own propagation.
Shamblers are extremely aggressive and wander aimlessly the facility.
They will chase Ashleigh, the player character, as soon as they see her and they will continue to pursue her for a short period of time even after they have lost sight of her. When together, shamblers act as a single minded mob.
Shamblers are slightly sensitive to sound. Ashleigh can sneak by them if she wants to pass unnoticed but, in order to do so, she has to keep herself at a certain distance.

AI ABILITIES
Shamblers, as they are used and purposed by the infection as viral vectors, carriers and propagators of the infection, are bloat with infectious spores that are released as their bodies are raptured.
Once the spores are released from the body, they form a noxious cloud that wraps the shambler.
Ashleigh cannot breath the spores, and prolongued exposure to the spore can cause her to suffocate.

Spores :
A spore volume forces the player to use the respirator. Once the respirator's filters are clogged, the player will start to loose health for as long as it remains within the spore volume.

Spores Cloud:
Once health reaches 50% health, a cloud of spores 2x2 metres is created around the shambler, that follows it wherever it goes. The volume disappears once the shambler dies.
A spore volume forces the player to use the respirator. Once the respirator's filters are clogged, the player will start to loose health for as long as it remains within the spore volume.

Spore Burst:
When the Shambler dies, it explodes in a cloud of spores large 4x4 metres and lasts 30 seconds.