Chapter 6 — Modules

Part II — Engine Architecture

How mechanics plug into the engine.

Topics

• Module lifecycle — register(), init(), teardown()
• Event listeners — subscribing to simulation events
• Formula registration — contributing calculations to the engine
• Namespaced state — per-module data attached to world state

Built-in Modules

Module	Purpose
traversal-core	Movement between zones
combat-core	Attack resolution, damage, defeat
inventory-core	Item management and usage
dialogue-core	Conversation trees and state
status-core	Buffs, debuffs, and timed effects
cognition-core	AI beliefs, memory, and intent
perception-filter	Entity-level truth layers
progression-core	Currency, trees, and advancement
environment-core	Dynamic zone properties and hazards
narrative-authority	Truth concealment and distortion

Modules extend the engine without modifying core. Each module is self-contained, registering its verbs, event handlers, and formulas during initialization.

Standalone Packages

These packages provide types and logic that work independently or alongside the built-in modules. Install them separately from npm.

Package	Purpose
@ai-rpg-engine/presentation	Narration plan schema, render contracts, voice profiles
@ai-rpg-engine/audio-director	Cue scheduling, priority, ducking, cooldown logic
@ai-rpg-engine/soundpack-core	Sound pack manifests, content-addressable registry
@ai-rpg-engine/campaign-memory	Persistent NPC memory, relationship axes, campaign journal
@ai-rpg-engine/rumor-system	Rumor lifecycle, mutation mechanics, spread tracking
@ai-rpg-engine/character-creation	Archetypes, backgrounds, traits, multiclassing, build validation
@ai-rpg-engine/asset-registry	Content-addressed storage for portraits, icons, and media
@ai-rpg-engine/image-gen	Headless portrait generation pipeline with provider abstraction
@ai-rpg-engine/equipment	Equipment slots, item catalogs, and loadout management
@ai-rpg-engine/character-profile	Persistent character profiles with progression, injuries, and save/load

Standalone packages have no engine dependency — they define types and logic that game runtimes consume. The built-in modules handle engine integration (event listeners, world state mutation), while standalone packages handle domain logic (how memories decay, how rumors mutate).

Starter Packs

Pre-built worlds that wire all 15 modules with genre-specific rulesets, content, and progression. Each is a single createGame() call.

Package	Genre	Stats	Unique Verbs
@ai-rpg-engine/starter-fantasy	Dark fantasy	vigor, instinct, will	pray, rest
@ai-rpg-engine/starter-cyberpunk	Cyberpunk	chrome, reflex, netrunning	jack-in
@ai-rpg-engine/starter-detective	Victorian mystery	perception, eloquence, grit	interrogate, deduce
@ai-rpg-engine/starter-pirate	High-seas pirate	brawn, cunning, sea-legs	plunder, navigate
@ai-rpg-engine/starter-zombie	Zombie survival	fitness, wits, nerve	barricade, scavenge
@ai-rpg-engine/starter-weird-west	Weird west	grit, draw-speed, lore	draw, commune
@ai-rpg-engine/starter-colony	Sci-fi colony	engineering, command, awareness	scan, allocate