Iron Curtain — Design Documentation

Settings

Main Menu → Settings

Settings are organized in a tabbed layout. Each tab covers one domain. Changes auto-save.

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  SETTINGS                                        [← Back]    │
│                                                              │
│  [Video] [Audio] [Controls] [Gameplay] [Social] [LLM] [Data]│
│  ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│                                                              │
│  ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│  │  (active tab content)                                  │ │
│  │                                                        │ │
│  │                                                        │ │
│  │                                                        │ │
│  └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│                                                              │
│  Experience Profile: [IC Default ▾]   [Reset to Defaults]    │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Settings Tabs

Performance Profile (Settings → Video, top of tab)

A single top-level selector that configures multiple subsystems at once — render quality, I/O policy, audio quality, and memory budgets. The engine auto-detects hardware at first launch and recommends a profile. Players can override at any time.

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  SETTINGS → VIDEO                                               │
│                                                                 │
│  Performance Profile:  [Recommended ▾]                          │
│                                                                 │
│    ► Optimize for Performance                                   │
│    ► Optimize for Graphics                                      │
│    ► Recommended (balanced for your hardware)          ← auto   │
│    ► Custom                                                     │
│                                                                 │
│  Detected: Intel i5-3320M, Intel HD 4000, 8 GB RAM, SSD        │
│  Recommendation: Balanced — Classic render, medium effects      │
│                                                                 │
│  ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────  │
│  (individual settings below, overridden by profile selection    │
│   unless "Custom" is active)                                    │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Profile definitions:

Design rules:

• Hardware auto-detection at first launch. The engine profiles GPU, CPU core count, RAM, and storage type (SSD vs HDD vs removable) via Bevy/wgpu adapter info and platform APIs. The recommended profile is computed from this — not a static mapping, but a rule-based selector (e.g., integrated GPU + <6 GB RAM → Performance; discrete GPU + ≥16 GB RAM → Graphics).
• Storage type detection matters. If the engine detects a USB/removable drive or a 5400 RPM HDD (via platform heuristics), the I/O policy defaults to ram_first regardless of profile. This ensures flash drive / portable mode users get smooth gameplay without manual configuration.
• Profile is a starting point, not a cage. Selecting a profile sets all the values in the table above, but the player can then tweak individual settings. Changing any individual setting switches the profile label to “Custom” automatically.
• Profile persists in config.toml. The selected profile name is saved alongside the individual values. On engine update, if a profile’s defaults change, the player sees a non-intrusive notification: “Your Performance Profile defaults were updated. [Review Changes] [Keep My Custom Settings].”
• Not a gameplay setting. Performance profiles are purely client-side visual/I/O configuration. They never affect simulation, balance, or ranked eligibility. Two players in the same match can use different profiles — one on Performance, one on Graphics — with identical sim behavior.
• Moddable. Profile definitions are YAML-driven. Modders or communities can publish custom profiles (e.g., “Tournament Standard” that locks specific settings for competitive play, or “Potato Mode” for extremely low-end hardware). Workshop-shareable as config-profile packages alongside D033 experience presets.
• Console command access. ic_perf_profile <name> applies a profile from the command console (D058). ic_perf_profile list shows available profiles. ic_perf_profile detect re-runs hardware detection and recommends.

Relationship to other preset systems:

These are orthogonal — a player can run Performance profile + OpenRA experience preset + Classic render mode + Campaign Core install preset simultaneously.

Localization Directionality & RTL Display Behavior (Settings → Video / Accessibility)

IC supports RTL languages (e.g., Arabic/Hebrew) as a text + layout feature, not only a font feature.

• Default behavior: UI direction follows the selected display language (Auto).
• Testing/QA override: LTR / RTL override is available for creators/QA without changing the language pack.
• Selective mirroring: menus, settings panels, profile cards, chat panes, and other list/detail UI generally mirror in RTL; battlefield/world-space semantics (map orientation, minimap world mapping, marker coordinates) do not blindly mirror.
• Directional icons/images: icons and UI art follow their declared RTL policy (mirror_in_rtl or fixed-orientation). Baked-text images require localized variants when used.
• Communication text: chat, ping labels, and tactical marker labels render legitimate RTL text correctly while D059 still filters dangerous spoofing controls.

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  SETTINGS → VIDEO / ACCESSIBILITY (LOCALIZATION DIRECTION)     │
│                                                                 │
│  Display language:        [Hebrew ▾]                            │
│  Subtitle language:       [Hebrew ▾]                            │
│  UI text direction:       [Auto (RTL) ▾]                        │
│                          (Auto / LTR / RTL - test override)     │
│                                                                 │
│  Directional icon policy preview: [Show Samples ✓]              │
│  Baked-text asset warnings:        [Show in QA overlay ✓]       │
│                                                                 │
│  [Preview Settings Screen]  [Preview Briefing Panel]            │
│  [Preview Chat + Marker Labels]                                 │
│                                                                 │
│  Note: World/minimap orientation is not globally mirrored.      │
│  D059 anti-spoof filtering protects chat/marker labels while    │
│  preserving legitimate RTL script rendering.                    │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Campaign Progress Sharing & Privacy (Settings → Social)

Campaign progress cards and community benchmarks are local-first and opt-in. The player controls whether campaign progress leaves the machine, which communities may receive aggregated snapshots, and how spoiler-sensitive comparisons are displayed.

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  SETTINGS → SOCIAL → PRIVACY (CAMPAIGN PROGRESS)               │
│                                                                 │
│  Campaign Progress (local UI)                                   │
│  ☑ Show campaign progress on profile stats card                 │
│  ☑ Show campaign progress in campaign browser cards             │
│                                                                 │
│  Community Benchmarks (optional)                                │
│  ☐ Share campaign progress for community benchmarks             │
│     Sends aggregated progress snapshots only (not full mission  │
│     history) when enabled. Works per campaign version /         │
│     difficulty / balance preset.                                │
│                                                                 │
│  If sharing is enabled:                                         │
│  Scope: [Trusted Communities Only ▾]                            │
│         (Trusted Only / Selected Communities / All Joined)      │
│  [Select Communities…]  (Official IC ✓, Clan Wolfpack ✗, ...)   │
│                                                                 │
│  Spoiler handling for benchmark UI: [Spoiler-Safe (Default) ▾]  │
│     Spoiler-Safe / Reveal Reached Branches / Full Reveal*       │
│     *If campaign author permits full reveal metadata            │
│                                                                 │
│  Benchmark source labels: [Always Show ✓]                       │
│  Benchmark trust labels:  [Always Show ✓]                       │
│                                                                 │
│  [Preview My Shared Snapshot →]                                 │
│  [Reset benchmark sharing for this device]                      │
│                                                                 │
│  Note: Campaign benchmarks are social/comparison features only. │
│  They do not affect matchmaking, ranked, or anti-cheat systems. │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Defaults (normative):

• Community benchmark sharing is off by default.
• Spoiler mode defaults to Spoiler-Safe.
• Source/trust labels are visible by default when benchmark data is shown.
• Disabling sharing does not disable local campaign progress UI.

Installation Maintenance Wizard (D069, Settings → Data)

The D069 wizard is re-enterable after first launch for guided maintenance and recovery tasks. It complements (not replaces) the Installed Content Manager.

Maintenance Hub (Modify / Repair / Verify)

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  MODIFY INSTALLATION / REPAIR                                  │
│                                                                 │
│  Status: Playable ✓   Last verify: 14 days ago                  │
│  Active preset: Full Install                                    │
│  Sources: Steam Remastered + OpenRA (fallback)                  │
│                                                                 │
│  What do you want to do?                                        │
│                                                                 │
│  [Change Install Preset / Packs]                                │
│     Add/remove media packs, switch variants, reclaim space      │
│                                                                 │
│  [Repair & Verify Content]                                      │
│     Check hashes, re-download corrupt files, rebuild indexes     │
│                                                                 │
│  [Re-Scan Content Sources]                                      │
│     Re-detect Steam/GOG/OpenRA/manual folders                    │
│                                                                 │
│  [Reset Setup Assistant]                                        │
│     Re-run D069 setup flow (keeps installed content)            │
│                                                                 │
│  [Close]                                                        │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Repair & Verify Flow (Guided)

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  REPAIR & VERIFY CONTENT                          Step 1/3      │
│                                                                 │
│  Select repair actions:                                         │
│   ☑ Verify installed packages (checksums)                       │
│   ☑ Rebuild content indexes / metadata                          │
│   ☑ Re-scan content source mappings                             │
│   ☐ Reclaim unreferenced blobs (GC)                             │
│                                                                 │
│  Binary files (Steam build):                                    │
│   [Open Steam "Verify integrity" guide]                         │
│                                                                 │
│  [Start Repair]                              [Back]             │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  REPAIR & VERIFY CONTENT                          Step 2/3      │
│                                                                 │
│  Verifying installed packages…                                  │
│  [██████████████████░░░░░░░░] 61%                               │
│                                                                 │
│  ✓ official/ra1-campaign-core@1.0                               │
│  ! official/ra1-cutscenes-original@1.0  (1 file corrupted)      │
│                                                                 │
│  Recommended fix: Re-download 1 corrupted file (42 MB)          │
│  Source: P2P preferred / HTTP fallback                          │
│                                                                 │
│  [Apply Fix] [Skip Optional Pack] [Show Details]                │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

• Repair separates platform binary verification from IC content/setup verification
• Optional packs can be skipped without breaking campaign core (D068 fallback rules)
• The same flow is reachable from no-dead-end guidance panels when missing/corrupt content is detected

AI Feature Discovery Prompt (Settings → LLM, and contextual)

IC does not require an LLM to play, but enabling one unlocks a significant set of optional features. IC ships built-in CPU models that work with zero setup, and supports cloud providers and local servers for higher quality. Rather than letting players discover these features piecemeal (or never), a one-time discovery prompt appears at a natural moment to show what becomes available.

Trigger Conditions (show once, dismissible)

The prompt appears once when any of the following first occurs:

• Player navigates to Settings → LLM for the first time
• Player encounters a no-dead-end guidance panel for an LLM-gated feature (e.g., Generative Campaign, AI Coaching)
• Player completes their first campaign mission or first 3 skirmish games (engaged enough to benefit from extended features)

The prompt is a single, skippable panel — not a modal gate. Dismissing it records llm_discovery_prompt_shown = true locally (D034) and never re-triggers. The player can always find the same information at Settings → LLM → “What does AI unlock?”

Panel Design

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  EXTEND YOUR GAME WITH AI                            [Dismiss ×]│
│                                                                 │
│  Iron Curtain includes built-in AI models that run locally on   │
│  your computer — no account, no third-party setup needed.       │
│  A one-time download (~850 MB) is required for the model pack.  │
│  For higher quality, connect a cloud or local provider.         │
│                                                                 │
│  CAMPAIGNS & MISSIONS                                           │
│  ● Generative Campaigns — AI-authored campaigns from a text     │
│    description ("Soviet colonel redemption arc on the Eastern   │
│    Front") with branching paths and persistent characters       │
│  ● Procedural Missions — one-off AI-generated scenarios with    │
│    dynamic objectives and terrain                               │
│                                                                 │
│  AI OPPONENTS & COACHING                                        │
│  ● LLM Orchestrator AI — strategic AI advisor that guides       │
│    conventional AI with human-like strategic reasoning           │
│  ● Post-Match Coaching — AI analysis of your replays with       │
│    personalized improvement suggestions                         │
│  ● Behavioral Profiles — AI-powered analysis of your playstyle  │
│    with targeted practice recommendations                       │
│                                                                 │
│  EXHIBITION & SPECTACLE                                         │
│  ● BYO-LLM Fight Night — pit your AI config against others     │
│    in live spectated matches (whose AI is better?)              │
│  ● Prompt Duel — coach your LLM in real-time strategy battles  │
│  ● Director Showmatch — audience-driven AI spectacle events    │
│                                                                 │
│  CREATOR TOOLS (SDK)                                            │
│  ● AI-Assisted Scenario Editing — intelligent suggestions for   │
│    trigger logic, unit placement, and mission flow              │
│  ● Asset Generation — AI-assisted sprite, portrait, and map     │
│    element creation with provenance tracking                    │
│  ● Campaign Briefing Generation — AI-written briefings that     │
│    match your campaign's tone and characters                    │
│                                                                 │
│  ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────  │
│                                                                 │
│  Built-in: runs on CPU, no account needed (download ~850 MB).   │
│  Upgrade: connect a cloud or local-GPU provider for stronger    │
│  models, faster responses, and lower CPU usage during gameplay.  │
│  Cloud providers may charge per use (many offer free tiers).     │
│  Your data stays on your machine unless you choose cloud.       │
│                                                                 │
│  [Enable Built-in AI →]  [Connect Cloud →]  [Advanced →] [Later]│
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Design Rules

• Never blocks gameplay. The panel is informational and fully dismissible. No feature outside the LLM tab requires LLM configuration to function.
• No upsell language. The tone is “here’s what exists” not “you’re missing out.” The panel describes capabilities, not deficiencies.
• Built-in first, upgrade second. The primary call-to-action is [Enable Built-in AI →], which downloads a model pack and requires zero accounts or configuration. Cloud and local options are presented as upgrades for users who want higher quality, not as the expected path.
• BYOLLM principle preserved. IC never mandates a specific provider for cloud/local tiers. The built-in tier uses IC-validated model packs, but users can replace them with Workshop alternatives.
• Community configs reduce friction. The [Advanced →] button provides access to the Workshop LLM Configurations category (D047/D030), where community-tested setups with performance notes and cost estimates are shared.
• One-time only. The prompt respects the player’s attention. If dismissed, it stays dismissed. Settings → LLM always has the feature list accessible via a “What does AI unlock?” link for players who want to revisit it.
• Platform-responsive. On small screens (Phone/Tablet ScreenClass), the panel uses a scrollable list rather than the full grid layout. On TV/Deck, navigation follows the standard D-pad flow.

Contextual Mini-Prompts (No-Dead-End Integration)

In addition to the one-time discovery panel, individual LLM-gated features show a concise contextual prompt when accessed without a configured provider. These reuse the existing no-dead-end pattern (UX Principle 3) with a consistent format:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  This feature uses AI                                           │
│                                                                 │
│  {Feature description, 1-2 sentences}                           │
│                                                                 │
│  [Enable Built-in AI →]  [Connect Provider →]                   │
│  [See All AI Features →]                                        │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

The [See All AI Features →] link opens the full discovery panel, giving context for players who encounter it feature-by-feature rather than through settings.

Cross-References

• D047 (LLM Config Manager): Target of [Enable Built-in AI →] and [Connect Cloud →] — the LLM Manager UI with four provider tiers
• D016 (LLM Missions): Generative campaigns and procedural missions
• D044 (LLM AI): LLM Orchestrator AI and LLM Player AI
• D042 (Behavioral Profiles): AI-powered playstyle analysis
• D073 (LLM Exhibition): BYO-LLM Fight Night, Prompt Duel, Director Showmatch
• D057 (Skill Library): AI editor assistance
• D040 (Asset Studio): AI-assisted asset creation
• D030 (Workshop): Community LLM config sharing

Feature Smart Tips (D065 Layer 2)

First-visit and contextual tips appear on Settings screens via the feature_discovery hint category. Tips cover: what experience profiles do, how performance profiles work, how input profiles map to other RTS games, and how to manage hint category preferences. See D065 § Feature Smart Tips (hints/feature-tips.yaml) for the full hint catalog and trigger definitions.