# Design Language for diplomatic.quest ## Aesthetics and Tone A role-playing diplomatic simulation where the user navigates geopolitical scenarios -- diplomatic.quest renders as an interactive fiction interface with an old-terminal aesthetic: amber-on-black text, command-prompt interactions, and the narrative structure of a text adventure applied to real diplomatic scenarios. The text-adventure aesthetic strips diplomacy to its communicative essence: words are the only weapons, choices have consequences, and every response shapes the outcome. The tone is game-master-diplomatic: formal enough for international affairs, engaging enough for interactive fiction. "The ambassador extends a hand. Do you accept? > _" ## Layout Motifs and Structure **Terminal System:** Single-column amber-on-black terminal with a fixed header showing "DIPLOMATIC.QUEST v1.0" and a blinking cursor prompt at the bottom. **Section Flow:** 1. **Boot:** Terminal initialization sequence. 2. **Briefing:** Story/scenario context in narrative blocks. 3. **Encounter:** Diplomatic scenarios with choice options displayed as numbered commands. 4. **Debrief:** Outcomes and reflection. ## Typography and Palette - **All Text:** "VT323" (Google Fonts) -- pixel terminal font. Used at 1.1rem, weight 400, line-height 1.6. - **System:** "VT323" at 0.9rem for system messages. **Palette:** Amber (#ffb000) on black (#0a0a00). Dim amber (#806000) for secondary. Green (#00c000) for success. Red (#c00000) for failure. ## Imagery and Motifs **Amber CRT Effect:** Text-shadow: 0 0 4px #ffb00060. Scanline overlay at 2px. Background has subtle radial vignette (darker at edges). **Blinking Cursor:** A block cursor (12px x 18px, amber) blinking at 530ms intervals. **Command Prompt:** Lines beginning with "> " in bright amber for user-input-style text. ## Prompts for Implementation Build as a text-adventure terminal. Boot sequence on load. All content in VT323 amber monospace. The blinking cursor at the bottom of visible content creates persistent interactivity feeling. Scenario choices are numbered (1, 2, 3). No graphics, no layout beyond the terminal column. Pure text, pure choices. Scanline overlay and CRT vignette maintain the retro-terminal atmosphere. ## Uniqueness Notes 1. **Text-adventure as diplomatic education:** Applying interactive fiction mechanics to geopolitics creates a unique learning interface. 2. **Full amber-CRT commitment:** The complete CRT terminal aesthetic with scanlines and vignette is rare. 3. **Command-prompt interaction model:** Presenting content as terminal commands creates a distinctive engagement pattern. 4. **VT323 as sole typeface:** Single pixel-terminal font for all content creates total aesthetic commitment. Document chosen seed/style: aesthetic: text-adventure, layout: terminal-column, typography: pixel-mono, palette: amber-crt, patterns: scanline, imagery: crt-vignette, motifs: cursor-blink, tone: game-master-diplomatic