To Craft is to impose a new story upon the raw material of the universe. It is the verb of creation, the process by which an Incarnation transforms the potential of the world into an object of purpose. From the forging of a simple knife to the bio-engineering of one’s own body, Crafting is the ultimate expression of an agent’s knowledge, creativity, and will.

In ATET, Crafting is not an abstract menu system; it is a grounded, diegetic, and interpretive act. It is a core pillar of gameplay, equal in significance to Conflict. Where Conflict is about resolving the tension between beings, Crafting is about resolving the tension between a Need and the unformed world.

The Three Pillars of Creation

All crafting disciplines, from the simplest assembly to the most esoteric ritual, are built upon three foundational pillars.

1. The Gating of Knowledge (The Recipe)

An Incarnation cannot create what it does not understand. The “Recipe” is the piece of knowledge that makes creation possible. This knowledge is a resource that must be acquired through Discovery, Tutelage, Reverse-Engineering, or Experimentation.

2. The Language of Substance (The Materials)

Recipes are templates of Ingredient Slots. The player’s choice of which specific material to use is the primary act of creative expression. Every material imparts its own Objective Properties (Hardness, Weight) and Subjective Properties (Cultural Significance, Eidic Resonance) onto the final object.

3. The Act of Creation (The Process)

Crafting is a physical act that takes place within the world, requiring the right Tools and Crafting Stations. The quality of the station and tools directly impacts the potential quality of the final creation.

Universal Principles of Progression & Style

While each crafting discipline is unique, they are all governed by two overarching systems that define the creator’s journey and their philosophical approach to their craft.

• Tiers of Creation: This document outlines the three philosophical stages of a crafter’s journey, from the direct, physical struggle for Survival (Tier 1), through the precision of skilled Mastery (Tier 2), to the abstract orchestration of Systems (Tier 3).
• Archetypes of Creation: This document details the four core “flavors” or technological archetypes that define how a culture creates: the pragmatic Mechanical, the symbiotic Biological, the esoteric Psionic, and the cooperative Interpersonal.

The Disciplines of Creation

The following documents detail the specific mechanics and philosophies of the various crafting disciplines available within ATET.

• Harvesting & Resource Extraction: The foundational discipline of perceiving, interpreting, and claiming the raw potential of the universe.
• Assembly & Maintenance: The foundational discipline of putting things together, keeping them working, and taking them apart again.
• Modification & Enhancement: The techniques of adding new stories to existing objects, refining their purpose and function.
• Metallurgy & Engineering: The traditional craft of shaping inorganic matter like metal and stone.
• Construction: The architectural discipline of creating buildings, ships, and the spaces we inhabit.
• Cultivation: The agricultural discipline of nurturing life, from plants (Agronomy) to animals (Husbandry).
• Gastronomy: The culinary discipline of creating nourishing and culturally significant food.
• Alchemy & Pharmacology: The discipline of crafting potent, single-use consumables and catalysts.
• Vessel-weaving: The radical art of shaping the physical body through bio-engineering and cybernetics.
• Psyche-weaving: The forbidden art of shaping the mind and soul through focused ritual.
• Logistics & Automation: The meta-discipline of designing the systems that power mass production.
• Artistry: The discipline of creating and refining objects of beauty, from paintings to sculptures, inlays, and tattoos.

Design Intent

The Crafting system is designed to be a deep, rewarding, and expressive core loop that:

• Grounds Creation: Makes the act of crafting a tangible, in-world process.
• Empowers Player Choice: Allows for near-infinite variation through a flexible and meaningful material system.
• Reinforces the Core Loop: Ties directly into the player’s journey of discovery, making knowledge a primary and valuable resource.
• Makes the Self the Ultimate Artifact: Elevates the system beyond simple item creation by making the player’s own body and soul the ultimate canvas for their creative will.