DOS · JOY (JOY) · May 22, 2026 · May 22, 2026
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -21,6 +21,13 @@ versioned release tag yet, so entries are organized as pre-alpha snapshots.
   `docs/design/30-alpha-ux-flow.md` defines the first alpha UI flow from HUD
   through dialogue, Body Hall, facilities, Mission Board, Gate HUD, outcome
   report, offline-agent report, and reinhabitation.
+- Alpha economy, balance, playtest, art, audio, and content documentation:
+  `docs/design/31-alpha-economy-balance-and-playtest-plan.md` defines first
+  alpha TIME, SECOND, reward, reinhabitation, playtest, success metric, and
+  balance guardrail defaults; and
+  `docs/design/32-alpha-art-audio-and-content-direction.md` defines alpha
+  presentation direction, role silhouettes, UI tone, audio categories, dialogue
+  tone, and content checklist.
 - Nakama now has a server-owned prototype Relay Yard facility action lane:
   `secondspawn_yard_status`, `secondspawn_yard_action_start`, and
   `secondspawn_yard_action_complete` expose Clinic stabilization, Training

diff --git a/ROADMAP.md b/ROADMAP.md
@@ -95,6 +95,10 @@ Recommended views:
   Underpass Signal`, the Tollkeeper Shell encounter, mission card, outcome
   report, dialogue flow, Body Hall, Gate HUD, offline-agent report, and
   reinhabitation presentation.
+- [x] Alpha economy, balance, playtest, art, audio, and content direction
+  documented for TIME, SECOND, reward defaults, reinhabitation pressure,
+  playtest success metrics, visual tone, UI color language, audio placeholders,
+  and alpha content guardrails.
 - [x] Backend tests for Nakama runtime behavior and model-backed fallback.
 - [x] Unity project baseline upgraded to Unity `6000.5.0b9`.
 - [x] Local Nakama runtime smoke-tested with the current TypeScript module.
@@ -269,6 +273,14 @@ prototype.
   `docs/design/30-alpha-ux-flow.md`: Main HUD, focused dialogue, Body Hall,
   facility panel, Mission Board, Gate HUD, outcome report, offline-agent
   report, and reinhabitation flow.
+- [ ] Apply the alpha economy and playtest tuning from
+  `docs/design/31-alpha-economy-balance-and-playtest-plan.md`: TIME warning
+  thresholds, Gate exposure, partial and full clear rewards, Clinic costs,
+  first-playtest script, and success metrics.
+- [ ] Apply the alpha presentation direction from
+  `docs/design/32-alpha-art-audio-and-content-direction.md`: modern
+  system-apocalypse visual tone, role silhouettes, dialog readability,
+  fallback/error colors, TIME warnings, Gate audio, and alpha content checklist.
 - [x] Define the first Town/Yard building slice: clinic, body hall, workshop,
   signal tower, mess hall, memorial wall, market stall, and timer rules as
   world-simulation time, not pay-to-skip friction.
@@ -283,6 +295,9 @@ prototype.
   `28-character-body-and-roster-design.md`.
 - [x] Define the alpha questline, encounter, and UX docs:
   `29-alpha-questline-and-encounter-design.md` and `30-alpha-ux-flow.md`.
+- [x] Define the alpha economy, balance, playtest, art, audio, and content
+  docs: `31-alpha-economy-balance-and-playtest-plan.md` and
+  `32-alpha-art-audio-and-content-direction.md`.
 - [x] Add server-owned permanent NPC seed/list and prototype interaction RPCs.
 - [x] Add a Unity Play Mode debug panel for permanent NPC seed/list and
   NPC-to-NPC interaction smoke testing.

diff --git a/docs/SUMMARY.md b/docs/SUMMARY.md
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 - [Character, Body, and Roster Design](design/28-character-body-and-roster-design.md)
 - [Alpha Questline and Encounter Design](design/29-alpha-questline-and-encounter-design.md)
 - [Alpha UX Flow](design/30-alpha-ux-flow.md)
+- [Alpha Economy, Balance, and Playtest Plan](design/31-alpha-economy-balance-and-playtest-plan.md)
+- [Alpha Art, Audio, and Content Direction](design/32-alpha-art-audio-and-content-direction.md)
 - [Game Concept](design/00-game-concept.md)
 - [Game Pillars](design/01-pillars.md)
 - [Vertical Slice Spec](design/02-vertical-slice-spec.md)

diff --git a/docs/design/02-vertical-slice-spec.md b/docs/design/02-vertical-slice-spec.md
@@ -55,6 +55,11 @@ Execution references:
 - [29-alpha-questline-and-encounter-design.md](29-alpha-questline-and-encounter-design.md)
   defines the first questline and encounter plan.
 - [30-alpha-ux-flow.md](30-alpha-ux-flow.md) defines the alpha UI flow.
+- [31-alpha-economy-balance-and-playtest-plan.md](31-alpha-economy-balance-and-playtest-plan.md)
+  defines alpha economy tuning defaults and playtest success metrics.
+- [32-alpha-art-audio-and-content-direction.md](32-alpha-art-audio-and-content-direction.md)
+  defines alpha presentation, UI tone, audio placeholders, and content
+  guardrails.
 
 ---
 
@@ -192,8 +197,8 @@ When slice is complete, decision tree:
 
 | Decision | Phase Blocked | JOY Owner |
 | ---- | ---- | ---- |
-| SECOND economy (cost per reinhabitation, source, sink) | Phase 5 | JOY (input later) |
-| TIME economy tuning (drain, earn, spend, transfer, top-up rules) | Phase 6 | JOY (input later) |
+| SECOND live economy beyond alpha defaults | Phase 5 | JOY (input later) |
+| TIME economy beyond alpha drain and reward defaults | Phase 6 | JOY (input later) |
 | Pioneer Charter first-clear reward resource and duration | Post-slice / Alpha | JOY (input later) |
 | Cosmetic NFT integration approach | Phase 7, optional | JOY (input later) |
 | Voice NPC vendor | NOT in slice | Defer |
@@ -210,6 +215,8 @@ When slice is complete, decision tree:
 - Character and body design: [28-character-body-and-roster-design.md](28-character-body-and-roster-design.md)
 - Alpha questline and encounter design: [29-alpha-questline-and-encounter-design.md](29-alpha-questline-and-encounter-design.md)
 - Alpha UX flow: [30-alpha-ux-flow.md](30-alpha-ux-flow.md)
+- Alpha economy, balance, and playtest plan: [31-alpha-economy-balance-and-playtest-plan.md](31-alpha-economy-balance-and-playtest-plan.md)
+- Alpha art, audio, and content direction: [32-alpha-art-audio-and-content-direction.md](32-alpha-art-audio-and-content-direction.md)
 - Pillars: [01-pillars.md](01-pillars.md)
 - Concept: [00-game-concept.md](00-game-concept.md)
 - ADRs (current): [docs/adr/](../adr/)

diff --git a/docs/design/03-systems-index.md b/docs/design/03-systems-index.md
@@ -53,6 +53,11 @@ The first alpha execution spine is:
    states.
 5. [30-alpha-ux-flow.md](30-alpha-ux-flow.md) for the first alpha UX flow and
    required player-facing surfaces.
+6. [31-alpha-economy-balance-and-playtest-plan.md](31-alpha-economy-balance-and-playtest-plan.md)
+   for alpha tuning defaults, reward rules, playtest script, and balance
+   guardrails.
+7. [32-alpha-art-audio-and-content-direction.md](32-alpha-art-audio-and-content-direction.md)
+   for alpha presentation, UI tone, audio needs, and content guardrails.
 
 Use these files when creating GitHub issues, technical designs, or Unity
 blockout tasks for the alpha.
@@ -81,7 +86,7 @@ blockout tasks for the alpha.
 | 12 | Level/stat progression | Progression | MVP | Prototype | [14-character-stat-and-relationship-system.md](14-character-stat-and-relationship-system.md) | Persistence |
 | 13 | Reincarnation flow (death -> SECOND -> new Frame) | Progression | VS | Prototype | [12-game-design-document.md](12-game-design-document.md) | Level/stats, NFT escrow, Persistence |
 | 14 | SECOND economy | Economy | VS | Not designed | (GDD pending - JOY input) | DOS Chain integration |
-| 36 | TIME / SECOND economy | Economy | VS | Prototype | [08-time-as-currency.md](08-time-as-currency.md) | Reincarnation, Combat, Persistence |
+| 36 | TIME / SECOND economy | Economy | VS | Prototype | [31-alpha-economy-balance-and-playtest-plan.md](31-alpha-economy-balance-and-playtest-plan.md), [08-time-as-currency.md](08-time-as-currency.md) | Reincarnation, Combat, Persistence |
 | 38 | Gate first-clear and Pioneer Charter economy | Economy / Gameplay | Alpha | Concept | [15-gate-dungeon-pioneer-charter-system.md](15-gate-dungeon-pioneer-charter-system.md) | Dungeon, Combat, Persistence, Rewards, Anti-cheat |
 | 15 | NFT inventory (Hunter Frame skin slice scope) | Economy | VS | Not started | (TDD pending) | thirdweb-api MCP, Persistence |
 | 16 | NFT escrow (lock on equip, release on unequip) | Economy | VS | Not started | (TDD pending) | NFT inventory, DOS Chain |
@@ -98,7 +103,7 @@ blockout tasks for the alpha.
 | 27 | Reincarnation UI | UI | VS | Not started | [30-alpha-ux-flow.md](30-alpha-ux-flow.md) | Reincarnation flow |
 | 28 | AI agent activity log UI | UI | VS | Not started | [30-alpha-ux-flow.md](30-alpha-ux-flow.md) | AI agent |
 | 40 | Gameplay ledger (reward, BodyTime, combat, quest audit) | Persistence / Meta | MVP | Prototype | [23-gameplay-ledger-technical-design.md](23-gameplay-ledger-technical-design.md) | Profile, TIME / SECOND economy, Combat, Quest |
-| 29 | Audio (SFX, ambient, music - placeholder for slice) | Audio | VS | Not started | (deferred template `_deferred/sound-bible.md`) | - |
+| 29 | Audio (SFX, ambient, music - placeholder for slice) | Audio | VS | Not started | [32-alpha-art-audio-and-content-direction.md](32-alpha-art-audio-and-content-direction.md) | - |
 | 30 | Chat (Nakama channel first, Supabase Realtime sidecar only if useful) | Narrative / UI | VS | Not started | (TDD pending) | Nakama |
 | 39 | Faction architecture (Great Powers, The Twelve Warlords, local institutions) | Narrative | VS | Design | [22-faction-architecture.md](22-faction-architecture.md) | Story Bible, NPC memory |
 | 31 | LLM intent validation (api.dos.ai model service pattern) | Meta / Engineering | MVP | Prototype | [11-npc-agent-brain-architecture.md](11-npc-agent-brain-architecture.md) | LLM provider |

diff --git a/docs/design/12-game-design-document.md b/docs/design/12-game-design-document.md
@@ -38,6 +38,12 @@ The alpha-specific playable target is now split into focused build documents:
 - [30-alpha-ux-flow.md](30-alpha-ux-flow.md) defines the first alpha UX flow
   across HUD, NPC dialogue, Body Hall, facilities, Mission Board, Gate HUD,
   outcome report, offline-agent report, and reinhabitation.
+- [31-alpha-economy-balance-and-playtest-plan.md](31-alpha-economy-balance-and-playtest-plan.md)
+  defines alpha tuning defaults, reward rules, playtest script, metrics, and
+  balance guardrails.
+- [32-alpha-art-audio-and-content-direction.md](32-alpha-art-audio-and-content-direction.md)
+  defines alpha presentation direction, UI tone, audio needs, and content
+  guardrails.
 
 Use those files as the execution spine for the first alpha. This larger GDD
 remains the broad product source, but implementation tasks should reference
@@ -1586,6 +1592,8 @@ Useful source documents:
 - [28-character-body-and-roster-design.md](28-character-body-and-roster-design.md)
 - [29-alpha-questline-and-encounter-design.md](29-alpha-questline-and-encounter-design.md)
 - [30-alpha-ux-flow.md](30-alpha-ux-flow.md)
+- [31-alpha-economy-balance-and-playtest-plan.md](31-alpha-economy-balance-and-playtest-plan.md)
+- [32-alpha-art-audio-and-content-direction.md](32-alpha-art-audio-and-content-direction.md)
 
 ---
 

diff --git a/docs/design/26-alpha-game-design-document.md b/docs/design/26-alpha-game-design-document.md
@@ -25,6 +25,12 @@ Companion execution docs:
 - [30-alpha-ux-flow.md](30-alpha-ux-flow.md) defines the first alpha UX flow
   from HUD to dialogue, Body Hall, Mission Board, outcome, agent report, and
   reinhabitation.
+- [31-alpha-economy-balance-and-playtest-plan.md](31-alpha-economy-balance-and-playtest-plan.md)
+  defines alpha tuning defaults, reward rules, playtest script, metrics, and
+  balance guardrails.
+- [32-alpha-art-audio-and-content-direction.md](32-alpha-art-audio-and-content-direction.md)
+  defines alpha presentation direction, UI tone, audio needs, and content
+  guardrails.
 
 Alpha means:
 
@@ -40,6 +46,16 @@ Alpha means:
 Alpha does **not** mean content scale, monetization, live operations, guild PvP,
 full economy, full voice, or final art.
 
+The alpha design package is complete when the companion docs cover:
+
+- core loop and scope
+- Relay Yard and Ash Underpass layout
+- character/body roster and hostile body constraints
+- questline and encounter plan
+- UX flow and player-facing surfaces
+- economy, balance, and playtest plan
+- art, audio, and content direction
+
 ---
 
 ## 2. One-Sentence Alpha Pitch
@@ -86,6 +102,8 @@ The game earns this promise through five visible facts:
 | Progression | Current-body level, stats, injury, memory, relationship, and selected account/soul carryover placeholders. |
 | Multiplayer | 1-4 player smoke target in alpha, with 4-20 player architecture retained for later validation. |
 | Art | Prototype readable, not final. Prioritize silhouettes, nameplates, bubbles, and level readability. |
+| Audio | Placeholder but identity-bearing: TIME warning, Gate entry, combat hits, outcome, and body death. |
+| Playtest | 30-60 minute comprehension test before adding scale. |
 
 ---
 
@@ -442,6 +460,9 @@ Open backlog items that directly feed alpha design:
 | #34 Dungeon and boss plan | Covered by [27-alpha-level-design.md](27-alpha-level-design.md) and [29-alpha-questline-and-encounter-design.md](29-alpha-questline-and-encounter-design.md). |
 | #29 Time-loot rules | Keep design-only until combat validation and anti-abuse are ready. |
 
+Alpha docs also define issue-ready work for economy/playtest and presentation,
+even before a GitHub issue exists for each exact UI/audio task.
+
 ---
 
 ## 17. Alpha Acceptance Checklist
@@ -461,6 +482,11 @@ The alpha design is complete enough when:
 - [ ] Offline-agent policy or report is visible.
 - [ ] All reward, TIME, SECOND, quest, body, and combat changes are
   server-authoritative.
+- [ ] A tester can explain the core loop in one sentence.
+- [ ] A tester can distinguish TIME from SECOND after one mission.
+- [ ] A tester remembers at least one NPC/body name or role.
+- [ ] Presentation reads as modern system-apocalypse, not generic sci-fi or
+  generic fantasy.
 
 ---