Game Mechanics
Fish Generator
Every player has a Fish Generator in their village garden. It produces Fish over time.
- Generator Strength determines your Fish output
- Your share of Fish is proportional to your Generator Strength relative to all players
- Strength is increased by depositing into the ecosystem — Uncle Erby sends Generator Parts with every deposit, each one making you and your generator more powerful
Upgrading
When you deposit into the ecosystem, you receive:
| Reward | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Fish Generator Parts | Permanently increase Generator Strength |
| Metal | Upgrade equipment and stats |
PGM Bonus: Depositing PGM grants 20% more Metal than an equivalent deposit in other currencies.
Entry Fee
A one-time fee of 0.005 ETH (~$10) is required to start. This activates your village and Fish Generator, and triggers the first letter from Uncle Erby.
Metal and Stats
Metal is the upgrade currency. Use it to improve your Pengu:
| Stat | Effect |
|---|---|
| HP | Survive more drone attacks |
| Attack | Damage dealt to hostile drones |
| Mining Speed | How fast you mine Hard Ice |
| Orca Detection | Spot the Orca before it's too late |
Equipment
Equipment is brought into expeditions. Better equipment enables harder maps.
Equipment is crafted or purchased using Metal. Choose wisely — some of it can be lost permanently (see Death).
Expeditions
Spend Fish at the Exploration Vendor to buy an Expedition Map. You choose the difficulty:
- Higher difficulty = more Fish cost = more Hard Ice available = more PENGU earnable
- The challenge: can you handle the difficulty with your current stats and equipment?
Time Limit
Drones mine continuously alongside you. An expedition lasts roughly 20 minutes before the deposit is cleared. A skilled player can finish much faster.
Threats
| Threat | Behavior | Danger |
|---|---|---|
| Shielded Drones | Mine Hard Ice, invincible | Time pressure — they take what you don't |
| Combat Drones | Mine and attack on proximity | Damage + time pressure — can knock you out |
| The Orca | Patrols beneath the ice | Instant kill on contact — no defense, only detection |
Map Completion
A map ends when:
- All Hard Ice is mined (by you and/or drones)
- You die to the Orca
- You choose to extract early
Collected Hard Ice is traded at the Vendor for PENGU tokens.
Death
Drone Death — Knocked Out
You wake up in the village hospital. Bruised but alive.
| Status | |
|---|---|
| Hard Ice collected this expedition | Lost |
| Equipment | Kept |
| XP earned this expedition | Kept |
| Fish Generator | Always safe |
Hospital cooldown: 30 seconds after first knockout, 60 seconds after second, 90 after third — escalating within the same expedition. Resets on a new expedition.
After recovery you can head back out — if there's any Hard Ice left.
Orca Death — Gone
Instant. Total.
| Status | |
|---|---|
| Hard Ice collected this expedition | Lost |
| Equipment you brought | Lost |
| XP earned this expedition | Lost |
| Lifetime XP | Kept — a new Pengu hatches, inheriting the wisdom of the one before |
| Fish Generator | Always safe |
Experience and Progression
XP is earned by mining, destroying drones, and completing expeditions.
XP increases your level, unlocking:
- Higher tier equipment
- Skill bonuses
- Cosmetic rewards
XP is play-to-progress — it cannot be bought. Both time invested and skill matter.
Difficulty and Balance
Your core decision each expedition:
"What difficulty can I actually handle right now?"
- Too easy → low risk, low reward, slow PENGU earnings
- Too hard → death, gear loss, wasted Fish
- The sweet spot → the hardest difficulty you can reliably clear
This rewards players who understand their own capabilities and improve over time.