Electricity and automation

Overview

Electricity and automation in Rooted represent an advanced progression tier. As players establish bases and gather resources through salvaging and crafting, they can begin to supply power to their installations and automate routine survival tasks.

Power supply

Players can supply electricity to their base as they progress through the game. Powered bases unlock new capabilities and provide quality-of-life improvements that reduce the manual labor involved in daily survival activities.

Task automation

Through crafted elements, players can automate various tasks within their base. This reduces the time spent on repetitive activities and allows players to focus on exploration, combat, and other objectives. The specific items and mechanisms for automation are tied to the crafting progression system.

Map access

Electricity also serves a gating function for certain areas of the map. Some locations require power to be reactivated before they can be fully explored. For example, the Monastery contains a power reactivation objective that must be completed to access restricted sections of the building.

Gameplay Ability System

Under the hood, Rooted uses Unreal Engine's Gameplay Ability System (GAS) to manage character abilities, status effects, and AI logic. GAS provides a framework for handling complex gameplay interactions, including how electrical systems interact with the player, enemies, and the environment.

Progression context

Electricity and automation sit in the later stages of the progression curve:

1. Gather basic resources and establish a base with wood-tier construction.

2. Build crafting stations (Workbench, Mechanical Workbench) and expand capabilities.

3. Acquire vehicles for extended exploration and resource transport.

4. Install electricity to power the base and automate tasks.

5. Use powered equipment to access locked map areas and late-game content.