The first version of the gameplay session description will be focused on a potential puzzle. As described in the last post, the puzzle will have two parts: spotting the disguised avocado and revealing the avocado.

I believe this is a good scope for the game jam. If I can deliver the experience described below I will be really happy.

Puzzle Setup

Merlin encounters a suspicious Compost Gnome standing near a half-assembled Present Vine. Magical rune fragments are scattered around the area, with some hidden behind obstacles or inside interactive objects. The disguised gnome will sabotage the field if Merlin takes too long (represented as a timer in the UI) or makes too many mistakes (represented as the field life in the UI).

Note: the game has background music that changes when the puzzle begins. The first clue that there is a disguised gnome is the soundtrack adjustment.

The player must explore the walkable area to gather and assemble rune fragments directly onto the Present Vine—all while interacting with the environment and avoiding other sabotage attempts by the gnome.

Gameplay

Players use Merlin's movement (walking, jumping, crouching) to reach different sections of the field.

The area is filled with interactive elements like plants, bushes, or magical barriers that must be investigated or removed to uncover rune fragments. Rune fragments appear as glowing collectible items scattered around. Some might be harder to spot, requiring Merlin’s "Rune Vision Spell" to highlight their locations briefly.

As Merlin gathers fragments, the disguised gnome triggers sabotage attempts like releasing Pit Bombs, poisoning soil patches, or summoning small avocado minions. Collected fragments must be placed onto the Present Vine directly within the walkable area. The vine itself acts as an interactive object where players "drag and drop" fragments to complete the sequence.

Players must dodge hazards or use Merlin’s spells to counteract these disruptions, adding urgency and action to the puzzle-solving. Players solve the assembly in real-time using trial-and-error or pattern recognition, ensuring the correct runes align with the glowing guide on the vine.

Once the rune sequence is fully restored, the vine emits a radiant glow, dispelling the gnome’s disguise in a magical explosion. The Crazy Avocado is revealed and attempts a final sabotage move before fleeing, allowing players to counter or chase it.

Based on this description I listed elements that are visually important and I will try to figure out how to create them with the asset I have and some others in the Unity Asset Store

Some Asset Store Packs I found that have elements I could use

• Low Poly Christmas Pack Free | 3D Props | Unity Asset Store
• FREE Christmas Gift from Blink - 2021 | 2D Textures & Materials | Unity Asset Store
• Simple Gems and Items Ultimate Animated Customizable Pack | 3D Props | Unity Asset Store
• Rockets, Missiles & Bombs - Cartoon Low Poly Pack | 3D Weapons | Unity Asset Store

Kudos to BenjaTheMaker for so many interesting and useful 3D assets for free.

BenjaTheMaker - Asset Store

Game Elements

1. Merlin: already shown in previous post

1. Suspicious Compost Gnome: not sure yet but some adjustment in the Merlin model. Not sure how to do it yet.
2. Present Vine

Maybe I can scale it so the small cubes get big enough that they look like presents. And at some point they fall in the ground as actual presents.

4. Magical Runes (and the fragments)

5. plants, bushes, magical barriers

The dinosaur game has a lot of elements that can be used for that. The screenshot below shows a map created with those assets. This map is too squared and wouldn't work for our game but they can be rearranged as a horizontal map.

6. Pit Bombs

7. Poisoning soil patches: so far this looks something hard to get so I will wont use unless I find something by chance browsing the asset store.

8. Small avocado minions: also shown in previous post, some gif below as well

Some other things have important visual elements that i need to find some good particles or something

1. Glowing guide on the vine
2. Vine emits a radiant glow
3. Magical explosion
4. Glowing Collectible items
5. Rune Vision Spell