Struggle System
The Struggle System reflects how a cat’s past life shapes their starting challenges and strengths in Neko-kuni.
Core Principle
Backstory creates mechanical “Struggle” buffs and debuffs that affect early gameplay. A cat’s history isn’t just flavor - it determines their starting advantages and difficulties.
Main Categories
Housecat
Lived with humans in a domestic setting.
Subtypes:
- Pampered Indoor Cat: Never went outside, everything provided. May struggle with independence but excels at comfort-seeking and rest efficiency.
- Shop Cat: Lived in a bookstore/bodega, used to strangers and commerce. Social buffs, commerce aptitude.
- Farm Cat: Semi-independent, had “jobs” (mousing), outdoor access. Work ethic, practical skills, but may resist structure.
- Elderly Companion: Bonded deeply with one person, possibly outlived them. Deep emotional capacity, potential grief debuff.
- Shelter Cat: Knew multiple homes, learned to adapt. Resilience and flexibility, but possible trust issues.
Stray
Survived on streets or in the wild with some human contact.
- Survival skills, street smarts
- Trust issues, difficulty accepting help
- Self-reliance buffs
Feral
Born wild, minimal human contact.
- Strongest survival instincts
- Most difficulty with social integration
- May have advantages in certain physical skills
Additional Dimensions
Geographic Origin
A cat from Tokyo versus Cairo versus New York arrives with different cultural tendencies and knowledge.
Unusual Circumstances
- Ship’s cat (sea legs, travel experience)
- Circus cat (performance skills, crowd comfort)
- Celebrity’s cat (used to attention, possibly spoiled)
- Laboratory cat (may have unusual knowledge or trauma)
What’s NOT Explicit
Manner of death or abandonment is hinted at but never made explicit. The tone stays hopeful - cats are here now, and that’s what matters.