# 🌾 CROP SPRITES STYLE GUIDE

**Established:** Jan 8, 2026  
**Art Direction:** Cult of the Lamb aesthetic (same as grassland biome)

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## ✅ **OFFICIAL ART STYLE: "CULT OF THE LAMB"**

### **Core Visual Principles:**

1. **SMOOTH VECTOR LINES** ✅
   - NO pixelation
   - Clean, smooth curves
   - Vector-style rendering
   - Organic plant shapes

2. **THICK BLACK OUTLINES** ✅
   - Bold black borders on all elements
   - Consistent line weight
   - Clear definition between stages

3. **MUTED SATURATED COLORS** ✅
   - NO gray tones
   - NO neon colors
   - Natural plant colors
   - Progressive color changes through growth stages

4. **CHIBI CUTE** ✅
   - Simplified plant proportions
   - Charming, rounded shapes
   - Friendly aesthetic
   - Appealing to look at

5. **TOP-DOWN PERSPECTIVE** ✅
   - All crops viewed from above
   - Clear visibility of growth stage
   - Fits seamlessly on tilled soil tiles

6. **PROGRESSIVE GROWTH** ✅
   - Visible size increase through stages
   - Color evolution (green → mature color)
   - Clear visual distinction between stages

---

## 📐 **GROWTH STAGES (6 stages standard):**

All crops follow this pattern:

1. **Stage 0: Seed Packet**
   - Small item, paper bag or pouch
   - Crop icon visible on packet
   - Muted brown packaging

2. **Stage 1: Sprout**
   - Tiny plant emerging from soil
   - 1-2 small leaves
   - Bright green color
   - Soil mound visible

3. **Stage 2: Young Plant**
   - More leaves (4-5)
   - Taller than sprout
   - Still green
   - Recognizable as specific crop type

4. **Stage 3: Growing**
   - Larger plant
   - Early signs of vegetable/fruit
   - Color starting to change
   - Distinctive crop features visible

5. **Stage 4: Ready to Harvest**
   - Full-size plant
   - Mature color (varies by crop)
   - Heavy with produce
   - Clearly ready state

6. **Stage 5: Harvested**
   - Harvested bundle or item
   - Sometimes tied with rope/ribbon
   - Display version of crop
   - Can be held/carried

---

## 🌾 **WHEAT EXAMPLE (REFERENCE):**

See: `assets/references/crops/wheat/growth/`

- Stage 0: Brown seed packet with wheat icon
- Stage 1: Tiny green sprout (2 leaves)
- Stage 2: Young plant (5 leaves spreading)
- Stage 3: Wheat stalks forming, green-yellow
- Stage 4: Full golden wheat, drooping heads
- Stage 5: Wheat bundle tied with black ribbon

**Colors used:**
- Seed packet: #8B6F47 (muted brown)
- Sprout/young: #5C8A5C (muted green)
- Growing: #9CAE7B (green-yellow)
- Harvest: #D4B86A (golden yellow)
- Harvested: #C9A84F (rich gold)

---

## 🎨 **COLOR PALETTE BY CROP TYPE:**

### **Wheat:**
- Green stages: #5C8A5C
- Mature: #D4B86A (golden)

### **Carrot:**
- Green leaves: #5C8A5C
- Orange root: #D97847 (muted orange)

### **Tomato:**
- Green stages: #5C8A5C
- Red fruit: #C05050 (muted red)

### **Potato:**
- Green leaves: #5C8A5C
- Mature: #C9AE87 (tan/beige)

### **Corn:**
- Green stages: #6FA36F
- Yellow corn: #E0C26B (muted yellow)

---

## 🎯 **MANDATORY PROMPT ELEMENTS:**

Every crop sprite MUST include:

```
[Crop name] [stage description], Cult of the Lamb style, thick smooth black outlines 
NO PIXELATION, muted [color] (#HEX), simplified organic plant shape, chibi cute aesthetic, 
top-down view, transparent background
```

---

## ❌ **FORBIDDEN:**

- ❌ Pixelated/pixel art style
- ❌ Gray colors
- ❌ Neon/screaming bright colors
- ❌ Realistic photo textures
- ❌ Side or isometric views
- ❌ Overly complex details

---

## 📏 **TECHNICAL SPECS:**

- **Size:** Scalable (reference at high res, scale down as needed)
- **Format:** PNG with transparency
- **Lines:** Smooth anti-aliased vectors
- **Color depth:** 24-bit RGB + Alpha
- **Background:** Fully transparent

---

## 🌱 **GROWTH STAGE GUIDELINES:**

### **Size Progression:**
- Stage 0 (seed): Small item
- Stage 1 (sprout): ~20% of final size
- Stage 2 (young): ~40% of final size
- Stage 3 (growing): ~70% of final size
- Stage 4 (harvest): 100% size
- Stage 5 (harvested): Item version, varies

### **Color Progression:**
- Stages 1-2: Always green (leaves growing)
- Stage 3: Transition color (green → mature)
- Stage 4: Full mature color
- Stage 5: Rich, saturated mature color

---

## 💀 **GOTHIC ENHANCEMENTS (OPTIONAL)**

**For "Dark Fantasy" twist on harvested crops:**

### **Gothic Elements to Add:**

1. **Small Skull/Bone Decorations**
   - Tiny skull charm on ribbon/ties
   - Small bone details
   - Subtle skull patterns

2. **Dark Creatures/Companions**
   - Evil worm peeking from carrot
   - Small spider on tomato
   - Menacing bugs
   - Creepy-cute critters

3. **Dark Vegetation**
   - Small dark mushrooms on wheat bundle
   - Wilted leaves mixed with fresh
   - Dark purple/black flowers

4. **Facial Expressions**
   - Vegetables with spooky faces
   - Eyes arranged like menacing glares
   - Skull-like patterns in natural features

5. **Dark Accessories**
   - Purple/dark ribbons instead of bright
   - Bone charms hanging
   - Dark twine/rope

### **Color Adjustments for Gothic:**
- Keep main crop colors BRIGHT (no gray!)
- Add dark accents:
  - Dark purple ribbon: #4A2C5A
  - Dark mushrooms: #3A2A2A
  - Bone white: #E8D8C8
  - Evil eyes: Red glow

### **🌾 Gothic Examples Generated:**

**Wheat (Harvested):**
- Golden wheat bundle (#C9A84F)
- Dark purple ribbon with small skull
- Small dark mushrooms at base
- Bone details on ribbon

**Carrot (Harvested):**
- Bright orange carrot (#E8884F)
- Green leafy top
- Small evil worm with red eyes peeking out
- Menacing but cute

### **When to Use Gothic:**
- Harvested crops (stage 5-6)
- Special "cursed" crop variants
- Halloween/dark events
- Biomes: Witch Forest, Chernobyl, Catacombs

### **When NOT to Use:**
- Growing stages (keep clean and natural)
- Basic farm crops (optional)
- Bright happy biomes

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**🎯 Jan 8, 2026 - Crop Style Locked!**  
**All crop sprites MUST match this aesthetic.**