Skip to main content
Character progression in Kaizen revolves around base stats, modifiers, and prestige multipliers that persist across resets.

​
Character model

The Character interface defines all character properties: 
export interface Character {
  id: string;
  name: string;
  level: number;

  baseStrength: number;
  baseIntelligence: number;
  baseEndurance: number;

  strengthModifier: number;
  intelligenceModifier: number;
  enduranceModifier: number;

  prestigeLevel: number;
  prestigeMultipliers: {
    strength: number;
    intelligence: number;
    endurance: number;
  };
  prestigeCores: number;

  gold: number;

  currentStage: number;
  currentWave: number;

  createdAt: Date;
  lastActiveAt: Date;
}

​
Base stats

Every character starts with three core stats that form the foundation of combat power.
Base strength determines your damage output. The damage formula uses:
(character.baseStrength + flatBoosts) *
  character.strengthModifier *
  character.prestigeMultipliers.strength *
  character.prestigeLevel
Default starting value: 1
Currently, only Strength actively affects gameplay through damage calculation. Intelligence and Endurance are included in the character model for future features.

​
Stat modifiers

Each base stat has an associated modifier that provides multiplicative scaling:
  • strengthModifier: Multiplies base strength
  • intelligenceModifier: Multiplies base intelligence
  • enduranceModifier: Multiplies base endurance
All modifiers start at 1.0 (100%).
Modifiers are separate from prestige multipliers and can be adjusted independently for different game mechanics.

​
Default character

When creating a new character, these are the initial values from returnDefaultCharacter() (line 78): 
private returnDefaultCharacter(): Character {
  return {
    id: '1',
    name: 'Hero',
    level: 1,
    baseStrength: 1,
    baseIntelligence: 1,
    baseEndurance: 1,
    strengthModifier: 1,
    intelligenceModifier: 1,
    enduranceModifier: 1,
    prestigeLevel: 1,
    prestigeMultipliers: {
      strength: 1,
      intelligence: 1,
      endurance: 1,
    },
    prestigeCores: 0,
    gold: 0,
    currentStage: 1,
    currentWave: 1,
    createdAt: new Date(),
    lastActiveAt: new Date(),
  };
}

​
Modifying stats

The CharacterService provides methods to modify character stats:

​
Stat modification

modifyStat(
  stat: keyof Pick<
    Character,
    | 'level'
    | 'baseStrength'
    | 'baseIntelligence'
    | 'baseEndurance'
    | 'gold'
    | 'prestigeLevel'
    | 'prestigeCores'
  >,
  amount: number,
) {
  const currentValue = this.character()[stat];
  const newValue = currentValue + amount;
  if (newValue >= 0) {
    this.character.update((char) => ({ ...char, [stat]: newValue }));
  }
}
Stats can only be modified if the resulting value is non-negative. You cannot reduce a stat below 0.

​
Currency spending

Specialized methods handle spending currencies: 
spendPrestigeCores(cost: number) {
  this.character.update((char) => ({
    ...char,
    prestigeCores: char.prestigeCores - cost,
  }));
}
Used by the PrestigeUpgradeService when purchasing prestige upgrades.
spendGold(cost: number) {
  this.character.update((char) => ({
    ...char,
    gold: char.gold - cost,
  }));
}
Used by the GoldUpgradeService when purchasing gold upgrades.

​
Prestige properties

Several character properties are specifically related to the prestige system:

​
Prestige level

prestigeLevel starts at 1 and increases by 1 each time you prestige. This value is a direct multiplier in the damage formula: 
damage = baseCalculation * character.prestigeLevel;
Prestige level provides a permanent, linear scaling to your damage. Prestiging 10 times gives you 11x damage from this multiplier alone!

​
Prestige multipliers

The prestigeMultipliers object contains separate multipliers for each stat: 
prestigeMultipliers: {
  strength: 1,
  intelligence: 1,
  endurance: 1,
}
These are applied in the damage calculation: 
damage *= character.prestigeMultipliers.strength;
Currently, prestige multipliers default to 1.0 and are not modified by the prestige system. They may be used for future prestige-based stat bonuses.

​
Prestige cores

prestigeCores is the currency earned from prestiging. Cores can be:
  • Spent on prestige upgrades
  • Kept unspent to benefit from “Hoarded Power” upgrade (+2% DPS per unused core)
See the prestige system page for core calculation details.

​
Wave and stage tracking

Progression through the game is tracked via two properties:
  • currentStage: The major progression marker (1, 2, 3, …)
  • currentWave: The minor progression marker within a stage (1-10)

​
Advancing waves

From advanceWave() (line 104): 
advanceWave() {
  this.character.update((char) => ({
    ...char,
    currentWave: char.currentWave < 10 ? char.currentWave + 1 : 1,
    currentStage: char.currentWave === 10 ? char.currentStage + 1 : char.currentStage,
  }));
}
Logic:
  • If wave < 10: Increment wave
  • If wave = 10: Reset to wave 1 and increment stage
Your current stage and wave affect enemy HP scaling and gold rewards. Higher stages mean exponentially tougher enemies but better gold income.

​
Character reset on prestige

When you prestige, most stats are reset while prestige-related properties are preserved: 
resetCharacter() {
  const currentChar = this.character();

  this.character.set({
    id: '1',
    name: 'Hero',
    level: 1,
    baseStrength: 1,
    baseIntelligence: 1,
    baseEndurance: 1,
    strengthModifier: 1,
    intelligenceModifier: 1,
    enduranceModifier: 1,
    prestigeLevel: currentChar.prestigeLevel, // Preserved
    prestigeMultipliers: currentChar.prestigeMultipliers, // Preserved
    prestigeCores: currentChar.prestigeCores, // Preserved
    gold: currentChar.gold, // Preserved
    currentStage: 1,
    currentWave: 1,
    createdAt: new Date(),
    lastActiveAt: new Date(),
  });
}
Prestiging resets your stage and wave progress back to 1-1, but you keep your gold, prestige level, prestige cores, and multipliers.

​
State persistence

Character state is persisted to the database via Convex: 
public updateDatabase(): void {
  const characterToSave = {
    id: this.character().id,
    prestigeLevel: this.character().prestigeLevel,
    prestigeMultipliers: this.character().prestigeMultipliers,
    prestigeCores: this.character().prestigeCores,
    gold: this.character().gold,
    currentStage: this.character().currentStage,
    currentWave: this.character().currentWave,
  };
  this.databaseUpdateMutation.mutate(characterToSave);
}
Only prestige-related properties and progression are saved to the database. Base stats and modifiers are derived from defaults and upgrades.

​
Character loading

On initialization, character data is loaded from the database and merged with defaults: 
effect(() => {
  const dbCharacter = this.getCharacterFromDatabase.data();
  if (!dbCharacter) return;
  if (this.hasLoadedFromDb()) {
    this.character.update((char) => ({
      ...char,
      ...dbCharacter,
    }));
  } else {
    const merged = { ...defaultCharacter, ...dbCharacter };
    this.character.set(merged);
    this.hasLoadedFromDb.set(true);
  }
});
Database properties override defaults, ensuring your progression is preserved across sessions.

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Get started for freeTalk to us