# Step Away Product Lock v3.0

## Final product position

Step Away is an app powered tabletop system.

The cards carry the human response. The app carries the hidden pressure.

The physical cards provide intervention language, table presence, human choice, tactile decision making, suit identity and emotional framing.

The app provides case generation, hidden response logic, pressure, timing, feedback, scoring, run history, campaign state, difficulty tuning, balance updates, saved outcomes, shareable results, rules updates and variable control.

## Locked lines

Internal design line:

> The cards are the human language. The app is the hidden pressure system.

Public commercial line:

> The cards let you choose how to respond. The app makes the case alive.

## No physical only version

Do not build, advertise, imply or support a full physical only version.

A physical only version would weaken Step Away because it would remove hidden case logic, timed or advancing pressure, adaptive feedback, run history, versioned tuning and the living case system.

Only include the 5 Minute Demo Case, clearly labelled as a demonstration sample, not the full game.

## Official component split

The physical pack should include:

1. Official deck
2. QR/App Access card
3. Quick Start card
4. Reference card
5. App Required card
6. 5 Minute Demo Case insert

Troubleshooting lives in the app and rulebook, not as a separate physical card unless production testing proves it is needed.

## Production boundary

The mechanics are locked for first print and playtest.

Further changes should be limited to:

- variable tuning
- wording clarity
- UI friction fixes
- print/layout polish
- case content tuning
- balance feedback from playtesting

Do not redesign mechanics before real playtest evidence.
