What is a Technical Task?

A Technical Task (also called a Tech Spec, Tech Design Doc, or Implementation Brief) is a blueprint for building a feature. It describes exactly how a game system will work in-engine — what’s triggered, when, by what, and with what rules.

It’s the translation layer between game design intent and code reality.

1️⃣ Definition

A technical task is a structured document that defines the behavior, inputs, outputs, dependencies, and edge cases of a feature, system, or mechanic — written by designers for engineers and QA.

📍If the GDD says “Player regenerates stamina”, the tech task answers “At what rate? When? With what modifiers? What happens if stamina is zero during knockback?”

2️⃣ Why Technical Tasks Matter

Purpose	What It Enables	Example
Design-to-code clarity	Reduces ambiguity and “guesswork”	Sprint regen pauses if stamina < 5
Scoping & planning	Engineers and producers can estimate work	MVP: Regen only; Stretch: modifiers by gear weight
QA testing	Test cases are explicit and reproducible	Regen starts after 1.5s idle — not 1.3s
Parallel pipelines	Artists, designers, and engineers work with shared expectations	UI hook ready before logic is implemented

📍Every unclear behavior = wasted dev time. A good tech task prevents assumptions.

3️⃣ Common Sections in a Technical Task

Section	Description
Feature Name	Clear and scoped title (e.g. “Stamina Regeneration”)
Purpose / Context	Why this feature exists and how it fits the player fantasy
Scope & Priority	Is this core, optional, stretch, or nice-to-have?
Inputs	What triggers the system: player actions, states, other systems
Expected Behavior	Normal use cases — step-by-step or rule-by-rule
Edge Cases	What happens when something breaks, is missing, or misused
UI / UX Notes	Where and how feedback is shown (e.g. bars, glow, warnings)
Config / Data	Tunable values, tables, ScriptableObjects, configs
Dependencies	Systems it talks to: stats, animation, save/load, etc.
Platform / Engine Notes	Any engine-level limits, mobile tweaks, net sync
Test Cases	What QA should verify, and under what conditions

📍If it’s not defined, someone will improvise. Usually at the worst time.

4️⃣ Example: Stamina Regen System

Feature: Stamina Regeneration
Context: Player stamina is used for combat and traversal. Regen promotes rhythm and build variety.
Inputs:
Player state (idle, walk, sprint, attack)
Current stamina
Equipment weight
Behavior:
Regen starts after 1.5s of no stamina use.
Regen pauses if sprinting or attacking.
Regen rate = base_rate * (1 - encumbrance_factor)
Edge Case: If stamina = 0, suppress hit-reaction animation on next impact.
Configurable:
stamina_max, regen_rate, regen_delay, encumbrance_penalty
Dependencies:
Stat system, animation controller, HUD
Test Case: Player sprints, stops, waits 1.5s → regen begins. Regen pauses again if sprint resumes.

5️⃣ Who Uses Technical Tasks?

Role	Usage
Game Designers	Define logic, pacing, variables
Engineers	Turn specs into scripts and systems
Producers	Use tasks for scoping, dependency planning
QA	Build precise test plans based on edge cases

📍Think of a tech task as a contract: “If you build this, the game will behave like that.”

✅ Technical Task Checklist

Are all inputs and outputs defined explicitly?

Are tunable values listed with default ranges?

Is behavior written step-by-step (no vague “should do X”)?

Are dependencies and data needs clearly listed?

Are there at least 1–2 test cases for QA?

📍A technical task is not a design brainstorm. It’s execution architecture.

Summary

Term	Technical Task
What it is	A detailed spec that defines exactly how a game feature should behave in code
Why it matters	Prevents ambiguity, enables cross-role clarity, accelerates production
How it’s used	By engineers, QA, and producers to scope, implement, and validate features
Design goal	Turn creative vision into functional reality

📍The technical task is where game design becomes engineering.

And without it — you're just hoping someone guesses your intent correctly.