Author the PvP arena map on the static content system

marco commented

2026-07-20 18:37:35 +02:00

Owner

Part of the Alpha epic (pillar 2). The alpha's playfield is a PvP arena built with real statics (walls, pillars, gates, floor), authored on top of the general static-content system (#89) — not the current bare ./# grid.

Depends on #89. The arena is content, not engine: it must be a data file the static system consumes, so future maps reuse the same path (no arena-specific code).

Scope

Design a compact, readable arena layout suited to 3-6 players (clear sightlines, cover from statics, one or more entrances/resurrection points).
Author it as map + static-placement content (the format #89 defines), copied to server and client output like the existing content/maps/world.map.
Statics block movement server-side (walkability) and render client-side with real static art + placeholder fallback.
Mark the arena entrance / resurrection point(s) used by the death-re-entry issue.

Out of scope

An in-game map editor (authoring is by content file for now).
Multiple arenas / world map redesign.

Definition of Done

Base DoD applies on top.

The arena loads on server and client from content files, with statics rendered and colliding.
Two players can move around cover and fight inside it; statics block movement server-side (demonstrable: walking into a wall is rejected).
At least one entrance/resurrection point is defined and consumed by the auto-respawn issue.

Part of the Alpha epic (pillar 2). The alpha's playfield is a **PvP arena built with real statics** (walls, pillars, gates, floor), authored on top of the general static-content system (#89) — not the current bare `.`/`#` grid. > Depends on #89. The arena is **content**, not engine: it must be a data file the static system consumes, so future maps reuse the same path (no arena-specific code). ## Scope - Design a compact, readable arena layout suited to 3-6 players (clear sightlines, cover from statics, one or more entrances/resurrection points). - Author it as map + static-placement content (the format #89 defines), copied to server and client output like the existing `content/maps/world.map`. - Statics block movement server-side (walkability) and render client-side with real static art + placeholder fallback. - Mark the arena entrance / resurrection point(s) used by the death-re-entry issue. ## Out of scope - An in-game map editor (authoring is by content file for now). - Multiple arenas / world map redesign. ## Definition of Done _Base DoD applies on top._ - [ ] The arena loads on server and client from content files, with statics rendered and colliding. - [ ] Two players can move around cover and fight inside it; statics block movement server-side (demonstrable: walking into a wall is rejected). - [ ] At least one entrance/resurrection point is defined and consumed by the auto-respawn issue.

marco added this to the Alpha milestone

2026-07-20 18:37:35 +02:00

marco added the

alpha:wave-2

label

2026-07-20 18:42:04 +02:00

marco referenced this issue

2026-07-20 18:58:29 +02:00

Map editor (minimal): paint terrain + statics on the iso grid #113

marco referenced this issue

2026-07-20 19:06:26 +02:00

Static content system (runtime): sparse statics, server collision, client render #89

marco referenced this issue

2026-07-20 19:06:46 +02:00

Alpha — epic: PvP arena for friends #107

marco referenced this issue

2026-07-20 20:42:31 +02:00

Meta: map system (terrain + statics + editor + world) #115

marco referenced this issue

2026-07-22 14:35:28 +02:00

feat: static/object layer — Tree off terrain to sparse statics (#89) #144

marco referenced this issue from a commit

2026-07-22 14:41:40 +02:00

feat: static/object layer — Tree off terrain to sparse statics (#89) (#144)

marco referenced this issue

2026-07-22 16:45:38 +02:00

docs(design): PvP arena design + vision index #148

marco referenced this issue

2026-07-22 16:45:39 +02:00

Client: unify Player + creatures under one Mobile base (fixes PvP player targeting) #149

marco referenced this issue

2026-07-22 16:45:39 +02:00

AoI: line-of-sight filter (don't stream entities through walls) #150

marco commented

2026-07-22 16:46:09 +02:00

Author

Owner

Design agreed (game-design review, 2026-07-22)

Full design: docs/game-design/systems/pvp-arena.md (PR #148). Reviewed by a 3-persona panel (power-gamer, coherence/server-authority, new-player).

Shape: a sealed, symmetric dueling pit carved into world.map (NOT a separate/instanced map — that'd be a new mechanic, out of scope), floor rocky_ground, entry by teleport (alpha: GM /tp; dedicated mechanism deferred). Cover concentrated in the CENTRE (corners bare) so turtling a corner is death vs ranged and the centre is the real fight; cover staggered so the longest sightline < ranged/bolt range (the owner's hard 'must get out of LoS' rule); varied cover kinds (columns/statue/boulder/brazier/ruined-wall) with symmetric positions + varied kinds; a central focal point; two ankhs in protected alcoves (un-surroundable, away from centre). No-loss is inherited from the global rule — the arena authors no death rule. Geometry in world.map/.statics; ankhs GM-/placed in world.sav (documented steps in the DoD). No wire change.

Dependencies the review surfaced (technical breakdown to follow — the arena isn't playable/fair without these):

#149 — client mobile unification (blocker: you can't click a player to attack today).
#150 — AoI line-of-sight filter (cover is defeated by a modified client).
Death feedback (YouAreDead catalog msg) + ankh ghost-beacon + arena onboarding (welcome/HUD hint).
#91 — cursor tile-highlight (cover readability).
Content: extract real UO art for wall + the cover kinds into the pack, coordinated with #137 (avoid an assets.isoa binary conflict).
Deferred (depth): post-resurrection immunity (anti ankh-camp); win-condition / rounds.

Player-observable DoD is in the design doc. Depends on #113 (map editor, merged in #147) to author it. Scope of THIS issue stays: author the arena content on the static system.

## Design agreed (game-design review, 2026-07-22) Full design: `docs/game-design/systems/pvp-arena.md` (PR #148). Reviewed by a 3-persona panel (power-gamer, coherence/server-authority, new-player). **Shape:** a **sealed, symmetric dueling pit carved into `world.map`** (NOT a separate/instanced map — that'd be a new mechanic, out of scope), floor `rocky_ground`, entry by **teleport** (alpha: GM `/tp`; dedicated mechanism deferred). **Cover concentrated in the CENTRE** (corners bare) so turtling a corner is death vs ranged and the centre is the real fight; cover **staggered so the longest sightline < ranged/bolt range** (the owner's hard 'must get out of LoS' rule); **varied** cover kinds (columns/statue/boulder/brazier/ruined-wall) with symmetric *positions* + varied *kinds*; a central focal point; **two ankhs in protected alcoves** (un-surroundable, away from centre). **No-loss is inherited from the global rule** — the arena authors no death rule. Geometry in `world.map`/`.statics`; ankhs GM-`/place`d in `world.sav` (documented steps in the DoD). **No wire change.** **Dependencies the review surfaced (technical breakdown to follow — the arena isn't playable/fair without these):** - #149 — **client mobile unification** (blocker: you can't click a player to attack today). - #150 — **AoI line-of-sight filter** (cover is defeated by a modified client). - Death feedback (`YouAreDead` catalog msg) + ankh ghost-beacon + arena onboarding (welcome/HUD hint). - #91 — cursor tile-highlight (cover readability). - Content: extract real UO art for `wall` + the cover kinds into the pack, **coordinated with #137** (avoid an `assets.isoa` binary conflict). - _Deferred (depth):_ post-resurrection immunity (anti ankh-camp); win-condition / rounds. **Player-observable DoD** is in the design doc. Depends on #113 (map editor, merged in #147) to author it. Scope of THIS issue stays: author the arena content on the static system.

marco referenced this issue

2026-07-22 17:05:58 +02:00

feat(client): unify Player + creatures under one Mobile base (fixes PvP targeting) (#149) #151

marco referenced this issue from a commit

2026-07-22 17:09:18 +02:00

docs(design): PvP arena design + vision index (#148)

marco referenced this issue from a commit

2026-07-22 17:09:29 +02:00

feat(client): unify Player + creatures under one Mobile base (fixes PvP targeting) (#149) (#151)

marco referenced this issue

2026-07-22 17:34:32 +02:00

feat(client): death onboarding — tell the player to reach an ankh #153