Game Mechanics

This page provides detailed information about the game mechanics, units, structures, and combat system in Reinforce Tactics.

Units

Reinforce Tactics features 4 distinct unit types, each with unique abilities and tactical roles:

Unit Statistics

Unit	Code	Cost	Health	Movement	Attack	Defence	Special Abilities
Warrior	W	200	15	3	10	6	Melee only (range 1)
Mage	M	250	10	2	8 (adjacent) / 12 (range)	4	Can attack at range 1-2, Can PARALYZE enemies for 3 turns
Cleric	C	200	8	2	2	4	Can HEAL allies (+5 HP), Can CURE paralyzed units
Archer	A	250	15	3	5	1	Ranged attack (2-3 spaces), +1 range on mountains (2-4), Cannot attack adjacent (distance 1), Melee units cannot counter-attack Archers

Unit Details

Warrior (W)

• Role: Frontline melee fighter
• Cost: $200
• Stats: 15 HP, 3 Movement, 10 Attack, 6 Defence
• Abilities: Standard melee attacks at range 1
• Best for: Defending positions and engaging in close combat

Mage (M)

• Role: Ranged attacker with crowd control
• Cost: $250
• Stats: 10 HP, 2 Movement, 8/12 Attack, 4 Defence
• Abilities:
  • Attacks at distance 1 (adjacent): 8 damage
  • Attacks at distance 2 (range): 12 damage
  • Can PARALYZE enemies for 3 turns
• Best for: Disabling key enemy units and dealing ranged damage

Cleric (C)

• Role: Support and healing
• Cost: $200
• Stats: 8 HP, 2 Movement, 2 Attack, 4 Defence
• Abilities:
  • Can HEAL allies for 5 HP per action
  • Can CURE paralyzed units
  • Weak combat capabilities (2 attack)
• Best for: Keeping your army healthy and removing status effects

Archer (A)

• Role: Long-range attacker
• Cost: $250
• Stats: 15 HP, 3 Movement, 5 Attack, 1 Defence
• Abilities:
  • Ranged attacks at distance 2-3 (cannot attack adjacent enemies at distance 1)
  • Mountain bonus: +1 attack range when on mountains (range becomes 2-4)
  • Melee units cannot counter-attack Archers
• Best for: Harassing enemies from safe distance, especially effective when positioned on mountains

Structures

Structures provide income and serve as strategic objectives. They can be captured by enemy units.

Structure Statistics

Structure	Code	Max Health	Income/Turn
Headquarters (HQ)	h	50 HP	$150
Building	b	40 HP	$100
Tower	t	30 HP	$50

Structure Mechanics

Capturing Structures

• Units can capture enemy structures by standing on them and using the "Seize" action
• Each turn the unit seizes, the structure takes damage equal to the unit's current HP
• Once the structure's HP reaches 0, it is captured and becomes owned by the capturing player
• Capturing the enemy's HQ wins the game immediately

Win Conditions

• Capture Enemy HQ: Capturing the enemy's headquarters wins the game immediately
• Eliminate All Units: If a player loses all their units, they lose the game regardless of how many structures they own

Structure Regeneration

• Abandoned structures (not owned by any player) regenerate 50% of their max HP per turn
• This regeneration rate is defined by STRUCTURE_REGEN_RATE = 0.5
• Regeneration stops once a structure is captured by a player

Unit Creation

• Units can be created at owned Buildings only
• The creating structure must not have a unit standing on it
• Costs are deducted from the player's gold reserves

Income Generation

• At the start of each player's turn, they receive income from all owned structures:
  • Headquarters: $150 per turn
  • Buildings: $100 per turn
  • Towers: $50 per turn
• Players start with $250 in gold (STARTING_GOLD = 250)

Combat System

Basic Combat

• Units can attack enemy units within their attack range
• Damage calculation involves both the attacker's attack stat and the defender's defence stat
• When a melee unit attacks another melee unit, the defender can counter-attack

Counter-Attack Mechanics

• Counter-attacks occur when a melee unit (range 1) is attacked by another melee unit
• Counter-attacks deal 80% of normal damage (COUNTER_ATTACK_MULTIPLIER = 0.8)
• Archers are special: melee units cannot counter-attack Archers even when attacked
• Units cannot counter-attack if they are paralyzed

Status Effects

Paralysis

• Mages can paralyze enemy units
• Paralyzed units cannot move or attack
• Paralysis lasts 3 turns (PARALYZE_DURATION = 3)
• Clerics can cure paralysis with their CURE ability

Healing

• Clerics can heal friendly units
• Each heal action restores 5 HP (HEAL_AMOUNT = 5)
• Units cannot be healed above their maximum HP

Terrain Bonuses

Mountain Bonus for Archers

• When an Archer is positioned on a mountain tile, their attack range is extended
• Normal range: 2-3 spaces
• Mountain range: 2-4 spaces (+1 maximum range)
• This bonus is automatically applied when checking attack range and calculating attackable enemies

Game Rules

Victory Conditions

• Capture enemy HQ: Win by capturing the opponent's Headquarters
• Eliminate all enemy units: Win if the opponent has no units remaining and cannot create new ones

Turn Structure

1. Income Phase: Receive income from owned structures
2. Action Phase: Move units, attack enemies, create new units, capture structures
3. End Turn: Pass control to the next player

Movement Rules

• Units can move up to their movement range in Manhattan distance (sum of horizontal and vertical movement)
• Units cannot move through water, ocean, or mountain tiles
• Units cannot move through other units (friendly or enemy)
• After moving, units can still attack if they haven't attacked yet

Attack Rules

• Units can attack before or after moving (but only once per turn)
• Each unit type has specific attack range requirements
• Attacking or moving ends that unit's turn (it cannot move after attacking, and vice versa)

Strategic Tips

Unit Composition

• Balance your army: Mix melee units (Warriors) with ranged units (Mages, Archers) and support (Clerics)
• Protect support units: Keep Clerics and Archers behind your frontline
• Use terrain: Position Archers on mountains for extended range

Economy Management

• Capture structures early: More income means more units
• Protect your structures: Losing income puts you at a disadvantage
• Consider unit costs: Warriors and Clerics are cost-effective; Mages and Archers are more specialized

Combat Tactics

• Use Mages to disable: Paralyze key enemy units before engaging
• Heal efficiently: Keep your units healthy with Clerics to maximize their effectiveness
• Archer positioning: Keep Archers at range 2-3 to avoid counter-attacks
• Counter-attack advantage: Let enemies attack into your defensive positions when possible

Advanced Tactics

• Mountain control: Fight for mountain tiles to give your Archers extended range
• Structure denial: Capture or destroy enemy structures to starve their economy
• Unit synergy: Combine paralysis (Mage) with healing (Cleric) to maintain board control