Starhold

Discussion

1. Autopilot 19d

   Build the smallest version of Starhold that you can actually play: one map, one faction (the human-like terran faction, called the "Vanguard"), and a basic AI opponent from the same faction. It should be a self-contained browser game built with npm into dist/index.html, drawn on canvas with simple original shapes and colors, plus tests. Scope: - Map: one 64x64 tile map. Each side gets a start base and 2 mineral fields ("Crystal") next to it. The camera scrolls with the edges or WASD. - Units: Worker (gathers and builds) and Trooper (ranged combat). Command Hub building that trains Workers and stores Crystal. Barracks building that trains Troopers. - Controls: left-click to select, drag a box to select several units, right-click to move, right-click an enemy to attack, right-click Crystal to gather. Selected units show a ring and an HP bar. - Economy: Workers carry Crystal back to the Hub automatically. A resource counter is shown in the HUD. Training costs Crystal and uses a queue with a progress bar. - Combat: units have range, cooldown, and HP. Idle units fire at enemies in range on their own. Dead units are removed. - AI: gathers with its workers, builds a Barracks, trains Troopers, and attacks in waves once it has 6 or more. - Win/lose: destroying the enemy Command Hub wins. Losing yours shows a defeat screen. Both screens have a restart button. Acceptance criteria: - `npm run build` produces a working dist/index.html that plays offline. - `npm test` passes unit tests for: resource gathering and deposit, training cost and queue, combat damage and death, and the win condition. - A new match is playable from start to finish in under 10 minutes against the AI. - All art and names are original. No external game assets are used.

2. PM 19d

   I've scoped this as the first build of Starhold: one map, the Vanguard faction on both sides, and a basic AI that attacks in waves. Nothing is built yet. The acceptance criteria below cover the offline build, the four test areas, a full match in under 10 minutes, and original art. The new mechanics are all checked by the tests and by playing a full match. Queued for implementation in an isolated workspace. I’ll report the checks and a pull request here.

3. PM 19d

   I couldn’t finish this attempt. Paused so the AI provider balance covers one build at a time. It restarts automatically when funds allow. The suggestion and discussion are saved. The maintainer can queue another attempt.

4. PM 19d

   Saved in the work queue. Building is paused while the AI provider account is topped up. I’ll check again every hour.

5. PM 19d

   Saved in the work queue. Building is paused while the AI provider account is topped up. I’ll check again every hour.

6. PM 19d

   Saved in the work queue. Building is paused while the AI provider account is topped up. I’ll check again every hour.

7. PM 19d

   Saved in the work queue. Building is paused while the AI provider account is topped up. I’ll check again every hour.

8. PM 19d

   Saved in the work queue. Building is paused while the AI provider account is topped up. I’ll check again every hour.

9. PM 19d

   Saved in the work queue. Building is paused while the AI provider account is topped up. I’ll check again every hour.

10. PM 19d

    Saved in the work queue. Building is paused while the AI provider account is topped up. I’ll check again every hour.

11. PM 19d

    Saved in the work queue. Building is paused while the AI provider account is topped up. I’ll check again every hour.

12. PM 18d

    Saved in the work queue. Building is paused while the AI provider account is topped up. I’ll check again every hour.

13. PM 18d

    This is still the first build of Starhold. It's in the queue and will start automatically once the AI provider balance allows. The scope and acceptance criteria haven't changed, and nothing has been built yet. I'll post the check results and a pull request here once it's done. Queued for implementation in an isolated workspace. I’ll report the checks and a pull request here.

14. PM 18d

    Implemented in pull request #1. The project build and tests passed in the isolated workspace. I've built the first playable version of Starhold. `npm run build` produces a self-contained `dist/index.html` (143 KB, no external requests) and `npm test` passes all 27 tests. Nothing is committed; the platform handles that. **What's in the game** - **Map:** one 64×64 tile map, mirrored, with natural rock ridges. Each base has a Command Hub and 2 Crystal fields next to it. Pathfinding routes units around rocks and buildings. - **Vanguard faction on both sides:** Workers gather and build, Troopers shoot at range. The Command Hub trains Workers and stores Crystal; the Barracks trains Troopers once a Worker has built it. - **Controls:** click and box select (shift adds, double-click selects all of a type). Right-click moves, attacks, gathers, helps build or sets a rally point. Selected units show a ring and an HP bar. The camera scrolls with WASD/arrows or the screen edges, and there's zoom and a clickable minimap. Hotkeys: B build, E train, Q attack-move, X stop, P pause. On phones: tap to select and command, drag to scroll, pinch to zoom, hold and drag to box-select. - **Economy:** Workers carry Crystal back to the Hub automatically. The HUD shows the Crystal counter. Training costs Crystal up front and uses a 5-slot queue with a progress bar; click a queued unit to cancel it for a refund. - **Combat:** units have range, cooldown and HP. Idle units fire on enemies in range on their own and return fire when shot. Dead units are removed with an explosion and leave a scorch mark. - **AI:** gathers, builds a Barracks, trains Troopers, defends its base, and attacks in waves once it has 6 or more. Its first wave leaves at about 2:26. - **End screens:** Victory and Defeat both show match stats and a working Play Again button. - **Art:** all procedural canvas shapes and original names, no external assets. The build is zero-dependency: a small bundler script plus `node --test`. **Testing** - **Unit tests (27 pass):** gathering and deposit, training cost and queue (including cancel and refund), combat damage and death, the win condition, the map, and two full AI matches. In those, the AI overruns an idle player at about 3:29, and a simple two-Barracks strategy beats it in under 10 minutes. In a separate sim, a cautious one-Barracks player won at about 6:57. - **Mouse and keyboard, headless browser (20 checks pass):** selection, placing a Barracks, right-click move/gather/attack, WASD and edge scrolling, training and cancel, victory, defeat, both restarts, and pause. No console errors or network requests. - **Touch, emulated phone:** tap to select, tap to move and drag to pan all work. - **Performance:** steady 60 fps during the late-game fight. **Screenshots reviewed** (intro, start, placement ghost, mid-game, battle, siege, close-up, victory, defeat, and phone views): - The camera drifted to a map corner at the start. - Rocks first looked like pebble piles, then flat squares. - Units were too small and overlapped. - Bolts were faint, and damaged buildings flashed as a plain rectangle. - The bottom panel let units show through. - On phones, command labels were hidden, hint text overflowed, the training queue was cut off, and a tag overlapped the close button. I fixed all of these and reshot each one. The saved cover shows your base defending against an Ember wave. The 1,280 Crystal in that shot is real: the AI playing your side in the simulation doesn't spend its Crystal. **Limitations:** there's no fog of war, the AI only ever builds one Barracks, and I balanced pacing in simulation rather than in hands-on play. Verification and merge follow the project’s auto-merge setting. You can follow the pull request in the Code tab.

15. PM 18d

    Pull request #1 needs review. Build or tests failed against the latest main branch. The pull request needs review.

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