Combat Mechanics

***Information on this page is accurate for version v.670 and can differ from the current info in v.796.***

Also known as combat mechanics

## **Introduction**

Hard to obtain and even harder to maintain, peace has become a luxury only a few will ever experience.

Bandits, crazies, animals, mutants, and even supernatural beings will be a constant threat to the survivor's life. If he wants to stay alive, the survivor must not only learn how to fight, but master the art of war.

In this chapter, the survivor will learn how combat initiates, call for help, get to know the terrain, move, and attack.

## **The battlefield**

The battlefield is where combat develops. Every time a fight starts, the survivor will automatically taken to the field unless choosing auto-battle.

The items found in the combat zone are varied, ranging from traps, obstacles and enemy spawn points, if wise enough the survivor can use the field to his advantage or fall prey to them if careless.

### **Elements of the battlefield**

* The map
	+ Obstacles
	+ Traps
	+ High points
	+ Cover points
	+ Spawn points
	+ Exits

### The map

The first and main element of any battlefield is the map itself. It is a 7x7 usualy a square grid filled with obstacles, traps, and structures. However, the queen fight will have a 9x9 grid (Needs to be checked). Depending on where the combat takes place, the type of terrain the survivor will encounter will vary. For example, fighting inside a city will spawn walls, light posts, and manholes in the battlefield, while fighting in a swamp will show puddles of mud.

### Obstacles

Obstacles can be cleared or created depending on the survivor strategy. Clearing a bridge or falling a tree will force the enemy to take a different route, thus giving the player extra time to escape or lure enemies into a trap. These can also impede the survivor movement and make him fall prey to his own mistakes.

Not every obstacle can be destroyed in a single attack. Some are invulnerable to small arms fire.

### High points

High points give the advantage of letting the survivor increase his maximum weapon range and shoot over walls or other obstacles. This advantage also comes with a drawback as standing on a hill or watchtower will also make the survivor an easier target for ranged attacks.

Watchtowers can be destroyed by using explosive (except gunpowder grenade), while hills can only be destroyed by direct hit from rockets.

### Cover points

Destroyed trees will turn into broken trees, which become a blockade. A unit that was on the tree tile when it was destroyed will still stand on the broken tree, and can choose to stand still or move out.

Trees can be destroyed by a direct hit from gunpowder grenade, an explosion from other explosives, and machine guns.

Lamp posts can be destroyed the same way as trees, sandbags can only be destroyed by a direct hit from f1-grenade or explosion from rockets, and corridors can only be destroyed by a direct hit from rockets.

### Spawn points

The spawn points are special squares found on the battlefield. These squares have the ability to generate enemies on their own or by command of a higher level enemy.

A special manhole found mostly in urban areas. This dark hatch will spawn a radioactive rat if an enemy, ally, or the survivor stands close to it. It will also spawn a radioactive rat if the hatch is attacked. If unbothered, the hatch will remain dark.

When the manhole is activated, a pair of red eyes will appear inside the hatch and a radioactive rat will spawn on the next turn. After that, the manhole will turn into a regular manhole.

The hatches only appear inside the queen bee chamber inside the beehive. The secand stage of the queen bee will summon several different bees.

The bee spawn cells can be destroyed by using rockets.

Commonly found in the forest, the lair is a cave where a bear lives. In order for the bear to appear, the lair must be attacked. Standing near it will not trigger the bear.

The lair cannot be destroyed without triggering the bear.

Found on some of the bandit forts (Super bandit camps) in the wasteland, the only working bandit spawn point is located inside the Jilin bandit camp, the bandit leader will summon every turn a bandit ally to aid him in battle against the survivor.

The bandit spawn is a type of wall, it can be destroyed by using rockets, grenades, or the bardiche.

### Exit point

With some exceptions, the escape door will always (but not always due events) appear on the battlefield. This special square cannot be destroyed with any weapon.

This is the only way of leaving a fight without it having ended. To use the escape door, the survivor must stand on the square and choose the escape option on the actions menu. Escaping costs 1 AP (Action point).