Combat System

Otter Camp features turn-based combat encounters where you can face off against wild creatures in the exploration zones. Combat is designed to be low-stakes and friendly, with no permanent loss on retreat.

Starting Combat

Combat can be triggered in two ways:

1. Exploration Encounters - Wild creatures may challenge you as you explore zones
2. Test Mode - Press C in the Camp Hub to start a test combat (development/testing only)

When combat begins, you'll transition to the combat arena where you and your opponent face off.

Combat Interface

Health and Energy Bars

During combat, you'll see status bars for both you and your opponent:

Bar	Color	Purpose
Health (HP)	Green	Current health. Reaches 0 = defeat
Energy	Blue	Used for actions. Regenerates with Wait

Bars update in real-time and flash red when damage is taken.

Turn Order

Combat is turn-based, with turn order determined by Speed:

• Higher speed = acts first each round
• A turn indicator shows whose turn it is
• You can see the action queue preview showing upcoming turns

Combat Actions

You have 4 actions available during your turn:

Attack

• Deals damage to your opponent
• Costs energy to use
• Damage numbers appear above the target (Slay the Spire style)

Defend

• Reduces incoming damage on the next attack you receive
• Uses your turn but provides damage mitigation
• Defense bonus lasts until you take damage or your next turn

Wait

• Skips your turn
• Regenerates a small amount of energy
• Useful when low on energy or waiting for a better opportunity

Retreat

• Safely exit combat without finishing the fight
• Costs 25% of your maximum energy (if available)
• If you don't have enough energy, retreat costs nothing
• Returns you to your pre-combat position in the exploration zone
• Friendly messaging: "Retreated safely" (not "Fled")

Archetype Abilities

Certain archetypes unlock special combat abilities. If your dominant archetype has a combat ability, you'll see a purple ability button during your turn.

Available Abilities

Archetype	Ability	Effect	Energy	Cooldown
Ruler	Construct Barrier	+50% defense for 2 turns	25	3 turns
Artist	Inspire	+25% damage for 2 turns	25	3 turns
Caregiver	Soothe	Absorbs next hit completely (one-shot)	25	3 turns
Explorer	Find Weakness	Next attack ignores defense (one-shot)	25	3 turns

Using Abilities

• Abilities cost 25 energy to use
• After use, abilities go on cooldown for 3 turns
• The ability button shows remaining cooldown turns
• Buffs appear as indicators below your health bar
• Timed buffs (Barrier, Inspire) last for 2 turns
• One-shot buffs (Soothe, Find Weakness) activate on your next relevant action

Developing Combat Abilities

Your combat ability comes from your dominant archetype. To unlock or change your combat ability:

1. Perform activities that increase affinity with an archetype that has a combat ability
2. Once that archetype becomes your dominant archetype, you'll gain its ability
3. See Archetypes for how to develop different archetypes

Combat Zones

Different areas of Otter Camp have different enemies and resources. The zone indicator in the top-right corner shows your current zone and danger level.

Zone Map

Zone	Danger Level	Enemy Type	Resource Drop
Camp Hub	Safe (1)	River Rat	Shells
The Forest	Moderate (2)	Shadow Snapper	Wood
Crystal Caves	Dangerous (3)	Crystal Crab	Stone

When you enter a new zone, you'll see a brief zone name transition to let you know where you are.

Enemy Bestiary

Each zone has its own enemy with unique stats and flavor:

River Rat (Camp Hub)

• Description: A gray rodent that scurries around the camp underbrush
• Flavor Text: "A River Rat eyes your snacks nervously. It seems more scared of you than you are of it."
• Difficulty: Easy
• Stats: Low HP, Low Attack, Low Defense
• XP Reward: 10-20
• Resource: Shells (1-3)

Shadow Snapper (Forest)

• Description: A dark, turtle-like creature that lurks in forest shadows
• Flavor Text: "A Shadow Snapper emerges from beneath the leaves. Its shell glimmers with an eerie purple glow."
• Difficulty: Medium
• Stats: Medium HP, Medium Attack, Medium Defense
• XP Reward: 20-35
• Resource: Wood (2-4)

Crystal Crab (Caves)

• Description: A crystalline crab with gem-encrusted claws
• Flavor Text: "A Crystal Crab clicks its gem-encrusted claws menacingly. The crystals on its back pulse with inner light."
• Difficulty: Hard
• Stats: High HP, High Attack, High Defense
• XP Reward: 35-50
• Resource: Stone (2-5)

Loot and Rewards

Victory Rewards

When you defeat an enemy, you receive:

1. Experience Points (XP) - Always drops, amount based on enemy difficulty
2. Resources - Zone-specific materials (shells, wood, or stone)
3. Rare Fragments - 5% chance to drop quest fragments

Loot Popup

After victory, a loot popup shows everything you earned:

• Items are listed with icons and quantities
• Rare drops have a special glow animation
• XP gain shows as floating numbers
• Click "Continue" to return to exploration

Drop Rarities

Rarity	Color	Drop Rate
Common	Gray	70%
Uncommon	Green	25%
Rare	Purple	5%

Rare drops (quest fragments) have a special sparkle effect so you don't miss them!

Victory and Defeat

Victory

• Reduce the enemy's health to 0
• Watch the enemy defeat animation (fade with particles)
• Collect your loot from the loot popup
• Return to exploration with your rewards

Defeat

• Your health reaches 0
• Combat ends with a defeat screen
• Low stakes: no permanent penalties
• No loot is lost

Retreat

• You chose to leave combat early
• Returns to exploration at your previous position
• Energy cost is 25% of max energy (free if you can't afford it)
• Tactical retreats give Explorer archetype affinity!

Combat Tips

1. Watch your energy - Running low? Use Wait to regenerate
2. Defend strategically - Use Defend before powerful enemy attacks
3. Speed matters - Higher speed means you act first each turn
4. Retreat is okay - No shame in retreating to fight another day

Controls

Action	Input
Attack	Click "Attack" button
Defend	Click "Defend" button
Wait	Click "Wait" button
Retreat	Click "Retreat" button
Ability	Click ability button (purple, if available)

All action buttons are sized for easy tapping on mobile devices.

Connection Recovery

If you lose connection during combat:

• Your combat state is saved automatically to IndexedDB
• When you reconnect, you'll resume the combat in progress
• No progress is lost due to connection issues