## FULL SPECIFICATION
# TACTICAL DICE GAME SYSTEM (TDGS) - CORE
# Title: Area of Effect
# Document: 16
# Version: 1.0
# Purpose: AI-readable specification for AoE shapes, distances, and targeting
# Target: Language models, AI assistants, game designers, developers
# License: MIT
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CORE PRINCIPLE
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AoE affects area, not entities. All entities in the area are affected.
No discrimination. Content can add smart targeting as ability trait.
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NOTATION
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FORMAT:
[Shape][Primary][Direction][wWidth][hHeight]
SHAPE CODES:
Code | Shape | Direction Required?
-----|-----------|--------------------
Cir | Circle | No
Con | Cone | Yes
Lin | Line | Yes
Rec | Rectangle | No
DIRECTION CODES: N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW
DIRECTIONS ARE RELATIVE TO ENTITY:
N = forward
S = behind
E = right
W = left
NOTATION EXAMPLES:
Notation | Meaning
-----------|----------------------------------
Cir3 | Circle, radius 3
Con4N | Cone, length 4, forward
Con4NE | Cone, length 4, forward-right (diagonal)
Lin5E | Line, length 5, right
Lin5Sw2 | Line, length 5, south, width 2
Rec3x4 | Rectangle, 3 wide × 4 long
Cir3h1 | Circle, radius 3, height 1
Con6Nh10 | Cone, length 6, north, height 10
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DISTANCE
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CHEBYSHEV DISTANCE:
Distance = max(|dx|, |dy|)
Diagonal = orthogonal. King's moves on chessboard.
BOUNDARIES: Always inclusive (≤ not <).
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SHAPES SUMMARY
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Shape | Origin Affected | Total Squares | Placement
-------------------|-----------------|----------------|------------
Circle | Yes | (2R+1)² | At range
Cone (Cardinal) | No | L² | From caster
Cone (Diagonal) | No | L(L+1)/2 | From caster
Line | No | L × W | From caster
Rectangle | Yes | W × L | At range
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CIRCLE
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NOTATION: Cir[radius]
FORMULA: All squares where max(|dx|, |dy|) ≤ R from center
TOTAL: (2R+1)²
Radius | Dimensions | Squares
-------|------------|--------
1 | 3×3 | 9
2 | 5×5 | 25
3 | 7×7 | 49
4 | 9×9 | 81
5 | 11×11 | 121
ORIGIN: Center of circle. IS affected.
PLACEMENT: At range (caster chooses center within range).
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CONE (CARDINAL: N, E, S, W)
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NOTATION: Con[length][direction]
WIDTH AT DISTANCE N: 2N - 1
TOTAL: L²
Distance | Width | Running Total
---------|-------|---------------
1 | 1 | 1
2 | 3 | 4
3 | 5 | 9
4 | 7 | 16
5 | 9 | 25
6 | 11 | 36
ORIGIN: Caster's square. NOT affected.
PLACEMENT: Projects from caster in chosen direction.
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CONE (DIAGONAL: NE, SE, SW, NW)
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NOTATION: Con[length][direction]
WIDTH AT DISTANCE N: N
TOTAL: L(L+1)/2
Distance | Width | Running Total
---------|-------|---------------
1 | 1 | 1
2 | 2 | 3
3 | 3 | 6
4 | 4 | 10
5 | 5 | 15
6 | 6 | 21
ORIGIN: Caster's square. NOT affected.
TRADEOFF: ~60% area of cardinal, but 8 total directions available.
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CONE SIZE COMPARISON
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Length | Cardinal | Diagonal
-------|----------|----------
2 | 4 | 3
3 | 9 | 6
4 | 16 | 10
5 | 25 | 15
6 | 36 | 21
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LINE
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NOTATION: Lin[length][direction] or Lin[length][direction]w[width]
TOTAL: L × W (width defaults to 1)
ORIGIN: Caster's square. NOT affected.
WIDE LINES: Origin expands to match width, centered on caster.
DIAGONAL LINES: One square per unit of length along diagonal path.
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RECTANGLE
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NOTATION: Rec[width]x[length]
Width = horizontal (east-west)
Length = vertical (north-south)
TOTAL: W × L
ORIGIN: Corner placed within range. IS affected.
PLACEMENT: At range (like circles). Caster chooses corner position.
Extends in positive W and L directions.
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HEIGHT
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DEFAULT RULE: Height = primary dimension
Shape | Primary Dimension | Default Height
----------|-------------------|---------------
Circle | Radius | Radius
Cone | Length | Length
Line | Length | Length
Rectangle | Larger of W, L | Larger of W, L
OVERRIDE: Add h[N] to notation (e.g., Cir3h1)
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RESOLUTION
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TIMING: AoE resolves immediately. No reactions before resolution.
STEPS:
1. Determine origin point
2. Map shape
3. Identify all entities in area
4. Determine cover (from origin to each entity)
5. Apply effect to each entity
ROLLS:
- Per entity, independently
- Standard d20 resolution
- Luck applies (Document 4)
COVER (per Document 14):
Cover Type | Bonus | Effect
-----------|---------|------------------
Partial | +2 REF | Harder to hit
Half | +4 REF | Much harder to hit
Full | — | Not affected
Cover determined from AoE origin to each entity.
MULTI-SQUARE ENTITIES: Any overlap = affected (once).
STACKING: Multiple AoE effects apply independently.
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CONTENT GUIDANCE
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ABILITY DEFINITION:
Property | Required | Example
----------------|----------------|----------------------------
Shape | Yes | Cir3, Con4N, Lin5Ew2, Rec4x3
Range | Yes | 20 squares, Self, Touch
Height | If override | h1, h10
Effect | Yes | 3d6 fire damage
Resolution | Yes | INT vs REF
Smart Targeting | If applicable | Allies excluded
SMART TARGETING TRAITS:
Trait | Effect
----------------|-------------------------------
Allies Excluded | Does not affect caster's side
Enemies Only | Only affects hostiles
Selective | Caster chooses targets in area
Not default. Content adds as needed.
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QUICK REFERENCE - FORMULAS
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Shape | Total Squares
---------------|---------------
Circle | (2R+1)²
Cone Cardinal | L²
Cone Diagonal | L(L+1)/2
Line | L × W
Rectangle | W × L
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QUICK REFERENCE - ORIGIN RULES
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Shape | Origin | Affected? | Placement
----------|---------|-----------|------------
Circle | Center | Yes | At range
Cone | Caster | No | From caster
Line | Caster | No | From caster
Rectangle | Corner | Yes | At range
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QUICK REFERENCE - CONE WIDTH
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Distance | Cardinal | Diagonal
---------|----------|----------
1 | 1 | 1
2 | 3 | 2
3 | 5 | 3
4 | 7 | 4
5 | 9 | 5
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CROSS-REFERENCES
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Document 3: Resolution Mechanics
- Standard d20 resolution
- Success thresholds
Document 4: Luck
- Luck rerolls apply to AoE
Document 14: Movement and Positioning
- Cover rules
- Multi-square entities
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CORE STATUS
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STATUS: Canonical
VERSION: 1.0
This is a CORE document. It establishes fundamental AoE mechanics.
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CANONICAL URLS
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Human-readable: https://tacticaldice.com/docs/tdgs/aoe
AI-optimized: https://tacticaldice.com/docs/tdgs/aoeforai
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END OF DOCUMENT
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