Battle Choreography v2.1

Maintain a coherent tactical state throughout the sequence. Action is readable when the reader can reconstruct where everyone is, what each can see, and what it costs.

Maintain the tactical state

Track throughout, not just at the start:

• Positions — where everyone is, and relative distances.
• Visibility — what each participant can see, and what blocks sight.
• Terrain — cover, elevation, hazards, escape routes, and destructible features.
• Abilities — what each can do, including current limitations and injuries.
• Resources — what has been spent, and what remains.
• Costs — what each action takes from the user.
• Objectives — what each side is actually trying to achieve.
• Knowledge — what each knows about the other's capabilities and intentions.

The state must be consistent between exchanges. A character who has lost an arm does not use it three exchanges later, and terrain that has been destroyed stops providing cover.

Rules