RogueBall Manual

Version 0.7.0

What is this?

RogueBall is a turn-based, rogue-lite sports game presented in classic ASCII graphics. You control a team of diverse players, each with unique stats and skills, with the objective of scoring points by getting the ball into the opponent's goal. Navigate the field strategically, utilizing your players' strengths to outmaneuver the opposing team in thrilling turn-based matches. Build your team, compete in leagues, and experience the unpredictable nature of RogueBall!

Game Screen

Controls

In addition to the on-screen controls, the game can be fully played using only the keyboard.

Units

League Mode

League mode allows you to manage and play with a team over a series of matches. Here's how it works:

Playing the Game

• Create or Select a Team: When starting League mode, you can either create a new team or use the randomly created one.
• Schedule Matches: Each team will play each other team on the league twice for the duration of the season. The schedule will determine the order of matches played.
• Play Matches: Each match follows the standard RogueBall rules. You control your team to score points and win the match.
• Earn Points: Teams earn points based on their performance in matches. Winning a match earns your team 3 points, drawing earns you 1 point, and a defeat gives you no points.
• League Standings: The league standings are updated after each match, showing the ranking of all teams based on their points.

Managing Teams and Players

• Team Roster: Each team has a roster of players. You can view and manage your team's roster, including adding new players, removing existing players, and viewing player stats.
• Player Skills: Players have different skills and attributes that affect their performance on the field. You can train your players to improve their skills over time.
• Team Strategy: You can develop strategies for your team, such as assigning specific roles to players and planning tactics for matches.

Stats and Skills

Skill

Each unit has a skill level ranging from 1 to 10. It influences the chance that actions will be successful.

How Skill Affects Gameplay:

• Skill Multiplier: A unit's skill level is converted into a skill multiplier. For example, a skill level of 1.5 translates to a 15% increase in the base success chance of an action.


• Action Success Calculation: The final success chance of an action is calculated by multiplying the base success chance (determined by the unit's stats) by the skill multiplier. For example, if a unit with a 50% push success rate and a skill of 1.5 attempts to push, the final success chance would be 0.5 * 1.15 = 57.5%. This means the unit has a higher chance of successfully pushing their opponent.


• Impact on Strategy: Skill significantly influences player decision-making. Players need to consider a unit's skill level when deciding which actions to take. Higher skill levels make actions more reliable, allowing for more strategic and aggressive plays, while lower skill levels may require more cautious approaches.

Example:
A Goblin with a skill level of 3 attempts to dodge a tackle. Goblins have a base dodging chance of 75%. With the
skill multiplier of 1.3 (from the skill level of 3), the Goblin's final dodge chance becomes 0.75 * 1.3 = 97.5%.
This significantly increases their likelihood of successfully evading the tackle.

Stats

Stats define the inherent capabilities of each unit. Different races have varying stat distributions, leading to unique strengths and weaknesses on the field.

Stat Values and Their Impact:

• Movement (1-3): Determines how many tiles a unit can move in a single turn. Higher movement allows for faster positioning and greater tactical flexibility. A value of 1 means the unit is slow, while 3 means it's very fast. This directly affects how quickly a unit can reach key positions on the field, such as the ball or the opponent's goal.
• Blocking (20%-95%): Represents the probability of a unit successfully blocking a ball passing overhead or contesting ball control within their Zone of Control. Higher blocking percentages make units more effective defenders and ball carriers. Example: An Ogre with 85% blocking has a high chance of stopping a thrown ball or preventing an opponent from stealing the ball.
• Dodging (20%-95%): Reduces the chance of a successful tackle against the unit. Higher dodging percentages make units more elusive and harder to take down. Example: A Ratman with 95% dodging is extremely difficult to tackle, making them ideal for carrying the ball safely.
• Throwing (1-4): Dictates the maximum range of a unit's throw. Higher throwing ranges allow for longer passes and more strategic ball movement. Example: A Chimp with a throwing range of 4 can throw the ball across most of the field.
• Pushing (25%-80%): Determines the chance of successfully pushing an opponent to steal the ball. This stat is compared to the opponent's dodging stat to determine the outcome. Example: An Orc with 80% pushing has a high chance of pushing past an opponent with low dodging, like a Human with 50% dodging.

Impact on Strategy:
Understanding the stat values of different races and individual units is crucial for strategic team building and
gameplay. Players need to leverage their units' strengths and compensate for their weaknesses to achieve
victory. For example, using a fast unit like a Frogman to carry the ball and a strong blocker like an Ogre to
protect them can be a very effective strategy.

Actions

Move

Moves the character on the map. Moving next to an opponent will trigger their Zone of Control: There is a
chance that unit will gain control of the ball at the end of the turn, depending on their Block skills
and the Dodge skill of the unit being moved.

Push

Attempts to take the ball from an opponent on a nearby tile. This relies on the unit's Pushing skill and
the defender's Dodging skills.

Throw

Throws the ball at a selected square. Be aware that opponents on the way might block it and take it.