IDIOT trusts the feet and yields to a jailbreak drop (rules rev 37)

The per-step steering recalculated greedily, ping-ponging between routes
that tie at a corner and able to wall the victim off from the cure; rev 37
retires it — the march is the player's to honor, and the automatons steer
themselves. DROP OBJECT that shakes the victim's OWN treasure out of a
thief's arms is now an aid, not an attack: while carried, that treasure
cannot even be stood upon, so the curse could be unsatisfiable. Older
ledgers replay steered and strict.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

packages/engine/src/automaton.ts

@@ -1323,17 +1323,43 @@ export function automatonCommand(
     }
   }
 
+  // IDIOT's curse: the maze no longer forces the feet (rev 37), so the
+  // clockwork honors the march to its own gold itself — and when a thief
+  // carries that gold, DROP OBJECT (the rev-37 carve-out) shakes it onto
+  // the floor where it can finally be stood upon.
+  const cursedIdiot = view.sustained.some((e) => e.cardId === "idiot" && e.targetId === view.you);
+  if (cursedIdiot && view.deckRev >= 37 && view.turn.round > 1 && !view.turn.attackUsed) {
+    const dropper = inHand(view, "drop-object");
+    if (dropper) {
+      const sighted = sightedCellsFor(view);
+      const thiefOfGold = livingEnemies(view).find((p) =>
+        sighted.has(cellKey(p.position)) &&
+        view.treasures.some((t) => t.owner === view.you && t.carriedBy === p.id));
+      if (thiefOfGold) {
+        return {
+          type: "cast", instanceId: dropper.instanceId,
+          target: { kind: "player", playerId: thiefOfGold.id }, params: { cardId: "treasure" },
+        };
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   // March. The thief-chase outranks everything; the berserker hunts wizards
   // over gold; the worrier keeps its distance; the hunter goes to the gold.
   if (view.turn.movementUsed < view.turn.movementAllowance) {
     const gold = treasureGoals(view);
     const enemyCells = new Set(livingEnemies(view).map((p) => cellKey(p.position)));
     const canUnlock = UNLOCKS.some((id) => inHand(view, id));
-    const objectives = thief
-      ? new Set([cellKey(thief.position)])
-      : style === "berserker" && !self.carriedTreasureId
-        ? (enemyCells.size > 0 ? enemyCells : gold)
-        : gold;
+    const ownGoldCells = new Set(view.treasures
+      .filter((t) => t.owner === view.you && t.position && !t.carriedBy)
+      .map((t) => cellKey(t.position!)));
+    const objectives = cursedIdiot && ownGoldCells.size > 0
+      ? ownGoldCells
+      : thief
+        ? new Set([cellKey(thief.position)])
+        : style === "berserker" && !self.carriedTreasureId
+          ? (enemyCells.size > 0 ? enemyCells : gold)
+          : gold;
     const path =
       pathToward(view, self.position, objectives, { avoidNearEnemies: style === "worrier" && !thief, canUnlock }) ??
       pathToward(view, self.position, objectives, { canUnlock }) ??

packages/engine/src/game.ts

@@ -3790,7 +3790,11 @@ function doMove(prev: GameState, direction: Side, over = false): CommandResult {
   const events: GameEvent[] = [];
 
   // IDIOT: every move heads for the nearest of their own treasures.
-  if (sustainedOn(state, p.id, "idiot").length > 0) {
+  // Rev 37 retires the steering: a greedy per-step recalculation ping-pongs
+  // between routes that tie at a corner and can wall the victim off from
+  // the cure entirely. The march is the player's to honor (like FEAR's
+  // duty); the automatons steer themselves. Older ledgers replay steered.
+  if ((state.config.deckRev ?? 1) < 37 && sustainedOn(state, p.id, "idiot").length > 0) {
     const steered = idiotSteer(state, p);
     if (steered) direction = steered;
   }
@@ -4169,7 +4173,7 @@ const IDIOT_AIDS = new Set([
 
 function castingBlocked(
   state: GameState, playerId: PlayerId,
-  opts?: { counteraction?: boolean; cardId?: string },
+  opts?: { counteraction?: boolean; cardId?: string; targetPlayerId?: PlayerId; pickedCardId?: string },
 ): string | null {
   if (sustainedOn(state, playerId, "medusa").length > 0) return "you are paralyzed by Medusa";
   if (sustainedOn(state, playerId, "no-spell").length > 0) return "No Spell — you cannot cast";
@@ -4177,7 +4181,16 @@ function castingBlocked(
   // needed)" — and per the FAQ, spells that aid the march to the treasure.
   if (sustainedOn(state, playerId, "idiot").length > 0 &&
       !opts?.counteraction && !(opts?.cardId && IDIOT_AIDS.has(opts.cardId))) {
-    return "What am I doing here...? (you can do nothing but head for your treasure)";
+    // Rev 37: DROP OBJECT that shakes YOUR OWN treasure out of a thief's
+    // arms serves the march — while carried, that treasure cannot even be
+    // stood upon, so without this the curse can be unsatisfiable.
+    const freesOwnGold = (state.config.deckRev ?? 1) >= 37 &&
+      opts?.cardId === "drop-object" && opts.pickedCardId === "treasure" &&
+      opts.targetPlayerId != null &&
+      state.treasures.some((t) => t.owner === playerId && t.carriedBy === opts.targetPlayerId);
+    if (!freesOwnGold) {
+      return "What am I doing here...? (you can do nothing but head for your treasure)";
+    }
   }
   return null;
 }
@@ -4605,7 +4618,11 @@ function doCast(prev: GameState, cmd: Extract<Command, { type: "cast" }>): Comma
   // NO SPELL cast on you."
   const isSpell = def.cardType !== "object" && !NOT_SPELLS.has(inHand.cardId) && !isWand;
   if (isSpell) {
-    const castBlock = castingBlocked(state, caster.id, { cardId: inHand.cardId });
+    const castBlock = castingBlocked(state, caster.id, {
+      cardId: inHand.cardId,
+      targetPlayerId: cmd.target?.kind === "player" ? cmd.target.playerId : undefined,
+      pickedCardId: cmd.params?.cardId,
+    });
     if (castBlock) return err(castBlock);
   } else if (sustainedOn(state, caster.id, "medusa").length > 0) {
     return err("you are paralyzed by Medusa");

packages/engine/test/automaton.test.ts

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 import {
   applyCommand,
   createGame,
+  sustainedOn,
   type GameState,
   type PlayerId,
 } from "../src/game";
@@ -223,6 +224,65 @@ describe("the clockwork guards gold only within sight", () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe("the clockwork honors IDIOT's march", () => {
+  // Rev 37 retired the engine's steering, so the duty falls to the brain.
+  function cursedBot() {
+    let { state } = createGame({ playerIds: ["bot", "foe"], seed: 7, sets: ["basic", "expansion1"], deckRev: 37 });
+    // Past round 1 (no combat) and around to the bot's turn.
+    for (let i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
+      const r = applyCommand(state, actingSeat(state), { type: "endTurn", draw: 0 });
+      if (!r.ok) throw new Error(r.error);
+      state = r.state;
+    }
+    while (actingSeat(state) !== "bot") {
+      const r = applyCommand(state, actingSeat(state), { type: "endTurn", draw: 0 });
+      if (!r.ok) throw new Error(r.error);
+      state = r.state;
+    }
+    state.sustained.push({
+      id: "fx-idiot", cardId: "idiot", casterId: "foe", targetId: "bot",
+      remainingTurns: 9999, data: {},
+    } as never);
+    return state;
+  }
+
+  it("marches to its own gold until the curse lifts", () => {
+    let state = cursedBot();
+    state.players.find((p) => p.id === "bot")!.hand = [];
+    // A walled route can cost more steps than one turn's allowance; the
+    // march may span turns (the foe just passes).
+    for (let i = 0; i < 30 && sustainedOn(state, "bot", "idiot").length > 0; i++) {
+      const seat = actingSeat(state);
+      const cmd = seat === "bot"
+        ? automatonCommand(viewFor(state, "bot"), "hunter", "archmage")
+          ?? automatonFallback(viewFor(state, "bot"), "archmage")
+        : { type: "endTurn", draw: 0 } as const;
+      const r = applyCommand(state, seat, cmd);
+      if (!r.ok) throw new Error(r.error);
+      state = r.state;
+    }
+    expect(sustainedOn(state, "bot", "idiot").length).toBe(0);
+  });
+
+  it("shakes its gold from a thief's arms with DROP OBJECT", () => {
+    const state = cursedBot();
+    const bot = state.players.find((p) => p.id === "bot")!;
+    const thief = state.players.find((p) => p.id === "foe")!;
+    thief.position = { ...bot.position };
+    const own = state.treasures.find((t) => t.owner === "bot")!;
+    own.carriedBy = "foe";
+    own.position = null;
+    thief.carriedTreasureId = own.id;
+    bot.hand = [{ instanceId: "drop-object#T", cardId: "drop-object" }];
+    const cmd = automatonCommand(viewFor(state, "bot"), "hunter", "archmage");
+    expect(cmd).toEqual({
+      type: "cast", instanceId: "drop-object#T",
+      target: { kind: "player", playerId: "foe" }, params: { cardId: "treasure" },
+    });
+    expect(applyCommand(state, "bot", cmd!).ok).toBe(true);
+  });
+});
+
 describe("a clogged hand gets shed, not hoarded", () => {
   it("the bot discards dead weight so the end-of-turn draw has room", () => {
     let { state } = createGame({ playerIds: ["bot", "other"], seed: 42, sets: ["basic"], deckRev: 13 });

packages/engine/test/expansion-combat.test.ts

@@ -198,6 +198,64 @@ describe("expansion combat cards", () => {
     expect(applyCommand(state, defender, { type: "counteract", instanceId: "absorb-spell#AB" }).ok).toBe(true);
   });
 
+  it("idiot at rev 37 no longer steers the march — the step goes where asked", () => {
+    let { state } = createGame({
+      playerIds: ["alice", "bob"], seed: 42, sets: ["basic", "expansion1"], deckRev: 37,
+    });
+    state = toRound2(state);
+    const { attacker, defender } = faceOff(state);
+    const id = giveCard(state, attacker, "idiot");
+    state = castAt(state, attacker, defender, id);
+    expect(sustainedOn(state, defender, "idiot").length).toBe(1);
+    state = must(state, attacker, { type: "endTurn", draw: 0 });
+    const d = state.players.find((p) => p.id === defender)!;
+    const board = boardView(state);
+    const open = (["N", "S", "E", "W"] as const)
+      .filter((s) => stepTarget(board, d.position, s).kind === "step");
+    expect(open.length).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(2);
+    // Plant the victim's own gold one step out one way; walk the other way.
+    // Pre-37 steering would have overridden the request and taken the gold.
+    const toward = stepTarget(board, d.position, open[0]!);
+    const away = stepTarget(board, d.position, open[1]!);
+    if (toward.kind === "blocked" || away.kind === "blocked") throw new Error("unreachable");
+    const own = state.treasures.find((t) => t.owner === defender)!;
+    own.carriedBy = null;
+    own.position = toward.to;
+    state = must(state, defender, { type: "move", direction: open[1]! });
+    expect(cellKey(state.players.find((p) => p.id === defender)!.position)).toBe(cellKey(away.to));
+  });
+
+  it("idiot at rev 37 permits DROP OBJECT that frees the victim's own treasure", () => {
+    for (const deckRev of [36, 37]) {
+      let { state } = createGame({
+        playerIds: ["alice", "bob"], seed: 42, sets: ["basic", "expansion1"], deckRev,
+      });
+      state = toRound2(state);
+      const { attacker, defender } = faceOff(state);
+      const thief = state.players.find((p) => p.id === attacker)!;
+      const own = state.treasures.find((t) => t.owner === defender)!;
+      own.carriedBy = attacker;
+      own.position = null;
+      thief.carriedTreasureId = own.id;
+      const id = giveCard(state, attacker, "idiot");
+      state = castAt(state, attacker, defender, id);
+      state = must(state, attacker, { type: "endTurn", draw: 0 });
+      // An attack for its own sake stays forbidden at every revision.
+      const fb = giveCard(state, defender, "fireball", "F", 0);
+      expect(applyCommand(state, defender, {
+        type: "cast", instanceId: fb.instanceId, target: { kind: "player", playerId: attacker },
+      }).ok).toBe(false);
+      // Shaking YOUR OWN gold out of the thief's arms serves the march —
+      // while carried it cannot be stood upon — but only from rev 37 on.
+      const dr = giveCard(state, defender, "drop-object", "D", 1);
+      const r = applyCommand(state, defender, {
+        type: "cast", instanceId: dr.instanceId,
+        target: { kind: "player", playerId: attacker }, params: { cardId: "treasure" },
+      });
+      expect(r.ok).toBe(deckRev >= 37);
+    }
+  });
+
   it("idiot at rev 23 has no effect on a victim carrying their own treasure", () => {
     let { state } = createGame({
       playerIds: ["alice", "bob"], seed: 42, sets: ["basic", "expansion1"], deckRev: 23,