Rules rev 4: a creature's blow can be counteracted

The WRAITH card assumes the window exists — "REFLECTIONs used on the
wraith's touch will damage the wraith" — but creature damage applied
instantly, so BLUNT had nothing to catch, as playtesting found. Under
revision 4 every creature blow against a wizard opens the same
counteraction stack a spell does: the wraith's entry touch, the
democratic monster's claw, and commanded troll/skeleton/shadow
attacks. The blow's damage rides the stack; BLUNT halves it (round
up); reflections work by name against creatures — half back for
REFLECTION, the whole blow for FULL REFLECTION — landing on the
creature, not its controller; FULL SHIELD correctly does nothing
("does not stop any physical attack"); the wraith's card theft is a
secondary effect that lands only if damage does. No aim-miss rolls
against invisible or shrunk defenders — the creature is already in
the square. The attack fanfare shows the creature's own card.

Earlier revisions keep the instant touch so every stored game — and
the live one that found this — replays unchanged.

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

packages/engine/src/game.ts

@@ -182,6 +182,10 @@ export interface CastStack {
   waitingOn: PlayerId;
   /** CHAOS only: the defender's FULL SHIELD sat them out rather than stopping it. */
   defenderShielded?: boolean;
+  /** Set when a creature, not a wizard, delivers the attack. */
+  creatureId?: string;
+  /** The wraith's touch also steals a random card if damage lands. */
+  creatureTouch?: "wraith" | "claw";
 }
 
 export interface CastParams {
@@ -207,7 +211,8 @@ export interface GameConfig {
    * Rules revision, frozen per game so stored games replay unchanged.
    * Absent = original. Rev 2: LIFESAVER leaves two-player decks ("Not
    * applicable in a 2-player game."). Rev 3: WARD springs only when armed,
-   * and CHAOS honors FULL SHIELD sit-outs and refuses REFLECTIONS.
+   * and CHAOS honors FULL SHIELD sit-outs and refuses REFLECTIONS. Rev 4:
+   * creature blows open a counteraction window like any attack.
    */
   deckRev?: number;
 }
@@ -2527,12 +2532,19 @@ function doMoveCreature(prev: GameState, creatureId: string, direction: Side): C
   events.push({ type: "creatureMoved", creatureId: creature.id, from, to: creature.position, direction, by: active.id });
 
   // Touch effects on entering a player's square.
+  const rev4 = (state.config.deckRev ?? 1) >= 4;
   for (const p of state.players) {
     if (!p.alive || cellKey(p.position) !== cellKey(creature.position)) continue;
     if (p.id === creature.controllerId && creature.kind !== "democratic-monster") continue; // won't hurt creator
     if (creature.kind === "wraith" && !creature.attackUsed) {
       creature.attackUsed = true;
       events.push({ type: "creatureTouched", creatureId: creature.id, player: p.id });
+      if (rev4) {
+        // The victim may counteract ("REFLECTIONs used on the wraith's touch
+        // will damage the wraith" — the card assumes exactly this window).
+        openCreatureStack(state, creature, p, 2, "wraith");
+        return { ok: true, state, events };
+      }
       applyDamage(state, events, p, 2, "wraith's touch", null);
       if (p.alive && p.hand.length > 0) {
         const [idx, rngNext] = nextInt(state.rng, p.hand.length);
@@ -2546,6 +2558,10 @@ function doMoveCreature(prev: GameState, creatureId: string, direction: Side): C
     if (creature.kind === "democratic-monster" && !creature.attackUsed) {
       creature.attackUsed = true; // "may attack only one player per round of turns"
       events.push({ type: "creatureTouched", creatureId: creature.id, player: p.id });
+      if (rev4) {
+        openCreatureStack(state, creature, p, 2, "claw");
+        return { ok: true, state, events };
+      }
       applyDamage(state, events, p, 2, "clawing monster", null);
     }
   }
@@ -2553,6 +2569,31 @@ function doMoveCreature(prev: GameState, creatureId: string, direction: Side): C
   return { ok: true, state, events };
 }
 
+/** Rules rev 4: a creature's blow opens a counteraction window like any attack. */
+function openCreatureStack(
+  state: GameState,
+  creature: CreatureState,
+  victim: PlayerState,
+  damage: number,
+  touch?: "wraith" | "claw",
+): void {
+  state.stack = {
+    attackerId: creature.controllerId,
+    defenderId: victim.id,
+    attackCard: null,
+    numberValue: null,
+    amplifyFactor: 1,
+    extendFactor: 1,
+    powerAttackPoints: 0,
+    params: { damage },
+    kind: "physical",
+    counters: [],
+    waitingOn: victim.id,
+    creatureId: creature.id,
+    ...(touch ? { creatureTouch: touch } : {}),
+  };
+}
+
 function doCreatureAttack(prev: GameState, creatureId: string, targetId: string): CommandResult {
   const blocked = requireActionsAvailable(prev);
   if (blocked) return err(blocked);
@@ -2593,6 +2634,10 @@ function doCreatureAttack(prev: GameState, creatureId: string, targetId: string)
   }
   events.push({ type: "creatureAttacked", creatureId: creature.id, target: targetId, dieRoll: roll });
   if (targetPlayer) {
+    if ((state.config.deckRev ?? 1) >= 4) {
+      openCreatureStack(state, creature, targetPlayer, amount);
+      return { ok: true, state, events };
+    }
     applyDamage(state, events, targetPlayer, amount, `${creature.kind}'s blow`, null, "physical");
   } else {
     damageCreature(state, events, targetCreature!, amount, `${creature.kind}'s blow`);
@@ -4447,8 +4492,9 @@ function resolveStack(state: GameState, events: GameEvent[]): void {
   const effect = attackId ? (CARD_EFFECTS[attackId] as AttackEffect) : null;
 
   // Hit rolls against INVISIBLE (attacker guesses a direction: 1-in-4) and
-  // SHRINK (50% miss). "If a spell misses, it dissipates harmlessly."
-  if (sustainedOn(state, defender.id, "invisible").length > 0) {
+  // SHRINK (50% miss). "If a spell misses, it dissipates harmlessly." A
+  // creature sharing the square has nothing to aim: no miss rolls.
+  if (!stack.creatureId && sustainedOn(state, defender.id, "invisible").length > 0) {
     const [roll, rngNext] = rollDie(state.rng);
     state.rng = rngNext;
     if (roll !== 1) {
@@ -4457,7 +4503,7 @@ function resolveStack(state: GameState, events: GameEvent[]): void {
       return;
     }
   }
-  if (sustainedOn(state, defender.id, "shrink").length > 0) {
+  if (!stack.creatureId && sustainedOn(state, defender.id, "shrink").length > 0) {
     const [roll, rngNext] = rollDie(state.rng);
     state.rng = rngNext;
     if (roll > 2) {
@@ -4467,7 +4513,11 @@ function resolveStack(state: GameState, events: GameEvent[]): void {
     }
   }
 
-  let base = effect ? effect.baseDamage(stack.numberValue, stack.params) : 1; // punch = 1
+  let base = effect
+    ? effect.baseDamage(stack.numberValue, stack.params)
+    : stack.creatureId
+      ? (stack.params?.damage ?? 1)  // a creature's blow
+      : 1;                           // a punch
   // Webs burn: "Any fire damage done to player in webs causes two extra points."
   if (attackId === "fireball" && sustainedOn(state, defender.id, "sticky-web").length > 0) {
     base += 2;
@@ -4532,15 +4582,34 @@ function resolveStack(state: GameState, events: GameEvent[]): void {
       pipe.fullyStopped = true;
       continue;
     }
+    if (stack.creatureId &&
+        (counter.card.cardId === "reflection" || counter.card.cardId === "full-reflection")) {
+      // "REFLECTIONs used on the wraith's touch will damage the wraith."
+      if (counter.card.cardId === "reflection") {
+        const half = Math.ceil(pipe.damage / 2);
+        pipe.reflectedDamage += half;
+        pipe.damage = half;
+      } else {
+        pipe.redirected = true; // the whole blow turns back (damage rides pipe.damage)
+      }
+      continue;
+    }
     const ce = CARD_EFFECTS[counter.card.cardId];
     if (ce && ce.kind === "counter") ce.apply(pipe);
   }
 
   let damageDealt = 0;
+  const attackingCreature = stack.creatureId
+    ? state.creatures.find((c) => c.id === stack.creatureId)
+    : undefined;
   if (pipe.redirected) {
     if (pipe.damage > 0) {
+      if (attackingCreature) {
+        damageCreature(state, events, attackingCreature, pipe.damage, "reflected touch");
+      } else {
         applyDamage(state, events, attacker, pipe.damage, `${attackId} (reflected)`, defender.id);
       }
+    }
     if (effect?.sustains && pipe.duration > 0) {
       attachSustained(state, events, attackId!, defender.id, attacker.id, pipe.duration);
     }
@@ -4550,12 +4619,28 @@ function resolveStack(state: GameState, events: GameEvent[]): void {
       events.push({ type: "lifeGained", player: defender.id, amount: pipe.damage, source: `${attackId} (reversed)`, lifeAfter: defender.life });
       damageDealt = pipe.damage; // secondary effects still take effect
     } else if (pipe.damage > 0) {
-      applyDamage(state, events, defender, pipe.damage, attackId ?? `punch from ${attacker.id}`, attacker.id, pipe.kind);
+      const source = attackId ??
+        (attackingCreature ? `${attackingCreature.kind}'s blow` : `punch from ${attacker.id}`);
+      applyDamage(state, events, defender, pipe.damage, source, attacker.id, pipe.kind);
       damageDealt = pipe.damage;
     }
+    // "he takes 2 points of damage and loses a random card" — the theft is a
+    // secondary effect, stopped only when all the damage is.
+    if (stack.creatureTouch === "wraith" && damageDealt > 0 && defender.alive && defender.hand.length > 0) {
+      const [idx, rngNext] = nextInt(state.rng, defender.hand.length);
+      state.rng = rngNext;
+      const [card] = defender.hand.splice(idx, 1);
+      defender.displayed = defender.displayed.filter((id) => id !== card!.instanceId);
+      state.discard.push(card!);
+      events.push({ type: "cardsDiscarded", player: defender.id, cards: [card!] });
+    }
     if (pipe.reflectedDamage > 0) {
+      if (attackingCreature) {
+        damageCreature(state, events, attackingCreature, pipe.reflectedDamage, "reflected touch");
+      } else {
         applyDamage(state, events, attacker, pipe.reflectedDamage, `${attackId} (reflection)`, defender.id);
       }
+    }
     // EMPATHY: "Any attack done in any form against you acts against both
     // you and the caster of the spell."
     if (damageDealt > 0 && sustainedOn(state, defender.id, "empathy").length > 0 && attacker.alive) {

packages/engine/test/creatures.test.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
-import { applyCommand, activePlayer, boardView, creatureAt, type GameState, type PlayerId } from "../src/game";
+import { applyCommand, activePlayer, boardView, creatureAt, type GameState, type PlayerId, createGame } from "../src/game";
 import { cellKey, SIDES, stepTarget, type Side } from "../src/board";
 import type { CardInstance } from "../src/cards";
 import { newExpansionGame as newGame, must, giveCard, toRound2, emptyNeighborCell } from "./helpers";
@@ -282,3 +282,62 @@ describe("expansion support cards", () => {
     expect(state.creatures.length).toBe(0);
   });
 });
+
+describe("counteracting a creature's blow (rules rev 4)", () => {
+  function rev4() {
+    return createGame({ playerIds: ["alice", "bob"], seed: 42, sets: ["basic", "expansion1"], deckRev: 4 });
+  }
+  function wraithOnVictim(state: GameState) {
+    state = toRound2(state);
+    const controller = activePlayer(state);
+    const victim = state.players.find((p) => p.id !== controller.id)!;
+    const spot = emptyNeighborCell(state, controller.position);
+    state.creatures.push({
+      id: "w1", kind: "wraith", controllerId: controller.id, position: { ...controller.position },
+      damage: 0, maxDamage: 4, movesPerTurn: 3, movementUsed: 0,
+      wallPassesPerTurn: 1, wallPassUsed: 0, attackUsed: false, justCreated: false, scorchedThisTurn: [],
+    });
+    victim.position = { ...spot.cell };
+    return { state, controller: controller.id, victim: victim.id, side: spot.side };
+  }
+
+  it("BLUNT halves the wraith's touch; the card theft still lands", () => {
+    let { state } = rev4();
+    const rig = wraithOnVictim(state);
+    state = rig.state;
+    giveCard(state, rig.victim, "blunt", "B", 0);
+    const handBefore = state.players.find((p) => p.id === rig.victim)!.hand.filter(Boolean).length;
+    state = must(state, rig.controller, { type: "moveCreature", creatureId: "w1", direction: rig.side });
+    expect(state.stack?.creatureId).toBe("w1");
+    state = must(state, rig.victim, { type: "counteract", instanceId: "blunt#B" });
+    state = must(state, rig.controller, { type: "pass" });
+    state = must(state, rig.victim, { type: "pass" });
+    const v = state.players.find((p) => p.id === rig.victim)!;
+    expect(v.life).toBe(14); // 2 halved up to 1
+    expect(v.hand.length).toBe(handBefore - 2); // blunt spent + a card stolen
+  });
+
+  it("FULL REFLECTION turns the touch back on the wraith, theft and all", () => {
+    let { state } = rev4();
+    const rig = wraithOnVictim(state);
+    state = rig.state;
+    giveCard(state, rig.victim, "full-reflection", "FR", 0);
+    state = must(state, rig.controller, { type: "moveCreature", creatureId: "w1", direction: rig.side });
+    state = must(state, rig.victim, { type: "counteract", instanceId: "full-reflection#FR" });
+    state = must(state, rig.controller, { type: "pass" });
+    state = must(state, rig.victim, { type: "pass" });
+    const v = state.players.find((p) => p.id === rig.victim)!;
+    expect(v.life).toBe(15);
+    const wraith = state.creatures.find((c) => c.id === "w1")!;
+    expect(wraith.damage).toBe(2);
+  });
+
+  it("legacy games (rev < 4) keep the instant touch", () => {
+    let { state } = createGame({ playerIds: ["alice", "bob"], seed: 42, sets: ["basic", "expansion1"] });
+    const rig = wraithOnVictim(state);
+    state = rig.state;
+    state = must(state, rig.controller, { type: "moveCreature", creatureId: "w1", direction: rig.side });
+    expect(state.stack).toBeNull();
+    expect(state.players.find((p) => p.id === rig.victim)!.life).toBe(13);
+  });
+});

packages/server/src/rooms.ts

@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ export interface Room {
 const rooms = new Map<string, Room>();
 
 /** Rules revision new games are dealt under (stored games keep their own). */
-const RULES_REV = 3;
+const RULES_REV = 4;
 
 const ROOM_CODE_ALPHABET = "ABCDEFGHJKLMNPQRSTUVWXYZ23456789";
 

packages/web/src/App.svelte

@@ -83,9 +83,12 @@
   const youMustRespond = $derived(view?.stack != null && view.stack.waitingOn === view.you);
   const attackNoticeKey = $derived(
     youMustRespond && view?.stack
-      ? `${view.stack.attackerId}:${view.stack.attackCard?.instanceId ?? "punch"}:${view.stack.counters.length}`
+      ? `${view.stack.attackerId}:${view.stack.attackCard?.instanceId ?? view.stack.creatureId ?? "punch"}:${view.stack.counters.length}`
       : null,
   );
+  const attackingCreature = $derived(
+    view?.stack?.creatureId ? view.creatures.find((c) => c.id === view!.stack!.creatureId) ?? null : null,
+  );
   const youMustDiscard = $derived(view != null && view.pendingDiscard === view.you);
   const youMustShield = $derived(view?.chaosPending?.queue[0] === view?.you && view != null);
   const holdingWard = $derived(view?.yourHand.some((c) => c.cardId === "ward") ?? false);
@@ -746,13 +749,17 @@
     <div class="scrim attack-scrim" role="alertdialog" aria-label="you are under attack">
       <div class="attack-notice">
         <div class="attack-headline">
-          {#if view.stack.defenderId === view.you}
+          {#if view.stack.defenderId === view.you && attackingCreature}
+            <strong>{view.stack.attackerId}</strong>'s {cardDef(attackingCreature.kind).name} attacks you!
+          {:else if view.stack.defenderId === view.you}
             <strong>{view.stack.attackerId}</strong> attacks you!
           {:else}
             <strong>{view.stack.counters[view.stack.counters.length - 1]?.player}</strong> counters your spell!
           {/if}
         </div>
-        {#if view.stack.defenderId === view.you && view.stack.attackCard}
+        {#if view.stack.defenderId === view.you && attackingCreature}
+          <div class="attack-card"><Card card={{ instanceId: `atk-${attackingCreature.id}`, cardId: attackingCreature.kind }} /></div>
+        {:else if view.stack.defenderId === view.you && view.stack.attackCard}
           <div class="attack-card"><Card card={view.stack.attackCard} /></div>
           {#if view.stack.numberValue != null}
             <div class="attack-power">powered by a {view.stack.numberValue}</div>
@@ -1131,7 +1138,7 @@
             <span class="hint-alert">
               {#if view.stack.defenderId === view.you}
                 {view.stack.attackerId} attacks with
-                {view.stack.attackCard ? cardDef(view.stack.attackCard.cardId).name : "a punch"} —
+                {attackingCreature ? `the ${cardDef(attackingCreature.kind).name}` : view.stack.attackCard ? cardDef(view.stack.attackCard.cardId).name : "a punch"} —
                 tap a counteraction card, or
               {:else}
                 {view.stack.waitingOn === view.you ? "They counter your spell — counter back, or" : ""}

packages/web/src/local.svelte.ts

@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ class LocalGame {
       seed,
       sets: expansion ? ["basic", "expansion1"] : ["basic"],
       ...(colors ? { colors } : {}),
-      deckRev: 3,
+      deckRev: 4,
     };
     const { state, events } = createGame(config);
     this.config = config;