Round 4: balance-arena harness with lua telemetry, minimap radar, damage smoke, harvester-attack warning, Needle Drop + Compression maps

Fixes a critical bug: undeployed MCV vans now count for short-game survival —
previously every match ended at tick 1 (all players 'defeated', local player
'won'). The bot-vs-bot shellmap claim from earlier rounds was invalid for the
same reason: shellmaps stall with Bot: players and matches insta-ended. The
arena map + tools/balance_report.py is the real, verified harness.

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

MEGAPLAN.md

@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ faction, or it reads as clip-art soup. Fix the Blender camera rig once, reuse.
 Learned the hard way on 2026-07-20 (phases A–F):
 
 - **Smoke-test any change by launching straight into a game**: `./launch-game.sh Game.Mod=vinylgod Launch.Map=vinylgod` — `Launch.Map` accepts the map's *folder name*, no UID needed. Run ~45s, then check `~/Library/Application Support/OpenRA/Logs/` for `exception-*.log` (renamed with a timestamp on crash — absence of `exception.log` alone proves nothing).
-- **The shellmap is the integration test**: it runs a bot-vs-bot match (BotA MRP vs BotB Stream, `Bot: wax` in map.yaml) behind the main menu. If a trait wiring is broken, the menu crashes within seconds.
+- **Shellmaps FREEZE with bot players** (learned 2026-07-21): a `Bot:` player on a shellmap stalls the order manager after one world tick — the menu *looks* fine but nothing simulates. Keep the shellmap a static diorama. The real integration test is `maps/arena` (Lobby-hidden map with two `Bot: wax` players + `balance.lua` telemetry): launch with `Launch.Map=arena`, wait, then `python3 tools/balance_report.py` reads economy/army/eliminations from lua.log. A map validation error (e.g. bad `Enemies:` reference) can also silently stall a match at tick 1 — always get check-yaml to zero before trusting a run.
 - Chrome image collections must be **power-of-two** textures (a 48×48 png crashes the renderer).
 - Every rules file must use the same case for shared top-level actors: `player:` not `Player:` — mismatched case = "duplicate values" manifest error.
 - Speech notification `Sounds`/`Speech` blocks: set `DefaultVariant: .wav` (engine default is `.aud`).

mods/vinylgod/chrome/layouts/ingame-player.yaml

@@ -16,6 +16,18 @@ Container@PLAYER_WIDGETS:
 					Height: 23
 					Align: Right
 					Font: TinyBold
+		Container@RADAR_BOX:
+			X: WINDOW_WIDTH - 240
+			Y: WINDOW_HEIGHT - 240
+			Width: 232
+			Height: 232
+			Children:
+				Radar@RADAR_MINIMAP:
+					X: 4
+					Y: 4
+					Width: 224
+					Height: 224
+					WorldInteractionController: INTERACTION_CONTROLLER
 		Container@SUPPORT_POWERS:
 			X: 10
 			Y: 45

mods/vinylgod/maps/arena/balance.lua

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+WorldLoaded = function()
+	print("BAL script loaded")
+	for _, p in ipairs(Player.GetPlayers(nil)) do
+		Trigger.OnPlayerWon(p, function(pl) print("BAL WON: "..pl.InternalName) end)
+		Trigger.OnPlayerLost(p, function(pl) print("BAL LOST: "..pl.InternalName) end)
+	end
+end
+
+-- Balance telemetry: logs bot economy/army every ~10s to lua.log.
+-- Read with: grep BAL ~/Library/Application Support/OpenRA/Logs/lua.log
+local tick = 0
+local dead = {}
+
+Tick = function()
+	tick = tick + 1
+	if tick <= 3 then print("BAL tick "..tick) end
+	if tick == 251 then print("BAL reached 251") end
+	if tick % 250 ~= 0 then
+		return
+	end
+	local bots = Player.GetPlayers(function(p) return p.InternalName == "BotA" or p.InternalName == "BotB" end)
+	for _, p in ipairs(bots) do
+		local units, buildings = 0, 0
+		for _, a in ipairs(Map.ActorsInWorld) do
+			if a.Owner == p then
+				if a.HasProperty("Move") then
+					units = units + 1
+				else
+					buildings = buildings + 1
+				end
+			end
+		end
+		print(string.format("BAL t=%d %s cash=%d stored=%d units=%d buildings=%d",
+			tick, p.InternalName, p.Cash, p.Resources, units, buildings))
+		if units + buildings == 0 and not dead[p.InternalName] then
+			dead[p.InternalName] = true
+			print(string.format("BAL t=%d %s ELIMINATED", tick, p.InternalName))
+		end
+	end
+end

mods/vinylgod/maps/arena/map.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+MapFormat: 12
+
+RequiresMod: vinylgod
+
+Title: Balance Arena
+
+Author: Monster Robot Party
+
+Tileset: VINYLGOD
+
+MapSize: 34,34
+
+Bounds: 1,1,32,32
+
+Visibility: MissionSelector
+
+Categories: Tests
+
+Players:
+	PlayerReference@Neutral:
+		Name: Neutral
+		OwnsWorld: True
+		NonCombatant: True
+		Faction: Random
+	PlayerReference@Multi0:
+		Name: Multi0
+		Playable: True
+		LockFaction: True
+		Faction: vinylgod
+		Enemies: BotA, BotB
+	PlayerReference@BotA:
+		Name: BotA
+		Faction: vinylgod
+		Bot: wax
+		Enemies: BotB, Multi0
+	PlayerReference@BotB:
+		Name: BotB
+		Faction: stream
+		Bot: wax
+		Enemies: BotA, Multi0
+
+Actors:
+	Actor0: mpspawn
+		Owner: Multi0
+		Location: 16,3
+	Actor9: vault
+		Owner: Multi0
+		Location: 16,2
+	Actor1: popupvan
+		Owner: BotA
+		Location: 7,7
+	Actor2: digger
+		Owner: BotA
+		Location: 9,8
+	Actor3: streamvan
+		Owner: BotB
+		Location: 26,26
+	Actor4: scraper
+		Owner: BotB
+		Location: 24,25
+
+Rules: rules.yaml

mods/vinylgod/maps/arena/rules.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+world:
+	LuaScript:
+		Scripts: balance.lua

mods/vinylgod/maps/compression/map.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+MapFormat: 12
+
+RequiresMod: vinylgod
+
+Title: The Compression
+
+Author: Monster Robot Party
+
+Tileset: VINYLGOD
+
+MapSize: 92,92
+
+Bounds: 1,1,90,90
+
+Visibility: Lobby
+
+Categories: Maps
+
+Players:
+	PlayerReference@Neutral:
+		Name: Neutral
+		OwnsWorld: True
+		NonCombatant: True
+		Faction: Random
+	PlayerReference@Creeps:
+		Name: Creeps
+		NonCombatant: True
+		Faction: Random
+	PlayerReference@Multi0:
+		Name: Multi0
+		Playable: True
+		Faction: Random
+		Enemies: Creeps
+	PlayerReference@Multi1:
+		Name: Multi1
+		Playable: True
+		Faction: Random
+		Enemies: Creeps
+	PlayerReference@Multi2:
+		Name: Multi2
+		Playable: True
+		Faction: Random
+		Enemies: Creeps
+	PlayerReference@Multi3:
+		Name: Multi3
+		Playable: True
+		Faction: Random
+		Enemies: Creeps
+	PlayerReference@Multi4:
+		Name: Multi4
+		Playable: True
+		Faction: Random
+		Enemies: Creeps
+	PlayerReference@Multi5:
+		Name: Multi5
+		Playable: True
+		Faction: Random
+		Enemies: Creeps
+
+Actors:
+	Actor0: mpspawn
+		Owner: Multi0
+		Location: 9,9
+	Actor1: mpspawn
+		Owner: Multi1
+		Location: 82,9
+	Actor2: mpspawn
+		Owner: Multi2
+		Location: 9,82
+	Actor3: mpspawn
+		Owner: Multi3
+		Location: 82,82
+	Actor4: mpspawn
+		Owner: Multi4
+		Location: 45,7
+	Actor5: mpspawn
+		Owner: Multi5
+		Location: 45,84

mods/vinylgod/maps/needledrop/map.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+MapFormat: 12
+
+RequiresMod: vinylgod
+
+Title: Needle Drop
+
+Author: Monster Robot Party
+
+Tileset: VINYLGOD
+
+MapSize: 42,42
+
+Bounds: 1,1,40,40
+
+Visibility: Lobby
+
+Categories: Maps
+
+Players:
+	PlayerReference@Neutral:
+		Name: Neutral
+		OwnsWorld: True
+		NonCombatant: True
+		Faction: Random
+	PlayerReference@Creeps:
+		Name: Creeps
+		NonCombatant: True
+		Faction: Random
+	PlayerReference@Multi0:
+		Name: Multi0
+		Playable: True
+		Faction: Random
+		Enemies: Creeps
+	PlayerReference@Multi1:
+		Name: Multi1
+		Playable: True
+		Faction: Random
+		Enemies: Creeps
+
+Actors:
+	Actor0: mpspawn
+		Owner: Multi0
+		Location: 7,20
+	Actor1: mpspawn
+		Owner: Multi1
+		Location: 34,20

mods/vinylgod/maps/shellmap/map.yaml

@@ -26,27 +26,29 @@ Players:
 		Name: Creeps
 		NonCombatant: True
 		Faction: Random
-	PlayerReference@BotA:
-		Name: BotA
-		Faction: vinylgod
-		Bot: wax
-		Enemies: BotB
-	PlayerReference@BotB:
-		Name: BotB
-		Faction: stream
-		Bot: wax
-		Enemies: BotA
 
 Actors:
-	Actor1: popupvan
-		Owner: BotA
-		Location: 7,7
+	Actor1: pressplant
+		Owner: Creeps
+		Location: 12,12
 	Actor2: digger
-		Owner: BotA
-		Location: 9,8
-	Actor3: streamvan
-		Owner: BotB
-		Location: 26,26
-	Actor4: scraper
-		Owner: BotB
-		Location: 24,25
+		Owner: Creeps
+		Location: 15,14
+	Actor3: ampstack
+		Owner: Creeps
+		Location: 10,14
+	Actor4: popupshop
+		Owner: Creeps
+		Location: 18,12
+	Actor5: hornpit
+		Owner: Creeps
+		Location: 16,16
+	Actor6: streamhub
+		Owner: Creeps
+		Location: 24,24
+	Actor7: transcoder
+		Owner: Creeps
+		Location: 21,25
+	Actor8: adblocker
+		Owner: Creeps
+		Location: 25,22

mods/vinylgod/notifications/vinylgod.yaml

@@ -18,3 +18,4 @@ Speech:
 		ShuffleReady: audio/mc_shuffleready
 		SelectTarget: audio/mc_selecttarget
 		Incoming: audio/mc_incoming
+		HarvesterAttack: audio/mc_harvattack

mods/vinylgod/rules/economy.yaml

@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ digger:
 
 popupvan:
 	Inherits: ^Unit
+	MustBeDestroyed:
+		RequiredForShortGame: true
 	Voiced:
 		VoiceSet: MrpVoice
 	-WithSpriteBody:
@@ -103,6 +105,7 @@ djgrunt:
 
 ^EconBuilding:
 	Inherits: ^EconSprite
+	WithDamageOverlay:
 	FireWarheadsOnDeath:
 		Weapon: BuildingExplode
 	Targetable:
@@ -150,6 +153,7 @@ djgrunt:
 popupshop:
 	Inherits: ^EconBuilding
 	Inherits@shape: ^Buildable2x2
+	ProvidesRadar:
 	Tooltip:
 		Name: actor-popupshop.name
 	Health:

mods/vinylgod/rules/player.yaml

@@ -30,7 +30,10 @@ player:
 		WinNotification: Win
 		LoseNotification: Lose
 	BaseAttackNotifier:
+	HarvesterAttackNotifier:
+		Notification: HarvesterAttack
 	SupportPowerManager:
+	ScriptTriggers:
 
 editorplayer:
 	Inherits: ^baseplayer

mods/vinylgod/rules/stream.yaml

@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 streamvan:
 	Inherits: ^Unit
+	MustBeDestroyed:
+		RequiredForShortGame: true
 	Voiced:
 		VoiceSet: StreamVoice
 	-WithSpriteBody:
@@ -29,6 +31,7 @@ streamvan:
 streamhub:
 	Inherits: ^EconBuilding
 	Inherits@shape: ^Buildable2x2
+	ProvidesRadar:
 	Tooltip:
 		Name: actor-streamhub.name
 	Health:

mods/vinylgod/rules/world.yaml

@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ world:
 	BuildingInfluence:
 	PathFinder:
 	MapOptions:
+	ScriptTriggers:
 	Locomotor@WHEELED:
 		Name: wheeled
 		TerrainSpeeds:

mods/vinylgod/sequences/economy.yaml

@@ -200,3 +200,16 @@ algorithm:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/algorithm.png
 	icon:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/icon_algorithm.png
+
+smoke_m:
+	idle:
+		Filename: sequences/assets/smoke.png
+		Length: 2
+	loop:
+		Filename: sequences/assets/smoke.png
+		Start: 2
+		Length: 4
+	end:
+		Filename: sequences/assets/smoke.png
+		Start: 6
+		Length: 2

tools/balance_report.py

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Summarize a shellmap bot-war from lua.log BAL telemetry.
+
+Usage: balance_report.py [path-to-lua.log]
+"""
+import os, re, sys
+
+path = sys.argv[1] if len(sys.argv) > 1 else os.path.expanduser('~/Library/Application Support/OpenRA/Logs/lua.log')
+rows = []
+for line in open(path):
+    m = re.search(r'BAL t=(\d+) (\w+) cash=(\d+) stored=(\d+) units=(\d+) buildings=(\d+)', line)
+    if m:
+        rows.append((int(m[1]), m[2], int(m[3]), int(m[4]), int(m[5]), int(m[6])))
+    m = re.search(r'BAL t=(\d+) (\w+) ELIMINATED', line)
+    if m:
+        print(f'*** {m[2]} ELIMINATED at tick {m[1]} (~{int(m[1]) // 25}s)')
+
+if not rows:
+    sys.exit('no BAL telemetry found')
+
+bots = sorted({r[1] for r in rows})
+print(f'{"tick":>6} ' + ''.join(f'{b + " $/store/u/b":>28}' for b in bots))
+ticks = sorted({r[0] for r in rows})
+for t in ticks[:: max(1, len(ticks) // 12)]:
+    line = f'{t:>6} '
+    for b in bots:
+        r = next((x for x in rows if x[0] == t and x[1] == b), None)
+        line += f'{f"{r[2]}/{r[3]}/{r[4]}/{r[5]}" if r else "-":>28}'
+    print(line)
+
+print('\nfinal:')
+for b in bots:
+    r = [x for x in rows if x[1] == b][-1]
+    print(f'  {b}: cash={r[2]} stored={r[3]} units={r[4]} buildings={r[5]}')