Combat Command Terminal

Command forces in ground and space battles through the Echo Interface Terminal.

Reticle Cold War's combat system delivers tactical depth comparable to strategy games like Advance Wars and Into the Breach—featuring grid-based maneuvering, terrain effects, diverse unit types, and objective-driven missions across two distinct battle environments.

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The Combat HUD

The Combat HUD provides comprehensive battlefield awareness and command capabilities through several integrated components.

Tactical Grid Display

The main grid shows the battlefield divided into navigable sectors:

• Sectored View: Large battlefields are divided into 5x5 cell sectors for focused tactical management
• Auto-Navigation: Automatically follows your active unit across sectors
• Entity Indicators: Units, objectives, hazards, and terrain clearly marked with distinct symbols

Command Zone

The bottom command bar provides quick access to essential actions:

Button	Function
END TURN	Complete your phase and advance to enemy phase
SAVE	Save current mission progress
LOAD	Resume from a previous save point
COMMANDS	Open the full command reference panel
COMBAT TERMINAL	Launch the command-line interface

Combat Terminal

The expandable terminal drawer allows direct command input:

• Type commands directly for precise control
• View command history and battle log
• Command auto-completion and validation
• Keyboard navigation (arrow keys for history)

Command Categories

Commands are organized into four categories:

Default Commands

• select — Choose unit to command
• attack — Execute attack on target
• special — Use unit's special ability
• speed — Adjust movement speed
• endturn — End your turn

Strategic Commands

• reinforce — Call in reinforcements at control nodes
• sabotage — Destroy enemy structures
• secure — Capture objectives
• hack — Breach enemy terminals
• investigate — Analyze battlefield intel
• plant — Deploy devices or explosives
• analyze — Assess tactical situation
• teleport — Warp unit to new position
• heal — Restore unit health
• withdraw — Initiate tactical retreat

Navigation Commands

• n/p — Next/previous unit selection
• w/a/s/d — Pan view directionally
• move — Move selected unit
• zoom — Adjust view scale
• changeview — Switch view modes

Utility Commands

• progress — View mission progress
• briefing — Review mission objectives
• status — Check unit status
• map — Toggle minimap
• items — View collected power-ups
• tutorial — Access combat tutorial
• notifications — View alerts
• comms — Access communications

Intelligence Panel

The right-side panel displays real-time tactical information:

• Tactical Intel: Enemy positions, threat assessment
• Performance Metrics: Turn count, objective progress, unit efficiency
• Combat Profile: Your combat statistics and ratings

Mission Progress

Track objectives with visual indicators:

• Completed objectives marked with checkmarks
• Active objectives highlighted
• Progress percentage displayed
• Mission time remaining

Notification System

Combat alerts appear for critical events:

• Enemy movements detected
• Incoming bombardment warnings
• Objective status changes
• Unit status critical alerts
• Environmental hazard proximity

Echo Level Progression

Commands unlock based on your Echo Interface skill level:

• Higher levels unlock advanced commands
• Progress bar shows current command access
• Next unlock preview shows what's coming

Save & Load System

Persist your progress during missions:

• Manual saves at any point during your turn
• Multiple save slots per mission
• Load previous saves if strategy fails
• Auto-save on critical events

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Battle Types

Combat operations take place across two distinct environments:

Ground Combat

Surface-based operations with terrain considerations including forests, mountains, urban areas, and environmental hazards.

Space Combat

Zero-gravity engagements featuring nebulae, asteroid fields, debris, and unique spatial hazards.

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Combat Phases

Each battle progresses through two distinct phases:

Recon Phase

The initial phase where you assess the battlefield:

• Scout enemy positions
• Identify objectives and terrain features
• Plan your tactical approach
• Position units for engagement
• Eliminate targets or complete preliminary objectives

Transition to Battle Phase occurs when you complete an objective or engage enemy forces.

Battle Phase

Active combat where victory conditions must be achieved:

• Execute attacks and maneuvers
• Complete mission objectives
• Respond to enemy actions and mass bombardments
• Manage unit health and positioning

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Unit Types

Ground Units

Unit	Role	Strengths
Infiltrator	Fast-moving stealth	Speed, evasion
Defender	Heavy defensive	High defense, durability
Disruptor	Ranged attack specialist	Long-range damage
Scout	Long-range visibility	Detection, reconnaissance
Sentinel	Guard with enhanced detection	Area awareness
Hunter	Tracking and pursuit	Target acquisition
Seeker	Far-ranging intel	Extended vision range
Piercer	High-powered offensive	Maximum damage output

Space Units

Unit	Role	Strengths
Interceptor	Fast attack spacecraft	Speed, strike capability
Command Ship	Heavy command vessel	Durability, command bonuses
Hunter	Pursuit vessel	Target tracking
Drone	Automated attack craft	Numbers, expendability
Sentinel	Advanced patrol	Scanning capabilities
Stealth Fighter	Cloaked vessel	Reduced visibility
Carrier	Drone deployment	Unit spawning
Bomber	Heavy attack ship	Area damage
Occulo Cruiser	Long-range recon	Extended detection
Beam Cruiser	Weapons platform	Focused energy attacks

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Terrain & Environment

Ground Terrain

Terrain	Effect
Plains	Standard movement and defense
Forest	Slower movement, +2 defense
Mountain	Slowest movement, +3 defense
Water	Slower movement, -1 defense
Desert	Moderate slowdown, -1 defense
Urban	Standard movement, +2 defense
Hill	Slower movement, slight defense bonus
Wall	Impassable, blocks line of sight

Space Features

Feature	Effect
Empty Space	Standard movement
Nebula	Slower movement, +2 defense
Asteroid	Impassable obstacle
Debris Field	Moderate slowdown, +1 defense

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Objectives

Missions include various objective types:

Objective	Description
Capture	Seize and hold control points
Eliminate Target	Destroy high-value enemy units
Escort	Protect and guide VIPs to extraction
Rescue	Locate and extract friendly assets
Retrieve Intel	Secure intelligence data
Sabotage	Destroy enemy installations
Hack Terminal	Breach enemy systems
Hold Position	Defend location for specified duration
Plant Device	Deploy explosives or equipment

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Hazards & Environmental Effects

Battlefields may contain dangerous elements:

Hazard	Effect
Radiation	Deals damage over time, may spread
EMP Field	Disables units temporarily
Toxic Cloud	Poisons units, ongoing damage
Lava Flow	Heavy damage, movement penalty
Smoke	Provides concealment, blocks vision

Mass Bombardment

Enemy forces may call in mass bombardment attacks:

• Targets area around your units
• Deals significant damage within radius
• Damages terrain and destroys objects
• Higher difficulty increases bombardment frequency
• Higher Echo Interface skill helps detect and evade bombardments

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Power-Ups

Collect battlefield power-ups for tactical advantages:

Power-Up	Effect
Rapid Fire	Doubles attack power
Stealth Field	Temporary invisibility
Reinforcement Call	Summon additional unit
Artillery Strike	Area damage attack
Warp Drive	Teleport unit
Cloaking Device	Extended stealth
Drone Swarm	Deploy drone units
Nova Blast	Powerful area attack

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Unit Statistics

Each unit has key attributes:

• Health: Damage capacity before destruction
• Attack: Damage dealt to enemies
• Defense: Damage reduction from attacks
• Range: Attack distance in grid cells
• Movement: Cells traveled per turn
• Energy: Resource for special abilities

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Turn Structure

Each turn follows this sequence:

1. Your Phase

   • Move units (each has movement points)
   • Execute attacks on enemies in range
   • Use special abilities
   • Interact with objectives
   • Collect power-ups

2. End Turn

   • Confirm turn completion

3. Enemy Phase

   • Enemy units move and attack
   • Potential mass bombardment
   • Environmental effects resolve

4. Status Update

   • Objective progress updated
   • Victory/defeat conditions checked

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Control Nodes

Capturing control nodes provides strategic advantages:

• Deploy reinforcement units at controlled nodes
• Gain tactical positioning benefits
• Some objectives require holding nodes

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Victory & Defeat

Victory Conditions

• Complete all primary objectives
• Eliminate all enemy forces (some missions)
• Escort targets to extraction (escort missions)
• Hold positions for required duration (defense missions)

Defeat Conditions

• All player units destroyed
• Critical objectives failed
• Time limit exceeded (timed missions)
• Protected units destroyed (escort/rescue missions)

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Combat Rating

Performance is rated S through F based on:

• Objective completion
• Unit preservation
• Turn efficiency
• Optional objectives completed

Higher ratings provide better rewards and improve your standing with sponsor sub-factions.

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Tactical Withdrawal

If a battle becomes unwinnable, you can initiate tactical withdrawal:

• Use the withdraw command
• Confirm the withdrawal
• Combat rating penalty applies
• Mission counts as incomplete

Withdrawing from missions impacts your reputation.

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Tips for Success

1. Use terrain — Position units on defensive terrain before engaging
2. Protect specialists — Keep high-damage, low-defense units behind defenders
3. Watch for bombardment — Spread units to minimize area damage
4. Complete objectives early — Transition to Battle Phase with advantage
5. Manage movement — Don't overextend units beyond support range
6. Collect power-ups — They can turn the tide of battle
7. Control nodes matter — Reinforcements can replace losses

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Learn More

• Territorial Warfare Overview — Mission structure and stakes
• The Six Sub-Factions — Who you'll command forces for
• Skills & Progression — Combat skill development