Delve

The Delve (codename: YES-hybrid) pipeline treats game balance as an empirical systems problem, using D&D 4th Edition tactical roles as the functional heuristic for piece design. By mapping roles like the Defender, Striker, and Controller into Betza notation, a compact movement algebra, the project translates high-level RPG intent into precise, engine-native “atoms” of play. This allows a piece like the Defender to be encoded not by a stat block, but by a specific movement and capture radius that creates a mathematical zone of friction on the board. This formal rulespace is then locked via Forsyth–Edwards Notation (a standard board snapshot), ensuring that every experimental run starts from a canonical, reproducible state. To validate these mappings, a C# harness executes depth-anchored match sweeps using the Fairy-Stockfish engine, running hundreds of engine-vs-engine games at a fixed search depth. This rigorous anchoring is vital because what appears balanced at a shallow glance…