WIP: add ttrpg-encounter-builder skill + server-mode API docs

UNTESTED work in progress. Do not assume correct.

Scope: SERVER BACKEND ONLY (SQLite/Express, REACT_APP_STORAGE=server).
Does NOT work with Firebase SDK mode — no HTTP backend there, different
transport/auth. Skill + doc explicitly call this out.

- .agents/skills/ttrpg-encounter-builder/: harness-agnostic skill
  (pi/claude/codex via .agents/skills + symlinks). SKILL.md + helper
  script that batch-writes encounters via REST, rolls initiative, verifies.
- docs/ENCOUNTER_BUILDER.md: add Path normalization section, Build flow
  (API/scripts) section with REST endpoint table, object templates,
  recipe. Server-mode-only caveat noted.

Helper script syntax-checked + campaign lookup verified against running
instance, but full seed flow not regression-tested against test suite.
This commit is contained in:
david raistrick
2026-07-07 15:42:02 -04:00
parent 907484fc7f
commit 43b1f6ce41
3 changed files with 551 additions and 0 deletions
@@ -0,0 +1,294 @@
---
name: ttrpg-encounter-builder
description: |
Seeds D&D encounter rosters into the TTRPG Initiative Tracker via its REST API
(no UI clicking). Use when the user asks to "set up encounters", "build
encounters", "add participants to a campaign", "seed this encounter list",
or provides a statblock list (name + HP + init) for a campaign running on a
self-hosted tracker instance running in SERVER MODE (bundled Express
backend). NOT for Firebase SDK mode — that has no HTTP backend; write path
differs entirely. Harness-agnostic: pi, Claude Code, and Codex all run the
same script + curl recipes.
---
# TTRPG Encounter Builder
Build encounter rosters directly via the tracker REST API. No UI clicking, no
browser automation. One batch write per session, then verify.
## When to use
User provides a campaign name + a list of encounters, each with named
participants carrying HP and initiative modifiers (or rolled initiative).
Examples:
- "set up these encounters in the 2026 D&D campaign on bee.icantclick.org:8080"
- "build encounter: Barrowdeep 1 - Ankheg HP 45 Init +0"
- "seed these statblocks into my tracker"
Do NOT use for: starting combat, rolling HP mid-fight, editing live combat
state, or driving the player display. Those are in-combat ops, not build ops.
## Prerequisites
- A running tracker instance in **SERVER MODE** (`REACT_APP_STORAGE=server`,
bundled Express backend mounted). Reachable over HTTP.
- **Firebase SDK mode NOT supported.** No `/api/*` endpoints exist; data
lives in Firestore via the in-browser SDK with different auth + write
paths. This skill cannot reach it. If the user is on firebase mode, tell
them: switch to server mode, or build encounters via the UI / a
firebase-admin script (out of scope here).
- Node.js 18+ (for `fetch` + `crypto.randomUUID`). Helper script uses only
builtins — no `npm install`.
- Campaign must already exist (created via UI or `POST /api/collection`).
This skill adds encounters to an existing campaign.
Confirm host reachable + server mode before building:
```bash
curl -s <HOST>/api/collection?path=campaigns | head -c 200
```
Returns JSON array of campaign docs = server mode confirmed. HTML (SPA shell)
= firebase mode OR backend not mounted. Either way, this skill won't work —
tell the user.
## Data model (read this before writing)
Three nested entities, all opaque JSON docs in a path-keyed KV store:
```
Campaign campaigns/{campaignId}
└─ Encounter campaigns/{campaignId}/encounters/{encounterId}
└─ Participant (inline array item on the encounter doc)
```
**Participants are inline.** There is NO `participants` sub-collection. A
`participants` path returns empty. Each encounter doc carries its full roster
in a `participants[]` array.
### Path normalization (gotcha)
App code uses firebase-prefixed paths (`artifacts/{APP_ID}/public/data/campaigns/...`).
The REST API uses **bare canonical** paths (`campaigns/...`). The adapter
strips the prefix server-side.
- REST / scripts / direct DB → bare: `campaigns/{cid}/encounters/{eid}`
- If `GET /api/collection?path=artifacts/.../campaigns` returns `[]`, you used
the prefixed form. Drop the prefix.
### Encounter doc shape
```js
{
name: 'Barrowdeep 1 - Antechamber',
createdAt: new Date().toISOString(),
participants: [], // inline roster
round: 0,
currentTurnParticipantId: null,
isStarted: false,
isPaused: false,
ruleset: '5e',
}
```
Build encounters with `round: 0`, `isStarted: false`. Starting combat is a
separate in-combat op (UI Start button or a later skill).
### Participant object shape
```js
{
id: <uuid>, // crypto.randomUUID(), client-generated
name: 'Ankheg',
type: 'monster', // 'monster' | 'npc' | 'character'
originalCharacterId: null, // set only if type === 'character'
initiative: <int>, // rolled ONCE at add; stored, not re-derived
maxHp: 45,
currentHp: 45, // start at full
conditions: [],
isActive: true,
status: 'conscious',
deathSaveSuccesses: 0, // character/npc only
deathSaveFailures: 0, // character/npc only
}
```
### type field
- `monster` — DM-controlled, dead at 0 HP (auto-inactive). Default.
- `npc` — DM-controlled but keeps death saves (revivable). Use for named
allies/villains the DM runs.
- `character` — player character. Requires `originalCharacterId` linking to a
campaign roster entry. For build-from-statblock, use `monster` or `npc`,
not `character`.
### Initiative semantics
- Default: `initiative = rollD20() + initMod` (d20 ∈ [1,20], rolled fresh per
participant).
- Manual override: set `initiative` directly (pre-rolled values), skip the
roll. `initMod` is NOT stored on the participant — only the final
`initiative` value persists.
- Fixed at add time. Never re-derived after.
### id format
`generateId()` = `crypto.randomUUID()` (fallback `id_{Date.now()}_{rand10}`).
Generate participant ids client-side so they're stable across batch writes.
Server `POST /api/collection` auto-generates a UUID for the doc id — fine for
campaigns/encounters, but for inline participants you generate them yourself.
## REST endpoints
All paths bare canonical.
| Method | Path | Body / Query | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| `GET` | `/api/doc` | `?path=` | read one doc |
| `PUT` | `/api/doc` | `{path, data}` | replace doc |
| `PATCH` | `/api/doc` | `{path, patch}` | shallow merge, create-on-miss |
| `DELETE` | `/api/doc` | `?path=` | delete one doc |
| `GET` | `/api/collection` | `?path=` | list docs under collection |
| `POST` | `/api/collection` | `{path, data}` | addDoc: auto-id under collection |
| `POST` | `/api/batch` | `{ops:[{type, path, data?}]}` | atomic multi-write |
`POST /api/batch` is the workhorse for seeding. One batch, all encounters,
atomic.
## Build flow
### 1. Parse the user's request
Extract:
- **Host** — the running tracker URL (e.g. `http://bee.icantclick.org:8080`).
If omitted, ask. Do not guess.
- **Campaign name** — must match an existing campaign doc's `name` field.
- **Encounters** — list of `{name, participants:[{name, type?, maxHp, initMod?|initiative?}]}`.
A statblock line like `Ankheg - HP 45 - Init +0` parses to:
`{name:"Ankheg", type:"monster", maxHp:45, initMod:0}`.
### 2. Resolve the campaign id
Campaigns are keyed by id, not name. Look up by name:
```bash
curl -s "<HOST>/api/collection?path=campaigns" \
| jq -r '.[] | select(.name=="<CAMPAIGN NAME>") | .id'
```
Exactly one match expected. Zero → campaign doesn't exist (tell user to create
it first). Multiple → ambiguous name, ask user which id.
### 3. Write encounters (two options)
#### Option A — helper script (recommended)
`scripts/build-encounters.js` handles id gen, initiative rolling, batch write,
and verification. Reads a spec file or stdin.
Spec format (JSON array):
```json
[
{
"name": "Optional Road/Trail Ankheg",
"participants": [
{ "name": "Ankheg", "type": "monster", "maxHp": 45, "initMod": 0 }
]
},
{
"name": "Barrowdeep 2 - Minor Burial Chamber",
"participants": [
{ "name": "Cult Fanatic", "type": "monster", "maxHp": 39, "initMod": 2 },
{ "name": "Cultist 1", "type": "monster", "maxHp": 9, "initMod": 2 },
{ "name": "Cultist 2", "type": "monster", "maxHp": 9, "initMod": 2 }
]
}
]
```
Run (resolve script path relative to this skill dir):
```bash
node scripts/build-encounters.js <HOST> "<CAMPAIGN NAME>" spec.json
# or stdin:
cat spec.json | node scripts/build-encounters.js <HOST> "<CAMPAIGN NAME>" -
```
Script prints each encounter id + participant init rolls, then verifies.
#### Option B — raw curl (any harness, no node)
Build the batch payload inline. Generate UUIDs and roll initiative yourself.
One `POST /api/batch` writes everything:
```bash
curl -s -X POST "<HOST>/api/batch" \
-H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
-d '{
"ops": [
{
"type": "set",
"path": "campaigns/CID/encounters/EID1",
"data": {
"name": "Optional Road/Trail Ankheg",
"createdAt": "2026-07-07T00:00:00.000Z",
"participants": [
{ "id": "UUID1", "name": "Ankheg", "type": "monster", "originalCharacterId": null, "initiative": 15, "maxHp": 45, "currentHp": 45, "conditions": [], "isActive": true, "status": "conscious", "deathSaveSuccesses": 0, "deathSaveFailures": 0 }
],
"round": 0, "currentTurnParticipantId": null, "isStarted": false, "isPaused": false, "ruleset": "5e"
}
}
]
}'
```
Response: `{"ok":true}`. If you get an error, check path is bare (no
`artifacts/` prefix) and JSON is valid.
### 4. Verify
Always verify after write. Don't trust the batch `ok` alone.
```bash
curl -s "<HOST>/api/collection?path=campaigns/CID/encounters" \
| jq '.[] | {name, participants: (.participants|length), started: .isStarted}'
```
Expect one object per encounter with correct participant count and
`started: false`.
### 5. Report back to user
Tell the user:
- Host + campaign name resolved
- Per encounter: name, id, participant count, rolled initiatives
- Verification result (counts matched)
- That combat is NOT started (encounters sit at `round: 0, isStarted: false`).
User starts combat via the UI Start button when ready.
## Common mistakes
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| `GET /api/collection?path=artifacts/.../campaigns` returns `[]` | used firebase-prefixed path | drop `artifacts/{APP_ID}/public/data/` prefix, use bare `campaigns` |
| `GET /health` or collection returns HTML (SPA shell) | server in firebase mode, or backend not mounted | confirm `REACT_APP_STORAGE=server` + backend running on the instance |
| Batch returns `ok` but encounter missing | wrong campaign id, or path typo | re-resolve campaign id by name; check path segments |
| Participant count mismatch on verify | participant objects malformed / dropped in JSON | validate each has all required fields; use script to avoid hand-JSON errors |
| Initiative looks wrong | forgot `initiative` is stored value, not re-derived | roll `d20 + initMod` once at build, store the int. No `initMod` field on participant. |
| Duplicate cultist names across encounters | fine — names need only be unique WITHIN an encounter, not across | no fix needed |
## Out of scope
- Creating campaigns (use UI or `POST /api/collection` with a campaign doc)
- Starting combat / advancing turns / HP damage / death saves (in-combat ops)
- Player display control (`activeDisplay/status`)
- Firebase SDK mode (this skill is server-mode REST only)
- Campaign roster characters (`players[]` on campaign doc) — those are
templates; this skill adds inline combatants, not roster entries
## Reference
Full entity model, combat flow, and storage paths: `docs/ENCOUNTER_BUILDER.md`
in the repo root. REST + DB internals: `docs/DEVELOPMENT.md` and
`server/index.js`.
@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
// build-encounters.js — seed TTRPG encounters via REST API.
// Cross-harness: pi, claude, codex all call same script.
// No deps beyond node builtins. Reads spec JSON, writes batch, verifies.
//
// Usage:
// node build-encounters.js <host> <campaignName> <specFile>
// cat spec.json | node build-encounters.js <host> <campaignName> -
//
// specFile = JSON array of encounters:
// [
// {
// "name": "Barrowdeep 1 - Antechamber",
// "participants": [
// { "name": "Ankheg", "type": "monster", "maxHp": 45, "initMod": 0 },
// { "name": "Boss", "type": "npc", "maxHp": 39, "initMod": 2, "initiative": 15 }
// ]
// }
// ]
//
// type: 'monster' | 'npc' | 'character'. Default 'monster'.
// initiative: optional manual override. If omitted, rolled d20 + initMod.
// initMod default 0. maxHp default 10.
//
// Output: written encounter ids + rolled initiatives. Exit 0 on success.
'use strict';
const crypto = require('crypto');
const genId = () =>
(typeof crypto !== 'undefined' && crypto.randomUUID)
? crypto.randomUUID()
: `id_${Date.now()}_${Math.random().toString(36).slice(2, 10)}`;
const rollD20 = () => Math.floor(Math.random() * 20) + 1;
function makeParticipant(spec) {
const type = spec.type || 'monster';
const maxHp = spec.maxHp || 10;
const initMod = spec.initMod || 0;
const manual = spec.initiative !== undefined && spec.initiative !== null;
return {
id: genId(),
name: spec.name,
type,
originalCharacterId: spec.originalCharacterId || null,
initiative: manual ? Number(spec.initiative) : rollD20() + initMod,
maxHp,
currentHp: maxHp,
conditions: [],
isActive: true,
status: 'conscious',
deathSaveSuccesses: 0,
deathSaveFailures: 0,
};
}
async function getJson(url) {
const r = await fetch(url);
if (!r.ok) throw new Error(`GET ${url} -> ${r.status}: ${await r.text()}`);
return r.json();
}
async function postJson(url, body) {
const r = await fetch(url, {
method: 'POST',
headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
body: JSON.stringify(body),
});
if (!r.ok) throw new Error(`POST ${url} -> ${r.status}: ${await r.text()}`);
return r.json();
}
async function findCampaignId(host, name) {
const list = await getJson(`${host}/api/collection?path=campaigns`);
const matches = list.filter(c => c.name === name);
if (matches.length === 0) {
console.error(`No campaign named "${name}". Existing:`);
list.forEach(c => console.error(` ${c.name}`));
process.exit(2);
}
if (matches.length > 1) {
console.error(`Multiple campaigns named "${name}". Use unique name or pass id.`);
matches.forEach(c => console.error(` ${c.id} ${c.name}`));
process.exit(2);
}
return matches[0].id;
}
async function main() {
const [host, campaignName, specArg] = process.argv.slice(2);
if (!host || !campaignName || !specArg) {
console.error('Usage: node build-encounters.js <host> <campaignName> <specFile|->');
process.exit(1);
}
const specRaw = specArg === '-'
? require('fs').readFileSync(0, 'utf8')
: require('fs').readFileSync(specArg, 'utf8');
const encounters = JSON.parse(specRaw);
if (!Array.isArray(encounters)) throw new Error('spec must be a JSON array of encounters');
const cid = await findCampaignId(host, campaignName);
console.log(`campaign: "${campaignName}" -> ${cid}`);
const encPath = `campaigns/${cid}/encounters`;
const now = new Date().toISOString();
const ops = [];
const summary = [];
for (const enc of encounters) {
const id = genId();
const path = `${encPath}/${id}`;
const parts = (enc.participants || []).map(makeParticipant);
ops.push({
type: 'set',
path,
data: {
name: enc.name,
createdAt: now,
participants: parts,
round: 0,
currentTurnParticipantId: null,
isStarted: false,
isPaused: false,
ruleset: enc.ruleset || '5e',
},
});
summary.push({ name: enc.name, id, parts });
}
const res = await postJson(`${host}/api/batch`, { ops });
if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`batch failed: ${JSON.stringify(res)}`);
console.log(`batch: ${ops.length} encounter(s) written\n`);
// Verify
const written = await getJson(`${host}/api/collection?path=${encPath}`);
const byId = new Map(written.map(e => [e.id, e]));
for (const s of summary) {
const got = byId.get(s.id);
const ok = got && got.name === s.name && (got.participants || []).length === s.parts.length;
console.log(`${ok ? '✓' : '✗'} ${s.name}`);
console.log(` id: ${s.id}`);
if (!ok) { console.log(` VERIFY FAILED: got ${JSON.stringify(got && { name: got.name, n: (got.participants || []).length })}`); continue; }
s.parts.forEach(p => {
const i = p.initiative >= 0 ? `+${p.initiative}` : `${p.initiative}`;
console.log(` - ${p.name} (${p.type}, hp ${p.maxHp}, init ${i})`);
});
}
console.log('\nDone.');
}
main().catch(e => { console.error('FAIL:', e.message); process.exit(1); });
+108
View File
@@ -64,6 +64,15 @@ Object in `encounter.participants[]`:
| `deathSaveSuccesses` | int | character/NPC only, 0-3 successes |
| `deathSaveFailures` | int | character/NPC only, 0-3 failures |
## Path normalization
App passes firebase-prefixed paths (`artifacts/{APP_ID}/public/data/campaigns/...`). Server-mode adapter `norm()` strips prefix → bare canonical (`campaigns/...`).
- **UI / app code** → prefixed paths (`getPath.*` helpers)
- **REST API / direct DB / scripts** → bare canonical paths (`campaigns/...`)
Mixing = empty results. If `GET /api/collection?path=artifacts/.../campaigns` returns `[]`, you used the prefixed form. Drop the prefix.
## Build flow (UI)
Admin view at `/`. Steps:
@@ -121,6 +130,101 @@ Pre-combat only (`!isStarted || isPaused`). Drag handles shown for **tied initia
During active combat, cross-current-pointer drag is blocked to avoid skip/double-act ambiguity. Paused combat can reorder same-initiative ties freely.
## Build flow (API / scripts)
Same logical steps as UI, via REST. For LLM agents or seed scripts.
**Server mode only.** REST endpoints (`/api/*`) exist only when tracker runs
with `REACT_APP_STORAGE=server` (bundled Express backend mounted). Firebase
SDK mode has no HTTP backend — data lives in Firestore via in-browser SDK,
different auth + write paths. This section does not apply to firebase mode.
Confirm server mode before scripting:
```bash
curl -s <HOST>/api/collection?path=campaigns | head -c 200
```
JSON array = server mode. HTML (SPA shell) = firebase mode or backend not
mounted — API path won't work.
### REST endpoints
| Method | Path | Body / Query | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| `GET` | `/api/doc` | `?path=` | read one doc |
| `PUT` | `/api/doc` | `{path, data}` | replace doc |
| `PATCH` | `/api/doc` | `{path, patch}` | shallow merge, create-on-miss |
| `DELETE` | `/api/doc` | `?path=` | delete one doc |
| `GET` | `/api/collection` | `?path=` | list docs under collection |
| `POST` | `/api/collection` | `{path, data}` | addDoc: auto-id under collection |
| `POST` | `/api/batch` | `{ops:[{type:'set'\|'update'\|'delete', path, data?}]}` | atomic multi-write |
All paths bare canonical (no `artifacts/...` prefix).
### id format
`generateId()` = `crypto.randomUUID()` (fallback `id_{Date.now()}_{rand10}`). Use either. Server `POST /api/collection` generates its own UUID — fine for campaigns/encounters. Participants are inline array items; generate their ids client-side so they're stable across batch writes.
### Object templates
Encounter doc (full, for `PUT` / batch `set`):
```js
{
name: 'Barrowdeep 1 - Antechamber',
createdAt: new Date().toISOString(),
participants: [], // inline, NOT a sub-collection
round: 0,
currentTurnParticipantId: null,
isStarted: false,
isPaused: false,
ruleset: '5e',
}
```
Participant object (item in `encounter.participants[]`):
```js
{
id: generateId(),
name: 'Ankheg',
type: 'monster', // 'character' | 'npc' | 'monster'
originalCharacterId: null, // set only if type==='character'
initiative: rollD20() + initMod, // rolled ONCE at add; stored, not re-derived
maxHp: 45,
currentHp: 45, // start at full
conditions: [],
isActive: true,
status: 'conscious',
deathSaveSuccesses: 0, // character/npc only
deathSaveFailures: 0, // character/npc only
}
```
### Initiative semantics
- Default: `initiative = rollD20() + initMod` (d20 ∈ [1,20], roll fresh per participant).
- Manual override (e.g. pre-rolled values): set `initiative` directly, skip the roll.
- Fixed at add time. NOT re-derived from `initMod` after — `initMod` is not stored on participant.
### Recipe: build encounters for a campaign
1. **Find campaign id by name:**
```bash
curl -s "$HOST/api/collection?path=campaigns" \
| jq -r '.[] | select(.name=="2026 D&D") | .id'
```
2. **Build encounter docs + participants client-side** (object templates above), roll initiative per participant.
3. **Write all encounters in one batch:**
```bash
curl -s -X POST "$HOST/api/batch" \
-H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
-d '{"ops":[{"type":"set","path":"campaigns/CID/encounters/EID1","data":{...}},{"type":"set","path":"campaigns/CID/encounters/EID2","data":{...}}]}'
```
4. **Verify:**
```bash
curl -s "$HOST/api/collection?path=campaigns/CID/encounters" | jq '.[] | {name, count: (.participants|length)}'
```
Participants go inline in the encounter doc — there is no `participants` sub-collection. A single batch `set` per encounter writes the whole roster atomically.
## Combat flow (UI)
InitiativeControls panel (sticky, right side).
@@ -198,6 +302,8 @@ No re-sort after `startEncounter`.
## Storage paths quick reference
Bare canonical (server mode). App code prefixes these with `artifacts/{APP_ID}/public/data/` — adapter strips it.
```
campaigns/{cid} campaign doc
campaigns/{cid}/encounters/{eid} encounter doc (participants[])
@@ -206,6 +312,8 @@ activeDisplay/status player display control
logs/{logId} action log entry
```
REST mapping: `campaigns/{cid}` doc → `GET/PUT/PATCH/DELETE /api/doc?path=campaigns/{cid}`. Collection parent (`campaigns`, `campaigns/{cid}/encounters`) → `GET/POST /api/collection?path=...`.
## DM tips
- Initiative rolled ONCE at add time. Stored. Edit via EditParticipantModal to override.