Companion Command System

1. Summary

The Companion Command System lets a controllable animal companion act as a reusable, non-lethal distraction proxy for a less mobile specialist. The player first sends the companion to a valid point inside the owner's command radius, then toggles an active noise/distraction state that pulls hearing guards away from posts until the effect ends or is manually stopped. Movement to the target point is stealth-safe; only the active distraction behavior is meant to attract guard attention.

2. Tags

3. Design Intent / Job Story

When a guard position blocks a route and the companion owner cannot safely approach, I want to send the companion ahead and trigger a controlled distraction, so that I can pull guards away from their post and move other characters through the opening.

4. Role in Gameplay Loop

• Creates a reusable remote distraction option inside the stealth infiltration loop.
• Extends a low-mobility character's influence without requiring that character to enter danger.
• Converts enemy hearing and curiosity into a temporary path-opening tool.
• Supports coordinated movement, takedowns, and bypasses by holding guards' attention away from patrol routes or chokepoints.

5. Preconditions

• The companion owner is available and selected or commandable.
• The companion ability is unlocked for the current mission.
• The destination lies inside the companion owner's limited command radius.
• A traversable path exists for the companion to reach the destination.
• At least one enemy is close enough to hear or observe the active distraction if a lure effect is desired.

6. Parameters

7. Core Rules

• The companion is commanded in two stages: move to a target point, then enter or exit the active distraction state.
• The move command is constrained by a limited radius around the companion owner.
• The companion does not intentionally attract attention while moving to the target point.
• When active, the companion emits a distraction that causes eligible guards who hear it to approach and watch.
• Distracted guards eventually lose interest and return to their previous behavior if no other event interrupts them.
• The player can manually stop the active distraction state.
• The companion functions as a path-opening and attention-redirection tool, not as a direct takedown or combat ability.
• The mechanic remains governed by normal enemy perception; guards can still detect characters through vision cones while reacting to the companion.

8. BDD Scenarios

9. Edge Cases

• The target point is outside the owner's command radius and should be rejected or clamped by targeting rules.
• The companion cannot path to the selected point and should not begin the command.
• No eligible guard is within hearing range, so the active state plays but does not lure anyone.
• A guard begins reacting to the companion while another detection stimulus interrupts and escalates the situation.
• The player stops the distraction while guards are en route or watching, causing them to resume normal behavior according to AI rules.
• The companion lure pulls only some guards from a group, leaving remaining vision cones or patrols dangerous.

10. QA Notes

11. Mechanic Dependencies

• Stealth Detection System (The opening created by the companion still depends on stealth detection rules because vision cones and detection remain active while guards react.)
• Character Ability System (The companion command is one character ability within the broader character ability system and follows its availability, ownership, and activation rules.)
• Enemy Type Hierarchy (Enemy eligibility and reaction strength depend on guard type behavior; some enemy categories may react differently to distractions or require separate handling.)
• Four-Slot Ability Binding Framework (The companion ability is exposed through the four-slot ability binding framework, with the cited source identifying it as the owner's D-slot ability and the active command using a follow-up input.)
• Sound-Based Distraction Abilities (The companion's active state is a sound-based distraction that lures guards who hear it, so it depends on the shared distraction response model.)

12. UI Links

• Bottom Gameplay HUD Bar - The bottom gameplay HUD shows the selected character, available abilities, and companion-related command controls during play.
• Ability Command Bar - The ability command bar exposes the companion ability, its slot, and the follow-up command/toggle used to activate the distraction.
• Enemy Vision Cones - Enemy vision cones remain visible while the companion lure is planned and executed, showing whether the created opening is actually safe.

References

1. 1.

   Steam Community :: Guide :: Shadow Tactics: Full Character Guides and Tricks (L98-110 of 116) Guide evidence for Takuma/Kuma ability ownership, limited-range move command, T-triggered distraction, guards watching then returning, and silent/non-attracting movement.Takuma The inventive and cheerful old sniper, Takuma is your go-to specialist for long-range elimination, able take down any target from range. However, his close-range options...

2. 2.

   Прохождение Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun #6 - Предательство на горе Цуру [Профессионал] (2:12:37-2:13:30) Gameplay frames showing Kuma selected through the HUD, blue command radius, companion positioning, guard reaction/vision-cone context, and practical use as a lure in a snowy village encounter.