Shadow Mode Coordination System

1. Summary

A tactical planning mode that lets the player queue actions for multiple characters and execute them simultaneously, enabling coordinated multi-character takedowns and synchronized squad maneuvers without triggering enemy detection.

2. Tags

3. Design Intent / Job Story

When guards are positioned so they watch each other, I want to queue actions for multiple characters and execute them simultaneously, so that I can eliminate grouped enemies without raising an alarm.

4. Role in Gameplay Loop

• Enables coordinated multi-character tactics for synchronized takedowns and combined ability use
• Bridges real-time stealth control with turn-like planning, letting the player stage complex squad maneuvers
• Becomes essential in later missions where enemy patrols are arranged in mutually observing formations
• Rewards careful observation and timing by turning multi-guard puzzles into executable choreographies

5. Preconditions

• The mission has introduced Shadow Mode via its tutorial scroll (typically Mission 1)
• At least two playable characters are present in the current mission roster
• The characters selected for queuing are alive and not incapacitated
• Characters are not in action-blocking states (climbing, swimming, carrying a body, or performing another ability animation)
• Target enemies or interactable objects are within the character's ability range at the moment of queueing

6. Parameters

7. Core Rules

• Player enters Shadow Mode through a dedicated input, transitioning from direct real-time control to the planning layer.
• While in Shadow Mode, the player may select any playable character and queue one action (movement, ability use, or elimination) without immediate execution.
• Queued actions are staged and visually indicated in the UI for each character.
• The player may queue actions for multiple characters before triggering execution.
• Upon triggering execution, all queued actions across all selected characters begin simultaneously.
• Shadow Mode does not pause the simulation; enemy patrols, vision cones, and detection timers continue to advance while the player plans.
• Queued actions can be cancelled individually or all at once by exiting Shadow Mode.
• An action queued on a specific target fails if that target moves out of range or line of sight before execution is triggered.
• Shadow Mode is introduced to the player through an in-mission tutorial scroll that explains how to plan and synchronize options with multiple characters.
• A character that is climbing, swimming, carrying a body, or incapacitated cannot have actions queued in Shadow Mode.
• Execution of queued elimination actions occurs within the same simulation tick, preventing detection cascades when multiple guards are killed simultaneously.

8. BDD Scenarios

9. Edge Cases

• A queued target moves out of melee or ability range between planning and execution, causing that character's action to fail while others still execute
• One character's queued action fails but the rest execute, leaving the failed character exposed in an enemy vision cone
• Two characters queue elimination actions on the same target; the first successful kill leaves the second action targeting a dead body
• A character enters an action-blocking state (climbing, swimming, being spotted) while the player is still planning in Shadow Mode
• An enemy patrol turns and spots a queued character during the execution animation, triggering detection after the action completes
• The player queues an ability that is on cooldown or has no remaining charges; execution should fail for that action
• A character dies or becomes incapacitated between planning and execution
• The player remains in Shadow Mode too long and enemy patrol timers cause an unplanned detection before execution
• Queued movement paths intersect with moving enemies or environmental hazards that appeared after planning

10. QA Notes

11. Mechanic Dependencies

• Stealth Detection System (The Stealth Detection System determines whether simultaneous execution is fast enough to prevent detection cascades when guards watch each other)
• Character Ability System (Character abilities are the primary actions staged in Shadow Mode; the Ability System defines range, cooldown, and targeting constraints)
• Stealth Elimination Mechanics (Shadow Mode queues elimination actions that execute simultaneously; without the Stealth Elimination system there would be no actions to coordinate)
• Character Movement System (Character Movement defines which characters can reach which positions for coordinated takedowns and whether movement paths can be queued)

12. UI Links

• Options Menu - Eye tracking settings enable gaze-based camera control and target selection for Shadow Mode coordination
• Character Portrait And Selection Panel - Selecting a character while Shadow Mode is active adds them to the coordinated multi-character plan.
• Shadow Mode Command UI - The Shadow Mode Command UI is the primary interface for the Shadow Mode Coordination System mechanic. It enables the player to queue one action per character and execute them simultaneously, providing the visual feedback layer for the coordination mechanic.
• Enemy Vision Cones - The Shadow Mode Coordination System requires vision cones to remain visible during tactical planning. Vision cones support the multi-character coordination by showing enemy awareness during Shadow Mode execution.
• Tutorial Popup Window - The Shadow Mode tutorial popup teaches execution of saved actions, directly onboarding the coordination mechanic represented by Shadow Mode.

References

1. 1.

   Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun Review – Is This the Best Version Yet? (4:15-4:26) Review video explicitly defines Shadow Mode as the mechanic that allows cueing actions for multiple characters and executing them simultaneously, essential for coordinated takedowns when guards watch each other.

2. 2.

   The Art of Shadow Tactics Blades of the Shogun and STRATEGY GUIDE (L595-610 of 4930) Strategy guide introduces Shadow Mode as a tactical planning layer that lets players plan actions without executing them right away, used for synchronized teamwork in Mission 1.After a short leap across a gap, climb the vines at (1.1), jump down, then up at (1.2). At (1.3) another jump down leads to the fi rst scroll informing about the mission log. After...

3. 3.

   The Art of Shadow Tactics Blades of the Shogun and STRATEGY GUIDE (L610-625 of 4930) Strategy guide describes the first practical use of Shadow Mode: both characters draw blades, map actions to respective guards, and execute simultaneously.Hayato's ability to quickly reach roofs and other elevated points is used at (1.5). One more jump down at (1.6), this time executing a death-from-above-maneuver on a gu- ard (1.7)...

4. 4.

   The Art of Shadow Tactics Blades of the Shogun and STRATEGY GUIDE (L1285-1295 of 4930) Strategy guide demonstrates Shadow Mode used for a time-critical coordinated dual takedown where two characters kill respective guards simultaneously before being spotted.You may also choose to leave footprints after exiting the cart in order to lure the guards into investigating so Mugen can take care of them both with his Sword Wind. This,...