aetherbound-guild/docs/runtime/PHASE9_0R9A_AUTO_FORMATION_CONTRACT.md

Phase 9.0R9A Automatic Formation Runtime Contract

State Map

MAIN_MENU -> FIRST_MISSION -> RECRUIT_SELECTION
RECRUIT_SELECTION -> FORMATION_REVIEW
FORMATION_REVIEW -> RECRUIT_SELECTION
FORMATION_REVIEW -> BATTLE

FRONT_SELECTION and REAR_SELECTION remain historical enum values only and must not appear in the player path.

Stable Controls

• OpenRecruitSelectionButton
• Recruit_Hearthguard
• Recruit_Wayrunner
• Recruit_Farstring
• Recruit_Kindhand
• ReviewFormationButton
• ReviseRecruitSelectionButton
• CommitFormationButton

Every Recruit button toggles that person. Review is disabled unless the count is exactly two. When two are selected, an unselected third button is disabled and the page says to remove one member first.

Transaction

• New Game and mission create zero Recruit selections.
• Selection order does not determine field order.
• Duplicate selection is impossible.
• Deselection never removes the other member.
• Review calls deterministic automatic ordering once and displays the result.
• Returning to selection preserves both people but does not commit.
• Commit requires two selected, a valid automatic order and commit count zero.
• Home/confirmed Restart clear selected people, assigned order and commit count.

Battle Compatibility

• Standard cross-role pairs preserve existing R3 first-battle values.
• Hearthguard/Wayrunner: Hearthguard leads; Wayrunner performs a second-action flank counter rather than being mislabeled as a healer.
• Farstring/Kindhand: Farstring is the exposed lead; Kindhand performs the existing recovery action. The result explicitly communicates the risk of a fragile lead.
• All six pairs reach Victory without missing animation/resource errors.

Evidence

• Domain matrix covers all six unordered pairs in both click orders and proves identical automatic field order.
• Parsed ScreenTouch covers select, deselect, capacity, review, revise and one commit with fallback/direct zero.
• Normal render covers zero/one/two selections, full capacity, both exceptional reviews, English/130%, Restart and representative exceptional battle states.
• R8 front door and R1-R7 standard-pair regressions remain green.