TECHNICAL MANUAL // 03

Connections

Dragging relations, direction types, and attack vs bombardment

Creating Connections

Connections define where troops can move and attack. Without connections, territories are isolated — players can’t reach them, defend them, or fight over them.

To create a connection, drag from one node to another on the canvas. An orange indicator appears during the drag to confirm you’re creating a relation. When you release on the target node, the connection is created.

New connections default to bidirectional attack — troops can move and fight in both directions.

Direction

Every connection has a direction that determines which way troops can move:

Bidirectional — movement and attacks flow both ways. This is the most common type and the default for new connections. Rendered as parallel grey lines.
Unidirectional — attack is restricted to one direction only. The attacker can strike across the border, but the defender cannot retaliate along the same path. Rendered as a tapered blue line pointing from source to destination.

You can toggle direction from the relation editor in the Territories panel. Select a node, find the connection in its relations list, and tap the MUTUAL / TO / FROM badge to cycle through options.

Attack Type

Connections also have an attack type that determines what happens when troops fight:

Attack (capture) — standard territorial combat. The attacker can occupy the target after winning. This is how territory changes hands.
Bombardment (bomb) — ranged attacks that deal damage without occupation. Troops cannot cross a bombardment connection — they fire from a distance. Useful for artillery positions, offshore islands, or elevated terrain.

Tap the CAPTURE / BOMB badge in the relation editor to toggle between types.

The Four Arrow Types

The combination of direction and attack type produces four distinct connection types, each rendered with a unique colour:

Type	Direction	Attack	Colour	Use Case
Mutual attack	Bidirectional	Capture	Grey	Standard borders — most of your map
Mutual bomb	Bidirectional	Bomb	Red	Mutual siege positions, contested straits
Uni attack	Unidirectional	Capture	Blue	Mountain passes, river crossings, chokepoints
Uni bomb	Unidirectional	Bomb	Orange	Artillery positions, coastal bombardment

Map canvas showing all four arrow types in use — A map with all four connection types. Mutual attack (grey) dominates, with unidirectional attack (blue) and bombardment (orange/red) at strategic points.

Tips

Most connections should be bidirectional attack. This is the baseline — fair, two-way borders that create balanced gameplay. Use the other types sparingly and with purpose.
Unidirectional connections create power asymmetries. A one-way border is a strategic decision — whoever holds the uphill side has a permanent advantage. This is interesting in moderation, but a map full of one-way borders can feel unfair.
Bombardment is for geography. Use it when the map image suggests ranged combat makes sense — across water, from a fortress, or between islands. Don’t use it as a generic “hard border.”
Every territory must be reachable. Validation will catch orphaned nodes and disconnected subgraphs. If a territory can’t be reached from every other territory, the map won’t publish.