---
key: mechanic/tactics-defense--t082
type: mechanic
id: tactics-defense--t082
lang: en
title: Auto battlers and roster preparation
summary: >-
  The player assembles and positions a roster before combat, and automated
  execution tests preparation and role combinations.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/tactics-defense--t082/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/tactics-defense--t082.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/tactics-defense--t082.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Tactics and defense
  - Mechanics and variants
sourceIds:
  - source-32d0598945d8807a
  - source-1641c3a9740d6afa
sources:
  - id: source-32d0598945d8807a
    title: OpenRA
    url: 'https://www.openra.net/'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-1641c3a9740d6afa
    title: Mechabellum
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/669330/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: tactics-defense
    id: t082
    title: Tactics and defense
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/tactics-defense/#t082'
    categoryIds:
      - mechanics
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Auto battlers and roster preparation
    description: >-
      The player assembles and positions a roster before combat, and automated
      execution tests preparation and role combinations.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/strategy-mechabellum-02.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: Mechabellum
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/669330/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/669330/6b34d114c6c2d2b8aaafe6d44f1a7cbbb9cd8f03/ss_6b34d114c6c2d2b8aaafe6d44f1a7cbbb9cd8f03.1920x1080.jpg?t=1792451146
      credit: Game River / Dreamhaven
      rights: © Game River / Dreamhaven. All rights reserved.
      caption: Automatic combat tests the army and its placement
      alt: Automatic combat tests the army and its placement
      markers:
        - x: 43
          'y': 49
          label: Groups of different machines form the army
        - x: 93
          'y': 55
          label: Panel of available unit types
    tips:
      - >-
        After combat, show which positions and unit combinations shaped the
        outcome.
    examples:
      - title: Mechabellum
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/669330/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original bilingual editorial overviews authored for gamemechanics.pro on
  2026-10-20 and reviewed on 2026-10-21. Scenarios are hypothetical design
  examples; prototype checks describe work to perform, not completed playtests.
  Primary sources support the stated techniques and implementation context, not
  every proposed variant.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/tactics-defense
---
# Auto battlers and roster preparation

id: tactics-defense--t082
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/tactics-defense--t082
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/tactics-defense--t082/

The player assembles and positions a roster before combat, and automated execution tests preparation and role combinations.

## At a glance

![Automatic combat tests the army and its placement](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/strategy-mechabellum-02.webp)

[Mechabellum](https://store.steampowered.com/app/669330/) · © Game River / Dreamhaven. All rights reserved.

1. Groups of different machines form the army
2. Panel of available unit types

- After combat, show which positions and unit combinations shaped the outcome.

- [Mechabellum](https://store.steampowered.com/app/669330/)

## How it works

The player assembles and positions a roster before combat, and automated execution tests preparation and role combinations.

## Variants

### Mechanic variants

<a id="t082-variants"></a>

- Purchases trade current strength against savings. <a id="t082-v1"></a>
- Roster synergy changes a shared combat rule. <a id="t082-v2"></a>
- Deployment determines an automated unit's first target. <a id="t082-v3"></a>
- Merging duplicates reduces available board pieces. <a id="t082-v4"></a>

## Design example

A fragile shooter stands behind a tank until a jumping enemy forces a rear-line adjustment.

Prototype check: Test whether a replay explains a loss through roster and placement rather than opaque targeting.

## Context and limits

Tactics and defense turn positioning, action order and preparation into limited resources. Each overview separates player actions, state changes and alternative rules. Examples are hypothetical design scenarios, not claims about a named game. A prototype check states an observable question for the next iteration. Existing detailed references remain separately linked from the direction map.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original bilingual editorial overviews authored for gamemechanics.pro on 2026-10-20 and reviewed on 2026-10-21. Scenarios are hypothetical design examples; prototype checks describe work to perform, not completed playtests. Primary sources support the stated techniques and implementation context, not every proposed variant.

- [OpenRA](https://www.openra.net/) (id: source-32d0598945d8807a)
- [Mechabellum](https://store.steampowered.com/app/669330/) (id: source-1641c3a9740d6afa)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors