Archer

Craft — Jev Archer

Jev Archer is a 1-D tracking game: a target slides across a line and Jev nudges the aim to track it, releasing an arrow every window. The craft is curating the target speed and the bullseye size into a range that shows a real decision loop — Jev plants the slow ones and leaks the fast ones.

The decision loop

Each tick the viewer gives Jev its current read: the aim x, the target x, and how many ticks until the arrow releases. Jev answers one Choice:

Which way do you nudge the aim this tick? LEFT_FAST / LEFT / HOLD / RIGHT / RIGHT_FAST

The mock reads the same lines and nudges toward the target. The physics — how far the target slides per tick and how precise the bullseye is — is what makes it hard or easy, not randomness.

Reading and shaping the range

{
  "speed": 0.6,       // target slides this many slots per tick
  "bullHalf": 1.0,    // half of the bullseye in slots when the arrow releases
  "targetWidth": 24,  // range width in slots
  "shots": 16,        // arrows in the session
  "style": "track the target"
}

• speed is the honest limit. At 0.4–0.6 the target slides less than the aim corrects in one tick, so Jev stays glued and it's nearly a clean day. Past ~`1.2` the target outruns the aim each tick, the aim trails, and the arrow releases off-center.
• bullHalf is the precision knob. Tight (0.4) demands the aim land within a whisker; wide (1.5+) lets Jev string clean days together.
• style changes how Jev plays. "Hug the target, correct instantly" vs "read its direction and lead the motion" produce visibly different aim behavior.

Shaping tension

A good range should have a deliberate flip: pick a speed where it's calm, and know what speed (or what bullseye) makes Jev start to leak. Start at 0.6, then either speed the target up to 1.2+ for a busy, miss-heavy range, or tighten the bullseye for a precise one. Report the flip: does Jev plant a clean day at the calm setting and leak when sped up?

Verifying

node "$JEV_DSH/toolchain/check.mjs"

Then run the real loop and watch: a good range plants the slow and leaks the fast. A dull range never leaks; a broken one leaks even on a slow target. Report whichever extreme you see — don't hide it.

Definition of done

• archer.json passes check.mjs.
• Jev visibly tracks the target and plants it at a calm speed.
• Speeding the target up (or shrinking the bullseye) visibly raises the misses — the knobs actually matter.