Combat Style Naming Conventions

Purpose

Design Principles

1. Avoid OSRS Branding

• Do not use exact OSRS style names (e.g., "Accurate", "Rapid", "Longrange")
• Create thematic alternatives that convey the same meaning
• Maintain functional equivalence with OSRS combat mechanics

2. Weapon-Appropriate Naming

• Style names should reflect the weapon type
• Use action verbs that make sense for the weapon (e.g., "Chop" for axes, "Snipe" for bows)
• Avoid generic terms when weapon-specific alternatives exist

3. Clarity and Intuition

• Names should be immediately understandable
• Tooltips provide additional context
• Avoid overly technical or obscure terms

Style Mappings

Underlying Combat Styles (Rust Enum)

pub enum Style {
    Accurate,    // +3 Attack bonus
    Aggressive,  // +3 Strength bonus
    Defensive,   // +3 Defense bonus
    Controlled,  // +1 to Attack, Strength, Defense
    Longrange,   // Increased attack range (Ranged/Magic)
}

User-Facing Style Names by Weapon Type

Unarmed Combat

• Martial arts themed
• Intuitive for hand-to-hand combat
• No Controlled option (unarmed is simpler)

Sword Weapons (Swords, Scimitars, Daggers)

• Action verbs appropriate for bladed weapons
• "Lunge" for Controlled (balanced training)
• "Block" implies using weapon to parry

Axe Weapons (Axes, Hatchets)

• Heavy weapon themed
• Two Aggressive options (axes are damage-focused)
• "Smash" conveys raw power

Bow Weapons (Bows, Shortbows, Longbows)

• Precision replaces "Accurate" - more descriptive for archery
• Burst replaces "Rapid" - conveys speed without using OSRS term
• Snipe replaces "Longrange" - thematic and clear

• "Burst" currently maps to Style::Aggressive but should ideally have its own Style::Rapid variant for attack speed bonus
• No Defensive option for bows (consistent with OSRS)

Staff Weapons (Staves, Wands)

• Magic-themed terminology
• "Focus" implies concentration for accuracy
• "Barrage" suggests offensive power
• "Ward" conveys magical protection

Generic Melee (Fallback)

• Fallback for unrecognized weapons
• Generic terms acceptable since weapon type is unknown
• 3 basic styles (no Controlled)

Future Weapon Types

Spears/Lances (Planned)

Maces/Hammers (Planned)

Crossbows (Planned)

Naming Guidelines

DO:

• Use action verbs (Chop, Slash, Snipe)
• Make names weapon-appropriate
• Keep names concise (1-2 words)
• Use tooltips for additional context
• Test names with players for clarity

DON'T:

• Copy OSRS names exactly
• Use overly technical jargon
• Create ambiguous names
• Use names that don't match weapon type
• Forget to update tooltips when changing names

Tooltip Conventions

• "Accurate cutting attack" (Sword - Chop)
• "Fast firing speed" (Bow - Burst)
• "Defensive parrying" (Sword - Block)

• Start with adjective matching the internal style benefit
• Describe the action or effect
• Keep under 5 words
• Be consistent across similar weapons

Localization Considerations

1. Separate UI strings from logic:

   // Good
   name: localize("combat.style.punch"),
   
   // Bad
   name: "Punch".to_string(),

2. Maintain style enum mapping:
   • Internal Style enum remains English
   • Only UI strings are localized
3. Preserve tooltip clarity:
   • Ensure translations convey same meaning
   • Test with native speakers

Consistency Checklist

• Choose 3-4 style names appropriate for weapon
• Map each name to correct internal Style
• Write clear tooltip descriptions
• Verify names don't conflict with OSRS
• Test names with players for clarity
• Update this document with new mappings
• Add localization keys if applicable

References

• OSRS Combat Styles: OSRS Wiki - Combat Options
• Internal Style Enum: src/systems/combat/mod.rs (line 115)
• Weapon Interface Implementation: src/systems/combat/weapon_styles.rs