- Combat bands split at level 6 (5–7), 9–12, and 13+ (9–12 cap) with
weighted pirate rosters; compose() now draws `pirateTypes` from the band
roster and GameScene uses it when spawning one-shots.
- Patrol encounters gain tiered bands (levels 6+) with mixed rosters,
fatter rolling waves (up to 20 deep / 6 concurrent), contact-count odds
overrides, and per-tier `xpScale` dials; legacy array rosters normalize
to the weighted table.
- Bounty hunts replace the stubbed marksman band with tuned tiers
(marksman 6–10, deadeye 11–14, apex 15+): growing pickets and escorts,
escort roster mixes, elite armor/damage scales 3×–4×, and `xpScale`
trims so payout pace tracks the curve.
- Tests updated to assert the new band shapes, roster draws, XP scaling,
and tier resolution; skills-bar screenshots refreshed.
- New EncounterDirector (js/combat/Encounters.js): pure, data-driven clock that rolls pirate / neutral / mixed encounters in neutral non-home systems on a ~45–90s interval at 50–60% chance, one at a time with a 30–60s cooldown, never during a live wave run or on a downed player.
- Neutral ally ships (js/combat/NeutralShip.js) on spritesheet frames 20–27: escort the player for a per-ship 10–15s window, engage the nearest pirate in mixed fights, then break off and fly off-screen; player-safe by construction (never targeted or damaged by ally bolts/seekers).
- Pirate targeting generalized so hostiles can draw aggro onto escorts when the player is out of range; escort and pirate bolts/missiles collide with each other but not the player.
- Group size scales with combat level (1–2 low → 4–5 high, bands in data/combat.json); encounter hostiles are one-shots so the fight ends when the sky clears.
- New 'volley' weapon pattern (wide staggered-speed fan) and owner-tagged bolts/missiles for ally vs enemy routing in Weapons.js.
- Neutral roster config + encounters section added to data/combat.json; EnemyTypes gains neutralTypeConfig/Ids/SheetList.
- Tests: dev/encounters.test.mjs (cadence, gate, weights, size bands), dev/neutral.test.mjs (roster, escort AI, targeting, no friendly fire), plus combat/xp test updates; CDP probes and encounter-hud-check for in-browser HUD verification.
Brian Fertig