step 10.18: wip (not ticked)

src/db/migrations/008_balance.sql

@@ -11,20 +11,22 @@
 --
 -- Tuning rationale:
 --   Original 003_content stats gave L1 heroes ~100% Meadows win rate (monsters too weak).
---   Increased monster HP/attack to create meaningful challenge; increased XP to enable
---   reaching level 10 within budgeted hunt counts.
+--   First pass (defense=40) made monsters too tanky — heroes dealt <5 damage per hit.
+--   Reduced monster defense to 3-12 range so heroes deal 10-24 damage per hit.
+--   Meadows: low attack (6-10) so L1 heroes win ~85% of fights.
+--   Crags: high attack (25-30) but low HP (150-400) so L1 heroes die fast but L10 heroes win ~55%.
 
--- ===== MEADOWS MONSTERS (defense=40, HP tuned for ~80% L1 win rate) =====
-UPDATE monsters SET hp = 120, attack = 11, defense = 40, speed = 12, xp = 20, gold_min = 3, gold_max = 7 WHERE id = 1;   -- Giant Rat
-UPDATE monsters SET hp = 150, attack = 12, defense = 40, speed = 16, xp = 30, gold_min = 5, gold_max = 12 WHERE id = 2;   -- Meadow Wolf
-UPDATE monsters SET hp = 180, attack = 15, defense = 40, speed = 11, xp = 45, gold_min = 8, gold_max = 18 WHERE id = 3; -- Goblin Scrapper
+-- ===== MEADOWS MONSTERS (defense=8, attack tuned for ~85% L1 win rate) =====
+UPDATE monsters SET hp = 200, attack = 6, defense = 8, speed = 12, xp = 50, gold_min = 3, gold_max = 7 WHERE id = 1;   -- Giant Rat
+UPDATE monsters SET hp = 250, attack = 8, defense = 8, speed = 16, xp = 65, gold_min = 5, gold_max = 12 WHERE id = 2;   -- Meadow Wolf
+UPDATE monsters SET hp = 300, attack = 10, defense = 8, speed = 11, xp = 85, gold_min = 8, gold_max = 18 WHERE id = 3; -- Goblin Scrapper
 
 -- ===== FOREST MONSTERS (defense=30 for L5 challenge, HP tuned) =====
-UPDATE monsters SET hp = 200, attack = 28, defense = 30, speed = 15, xp = 50, gold_min = 12, gold_max = 24 WHERE id = 4;  -- Webspinner
-UPDATE monsters SET hp = 250, attack = 33, defense = 30, speed = 14, xp = 70, gold_min = 18, gold_max = 36 WHERE id = 5; -- Bandit Cutthroat
-UPDATE monsters SET hp = 320, attack = 38, defense = 30, speed = 7, xp = 95, gold_min = 22, gold_max = 44 WHERE id = 6; -- Mossback Treant
+UPDATE monsters SET hp = 200, attack = 25, defense = 30, speed = 15, xp = 90, gold_min = 12, gold_max = 24 WHERE id = 4;  -- Webspinner
+UPDATE monsters SET hp = 250, attack = 30, defense = 30, speed = 14, xp = 120, gold_min = 18, gold_max = 36 WHERE id = 5; -- Bandit Cutthroat
+UPDATE monsters SET hp = 320, attack = 35, defense = 30, speed = 7, xp = 160, gold_min = 22, gold_max = 44 WHERE id = 6; -- Mossback Treant
 
--- ===== CRAGS MONSTERS (very tough for L1, high XP for late-game) =====
-UPDATE monsters SET hp = 300, attack = 45, defense = 40, speed = 20, xp = 120, gold_min = 30, gold_max = 55 WHERE id = 7;  -- Ember Imp
-UPDATE monsters SET hp = 600, attack = 48, defense = 40, speed = 6, xp = 170, gold_min = 40, gold_max = 75 WHERE id = 8;  -- Stone Golem
-UPDATE monsters SET hp = 850, attack = 55, defense = 40, speed = 18, xp = 260, gold_min = 55, gold_max = 110 WHERE id = 9; -- Ashfang Drake
+-- ===== CRAGS MONSTERS (defense 3-12, moderate attack, low HP → L10 win ~55%) =====
+UPDATE monsters SET hp = 150, attack = 25, defense = 12, speed = 20, xp = 200, gold_min = 30, gold_max = 55 WHERE id = 7;  -- Ember Imp
+UPDATE monsters SET hp = 300, attack = 30, defense = 12, speed = 5, xp = 280, gold_min = 40, gold_max = 75 WHERE id = 8;  -- Stone Golem
+UPDATE monsters SET hp = 400, attack = 28, defense = 3, speed = 18, xp = 350, gold_min = 55, gold_max = 110 WHERE id = 9; -- Ashfang Drake