Sharpen league and Climb difficulty and give Gore a front door

PROJECT.md

@@ -4888,6 +4888,40 @@ per late opponent check quality ceilings and open-court frequency, with Club Pro
 control. All 131 tests pass with the default seed and eight additional seeds. Build v349 targets
 staging only. Combined difficulty still needs Oliver's playtest; shot statistics are not win rates.
 
+## Session log: THE RETEST — sustained final-league returns, a brisker Climb, Gore at the front (2026-09-07, v350)
+
+Oliver still defends league 5 reliably at level 26; the first 6–7 Climb opponents feel like filler.
+The previous final-league pass raised quality CAPS but left the .45 floor intact. Raising pace
+traits alone would do nothing here: their return-pace multiplier already hits its cap of 1.
+
+- Brute / Director / Champion now return in quality bands .62–.76 / .68–.83 / .74–.90, and use
+  open-court aim on 50% / 70% / 85% of returns. `trySwing` reads the optional foe `qMin` just as
+  it already reads classic's floor. These final-league traits follow the body into cup, training
+  and Climb. Player level/peer gifts, opponent legs, wrong-footing, wounds and cup length stay put.
+- **Climb-only opening**: `gameplay.matchStep` adds four progression steps at opponent one,
+  tapering linearly to zero at opponent eight. Movement (including intercept planning), return
+  pace, width and flub all read it. Actual opponent identity, territory pace and learning still
+  read the real rung. Cup onboarding and its training reps retain their old early curve.
+  Measured on actual update/return paths: the first Climb foe chases at 3.407 vs 2.520 m/s,
+  averages 18.639 vs 14.817 m/s return pace, reaches 2.364 vs 1.595 m return width, and returns
+  1152 vs 1073 of 1200 contact attempts. The existing auto-run reachability soak still passes.
+- Oliver chose the **direct Gore door** over a mid-season teaser: SPLATTER GORE sits below the
+  primary league fixture and starts Gore in one tap with the selected court/kit. OTHER GAMES,
+  STATS and BOARD share one quiet navigation row (44px touch targets); their headline numbers
+  are removed from the splash. Court/kit setup remains accessible through OTHER GAMES.
+- Badge glints peak at the START of their long CSS cycle; the first peak is now .39–.89 s after
+  creation instead of ~5.5–19 s. The three points stagger, repeat slowly and still respect reduced
+  motion. Existing art and typography are reused; no generated assets or dependencies.
+
+Validation: 132 tests pass with the default seed plus 1, 7, 42, 99, 1234, 2026, 8888 and 20260907.
+The return sampler measures mean quality .688 / .756 / .820 and open-corner shares 66.8% / 80.1% /
+90.7% for the three final opponents. New Climb regression exercises real movement and returns,
+including convergence at eight and unchanged cup/training behavior. Browser checked at 390×844
+and 320×568; all splash buttons fit, Gore starts directly, no browser errors in that flow.
+This is stronger measured opposition, not a measured human win rate: league 5 still needs
+Oliver's level-26 phone verdict. Oliver requested merging to main and pushing for his iPhone
+test; this release carries the cache-busting entry version v350.
+
 # OPEN — leftovers, in rough priority order
 
 Nothing here is broken; these are known gaps and unverified risks.

index.html

@@ -374,8 +374,6 @@ if (location.hostname !== 'splatter-tennis.wuwi.one' && !window.Capacitor?.isNat
   #cdBadges { display: flex; gap: 10px; align-items: flex-end; }
   #cdBadges .badge { position: relative; flex: 1; min-width: 0; display: flex; flex-direction: column;
                      align-items: center; gap: 4px; }
-  /* ...and an earned shield SMOULDERS: two-pixel embers drifting off it, each on its own delay and
-     lane (main.embers). Pure CSS — the menu parks the game loop and this has no business waking it. */
   /* ...and it CATCHES THE LIGHT: three points on the shield, dark for most of a long cycle and
      flaring for a fraction of it (main.glints). Not a fire — a glint, the way metal behaves. */
   #cdBadges .badge em { position: absolute; width: 4px; height: 4px; border-radius: 50%;
@@ -383,9 +381,9 @@ if (location.hostname !== 'splatter-tennis.wuwi.one' && !window.Capacitor?.isNat
                      opacity: 0; pointer-events: none; animation-name: glint;
                      animation-timing-function: ease-out; animation-iteration-count: infinite; }
   @keyframes glint {
-    0%, 88%, 100% { opacity: 0; transform: scale(0.3); }
-    92%           { opacity: 1; transform: scale(1); }
-    96%           { opacity: 0.35; transform: scale(0.6); } }
+    0%, 12%, 100% { opacity: 0; transform: scale(0.3); }
+    4%           { opacity: 1; transform: scale(1); }
+    8%           { opacity: 0.35; transform: scale(0.6); } }
   @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) { #cdBadges .badge em { display: none; } }
   #cdBadges img { height: 46px; image-rendering: pixelated; }
   #cdBadges .badge u { font: 700 7px Silkscreen, monospace; color: var(--acid); letter-spacing: 0.5px;
@@ -659,8 +657,16 @@ if (location.hostname !== 'splatter-tennis.wuwi.one' && !window.Capacitor?.isNat
           padding-bottom: max(10px, env(safe-area-inset-bottom));
           border-top: 2px solid var(--line); background: var(--solid); }
   .foot .btn { margin-bottom: 0; }
-  /* ...except the splash's own secondary door: OTHER GAMES sat flush on the STATS/RANKINGS row */
-  .foot.bare #mOther { margin-bottom: 12px; }
+  /* Gore gets a front door; the records become quiet navigation, with full touch targets. */
+  #mGore { display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; gap: 12px;
+           padding: 9px 12px; border-color: #804338; background: #281b19; color: #f1d6bf; }
+  #mGore b { font: 400 23px/1.1 Bangers, cursive; letter-spacing: 1px; }
+  #mGore i { margin: 0; color: #d5aa91; font: 400 9px/1.5 Silkscreen, monospace; letter-spacing: 0; }
+  .splashLinks { display: flex; gap: 4px; margin-top: 5px; }
+  .splashLinks .btn.sec { flex: 1; width: auto; min-height: 44px; padding: 7px 2px;
+    background: transparent; border-color: transparent; color: #ccc4b5;
+    font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0; }
+  .splashLinks #mOther { flex: 1.5; }
   /* the splash's bottom band: no bar, no rule — the court art has to keep running under it */
   .foot.bare { border: 0; background: none; }
   .foot.bare .btn.big { margin-bottom: 10px; }
@@ -680,10 +686,10 @@ if (location.hostname !== 'splatter-tennis.wuwi.one' && !window.Capacitor?.isNat
     animation: dealIn 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.34, 1.56, 0.64, 1) backwards; }
   #intro.deal #splash #plaque { animation-delay: 0.02s; }
   #intro.deal #splash #mStart { animation-delay: 0.12s; }
-  #intro.deal #splash #mOther { animation-delay: 0.19s; }
-  /* the pair of secondary buttons is a CLASS, so it needs the same weight as the shorthand above
+  #intro.deal #splash #mGore { animation-delay: 0.19s; }
+  /* the navigation row is a CLASS, so it needs the same weight as the shorthand above
      to override its delay — the id selectors around it get there on their own */
-  #intro.deal #splash .foot.bare > .two { animation-delay: 0.26s; }
+  #intro.deal #splash .foot.bare > .splashLinks { animation-delay: 0.26s; }
   #intro.deal #splash #build  { animation-delay: 0.33s; }
   @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
     #intro.deal #splash #plaque, #intro.deal #splash .foot.bare > * { animation: none; } }
@@ -696,7 +702,7 @@ if (location.hostname !== 'splatter-tennis.wuwi.one' && !window.Capacitor?.isNat
   #boot u { display: block; margin-top: 7px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;
             font: 400 9px Silkscreen, monospace; color: var(--dim); letter-spacing: 2px; }
   #splash.busy #boot { display: block; }
-  #splash.busy .btn, #splash.busy .two, #splash.busy #build { display: none; }
+  #splash.busy .btn, #splash.busy .splashLinks, #splash.busy #build { display: none; }
   /* NOTHING DATA-DRIVEN DURING THE BOOT (2026-08-31, Oliver: "die oberfläche ist hier regelmäßig
      in einem undefinierten zustand"). The plaque used to stand there as a skeleton, which is still
      a plaque saying LEVEL 1 to a level-25 player for as long as the profile takes to land. The
@@ -847,12 +853,13 @@ if (location.hostname !== 'splatter-tennis.wuwi.one' && !window.Capacitor?.isNat
         <!-- THE FRONT DOOR IS THE FIXTURE (2026-08-31, THE SEASON). The primary button used to say
              PLAY MATCH and open a wall of posters, which asked the player a question the game
              already knows the answer to. It names the next cup fixture now and enters the draw;
-             everything else lives one tap down, behind OTHER GAMES. -->
+             Gore has its own secondary door; the other modes live behind OTHER GAMES. -->
         <button class="btn big" id="mStart"><b id="msTitle">THE CUP</b><i id="msLine"></i></button>
-        <button class="btn sec" id="mOther">OTHER GAMES</button>
-        <div class="two">
-          <button class="btn sec" id="mStats">STATS<i id="mKills">0</i></button>
-          <button class="btn sec" id="mRanks">BOARD<i id="mBest">BEST 0</i></button>
+        <button class="btn sec" id="mGore"><b>SPLATTER GORE</b><i>NO CUP.<br>JUST CARNAGE.</i></button>
+        <div class="splashLinks">
+          <button class="btn sec" id="mOther">OTHER GAMES</button>
+          <button class="btn sec" id="mStats">STATS</button>
+          <button class="btn sec" id="mRanks">BOARD</button>
         </div>
         <p id="build"></p>
       </div>
@@ -1082,6 +1089,6 @@ if (location.hostname !== 'splatter-tennis.wuwi.one' && !window.Capacitor?.isNat
     </div>
   </div>
 </div>
-<script type="module" src="src/main.js?v=349"></script>
+<script type="module" src="src/main.js?v=350"></script>
 </body>
 </html>

src/config.js

@@ -1250,19 +1250,19 @@ const OPPONENTS = [
     line: 'HE GAVE LESSONS ON THIS COURT.',      speed: 1.16, pace: 1.22, wide: 1.20, flub: 0.70 },
   // THE BRUTE, not "THE BULK": the gore mode's stats screen has called this body THE BRUTE since it
   // was the pole-dragger (ENEMIES.g below), and one character may not carry two names.
-  // Final-league returns hunt the open court (smart) and have individual quality caps. Earlier
+  // Final-league returns hunt the open court (smart) and have individual quality bands. Earlier
   // opponents keep random lanes and racketQMax. Brute's legs must clear even league 4's fastest.
   { short: 'BRUTE', name: 'THE BRUTE', fam: 'br', h: 2.0,
-    line: 'NOTHING GETS PAST HIM TWICE.',        speed: 1.12, pace: 1.34, wide: 1.24, flub: 0.66, smart: 0.20, qMax: 0.60 },
+    line: 'NOTHING GETS PAST HIM TWICE.',        speed: 1.12, pace: 1.34, wide: 1.24, flub: 0.66, smart: 0.50, qMin: 0.62, qMax: 0.76 },
   { short: 'DIRECTOR', name: 'THE DIRECTOR', fam: 'dr',
-    line: 'HE CAN HAVE YOU REMOVED.',            speed: 1.26, pace: 1.28, wide: 1.28, flub: 0.60, smart: 0.40, qMax: 0.65 },
+    line: 'HE CAN HAVE YOU REMOVED.',            speed: 1.26, pace: 1.28, wide: 1.28, flub: 0.60, smart: 0.70, qMin: 0.68, qMax: 0.83 },
   // 18: the man whose name is on the honours board. `h` is WORLD height (zombieH reads it, so the
   // serve aims at the body actually drawn): four family rolls could not make the art itself bulky
   // against the pose sheet — see _famroll.py's pair-reference note — so his size is stature.
   // Six new rungs stand between him and the start now, so he took the step up Oliver asked for:
   // he reads the court faster, hits harder, paints wider, and misses half as often as he did.
   { short: 'CHAMPION', name: 'THE CHAMPION', fam: 'ch', h: 2.1,
-    line: 'HE RETURNS EVERYTHING.',              speed: 1.45, pace: 1.42, wide: 1.36, flub: 0.38, smart: 0.60, qMax: 0.70 },
+    line: 'HE RETURNS EVERYTHING.',              speed: 1.45, pace: 1.42, wide: 1.36, flub: 0.38, smart: 0.85, qMin: 0.74, qMax: 0.90 },
 ];
 
 // Who opponent N is. This used to reuse the chapter roster's cycling (bossArt) so the two lists

src/gameplay.js

@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ function doHit(ch, quality, aim) {
     // rungs take it back.
     // ...and the RUNG's own pace trait rides on top, inside the cap: full pace is still the ceiling,
     // an opponent just gets there sooner or later than the flat curve would (see matchFoe in config).
-    s *= Math.min(1, (TUNE.matchOppPace + (G.match.opp - 1) * TUNE.matchOppPacePer) * (ch.foe?.pace || 1));
+    s *= Math.min(1, (TUNE.matchOppPace + matchStep() * TUNE.matchOppPacePer) * (ch.foe?.pace || 1));
   }
   if (G.match) {
     // THE OPPONENT'S WIDTH IS THE THIRD DIAL. Its returns scatter off aimError x (1 - 0.55
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ function doHit(ch, quality, aim) {
     // balls". Opponent one keeps its returns inside matchWideBase of the centre line; each rung
     // earns matchWidePer more width, so the line-painting is the LATE ladder, not the opening one.
     if (ch.side !== 'P') {
-      const wide = (TUNE.matchWideBase + (G.match.opp - 1) * TUNE.matchWidePer) * (ch.foe?.wide || 1);
+      const wide = (TUNE.matchWideBase + matchStep() * TUNE.matchWidePer) * (ch.foe?.wide || 1);
       tx = Math.max(-wide, Math.min(wide, tx));
     }
   }
@@ -1172,8 +1172,15 @@ function matchFallWillPlay() {
 // One definition, because the read boost, the wrong-foot slow and the surprise whiff must all
 // answer "how smart is this one" identically or the twist pulls in three directions at once.
 const learnK = rz => G.match && !G.net ? Math.min(1, Math.max(0, (G.match.opp - 1) / (LADDER - 1))) : 0;
+// The Climb is a repeatable arcade run: less nursery at the bottom. Four extra progression
+// steps taper to zero at opponent eight; identities, territory tempo and cup onboarding stay put.
+// Share this across movement, intercept planning and returns so all four dials agree.
+const matchStep = () => {
+  const n = G.match.opp - 1;
+  return n + (!G.net && !G.match.cup && !G.match.train ? 4 * Math.max(0, 1 - n / 7) : 0);
+};
 const rzChaseSpeed = rz => TUNE.racketSpeed * leaguePace()
-  * (G.match ? (TUNE.matchSpeedBase + (G.match.opp - 1) * TUNE.matchSpeedPer) * ((rz.foe && rz.foe.speed) || 1)
+  * (G.match ? (TUNE.matchSpeedBase + matchStep() * TUNE.matchSpeedPer) * ((rz.foe && rz.foe.speed) || 1)
              : 1 + TUNE.duelSpeedMax * duelSkill())
   * (G.wasServe && ball.lastHit === 'P' ? TUNE.aiReturnDash : 1)
   // wrong-footed: a body mid-lean is slow to turn — THE READ's one-ball cost, and it lives HERE
@@ -1456,10 +1463,9 @@ function trySwing(ch, isAI, qCap = TUNE.aiQualityMax) {
                   : [ -1, 0, 1 ][Math.floor(Math.random() * 3)],
         az: Math.random() < 0.25 ? -1 : 0 }
     : flick || { ax: axisX(), az: axisZ() * (ch.side === 'P' ? 1 : -1) };
-  // G.diff (classic difficulty) moves the FLOOR too: a raised qMin is what makes HARD's every
-  // ball arrive with pace, where a cap alone just trims the best ones. Null outside classic, so
-  // the racket zombie and the gore opener keep the TUNE floor.
-  const qMin = G.diff ? G.diff.qMin : TUNE.aiQualityMin;
+  // A quality floor makes strong opponents sustain pressure, instead of only improving their
+  // luckiest returns. Classic and solo match traits own their bands; gore keeps its own floor.
+  const qMin = G.diff ? G.diff.qMin : G.match && !G.net ? (ch.foe?.qMin ?? TUNE.aiQualityMin) : TUNE.aiQualityMin;
   if (isAI) q = Math.min(q, qMin + Math.random() * (Math.max(qCap, qMin) - qMin));
   if (!isAI && G.mode === 'tennis') {
     G.swingSnaps = null; G.rallyNear = null;
@@ -1540,7 +1546,7 @@ function racketAI(rz, dt) {
       && ball.y < CONTACT.maxY && ball.y > CONTACT.minY) {
     // ...and the match has its OWN flub base: the duel's 0.2 hands a fifth of all returns away,
     // which across a game is an opponent that beats itself.
-    const flub = (G.match ? TUNE.matchFlub * Math.pow(TUNE.matchFlubKeep, G.match.opp - 1) * (rz.foe?.flub || 1) * wnd.flub
+    const flub = (G.match ? TUNE.matchFlub * Math.pow(TUNE.matchFlubKeep, matchStep()) * (rz.foe?.flub || 1) * wnd.flub
                         : TUNE.racketFlub * (1 - TUNE.duelFlubCut * duelSkill()))
       // THE READ: a wrong-footed racket reaches the ball late even when the legs got there —
       // the surprise ball ADDS whiff on top of the rung's own rate, scaled by how much this

src/main.js

@@ -600,13 +600,12 @@ const countUp = (write, target, dur = 700) => {
 };
 // A SHIELD CATCHES THE LIGHT (2026-08-31, Oliver: not burning — "manchmal random schimmern").
 // The first cut was a chimney of embers, which read as a fire on a trophy. This is the opposite:
-// three points ON the shield, each dark for most of a long cycle and flaring for a fraction of it,
-// on delays and durations that share no common multiple — so a glint lands somewhere on the row
-// every couple of seconds and never twice in the same rhythm. CSS keyframes, no game loop.
-const glints = won => !won ? '' : Array.from({ length: 3 }, () =>
+// Three points ON the shield: the first catches the light within a second of opening the card,
+// then the long, varied cycles keep it occasional. CSS keyframes, no game loop.
+const glints = won => !won ? '' : Array.from({ length: 3 }, (_, i) =>
   `<em style="left:${(18 + Math.random() * 60).toFixed(0)}%;` +
   `top:${(12 + Math.random() * 52).toFixed(0)}%;` +
-  `animation-delay:${(Math.random() * 9).toFixed(2)}s;` +
+  `animation-delay:${(0.15 + i * 0.6 + Math.random() * 0.3).toFixed(2)}s;` +
   `animation-duration:${(6 + Math.random() * 5).toFixed(2)}s"></em>`).join('');
 
 function buildCard() {
@@ -737,21 +736,11 @@ document.getElementById('prGo').addEventListener('click', () => {
 const boardFor = m => m === 'zombie' || m === 'cup' || m === 'train' ? stats.MODE_MATCH
   : m === 'classic' ? stats.MODE_CLASSIC : stats.MODE_GORE;
 
-// what the setup footer says you are about to play, and what it is worth beating
-
-// The splash carries ONE number, on the STATS button. A boxed BEST RUN / WORLD RANK bar across the
-// top came out of the mockup and went again: it sat on the best part of the art and said twice what
-// the two buttons underneath already say. Re-read whenever the splash comes back up, because a run
-// has just ended and the count has moved.
+// The splash keeps career progress on the plaque; detailed records live behind STATS and BOARD.
+// Re-read on each arrival because the preceding run may have moved the level or league.
 function refreshSplash() {
-  // THE TEXT REDUCTION (2026-08-31): the two secondary doors carry a NUMBER each instead of a
-  // description — what you have done, and your own best on the board they open. The board figure
-  // is read locally on purpose: the splash does not fetch the world board.
-  document.getElementById('mKills').textContent = stats.total().kills.toLocaleString('en-GB');
-  document.getElementById('mBest').textContent =
-    'BEST ' + stats.bestScore(boardFor(pickedMode)).toLocaleString('en-GB');
   // THE PLAQUE — the meta identity, re-read whenever the splash comes back because a run has just
-  // moved it (same rule as the kill count above). One row now: crest, name and level, and the bar
+  // moved it. One row now: crest, name and level, and the bar
   // under them wearing the level it fills toward. The goal LINE is gone — the fixture button below
   // says what to do, and it said it twice.
   const pr = profile.progress(), lg = leagueOf(profile.prof.lg);
@@ -819,6 +808,9 @@ document.getElementById('mStart').addEventListener('click', () => {
   pickMode('cup'); start('cup');
 });
 document.getElementById('mOther').addEventListener('click', goMode);
+document.getElementById('mGore').addEventListener('click', () => {
+  pickMode('gore'); start('gore');
+});
 document.getElementById('mStats').addEventListener('click', openStats);
 // the world board opens on the mode you last PICKED, like the stats screen does — that is the one
 // whose names you came to look at

test.js

@@ -929,16 +929,17 @@ test('league 5 has no speed dip below league 4, including serve and wrong-footed
   endMatch();
 });
 
-test('league 5 returns hunt the open court and use their own quality caps; league 4 stays unchanged', () => {
+test('league 5 sustains strong returns and hunts the open court; league 4 stays unchanged', () => {
   startMatch(); G.interlude.introT = 0;
   const zb = oppOf();
   for (let n = 1; n <= cfg.leagueOf(4).band[1]; n++) {
     assert.equal(cfg.matchFoe(n).smart, undefined, 'no new aim bonus in earlier leagues');
     assert.equal(cfg.matchFoe(n).qMax, undefined, 'no new quality bonus in earlier leagues');
+    assert.equal(cfg.matchFoe(n).qMin, undefined, 'no new quality floor in earlier leagues');
   }
-  for (const [n, smart, cap] of [[15, 0, 0.55], [16, 0.2, 0.60], [17, 0.4, 0.65], [18, 0.6, 0.70]]) {
+  for (const [n, smart, floor, cap] of [[15, 0, 0.45, 0.55], [16, 0.5, 0.62, 0.76], [17, 0.7, 0.68, 0.83], [18, 0.85, 0.74, 0.90]]) {
     G.match.opp = n; zb.foe = cfg.matchFoe(n);
-    let hits = 0, open = 0, maxQ = 0;
+    let hits = 0, open = 0, maxQ = 0, sumQ = 0;
     for (let i = 0; i < 1200; i++) {
       G.phase = 'rally'; G.wasServe = false;
       G.match.surprised = G.match.expected = false;
@@ -949,7 +950,8 @@ test('league 5 returns hunt the open court and use their own quality caps; leagu
       update(DT);
       if (ball.lastHit !== 'O') continue; // actual flubs remain part of the opponent
       hits++;
-      assert.ok(ball.pow >= TUNE.aiQualityMin && ball.pow <= cap, `${n}: quality ${ball.pow} within its band`);
+      assert.ok(ball.pow >= floor && ball.pow <= cap, `${n}: quality ${ball.pow} within its band`);
+      sumQ += ball.pow;
       maxQ = Math.max(maxQ, ball.pow);
       const t = (ball.vy + Math.sqrt(ball.vy * ball.vy + 2 * ball.g * ball.y)) / ball.g;
       const landingX = ball.x + ball.vx * t;
@@ -959,6 +961,7 @@ test('league 5 returns hunt the open court and use their own quality caps; leagu
     }
     assert.ok(hits > 1100, `${n}: enough actual returns (${hits})`);
     assert.ok(maxQ > cap - 0.002, `${n}: the live return reaches its cap (${maxQ})`);
+    assert.ok(Math.abs(sumQ / hits - (floor + cap) / 2) < 0.01, `${n}: normal returns sustain the stronger quality`);
     const expected = 1 / 3 + 2 / 3 * smart;
     assert.ok(Math.abs(open / hits - expected) < 0.05,
       `${n}: open-court share ${open / hits} should be near ${expected}`);
@@ -966,6 +969,64 @@ test('league 5 returns hunt the open court and use their own quality caps; leagu
   endMatch();
 });
 
+test('The Climb opens briskly, converges at opponent eight, and leaves cup and training intact', () => {
+  startMatch(); G.interlude.introT = 0;
+  const zb = oppOf();
+  const measure = (n, mode) => {
+    G.match.opp = n; G.match.train = mode === 'train';
+    G.match.cup = mode === 'cup' ? { round: 0, rounds: [{ need: 1 }] } : null;
+    G.match.surprised = G.match.expected = false;
+    zb.foe = cfg.matchFoe(n); zb.x = -3; zb.z = 2; zb.swingCool = 999;
+    G.phase = 'rally'; G.wasServe = false;
+    Object.assign(ball, { active: true, lastHit: 'P', bounces: 0,
+      x: 3, z: 5, y: 2, vx: 0, vy: 4, vz: -8 });
+    update(DT);
+    const chase = Math.hypot(zb.vx, zb.vz);
+    let hits = 0, pace = 0, width = 0;
+    const seed = _seed;
+    _seed = 9173; // repeatable samples; cosmetic timers may still consume different rolls
+    for (let i = 0; i < 1200; i++) {
+      G.phase = 'rally'; G.wasServe = false;
+      P.x = 0; P.z = 23; P.swingT = -1;
+      zb.x = 0; zb.z = 2; zb.swingT = -1; zb.swingCool = 0; zb.serveHold = 0;
+      Object.assign(ball, { active: true, lastHit: 'P', bounces: 1,
+        x: 0, z: 2.4, y: 1.2, vx: 0, vy: 0, vz: -1 });
+      update(DT);
+      if (ball.lastHit !== 'O') continue;
+      hits++; pace += Math.hypot(ball.vx, ball.vz);
+      const t = (ball.vy + Math.sqrt(ball.vy ** 2 + 2 * ball.g * ball.y)) / ball.g;
+      width = Math.max(width, Math.abs(ball.x + ball.vx * t));
+      ball.active = false;
+    }
+    _seed = seed;
+    return { chase, hits, pace: pace / hits, width };
+  };
+  let previous = 0;
+  for (let n = 1; n <= 8; n++) {
+    const cup = measure(n, 'cup'), train = measure(n, 'train'), climb = measure(n, 'climb');
+    const same = (a, b, why) => {
+      assert.equal(a.chase, b.chase, why + ': chase');
+      assert.ok(Math.abs(a.pace / b.pace - 1) < 0.005, why + ': return pace');
+      assert.ok(Math.abs(a.width - b.width) < 0.12, why + ': width ' + a.width + ' / ' + b.width);
+      assert.ok(Math.abs(a.hits - b.hits) < 40, why + ': whiff rate');
+    };
+    same(train, cup, `${n}: the training rep matches its cup opponent`);
+    assert.ok(climb.chase > previous, `${n}: the arcade's early chase curve keeps rising`);
+    previous = climb.chase;
+    if (n < 8) assert.ok(climb.chase > cup.chase, `${n}: less opening assistance in arcade`);
+    else same(climb, cup, 'opponent eight rejoins the original curve');
+    if (n === 1) {
+      assert.ok(climb.chase / cup.chase > 1.3, 'the opening opponent covers materially more ground');
+      assert.ok(climb.pace / cup.pace > 1.2, 'its actual returns arrive faster');
+      assert.ok(climb.width / cup.width > 1.4, 'its actual returns use more of the court');
+      assert.ok(climb.hits > cup.hits + 40, 'it gives away fewer returns');
+      assert.ok(climb.width < 2.5, 'opening returns still leave a reachable margin');
+    }
+  }
+  G.match.cup = null; G.match.train = false;
+  endMatch();
+});
+
 test('the first opponent cannot paint lines: its returns are width-clamped', () => {
   // aimError x (1 - 0.55 quality) scattered returns to +-3.5 m, which an auto-run player cannot
   // cover — "still a LOT of unreachable balls". Width is the ladder's third dial now.