Combat system

Understand health, mana, healing, shields, and collision mechanics in Wizard Duel

Character stats

Each wizard in the game has a set of core stats managed through the Character struct:

struct Character {
    float health = 300.0f;
    float mana = 300.0f;
    double health_timer = 0.0;
    bool draining_mana = false;
    bool is_cast = false;
    float deathTime = 0.0f;
    bool isDead = false;
    bool deathSoundPlayed = false;
    bool is_local = false; // to check if its a local character or opponent
    Vector2 pos = {};
    Rectangle rect = { 0, 0, 20, 40 };
};

health · float · default: "300.0f"

Current health points. When health reaches 0.0f, the character dies.

mana · float · default: "300.0f"

Current mana points. Required for casting spells and healing.

rect · Rectangle · default: "{ 0, 0, 20, 40 }"

Character collision box (20 pixels wide, 40 pixels tall).

Health system

Starting health

All characters begin with 300.0f health. This is displayed as a red bar above each character.

DrawRectangle((int)all_players[i].pos.x - 10, (int)all_players[i].pos.y - 20, 40, 5, DARKGRAY);
DrawRectangle((int)all_players[i].pos.x - 10, (int)all_players[i].pos.y - 20, (all_players[i].health / 300.0f) * 40, 5, RED);

Death mechanic

When health drops to or below 0.0f, the character enters death state:

if (all_players[i].health <= 0.0f){
    all_players[i].isDead = true;
}

Leaving the map boundaries instantly kills you by setting health to 0.0f:

if (all_players[0].pos.x < 0 || all_players[0].pos.x > 2000 || 
    all_players[0].pos.y < 0 || all_players[0].pos.y > 2000) {
    all_players[0].health = 0.0f;
}

Mana system

Starting mana

All characters begin with 300.0f mana. This is displayed as a purple bar above each character.

DrawRectangle((int)all_players[i].pos.x - 10, (int)all_players[i].pos.y - 13, 40, 5, DARKGRAY);
DrawRectangle((int)all_players[i].pos.x - 10, (int)all_players[i].pos.y - 13, (all_players[i].mana / 300.0f) * 40, 5, PURPLE);

Mana regeneration

Mana regenerates slowly when camera zoom is above 5.0f:

if(all_players[0].mana < 300 && camera.zoom > 5.0f){
    all_players[0].mana = all_players[0].mana + 0.01f;
    all_players[0].draining_mana = false;
}

Mana regenerates at 0.01f per frame when zoomed in past 5.0f and below max mana.

Mana drain from zoom

Zooming out below 5.0f drains mana at a rate proportional to zoom level:

if (camera.zoom < 5.0f){
    all_players[0].mana = all_players[0].mana - (camera.zoom * 0.03f);
    all_players[0].draining_mana = true;
}

The game displays “DRAINING MANA” when this occurs:

if (all_players[0].draining_mana){
    DrawText("DRAINING MANA", 30, 550, 20, BLACK);
}

The drain rate increases as you zoom out further. At camera.zoom = 1.5f (minimum), you drain 0.045f mana per frame.

Healing mechanic

Hold the right mouse button to convert mana into health:

if (IsMouseButtonDown(MOUSE_RIGHT_BUTTON) && all_players[0].mana>12.0f){
    all_players[0].mana = all_players[0].mana - 10.0f;
    all_players[0].health = all_players[0].health+2.0f;
}

Mana cost · float

10.0f mana per frame

Health gain · float

2.0f health per frame

Minimum mana · float

12.0f (healing disabled below this threshold)

The healing conversion ratio is 5:1 (mana to health). At 60 FPS, you can heal 120 health per second while draining 600 mana per second.

Shields system

When health exceeds 300.0f through healing, shields activate:

if (all_players[0].health > 300.0f){
    DrawText("SHIELDS UP", 30, 580, 20, BLACK);
    all_players[0].health_timer += GetFrameTime();
    if (all_players[0].health_timer >= 2.0) {
        all_players[0].health = all_players[0].health - 3.0f;
        all_players[0].health_timer = 0.0f;
    }
}

Shield mechanics

Activation

Shields activate automatically when health > 300.0f

The game displays “SHIELDS UP” message on screen

Decay

Shields decay at 3.0f health every 2 seconds

This is tracked using the health_timer which accumulates frame time

Strategy

You can build up “overheal” by continuing to heal past 300.0f health

Maximum theoretical health is unlimited, but shields decay over time

Shields decay slowly but continuously. You lose 3.0f health every 2.0 seconds (1.5f per second) when above 300.0f.

Collision detection

Player-tree collision

Players cannot move through trees. The game checks collision using rectangles:

bool checkCollision(Vector2 player_pos, std::vector<Vector2>& trees_pos){
    Rectangle player_rect = {player_pos.x, player_pos.y, 20, 40};

    for (int i = 0; i < trees_pos.size(); i++){
        Rectangle tree_rect = {trees_pos[i].x, trees_pos[i].y, 20, 60};

        if (CheckCollisionRecs(player_rect, tree_rect)){
            return true;
        }
    }
    return false;
}

When collision is detected, movement is reverted:

Vector2 old_pos = all_players[0].pos;
if (IsKeyDown(KEY_D)) all_players[0].pos.x += 0.5f;
// ... other movement keys
if (checkCollision(all_players[0].pos,tree_pos)){
    all_players[0].pos = old_pos;
}

Player hitbox: 20x40 pixels

Tree hitbox: 20x60 pixels

Spell-tree collision

Spells can collide with and destroy trees:

for (int b = 0; b < ball_vec.size(); b++) {
    for (int t = 0; t < tree_pos.size(); t++) {
        Rectangle tree_rect = { tree_pos[t].x, tree_pos[t].y, 20, 60 };

        if (CheckCollisionCircleRec(
                ball_vec[b].ball_pos,
                ball_vec[b].ball_r,
                tree_rect))
        {
            if (ball_vec[b].ball_r >= 4.0f){
                tree_pos[t] = {0, 0};
            }
            ball_vec[b].ball_r -= 5.0f;
            break;
        }
    }
}

Minimum radius to destroy · float

4.0f - spells smaller than this bounce off trees without destroying them

Radius reduction · float

5.0f - each tree collision reduces spell radius by this amount

Combat tips

Resource management

• Keep mana above 35.0f to have both spell options available
• Don’t overheal unless you need the shield buffer
• Avoid zooming out below 5.0f for extended periods

Positioning

• Use trees as cover to block incoming spells
• Stay away from map boundaries (0, 0) to (2000, 2000)
• Red spells can clear trees with radius 35.0f, creating new paths

Spell usage

• Red spell: Better for close-range guaranteed hits (larger radius)
• Blue spell: Better for long-range sniping (faster speed)
• Each tree collision reduces spell radius by 5.0f