## Mobs

Basic combat mob with per-type defense bonuses:
```yaml
id: "man"
name: "man"
description: "A shabby-looking man."
attack: 1
strength: 1
defense: 1
hp: 7
speed: 5
aggressive: false
respawn_ticks: 30
attack_type: crush            # stab/slash/crush/ranged/science (default: crush)
stab_defense: 0               # per-type defense bonuses
slash_defense: 0
crush_defense: 0
science_defense: 0
ranged_defense: 0
drops:
  remains: "bones"             # always dropped on death
  loot:
    - item_id: "credits"
      weight: 98
      quantity: 10
    - item_id: "credits"
      weight: 2
      quantity: 150
idle_descriptions:
  - "scribbles something in a small notebook"
  - "gazes skyward at the clouds"
combat_descriptions:
  - "is engaged in a fight to the death with %s"
```

### Aggressive Mobs

Mobs with `aggressive: true` auto-attack players entering their room (1-tick delay). Only aggros if the player's combat level is at most double the mob's combat level. Checked on room enter and login.

```yaml
id: goblin
name: goblin
aggressive: true              # attacks players on sight
attack: 1
strength: 3
defense: 3
hp: 12
attack_type: slash
attack_bonus: 3               # equipment-equivalent attack bonus for mob's attack roll
strength_bonus: 2             # equipment-equivalent strength bonus for mob's max hit
stab_defense: 4
slash_defense: 3
crush_defense: -2             # weak to crush — negative defense is valid
science_defense: 0
ranged_defense: 3
```

### Mob Attack/Defense Fields

| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| `attack` | Attack level (base accuracy) |
| `strength` | Strength level (base max hit) |
| `defense` | Defense level (base defense) |
| `hp` | Hit points |
| `ranged` | Ranged level (for ranged/science mobs) |
| `science` | Science level |
| `attack_bonus` | Equipment-equivalent attack bonus (added to attack roll) |
| `strength_bonus` | Equipment-equivalent strength bonus (added to max hit) |
| `attack_type` | Determines which player defense is used against this mob |
| `stab_defense` through `ranged_defense` | Per-type defense bonuses |
| `weakness` | Elemental weakness (solar/hydro/eco/bio) — for future Science combat |
| `size` | Mob size for safespot blocking: small/medium/large/massive (default: medium) |

### Protected/Unique Mobs

Mob with talk behavior — can be talked to via `talk:` inline config:
```yaml
id: "guard"
name: "Guard"
talk:                           # inline talk config (no separate behavior file)
    nodes:
        start:
            message: "\"Halt! Who goes there?\""
            options:
                - text: "\"Just passing through.\""
                  end: true
unique: true                    # displays as "Guard" not "a guard"
protected: true                 # cannot be attacked
attack: 5
strength: 5
defense: 5
hp: 30
speed: 5
aggressive: false
respawn_ticks: 60
attack_type: slash
attack_bonus: 8
strength_bonus: 6
stab_defense: 12
slash_defense: 15
crush_defense: 10
science_defense: -5
ranged_defense: 12
idle_descriptions:
  - "scans the area with a watchful eye"
  - "adjusts the grip on his weapon"
```

Note: `wander_rooms` and `wander_interval` are NOT set on the mob definition. Wander config
is per-instance in the room YAML (see Rooms > Mobs section above).

### Stealable Mobs

Mobs can be stealable via the `steal` command. On failure, the mob turns hostile and attacks.

```yaml
id: farmer
name: Farmer
steal_table: farmer_steal       # Drop table for steal loot
steal_level: 10                 # Required thieving level
steal_xp: 15                    # XP per successful steal
steal_speed: 4                  # Ticks per steal attempt
```

| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| `steal_table` | Drop table ID for loot when stealing |
| `steal_level` | Required thieving level |
| `steal_xp` | XP awarded per successful steal |
| `steal_speed` | Ticks per steal attempt (base wait) |

### Assassin Mobs

Assassin (Slayer) mobs restrict combat by assassin level and introduce finishing blows and protective equipment:

```yaml
id: slug
name: slug
assassin_level: 1              # required assassin level to attack
finishing_blow: salt           # item required to kill (mob stays at 1 HP otherwise)
attack: 3
strength: 3
defense: 1
hp: 15
speed: 6
drops:
  remains: slug_mucus
  loot:
    - item_id: credits
      weight: 100
      quantity: 15
```

Damage-without mobs deal 1.5x damage unless the player has the specified item equipped:
```yaml
id: drone
name: drone
assassin_level: 15
damage_without: insulated_gloves   # 1.5x damage without this item equipped
attack: 15
strength: 14
defense: 12
hp: 45
speed: 4
aggressive: true
```

| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| `assassin_level` | Required assassin skill level to attack this mob |
| `finishing_blow` | Item ID required to kill this mob (mob stays at 1 HP until used via `use <item> on <target>`) |
| `damage_without` | Item ID for protection — mob deals 1.5x damage if player doesn't have it equipped |

Mobs without these fields work normally (assassin_level defaults to 0, finishing_blow and damage_without default to empty).

### Task Mobs (Worksites)

A task mob is a non-violent "worksite" — build a solar panel, survey flora, prospect a rock — that reuses the entire combat engine. Set `kind: task`. Mechanically its `hp` is a hidden work pool that drains to 0 to **complete** the work; the player sees a progress bar filling toward 100%. A task mob **never attacks back** — the danger (if any) comes from a room `hazard:` (see `hazards.md`). Use the `work` command (or `attack`) on it.

```yaml
id: solar_panel_frame
name: solar panel frame
kind: task                     # "" / "combat" (default) or "task"
verb: assemble                 # flavor verb shown in messages (default: "work on")
progress_noun: assembly        # flavor noun in the progress line (default: "work")
complete_message: "You bolt the final panel into place and the array hums to life!"
hp: 40                         # units of work to complete (NOT a health bar)
defense: 10                    # base difficulty
speed: 5
aggressive: false              # task mobs do not fight; this is ignored
respawn_ticks: 40              # the worksite replenishes after this many ticks
attack_type: crush
# Per-type defenses become METHOD EFFICIENCY: low = that approach works well.
crush_defense: 0               # hammering panels in: efficient
stab_defense: 40               # stabbing a frame: useless
slash_defense: 40
ranged_defense: 10             # a rivet gun / scanner (ranged weapon): works
science_defense: 10            # an analysis deck (science weapon): works
drops:                         # the "payment" for the labour — same drop system as combat
  loot:
    - item_id: credits
      weight: 95
      quantity: 40
    - item_id: coal
      weight: 5
      quantity: 1
```

Key points:

- **All combat styles work.** Melee, ranged (consumes ammo as "supplies") and science decks (consume junk) all apply progress. The per-type `*_defense` values steer which method is *efficient* without forbidding any — a rock might have low `crush_defense` but high `stab_defense`.
- **XP and buffs are identical to combat** — driven by your attack style (accurate/aggressive/defensive/balanced) and split into the combat skills. This is a non-violent way to train Attack/Strength/Defense/Ranged/Science/Hitpoints.
- **No special equipment.** Task mobs are designed around the weapons and bonuses you already have. There is no separate "tool" equipment set.
- **Progress decays exactly like inverted mob regen.** A task you stop working on slowly loses progress over time (the same regen that heals combat mobs, displayed inverted).
- **One worker at a time**, the same 1-v-1 lock as combat.

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