From eb6b2a9948dbe60053ecd66e16d8256b280cfb94 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: FloPinguin <25036848+FloPinguin@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2026 23:42:26 +0100
Subject: [PATCH] =?UTF-8?q?Rebalance=20nation=20difficulty=20=F0=9F=93=8A?=
 =?UTF-8?q?=20More=20oriented=20towards=20beginners=20now=20(#3184)?=
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## Description:

**3 problems:**

* Nation difficulty steps in `DefaultConfig` don't look good (max
troops: 0.5 → 1 → 1.125 → 1.25).
* We previously reduced the difficulty of easy nations for singleplayer,
but now they are too easy for public FFAs.
* In Discord we discussed HvN difficulty and concluded that a 50% human
win rate (my previous target) is too low; nations should be easier.

This PR addresses all of them:

* Difficulty steps in `DefaultConfig` are now cleaner (max troops: 0.5 →
0.75 → 1 → 1.25).
* Nation difficulty in public-game FFAs is restored to *medium* (0.75
max troops - still weaker than humans, but not too weak).
* HvN difficulty (medium) is now easier.

Regarding singleplayer:
These rebalances make nation difficulties more beginner-friendly, while
experts still have their challenge at *Impossible*.


## Please complete the following:

- [X] I have added screenshots for all UI updates
- [X] I process any text displayed to the user through translateText()
and I've added it to the en.json file
- [X] I have added relevant tests to the test directory
- [X] I confirm I have thoroughly tested these changes and take full
responsibility for any bugs introduced

## Please put your Discord username so you can be contacted if a bug or
regression is found:

FloPinguin
---
 src/core/configuration/DefaultConfig.ts | 12 ++++++------
 src/server/MapPlaylist.ts               |  3 +--
 2 files changed, 7 insertions(+), 8 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/core/configuration/DefaultConfig.ts b/src/core/configuration/DefaultConfig.ts
index 6ad7efb27..3cb2e1af8 100644
--- a/src/core/configuration/DefaultConfig.ts
+++ b/src/core/configuration/DefaultConfig.ts
@@ -727,9 +727,9 @@ export class DefaultConfig implements Config {
         case Difficulty.Easy:
           return 12_500;
         case Difficulty.Medium:
-          return 25_000; // Like humans
+          return 18_750;
         case Difficulty.Hard:
-          return 28_125;
+          return 25_000; // Like humans
         case Difficulty.Impossible:
           return 31_250;
         default:
@@ -762,9 +762,9 @@ export class DefaultConfig implements Config {
       case Difficulty.Easy:
         return maxTroops * 0.5;
       case Difficulty.Medium:
-        return maxTroops * 1; // Like humans
+        return maxTroops * 0.75;
       case Difficulty.Hard:
-        return maxTroops * 1.125;
+        return maxTroops * 1; // Like humans
       case Difficulty.Impossible:
         return maxTroops * 1.25;
       default:
@@ -790,10 +790,10 @@ export class DefaultConfig implements Config {
           toAdd *= 0.9;
           break;
         case Difficulty.Medium:
-          toAdd *= 1; // Like humans
+          toAdd *= 0.95;
           break;
         case Difficulty.Hard:
-          toAdd *= 1.025;
+          toAdd *= 1; // Like humans
           break;
         case Difficulty.Impossible:
           toAdd *= 1.05;
diff --git a/src/server/MapPlaylist.ts b/src/server/MapPlaylist.ts
index 0b0bcacec..ed80175c1 100644
--- a/src/server/MapPlaylist.ts
+++ b/src/server/MapPlaylist.ts
@@ -150,8 +150,7 @@ export class MapPlaylist {
         startingGold,
       },
       startingGold,
-      difficulty:
-        playerTeams === HumansVsNations ? Difficulty.Medium : Difficulty.Easy,
+      difficulty: Difficulty.Medium,
       infiniteGold: false,
       infiniteTroops: false,
       maxTimerValue: undefined,