# Strategist Character Direction

This guide prevents strategist units from collapsing into the same white-robed, feather-fan silhouette.

## Core Rule

Zhuge Liang owns the large white feather fan and white-robed sage read. Other strategist, civil-official, and shaman units should keep their own readable identity through color, posture, and prop choice.

## Identity Matrix

| unit | identity read | primary colors | allowed props | avoid |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `unit-zhuge-liang` | white-robed master strategist | white, pale blue, silver | large white feather fan, scroll | removing the signature fan |
| `unit-ma-liang` | white-eyebrow civil official | olive, sage green, tan, brown | white eyebrows, bamboo slips, letters, document case | white robe/fan read |
| `unit-pang-tong` | eccentric dark tactician | dark brown, muted plum, black | dark folded fan, wood slips, scroll bundles | bright white fan |
| `unit-fa-zheng` | cold legal strategist | deep green, charcoal, muted gold | map board, tally baton, command slips | sage-white costume |
| `unit-sima-yi` | black court conspirator | black, gray, dark violet | command tablet, sealed order, small dark fan | white fan, pale robe |
| `unit-yi-ji` | envoy and letter carrier | cream-tan, muted green, brown | sealed letter, bamboo slips, travel scroll | feather fan |
| `unit-huang-quan` | quartermaster official | blue, dark teal, muted gold | map board, records, baton | white fan |
| `unit-shu-strategist` | Shu field tactician | olive, tan, dark green | brush, bamboo slips, compact map | white-robed sage silhouette |
| `unit-shu-strategist-field` | frontline staff officer | green, leather brown, brass | field map, short baton, scroll case | large sleeves and white fan |
| `unit-shu-strategist-white` | pale-robed civil aide | warm tan, muted jade, limited cream | paper bundle, brush case, small tablet | Zhuge-style white robe/fan pairing |
| `unit-wei-strategist` | Wei court analyst | blue-gray, steel, black | bronze command tablet, war map, folded order | white feather fan |
| `unit-wei-strategist-black` | Wei covert adviser | black, violet, steel | black tablet, sealed order | white fan |
| `unit-wei-strategist-blue` | Wei records officer | blue, gray, bronze | map scroll, registry book | white fan |
| `unit-wu-strategist` | Wu river adviser | red-brown, teal, lacquer black | naval chart, command baton, small red fan | white feather fan |
| `unit-wu-strategist-fire` | fire-plan tactician | ember red, charcoal, bronze | fire tally, oil map, torch talisman | white fan |
| `unit-wu-strategist-river` | river-route tactician | blue-green, red trim, dark wood | water chart, oar-like baton, scroll tube | white fan |
| `unit-nanman-shaman` | ritual shaman | ochre, bone, dark red | ritual staff, talisman, tribal ornaments | Han scholar fan |
| `unit-nanman-shaman-ember` | ember shaman | ember red, bone, smoke black | ember staff, charm strips | white feather fan |
| `unit-nanman-shaman-storm` | storm shaman | storm blue, bone, dark leather | storm staff, charms | white feather fan |

## Next Representative Fixes

1. `unit-wu-strategist-river`: replace the white-fan read with a water chart, oar-like baton, or scroll tube.
2. `unit-shu-strategist-field`: keep a practical frontline staff read with field map and short baton.
3. `unit-wei-strategist-black`: verify the covert adviser keeps dark props instead of a pale fan read.

Completed representative pass:

- `unit-wei-strategist`: changed from white-fan strategist to blue-gray Wei court analyst with bronze command tablet, war ledger, and compact map board.
- `unit-wu-strategist`: changed from white-fan strategist to red-brown Wu river adviser with naval chart, river map board, and lacquer command baton.
- `unit-shu-strategist-white`: changed from white-fan pale strategist to muted jade Shu civil aide with document bundle, brush case, bamboo-slip ledger, and sealed letters.
- `unit-wu-strategist-fire`: changed from white-fan fire strategist to ember-red fire tactician with bronze tally, oil-map board, red command tablet, and talisman strips.

Every representative fix should include contact sheet, animation GIF, battle preview, before/after, alpha audit, build, and browser check.