heros_web/docs/strategist-character-direction.md

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: replace the white-fan read with a Wu river adviser using a naval chart and lacquer command baton.
2. unit-shu-strategist-white: preserve a lighter civil-aide read, but remove the Zhuge-style white robe plus fan pairing.
3. unit-wu-strategist-fire: replace the white-fan read with a fire tally, oil map, or talisman.

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.

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