Erfworld Mechanics

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The "physics" of Erfworld are modeled on a strategy game combining Turn-Based Movement and Real-Time Combat mechanics.

The mechanics of Erfworld include:

The Hex Grid

The geography of Erfworld is laid out as a hexagonal-grid wargaming map, with each hexagon known in short as a hex. Locations are described by non-cartesian X-Y coordinates (possibly designating a line of hexes and a specific hex within that line).


See the Movement page for a detailed examination of these rules.

The sides of a conflict alternate turns, which is known as a Turn-Based Movement mechanic. For instance, in The Battle for Gobwin Knob, the sequence of turns is: Jillian's Turn (barbarians move first), Transylvito's Turn, Charlie's Turn (early morning) Stanley's Turn (late morning), followed by the RCC's Turn (afternoon), followed by dusk, then nighttime and a return to morning. Alliances change the turn order, so Jillian is never seen moving except on RCC's Turn.

Units may only move to another hex during their side's turn. Each unit has a specific amount of "Move" which determines how far it may travel during one turn. At the end of the side's turn, its Units lose any unused Move, and may not leave their current hex until their side's next Turn.

Unit Statistics

See the Unit page for more details on these rules.

Erfworld units all have statistics that govern their capabilities. Statistics are numerical values that denote particular abilities of the Unit.

Every Unit has a minimum of six basic statistics. Depending on its Natural Abilities, it may have more (e.g. Leadership).

Parson Gotti is a special case and should not be used as an example of the abilities of native Erfworlders. See the detailed entry on him for a list of his abilities and disabilities.





Level: A measure of a Unit's relative power vs. other Units of the same type. Level is a statistic that increases, thanks to Experience gains. As Level increases, new abilities may become available.

Experience: A measure of the amount of combat a Unit has participated in. This statistic increases as the Unit croaks enemies. The value of this statistic is hidden from other units and even from the Unit itself.

There is also Upkeep, a cost to maintain units, delimited in Shmuckers Erf-b1-p039Same-site.PNG. Certain units, such as Decrypted, have no upkeep. Erf-b1-p145Same-site.PNG

Loyalty: Although the result of Natural Thinkamancy, Loyalty is expressed as a unit statistic. However, the value any unit has is unknown. That value can be altered by Thinkamancy such as a Suggestion Spell.

Natural Abilities

Some units have one or more natural abilities. Known examples include flight, fire, regeneration, and poison.

A unit with the Leadership ability is called a Warlord or Commander. A unit with magic-using ability is called a Caster (more commonly, it is referred to by its specialty, such as Croakamancer, Dirtamancer, etc). Warlords and Casters can see the stats of a unit directly; Lookamancers can determine the stats of units at a distance.

Combat Mechanics

See the Combat page for more details on these rules.

Combat in Erfworld occurs inside a single hex or zone. (It is not yet known whether a hex border will stop attacks like it does Movement.) Movement inside a hex is unrestricted for both Sides, allowing maneuver warfare on a limited scale. Attacking is simultaneous for all Sides, which makes this a Real-Time Combat mechanic.


Units may group into stacks with allied units. This provides a combat bonus, which reaches a maximum value when 8 units are combined in a stack.Erf-b1-p040aSame-site.PNG

A Warlord (and sometimes Casters) provides a bonus to units under its command, as well as providing instructions and other benefits. Warlords also enable units in their stack to make directed attacks against specific enemy units, or to refrain from attacking at all.


Units in effective range of enemy Units may attack the enemy, and are sometimes forced to. The determination of which Unit kills its opponent is determined by the Combat Statistic, Defense Statistic, various bonuses (Stacking bonus, multiple Leadership bonuses, Dance Fighting bonus, Terrain bonus, etc.), and types of weapons being used by both sides. Damage can only be inflicted when the weapon is capable of reaching the opponent (ie. melee units cannot damage a flying unit with a ranged attack).


Defenders (Sides that are not on Turn) in Erfworld are limited in their activities. They cannot normally cast spells or Move out of the hex, although movement inside the hex is permitted. When a non-allied Side has Units in the same hex, the defender can reorganize stacks, attack, cast spells, and generally do anything it normally would on Turn if it were attacking.


Relative Time


However, the link between turns and time is variable to some extent. At one point Stanley's turn is seen to start at dawn, rather than beginning later in the day, because there are no nearby units of any side that would act earlier. (This may imply that more than one Turn can happen simultaneously, as long as the involved Sides do not interact with each other.)