warhammer-40k-validate-list

name	warhammer-40k-validate-list
description	Deterministic army list validation against machine-readable rules. Use when ANY agent needs to check if an army list is legal, validate points totals, check enhancement eligibility, verify leader attachments, or run the Colosseum format rules.

Warhammer 40K Army List Validator

Purpose

This skill provides deterministic, rule-based army list validation. It reads validation rules from YAML and unit data from JSON to produce pass/fail results for each validation gate. No guessing — every check is backed by a specific rule.

When to Use

• Before presenting ANY army list to the user
• When asked "is this list legal?"
• When checking points totals, force org, wargear, or enhancement legality
• When validating Colosseum (500pt) format-specific restrictions
• After modifying an army list

Data Sources

Validation Rules

Location: _bmad-output/warhammer-40k/agents/tacticus-sidecar/validation-rules.yaml

Contains:

• faction_abilities — chapter-specific rules (divergent chapters get weaker Oath of Moment)
• hard_rules — violations that make a list ILLEGAL
• colosseum_format — 500pt King of the Colosseum restrictions
• detachments — detachment-specific enhancements and rules
• validation_gates — sequential checks that must ALL pass

Unit Data

Location: _bmad/_config/custom/warhammer-40k/data/datasheets/{faction}.compact.json

Contains per-unit: points, sizes, epic_hero flag, keywords, leader info.

Cheatsheet Data

Location: army-lists/{faction}/*.cheatsheet.json

Contains per-unit: stats, weapons, abilities, leads array, points.

Validation Gate Sequence

Run these gates IN ORDER. Stop on first failure.

Gate 1: Points Total

1. Read validation-rules.yaml → hard_rules.points_limit.limits
2. Sum all unit points from the list
3. Sum all enhancement points
4. total = unit_points + enhancement_points
5. IF total > limit → ILLEGAL: "Over by X points"
6. Show itemized breakdown

Gate 2: Rule of Three

1. Read validation-rules.yaml → hard_rules.rule_of_three
2. Count units by datasheet name
3. FOR each datasheet with count > 3:
   - Check if unit has BATTLELINE or DEDICATED TRANSPORT keyword
   - IF not exempt AND count > 3 → ILLEGAL: "X copies of Y (max 3)"

Gate 3: Epic Hero Uniqueness

1. Read validation-rules.yaml → hard_rules.epic_hero_unique
2. FOR each unit in list:
   - Check if epic_hero == true in datasheet
   - IF same Epic Hero appears twice → ILLEGAL: "Duplicate Epic Hero: X"

Gate 4: Enhancement Eligibility

1. Read validation-rules.yaml → hard_rules.enhancement_eligibility
2. FOR each enhancement assigned:
   - Verify target has CHARACTER keyword
   - Verify target does NOT have EPIC HERO keyword
   - IF fails → ILLEGAL: "Enhancement on Epic Hero/non-CHARACTER: X"
3. Read hard_rules.enhancement_limit.limits
4. Count total enhancements
5. IF count > limit for game size → ILLEGAL: "Too many enhancements"

Gate 5: Unit Sizes

1. Read validation-rules.yaml → hard_rules.unit_sizes
2. FOR each unit:
   - Read datasheet sizes array
   - IF models not in valid sizes → ILLEGAL: "Invalid unit size for X"

Gate 6: Leader Attachments

1. Read validation-rules.yaml → hard_rules.leader_count
2. FOR each unit with attached leader(s):
   - Verify leader's "leads" array includes the bodyguard unit
   - IF two leaders attached, verify BOTH have "alongside" text
   - IF fails → ILLEGAL: "Invalid leader attachment: X to Y"

Gate 7: Faction Abilities (Warning Level)

1. Read validation-rules.yaml → faction_abilities
2. IF faction is a divergent chapter (Space Wolves, Blood Angels, etc.):
   - Flag if list assumes full Oath of Moment (+1 wound)
   - WARNING: "Divergent chapter — Oath of Moment is reroll hits ONLY"

Colosseum Format Gates (500pt only)

IF game_size == 500 AND format == "colosseum":
  1. Must have at least 1 CHARACTER
  2. No models with Toughness > 9
  3. No Epic Heroes
  4. At least 2 INFANTRY units
  Read full restrictions from colosseum_format section

Output Format

## Validation Report: [Army Name]

| Gate | Check | Result | Detail |
|------|-------|--------|--------|
| 1 | Points Total | PASS/FAIL | X/Y pts (Z remaining) |
| 2 | Rule of Three | PASS/FAIL | [details if fail] |
| 3 | Epic Hero Unique | PASS/FAIL | |
| 4 | Enhancement Eligibility | PASS/FAIL | |
| 5 | Unit Sizes | PASS/FAIL | |
| 6 | Leader Attachments | PASS/FAIL | |
| 7 | Faction Abilities | WARN/OK | [divergent chapter note] |

**Verdict:** LEGAL / ILLEGAL (X gates failed)

Critical Rules

1. Every check reads from files — never validate from memory
2. Show which rule was checked — cite [validation-rules.yaml: hard_rules.X]
3. Stop on first ILLEGAL — report all failures but the list is illegal on the first one
4. Points math must be shown — itemized breakdown, not just the total
5. If data is missing — say "Cannot validate: unit X not found in datasheet cache"