{"slug": "battledrones-v14-compass-rose-a-four-player-map", "title": "battledrones v14: Compass Rose, a four player map", "summary": "Simon Willison released battledrones v14, adding a four-player online mode and a new map called \"Compass Rose\" built with Claude Opus 4.5. The release modifies the WebSockets multiplayer network code so up to four human players can join via share links or QR codes, with any spare slots filled by AI players, and adds purple and green robot teams alongside the existing blue and red designs. The map uses four-way rotational symmetry and supports a replay of a four-way AI battle with the \"Goliath Armada\" mutator, in which each side starts with four giant Goliath mech units.", "body_md": "**Release:** [battledrones v14: Compass Rose, a four player map](https://github.com/simonw/battledrones/releases/tag/v14)\n\nI added four player online mode to [Battledrones](https://simonwillison.net/2026/Oct/20/battledrones/) - previous maps were limited to two.\n\nHere's the initial prompt I used:\n\n`Add a new map for a four player battle - four way rotational symmetry, up to four AI players, works with the WebSocket non-audio based multiplayer mode so up to four human players can join (any spare slots use AI)`\n\nClaude Opus 4.5 added a new map called \"Compass Rose\" and modified the WebSockets multiplayer network code to support up to four players for that map, joining via share links or QR codes.\n\nThe new teams use robots themed in purple and green, joining the existing blue and red designs. You can preview those colors in [the updated model browser](https://simonw.github.io/battledrones/models.html).\n\nHere's [a replay link](https://simonw.github.io/battledrones/v14/?replay=https://gist.githubusercontent.com/simonw/faa550a002b25a78f1c88a64217786c1/raw/4ff9b03de71d757cd33eb5d1a0e388155b6c20e5/compass.json) to watch a four way AI battle with the \"Goliath Armada\" mutator turned on, where each side starts with four giant Goliath mech units.\n\nTags: [game-design](https://simonwillison.net/tags/game-design), [projects](https://simonwillison.net/tags/projects), [claude](https://simonwillison.net/tags/claude)", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/battledrones-v14-compass-rose-a-four-player-map", "canonical_source": "https://simonwillison.net/2026/Oct/24/battledrones/", "published_at": "2026-10-24 03:59:57+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-10-24 14:43:46.790600+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-tools", "generative-ai"], "entities": ["Simon Willison", "battledrones", "Compass Rose", "Claude Opus 4.5", "Anthropic", "Goliath Armada"], "also_reported_by": [], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/battledrones-v14-compass-rose-a-four-player-map", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/battledrones-v14-compass-rose-a-four-player-map.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/battledrones-v14-compass-rose-a-four-player-map.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/battledrones-v14-compass-rose-a-four-player-map.jsonld"}}