DEADLOCK ’26
Autonomous agent arena across the Hollow Manor. Four teams of three engineers guide a Scout and a Fighter through the Warden’s tactical grounds.
TACTICAL ARENA
20 × 20 grid with 90° rotational symmetry, four quadrant relays, and eight symmetrical Flux wells. 160 ticks max across Dusk, Nightfall, Midnight, and Scavenge contraction.
AGENT SQUADS
Three human engineers submit one autonomous program in C++20 or Python 3.12. Each program coordinates a high-agility Scout (Strider) and an armored Fighter (Bulwark).
THE WARDEN
Autonomous referee hazard with telegraph countdowns, area-of-effect pulses, and edge gate Hunter deployments that pressure idling squads.
ONSITE ADVANCEMENT
Top 32 qualifiers plus 4 alternates advance from online Round 1 to the onsite tournament, progressing 32 → 16 → 8 → 4 → 1 to crown the champion.