feat(maze): shrink map and rebalance compact gameplay

docs/BALANCE_REPORT.md

@@ -1,20 +1,20 @@
 # MVP gameplay balance
 
-This document locks the gameplay configuration evaluated for Milestone 011.
-It is not a claim that the required human playtests have completed; their
-results belong in `docs/PLAYTEST_REPORT.md`.
+This document locks the compact gameplay configuration evaluated for Milestone
+014. Human confirmation of the revised map belongs in
+`docs/PLAYTEST_REPORT.md`.
 
 ## Locked configuration
 
 | Parameter | Locked value | Purpose |
 | --- | ---: | --- |
-| Maze dimensions | 128 x 64 cells | MVP map size |
+| Maze dimensions | 32 x 32 cells | Square map with one eighth of the former area |
 | Initial vision radius | 3 cells | Current-view-only exploration |
-| Cross-half connection pairs | 3 | Multiple routes between conceptual halves |
-| Extra cycle pairs | 64 | Alternative routes without removing dead ends |
-| Minimum start-to-exit separation | 64 cells | Keeps exits distant from starts |
-| Landmark pairs | 8 | Spatial-memory cues in symmetric positions |
-| Vision-artifact pairs | 4 | Eight one-use artifacts; exceeds the MVP minimum of two |
+| Cross-half connection pairs | 2 | Four seam crossings between conceptual halves |
+| Extra cycle pairs | 8 | Proportional route density without removing dead ends |
+| Minimum start-to-exit separation | 22 cells | Linear scaling by approximately the square root of eight |
+| Landmark pairs | 2 | Four spatial-memory cues in symmetric positions |
+| Vision-artifact pairs | 1 | Two one-use artifacts; preserves the MVP minimum |
 | Compass pairs | 1 | One compass for each player's own exit |
 | Movement cooldown | 150 ms | Server-enforced minimum accepted-move interval |
 | Enhanced-vision duration | 10 successful moves | MVP artifact duration |
@@ -47,15 +47,15 @@ The most recent recorded sweep (2026-09-08) reported:
 
 | Metric | Observed range across 1,024 seeds |
 | --- | ---: |
-| Cycles | 133..133 |
-| Dead ends | 704..854 |
-| Start to key | 416..1,442 cells |
-| Key to exit | 346..1,244 cells |
-| Start to exit | 102..992 cells |
-| Generation attempts | 1 |
+| Cycles | 19..19 |
+| Dead ends | 74..128 |
+| Start to key | 93..422 cells |
+| Key to exit | 84..352 cells |
+| Start to exit | 26..242 cells |
+| Generation attempts | 1..2 |
 
-At the 150 ms cooldown, an uninterrupted shortest 416-cell key route takes at
-least 62.4 seconds of accepted-move time. Actual match duration also includes
+At the 150 ms cooldown, an uninterrupted shortest 93-cell key route takes at
+least 13.95 seconds of accepted-move time. Actual match duration also includes
 route discovery, current-view-only navigation, the exit search, detours,
 interactions, and player decisions. The approximately five-minute target must
 be confirmed by the representative human-playtest procedure; no hard timer is
@@ -63,9 +63,10 @@ introduced to force that outcome.
 
 ## Tuning decision
 
-No parameter change is justified before representative timing evidence exists.
-Changing maze density or cooldown solely from shortest-path metrics would risk
-making the target duration less representative of real fog-of-war play. If the
-playtest median materially misses the five-minute target, change only the
-smallest relevant locked value, rerun the 1,024-seed suite, record the new
+The topology and object counts were reduced with the map area while retaining
+the three-cell base view, ten-move artifact effect, 150 ms cooldown, and 200 ms
+draw window. These interaction values remain unchanged until representative
+playtesting of the compact map supplies evidence for a further adjustment. If
+playtesting identifies a material duration or navigation problem, change only
+the smallest relevant locked value, rerun the 1,024-seed suite, record the new
 range here, and repeat the affected playtests.