# E5.M4 — GroupCombatScaling

## Summary

| Field | Value |
|--------|--------|
| **Module ID** | E5.M4 |
| **Epic** | [Epic 5 — PvE Combat](../epics/epic_05_pve_combat.md) |
| **Stage target** | Pre-production |
| **Status** | Planned (see [dependency register](module_dependency_register.md)) |

## Purpose

Duo/squad scaling and anti-trivialization hooks using party context from [E8.M1 — PartyAndMatchAssembly](E8_M1_PartyAndMatchAssembly.md).

## Responsibilities

- Apply `ScalingProfile`, `PartySizeModifier`, and `CombatDifficultyBand` when resolving encounters ([E5.M3](E5_M3_EncounterAndRewardTables.md)).

## Key contracts

| Contract | Role |
|----------|------|
| `ScalingProfile` | HP/damage modifiers per party size. |
| `PartySizeModifier` | Discrete steps or curves. |
| `CombatDifficultyBand` | Named difficulty for tuning. |

## Module dependencies

- **E5.M3** — EncounterAndRewardTables.
- **E8.M1** — PartyAndMatchAssembly.

## Dependents (by design)

- Encounter runtime and telemetry `party_combat_scaling_applied`.

## Related implementation slices

Epic 5 **Slice 4** — duo fairness metrics.

## Source anchors

- Master plan: [`neon_sprawl_vision.plan.md`](../../../neon_sprawl_vision.plan.md) — Epic 5.
- [Module dependency register](module_dependency_register.md)
