v0.5.0: The synergy matrix and the Carousel

The biggest build yet. The full 120-pair synergy matrix ships, and a new boss spins into the roster.

Added

• The complete 120-pair synergy matrix. Every weapon pair now has a synergy.
• New boss: the Carousel, a revolver-drum boss with regrowing guns that carries the existing turret roster, plus a frantic core rev
• New boss mount: the rocket turret, which fires RPGs in reverse
• Every boss gun now has a firing tell before it shoots
• Deploy screen globe upgrades: NASA Blue Marble land map, a semi-transparent cloud layer, and a rotating scan sweep on the wireframe
• Weapons scale their range; Orbital Designator targeting logic updated
• Perk shop gets section jump chips and richer group metadata, plus a fresh perk batch
• Early-game pacing pass, siege economy, and the boss swoop
• Test range selects weapons and synergies via draft cards, and synergy cards name their parent weapons. The weapon picker later settled back into a compact dropdown with the card copy inside the menu.

Reworks

• Tesla Balloons: the chain now relays off balloons instead of tethering filaments
• Windfall deals a bonus hand instead of auto-applying a random card

Balance

• Prestige rank 1 cost raised from 5k to 20k, then to 50k flux
• Starting Level perk cost raised from 200 to 800 flux
• Revolver chambers are sealed while the drum is riding. The station stop is the kill window.
• x1 sim pace eases from x2.0 to x1.8, and wave 1 opens at 78% speed (the opening act stays at 85%)
• Drum-speed escalation lever added

Fixes

• Gravity Well no longer leads its shots. The Targeting Computer was pinning it at the field edge.
• Landed tumblers waddle toward the cannon instead of sitting out of reach
• Vapor banks get an explicit render depth
• Boss turrets render above the hulls. The drum band was hiding the Carousel's guns.
• The firing tell sits on the turret's light instead of floating past the muzzle
• Test range starts with no weapon mounted