Gameplay Mechanics

Core Gameplay Loop

Dispatch revolves around three main gameplay pillars:

1. Narrative Choices: Dialogue and decision-making that shapes the story
2. Strategic Dispatch: Assigning heroes to emergencies based on their abilities
3. Character Management: Leveling up heroes and managing team dynamics

The Dispatch System

How Dispatching Works

The dispatch system is the core mechanic of Dispatch. When emergencies occur, you must:

1. Analyze the Mission: Each call displays required stats and mission tags
2. Select Heroes: Choose 1-3 heroes whose stats match the mission requirements
3. Check Success Probability: The game compares hero stats to hidden mission requirements
4. Deploy: Send your team and watch the results unfold

Success Mechanics

Mission success is determined by:

• Stat Matching: How well hero stats align with mission requirements
• Ability Synergy: Heroes with abilities matching mission tags get bonuses
• Team Chemistry: Positive relationships boost performance
• Fatigue Levels: Fresh heroes perform better than exhausted ones
• Hero Conditions: Injuries and debuffs reduce effectiveness

Visual Feedback

The dispatch interface shows overlapping stat charts:

• If the hero’s stat profile overlaps with the mission requirements, it succeeds
• If there’s no overlap, the mission fails
• Larger overlap areas indicate higher success probability

Hero Management

Leveling System

Heroes gain experience from missions and level up over time:

1. Earn XP: Heroes gain experience from completing missions
2. Level Up: Accumulated XP triggers level-ups
3. Allocate Points: Spend points to upgrade stats (Combat, Intellect, Charisma, Mobility, Vigor)
4. Unlock Abilities: Some heroes gain new abilities at certain levels

Special XP Mechanics

• Invisigal’s Wolf Pack: When Invisigal is dispatched solo, she doubles XP rewards for the entire team
• Successful Missions: Higher success rates provide more XP
• Mission Difficulty: Harder missions reward more experience

Hero Database

Access the Hero Database (folder icon on the map) to:

• View hero stats and abilities
• Upgrade heroes after leveling up
• Check relationships and team chemistry
• Review hero backstories and flaws

Cooldown and Fatigue System

Cooldowns

After completing a mission, heroes enter a cooldown period where:

• They cannot be immediately redeployed
• Cooldown duration varies by mission intensity
• You must rotate your roster strategically

Fatigue Management

Hero fatigue affects performance:

• Fresh (0-40% fatigue): Optimal performance
• Tired (40-70% fatigue): Slight performance decrease
• Exhausted (70-100% fatigue): Significant performance penalties

Best Practices:

• Rest heroes after 2-3 consecutive missions
• Rotate team members to prevent exhaustion
• Avoid deploying exhausted heroes to critical missions

Mission Types

Dispatch features various emergency types requiring different stat combinations:

Combat Missions

• Primary Stat: Combat
• Examples: Villain attacks, armed robberies, physical confrontations
• Best Heroes: Flambae, Coupe, Punch Up

Intellectual Missions

• Primary Stat: Intellect
• Examples: Hacking, investigations, puzzle-solving, disarming bombs
• Best Heroes: Prism, Malevola, Sonar (in tech form)

Social Missions

• Primary Stat: Charisma
• Examples: Hostage negotiations, crowd control, diplomatic interventions
• Best Heroes: Prism, Malevola, Sonar (in social form)

Speed Missions

• Primary Stat: Mobility
• Examples: Chases, rescues, time-sensitive operations
• Best Heroes: Invisigal, Coupe

Endurance Missions

• Primary Stat: Vigor
• Examples: Extended operations, mental resilience challenges, monster attacks
• Best Heroes: Punch Up, Golem

Multi-Stat Missions

Many missions require balanced teams covering multiple stats. Check all requirements before deploying.

Quick Time Events (QTEs)

What Are QTEs?

Quick Time Events are timed button-press sequences that occur during:

• Combat sequences
• Chase scenes
• Critical decision moments
• Hacking attempts

QTE Mechanics

• Button Prompts: Press the correct button when prompted
• Timing: Some QTEs require precise timing
• Consequences: Success or failure affects mission outcomes and narrative
• Stat Influence: Hero stats can make QTEs easier or provide second chances

QTE Tips

• Stay focused during action sequences
• Higher hero stats reduce QTE difficulty
• Some QTEs are optional but provide bonuses
• Failed QTEs don’t always mean mission failure but may have consequences

Hacking Mini-Games

How Hacking Works

Certain missions involve hacking sequences:

1. Path Navigation: Navigate through data pathways
2. Timed Inputs: Enter codes or commands within time limits
3. Pattern Recognition: Identify and follow correct sequences
4. Obstacle Avoidance: Navigate around security measures

Hacking Success Factors

• Intellect Stat: Higher Intellect makes hacking easier
• Hero Abilities: Some heroes have hacking-specific bonuses
• Time Management: Complete sequences before timers expire
• Precision: Accurate inputs prevent failures

Hacking Benefits

Successful hacks can:

• Unlock additional information
• Disable threats
• Provide mission advantages
• Reveal story details

Choice and Consequence System

Types of Choices

Dialogue Choices:

• Shape Robert’s personality (compassionate vs. aggressive)
• Affect character relationships
• Influence how others perceive you

Strategic Choices:

• Which heroes to deploy
• Mission prioritization
• Resource allocation

Moral Choices:

• How to handle villains
• Whether to trust teammates
• Balancing duty and compassion

Romance Choices:

• Episode 3 features a permanent romance choice
• Affects available endings
• Influences character interactions

Consequence Tracking

The game tracks:

• Reputation: How characters view Robert
• Relationships: Team chemistry and bonds
• Trust Levels: Character loyalty
• Story Branches: Major narrative divergences

Impact on Endings

Your choices throughout all episodes determine:

• Which of the six endings you unlock
• Character fates and relationships
• Team unity vs. solo leadership paths
• Romance outcomes

Office Interactions

Between missions, you’ll interact with:

• Team Members: Build relationships through conversations
• Blonde Blazer: Your boss and SDN branch head
• Other Characters: NPCs who provide context and story

These interactions:

• Develop character backstories
• Affect team morale
• Provide comic relief
• Set up future story developments

Mission Scheduling

Simultaneous Emergencies

As the game progresses:

• Multiple emergencies occur at once
• You must prioritize which to handle
• Some missions are time-sensitive
• Choosing one mission may mean failing others

Priority Management

Consider:

• Mission Difficulty: Can your available heroes handle it?
• Consequences: What happens if this mission fails?
• Hero Availability: Who’s on cooldown?
• Story Impact: Does this mission advance key storylines?

Performance Tracking

The game tracks your performance:

• Success Rate: Percentage of successful missions
• Perfect Runs: Completing all missions without failures
• Relationship Scores: Team chemistry levels
• Story Choices: Major decisions made

High performance unlocks:

• Better endings
• Additional dialogue
• Character loyalty
• Achievement recognition

Tips for Mastering Core Mechanics

1. Study Mission Requirements: Always check what stats are needed before deploying
2. Balance Your Roster: Don’t over-rely on the same heroes
3. Manage Fatigue: Keep heroes fresh for critical missions
4. Build Relationships: Positive team chemistry improves success rates
5. Save Specialization: Deploy specialists to their optimal mission types
6. Learn From Failures: Failed missions provide learning opportunities
7. Plan Ahead: Anticipate cooldowns and rotate heroes strategically
8. Pay Attention to Story: Narrative choices matter as much as tactical ones

Understanding these core mechanics is essential for mastering Dispatch and achieving the best possible outcomes for Robert and his team.