DEFCON MCP Server

What is DEFCON MCP Server?

DEFCON MCP Server is a Model Context Protocol server for Introversion Software’s 2007 game DEFCON that enables AI tools to play global thermonuclear war. It bridges an LLM to the game via a Lua bot and file-based I/O, allowing the AI to read game state and issue commands.

How to use DEFCON MCP Server?

Install DEFCON, apply the AI API extension (v1.57), and set up LUABOT. Clone this repository into the luabot folder. Configure file paths for input/output text files (defaults to R:\input.txt and R:\output.txt). Install dependencies (npm ci). Start the game with a command like .\Defcon_ai.exe host nowan nolan nowlan luabot="AI\luabot\main.lua" numplayers=2 territory=0 debug inputfile="D://input.txt" outputfile="D://output.txt". Configure your MCP-enabled LLM to start the server via node mcp-server.mjs (stdio) or node mcp-server.mjs --http (HTTP). Pass --inputfile and --outputfile to override default paths.

Key features of DEFCON MCP Server

• Enables AI to play DEFCON via MCP protocol
• Communicates through file I/O with a Lua bridge
• Provides 12 tools for in-game actions and analysis
• Exposes resources for game state and DEFCON level
• Offers prompts to analyze state and suggest placements
• Supports both stdio and HTTP transports
• Uses correlation IDs to track command execution

Use cases of DEFCON MCP Server

• AI‑assisted gameplay where a language model decides strategic moves
• Automated testing of DEFCON strategies and fleet placements
• Creating an AI opponent that interacts via chat and whiteboard
• Educational demonstrations of AI‑game integration with MCP

FAQ from DEFCON MCP Server

What dependencies are required?

You need the DEFCON game, the DEFCON AI API (v1.57), LUABOT, and Node.js for the MCP server.

How does the server communicate with the game?

It uses two text files: input.txt for commands from the server to the game, and output.txt for game state sent back. The Lua bot reads and writes these files.

What transport methods are supported?

The server supports stdio transport (default) and HTTP transport (with --http flag).

Can I specify custom file paths for input and output?

Yes, use --inputfile and --outputfile arguments when starting the MCP server.

What is command correlation?

Each command includes a unique ID; results are tagged with that ID, letting the server verify if commands were executed successfully.