Initial import: LibreForts (M0-M5 in progress)

Open-source Forts clone: custom C++20 engine + data-driven (Lua) 2D physics
artillery RTS.

- Building: node/strut graph on a stiff mass-spring solver (canon Forts model),
  triangulation rigidity, axial + 30-degree angle-stress breaking, cascading
  collapse, fire (DoT + spread), ground destroys debris.
- Weapons (M4): cannon (ballistic) + laser (beam/ignite) with select-and-aim-in-
  arc UX; splash / beam damage; bg-brace passthrough.
- Devices + economy (M5): reactors + win/loss + restart, mines/turbines/battery,
  metal deposits, storage caps, per-shot energy cost.
- Data-driven via Lua/sol2 with a layered mod loader; enemy-fort scenario mod.
- Renderer: SDL3 + textures + ImGui dev UI. stb_image + ImGui vendored.
- Assets: CC0 placeholders only; real game art loaded at runtime from the user's
  own install via forts: paths (bring-your-own; nothing copyrighted committed).

See README.md / CLAUDE.md and research/ + requirements/ for detail.

1 files changed, 24 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a164756
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+# LibreForts
+
+Open-source clone of Forts, a 2D physics artillery RTS. Custom C++ engine,
+content driven by Lua. Work in progress. See CLAUDE.md for details.
+
+## Stack
+
+C++20, Meson/Ninja (Podman), SDL3, Dear ImGui, a custom mass-spring physics
+solver, Lua 5.4 with sol2, and stb_image.
+
+## Build and run
+
+```sh
+podman build -t forts-clone-dev .
+podman run --rm -v "$PWD":/src:Z --userns=keep-id localhost/forts-clone-dev:latest \
+  sh -c "cd /src && meson setup builddir && meson compile -C builddir"
+./builddir/forts-clone   # run from repo root
+```
+
+## Assets
+
+The repo ships CC0 placeholders only. If you own Forts, real textures load at
+runtime from your install via `forts:` paths (set `$FORTS_DATA`). Nothing
+copyrighted is stored here. Forts is copyright EarthWork Games.