diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 47b9365..43de32a 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ tracy_build:
 	meson compile -j 10 -C builddir
 
 test: build
-	./builddir/runtests -d yes
+	./builddir/runtests -d yes "[combat-battle]"
 
 run: build test
 ifeq '$(OS)' 'Windows_NT'
diff --git a/boss/fight.cpp b/boss/fight.cpp
index c068469..26f56ce 100644
--- a/boss/fight.cpp
+++ b/boss/fight.cpp
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+#define FSM_DEBUG 1
 #include "boss/fight.hpp"
 #include "boss/system.hpp"
 #include "animation.hpp"
@@ -7,7 +8,8 @@ namespace boss {
     $world(world),
     $boss_id(boss_id),
     $battle(System::create_battle($world, $boss_id)),
-    $ui(world, boss_id, player_id)
+    $ui(world, boss_id, player_id),
+    $player_id(player_id)
   {
     $ui.init();
   }
@@ -18,8 +20,9 @@ namespace boss {
 
     switch($state) {
       FSM_STATE(State, START, ev, data);
-      FSM_STATE(State, BOSS_TURN, ev, data);
-      FSM_STATE(State, PLAYER_TURN, ev, data);
+      FSM_STATE(State, PLAYER_REQUESTS, ev, data);
+      FSM_STATE(State, PLAN_BATTLE, ev, data);
+      FSM_STATE(State, EXEC_PLAN, ev, data);
       FSM_STATE(State, END, ev, data);
     }
 
@@ -28,6 +31,97 @@ namespace boss {
     return in_state(State::END);
   }
 
+  void Fight::START(gui::Event ev, std::any data) {
+    (void)data;
+    using enum gui::Event;
+
+    switch(ev) {
+      // this is only if using the debug X key to skip it
+      case BOSS_START:
+        state(State::END);
+        break;
+      case TICK:
+        $ui.status(L"PLAYER REQUESTS");
+        state(State::PLAYER_REQUESTS);
+        break;
+      default:
+        break;
+    }
+  }
+
+  void Fight::PLAYER_REQUESTS(gui::Event ev, std::any data) {
+    using enum gui::Event;
+
+    switch(ev) {
+      // this is only if using the debug X key to skip it
+      case BOSS_START:
+        state(State::END);
+        break;
+      case START_COMBAT:
+        $ui.status(L"PLANNING BATTLE");
+        state(State::PLAN_BATTLE);
+      case TICK:
+        break; // ignore tick
+      default:
+        break;
+    }
+  }
+
+  void Fight::PLAN_BATTLE(gui::Event ev, std::any data) {
+    using enum gui::Event;
+
+    switch(ev) {
+      // this is only if using the debug X key to skip it
+      case BOSS_START:
+        state(State::END);
+        break;
+      case START_COMBAT:
+        $ui.status(L"EXEC PLAN");
+        state(State::EXEC_PLAN);
+        break;
+      case TICK:
+        break; // ignore tick
+      default:
+        break;
+    }
+  }
+
+  void Fight::EXEC_PLAN(gui::Event ev, std::any data) {
+    using enum gui::Event;
+
+    switch(ev) {
+      // this is only if using the debug X key to skip it
+      case BOSS_START:
+        state(State::END);
+        break;
+      case TICK:
+        if(player_dead()) {
+          $ui.status(L"YOU DIED");
+          state(State::END);
+        } else {
+          $ui.status(L"PLAYER REQUESTS");
+          state(State::PLAYER_REQUESTS);
+        }
+        break; // ignore tick
+      default:
+        break;
+    }
+  }
+
+  void Fight::END(gui::Event ev, std::any) {
+    fmt::println("BOSS_FIGHT:END event {}", (int)ev);
+  }
+
+  void Fight::run_systems() {
+    run++;
+  }
+
+  void Fight::render(sf::RenderWindow& window) {
+    window.clear();
+    $ui.play_animations();
+    $ui.render(window);
+  }
+
   bool Fight::handle_mouse(gui::Event ev) {
     using enum gui::Event;
 
@@ -55,105 +149,8 @@ namespace boss {
     return true;
   }
 
-  void Fight::START(gui::Event ev, std::any data) {
-    (void)data;
-    using enum gui::Event;
-
-    switch(ev) {
-      // this is only if using the debug X key to skip it
-      case BOSS_START:
-        state(State::END);
-        break;
-      case KEY_PRESS:
-        fmt::println("KEY_PRESS");
-        break;
-      case ATTACK:
-        $ui.status(L"PLAYER TURN");
-        state(State::PLAYER_TURN);
-        break;
-      case TICK:
-        break; // ignore tick
-      default:
-        fmt::println("BOSS_FIGHT:START unknown event {}", (int)ev);
-        break;
-    }
-  }
-
-  void Fight::BOSS_TURN(gui::Event ev, std::any data) {
-    using enum gui::Event;
-
-    switch(ev) {
-      // this is only if using the debug X key to skip it
-      case BOSS_START:
-        state(State::END);
-        break;
-      case KEY_PRESS:
-        fmt::println("KEY_PRESS");
-        break;
-      case ATTACK: {
-        int attack_id = std::any_cast<int>(data);
-        fmt::println("Player attack: {}", attack_id);
-
-        $ui.status(L"PLAYER TURN");
-        const std::string& player_pos = run % 10 < 5 ? "player1" : "player2";
-        $ui.move_actor("player", player_pos);
-        boss::System::plan_battle($battle, $world, $boss_id);
-
-        while(auto action = $battle.next()) {
-          fmt::println("*** combat turn run: eid={}",
-              action->enemy.entity);
-          boss::System::combat(*action, $world, $boss_id, attack_id);
-        }
-
-        $ui.update_stats();
-        state(State::PLAYER_TURN);
-       } break;
-      case TICK:
-        break; // ignore tick
-      default:
-        fmt::println("BOSS_FIGHT:BOSS_TURN unknown event {}", (int)ev);
-        break;
-    }
-  }
-
-  void Fight::PLAYER_TURN(gui::Event ev, std::any data) {
-    using enum gui::Event;
-
-    switch(ev) {
-      // this is only if using the debug X key to skip it
-      case BOSS_START:
-        state(State::END);
-        break;
-      case KEY_PRESS:
-        fmt::println("KEY_PRESS");
-        break;
-      case ATTACK: {
-        $ui.status(L"BOSS TURN");
-        const std::string &boss_at = run % 10 < 5 ? "boss5" : "boss6";
-        $ui.move_actor("boss", boss_at);
-        $ui.animate_actor("boss");
-        int attack_id = std::any_cast<int>(data);
-        state(State::BOSS_TURN);
-       } break;
-      case TICK:
-        break; // ignore tick
-      default:
-        fmt::println("BOSS_FIGHT:PLAYER_TURN unknown event {}", (int)ev);
-        break;
-    }
-  }
-
-  void Fight::END(gui::Event ev, std::any) {
-    fmt::println("BOSS_FIGHT:END event {}", (int)ev);
-  }
-
-  void Fight::run_systems() {
-    run++;
-  }
-
-  void Fight::render(sf::RenderWindow& window) {
-    window.clear();
-    $ui.play_animations();
-    $ui.render(window);
+  bool Fight::player_dead() {
+    auto& combat = $world->get<components::Combat>($player_id);
+    return combat.hp <= 0;
   }
 }
diff --git a/boss/fight.hpp b/boss/fight.hpp
index 5931906..4064c96 100644
--- a/boss/fight.hpp
+++ b/boss/fight.hpp
@@ -14,9 +14,10 @@ namespace boss {
 
   enum class State {
     START=0,
-    BOSS_TURN=1,
-    PLAYER_TURN=2,
-    END=3
+    PLAYER_REQUESTS=1,
+    PLAN_BATTLE=2,
+    EXEC_PLAN=3,
+    END=4
   };
 
   class Fight : public DeadSimpleFSM<State, gui::Event> {
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ namespace boss {
     combat::BattleEngine $battle;
     boss::UI $ui;
     sf::Vector2f mouse_pos{0,0};
+    Entity $player_id = NONE;
     int run = 0;
 
     Fight(shared_ptr<World> world, Entity boss_id, Entity player_id);
@@ -34,11 +36,13 @@ namespace boss {
     bool event(gui::Event ev, std::any data);
 
     void START(gui::Event ev, std::any data);
-    void BOSS_TURN(gui::Event ev, std::any data);
-    void PLAYER_TURN(gui::Event ev, std::any data);
+    void PLAYER_REQUESTS(gui::Event ev, std::any data);
+    void PLAN_BATTLE(gui::Event ev, std::any data);
+    void EXEC_PLAN(gui::Event ev, std::any data);
     void END(gui::Event ev, std::any data);
     void render(sf::RenderWindow& window);
 
     void run_systems();
+    bool player_dead();
   };
 }
diff --git a/boss/system.cpp b/boss/system.cpp
index a898a9c..0b1da2b 100644
--- a/boss/system.cpp
+++ b/boss/system.cpp
@@ -82,14 +82,6 @@ namespace boss {
   void System::plan_battle(BattleEngine& battle, std::shared_ptr<DinkyECS::World> world, DinkyECS::Entity boss_id) {
     // REFACTOR: make this loop the list of entities in the battle then
     // use their world state to configure the plan
-    auto& level = GameDB::current_level();
-    auto& player_combat = world->get<Combat>(level.player);
-
-    battle.set(level.player, "tough_personality", false);
-    battle.set(level.player, "have_healing", false);
-    battle.set(level.player, "health_good", player_combat.hp > 20);
-
-    battle.player_request("kill_enemy");
     battle.plan();
   }
 
@@ -105,15 +97,18 @@ namespace boss {
 
     switch(host_state) {
       case BattleHostState::agree:
+        dbc::log("host_agrees");
         // BUG: this is hard coding only one boss, how to select targets?
         if(wants_to == "kill_enemy") {
           result.player_did = player_combat.attack(boss_combat);
         }
         break;
       case BattleHostState::disagree:
+        dbc::log("host_DISagrees");
         fmt::println("HOST DISAGREES! {}", wants_to);
         break;
       case BattleHostState::not_host:
+        dbc::log("kill_enemy");
         if(wants_to == "kill_enemy") {
           result.enemy_did = enemy.combat->attack(player_combat);
         }
diff --git a/boss/system.hpp b/boss/system.hpp
index fad3ae5..ad0af9a 100644
--- a/boss/system.hpp
+++ b/boss/system.hpp
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@ namespace boss {
   namespace System {
     void load_config();
     std::shared_ptr<boss::Fight> create_bossfight();
-    void combat(std::shared_ptr<DinkyECS::World> world, DinkyECS::Entity boss_id, int attack_id);
 
     void initialize_actor_ai(DinkyECS::World& world, DinkyECS::Entity boss_id);
+
     combat::BattleEngine create_battle(std::shared_ptr<DinkyECS::World> world, DinkyECS::Entity boss_id);
 
     void plan_battle(combat::BattleEngine& battle, std::shared_ptr<DinkyECS::World> world, DinkyECS::Entity boss_id);
diff --git a/boss/ui.cpp b/boss/ui.cpp
index f96272f..e75e9e8 100644
--- a/boss/ui.cpp
+++ b/boss/ui.cpp
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 #include "animation.hpp"
 #include <fmt/xchar.h>
 #include "game_level.hpp"
+#include "gui/guecstra.hpp"
+#include "gui/fsm_events.hpp"
 
 namespace boss {
   using namespace guecs;
@@ -28,16 +30,25 @@ namespace boss {
 
     $actions.position(0,0, SCREEN_WIDTH-BOSS_VIEW_WIDTH, SCREEN_HEIGHT);
     $actions.layout(
-        "[*(200,400)combat|_]"
-        "[_|_]"
-        "[_|_]"
-        "[_|_]"
-        "[*(200,300)stats]"
+        "[*%(100,400)combat]"
+        "[_]"
+        "[_]"
+        "[_]"
+        "[commit]"
+        "[*%(100,300)stats]"
         "[_]"
         "[_]");
 
+    auto commit = $actions.entity("commit");
+    $actions.set<Rectangle>(commit, {});
+    $actions.set<Text>(commit, {L"COMMIT"});
+    $actions.set<Effect>(commit, {});
+    $actions.set<Clickable>(commit,
+        guecs::make_action(commit, Events::GUI::COMBAT_START, {}));
+
     auto stats = $actions.entity("stats");
     $actions.set<Rectangle>(stats, {});
+
     update_stats();
 
     $actions.init();
@@ -60,8 +71,6 @@ namespace boss {
     if($world->has_event<Events::GUI>()) {
       auto [evt, entity, data] = $world->recv<Events::GUI>();
       auto result = std::any_cast<Events::Combat>(data);
-      auto& player_is = $arena.$actors.at($arena.$actor_name_ids.at("player"));
-      auto& boss_is = $arena.$actors.at($arena.$actor_name_ids.at("boss"));
 
       if(result.player_did > 0) {
         status += L"\nYOU HIT!";
@@ -74,16 +83,6 @@ namespace boss {
       } else {
         status += L"\nBOSS MISSED!";
       }
-
-      /*
-      if(result.player_did > 0) {
-        zoom("boss14", 1.8);
-      } else if(result.enemy_did > 0) {
-        zoom(player_is.cell, 2.0);
-      } else {
-        zoom("", 0.0);
-      }
-      */
     }
 
     $actions.show_text("stats", status);
diff --git a/tests/battle.cpp b/tests/battle.cpp
index c20f588..c2f4270 100644
--- a/tests/battle.cpp
+++ b/tests/battle.cpp
@@ -5,8 +5,16 @@
 #include "battle.hpp"
 #include "simplefsm.hpp"
 #include "dinkyecs.hpp"
+#include "boss/system.hpp"
+#include "backend.hpp"
+#include "game_level.hpp"
+#include "animation.hpp"
+#include "components.hpp"
+#include "ai.hpp"
 
 using namespace combat;
+using namespace boss;
+using namespace components;
 
 TEST_CASE("battle operations fantasy", "[combat-battle]") {
   ai::reset();
@@ -85,3 +93,35 @@ TEST_CASE("battle operations fantasy", "[combat-battle]") {
     REQUIRE(!battle.next());
   }
 }
+
+
+TEST_CASE("boss/systems.cpp works", "[combat-battle]") {
+  components::init();
+  sfml::Backend backend;
+  guecs::init(&backend);
+  ai::reset();
+  ai::init("ai");
+  animation::init();
+  GameDB::init();
+  cinematic::init();
+  auto host = GameDB::current_level().player;
+
+  auto fight = System::create_bossfight();
+  auto battle = System::create_battle(fight->$world, fight->$boss_id);
+  auto& host_combat = fight->$world->get<Combat>(host);
+
+  System::initialize_actor_ai(*fight->$world, fight->$boss_id);
+
+  battle.set(host, "tough_personality", false);
+  battle.set(host, "have_healing", false);
+  battle.set(host, "health_good", host_combat.hp > 20);
+
+  battle.player_request("kill_enemy");
+
+  System::plan_battle(battle, fight->$world, fight->$boss_id);
+
+  while(auto action = battle.next()) {
+    dbc::log("ACTION!");
+    System::combat(*action, fight->$world, fight->$boss_id, 0);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/tools/arena.cpp b/tools/arena.cpp
index e418c73..ff7ab15 100644
--- a/tools/arena.cpp
+++ b/tools/arena.cpp
@@ -68,6 +68,9 @@ int main(int, char*[]) {
         case Events::GUI::ATTACK:
           main->event(gui::Event::ATTACK, data);
           break;
+        case Events::GUI::COMBAT_START:
+          main->event(gui::Event::START_COMBAT, data);
+          break;
         default:
           fmt::println("GUI EVENT: {} entity={}", int(evt), entity);
       }