realms-in-ruin-dev/Documentation/Archaeology/13-Unknowns-And-RuntimeQuestions.md

13 — Unknowns and Runtime Questions

Status: Draft

• Scope: Unresolved questions after Phase 1 static archaeology (Batches 1–5). Static defects are recorded; runtime validation is planned but not executed.
• Inspection method: Consolidation through Pass 11 synthesis.
• Evidence classifications used: Observed Implementation, Documented Intent, Observed Runtime Behavior, Inferred, Unknown.
• Tool or visibility limitations: Semantic Search unavailable; AnimGraph transition DSL empty; Sphere CDO collision unreadable; CustomEvent Reliability unreadable; no PIE in Phase 1.
• Last updated: 2026-07-16
• Current phase: Phase 1 — Static Architecture (complete); runtime validation deferred
• Last completed pass: Pass 11 (Batch 5 synthesis)
• Next pass expected to contribute: Phase 2A runtime-baseline when explicitly authorized

Draft tracking

Completed sections

• Batch 1–4D resolutions (Passes 0–10)
• Pass 11: bounded runtime validation plan (groups 1–12)
• Static vs runtime boundary clarified

Pending sections

• All runtime test execution (not authorized in Phase 1)
• Manual Editor notify trigger times / ABP Death pins / sphere GenerateOverlapEvents

Evidence still required

• All rows in Runtime validation plan below
• FCanUseMana implementation body detail
• Client_Charge numeric timeline details

Why Draft remains

Runtime execution has not begun. Static scope for Phase 1 unknowns is fully inventoried.

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Static vs runtime boundary

Category	Examples	Phase 1 status
Confirmed static defects	Enemy chase missing; GetASC nullptr; AddGold unimplemented; Cleric 004 mana bypass	Closed as static findings
Active but Unverified connected paths	Overlay bars; EffectActor apply; session host/find	Require runtime
Unknown — Tool Limitation	CustomEvent Reliability; montage notify times	Manual Editor or MCP gap
Design decisions	Wizard orphan intent; whirlwind; Gunslinger kit	Defer pending design

Do not treat runtime questions as confirmed defects until tested.

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Resolved in prior passes (summary)

Pass/Batch	Examples resolved statically
Batch 4D	Sessions in PC_MainMenu not GI; OSS INI Missing; char-select spawn; UpdatePlayerHUD/AddGold unimplemented; EffectActor authority risk; Overlay Health/Mana only
Pass 9	Chase/attack Implementation Missing independent of GetASC
Pass 8	UseAbility* callers = AN_Ability_*; AN_AttackComplete cleanup; montage pins unwired
Pass 7	Dual resource boundary; no GA grant/activate; orphan default GEs
Pass 6	Per-character ability statuses

Full tables remain in docs 02–12.

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Confirmed static defects with runtime questions

Confirmed finding	Issue	Runtime question
Chase/attack Implementation Missing	Existing Baseline Defect	Confirm idle forever when possessed
No navmesh in Test01	External Dependency Missing (secondary)	Would MoveTo work after mesh bake alone?
AutoPossessAI PlacedInWorld	Possession Configuration Conflict for spawned enemies	Do spawners create uncontrolled pawns?
ABP SetIsDead(false)	Connected but Incomplete	Death state ever entered?
No enemy damage reception	Existing Baseline Defect	Player hits show nothing?
Enemy GetASC nullptr	Incomplete Refactor	EffectActor on enemy destroys loot without heal?
UpdatePlayerHUD unimplemented	Incomplete Refactor	Does Server_UpdateHUD no-op?
AddGold unimplemented	Incomplete Refactor	Gold SFX+destroy without score?
EffectActor no authority	Authority Risk	Client/server double-destroy or missed GE?
JoinSession no OnSuccess pin	Partial	Does join travel occur?
OnlineSubsystem INI Missing	Missing	LAN/Steam sessions fail silently?
Char-select server-only create	Partial	Remote clients stuck without pawn UI?
Orphan default GEs / dual resources	Incomplete Refactor	Spawn Health/Mana vs Overlay
Montage completion pins unwired	Networking Risk	Interrupt leaves CurrentlyAttacking stuck?
Cleric 004 mana bypass + empty SpawnActor	Existing Baseline Defect	Confirm free cast + no projectile

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Runtime validation plan (do not execute in Phase 1)

For each test: distinguish PIE, Listen-server, Dedicated-server, Two-client, Standalone, Manual Editor.

1. Player attributes and HUD

Test	Static prerequisite	Setup	Observation	Pass condition	Failure implication	Mode
Spawn ASC Init values	Dual SoT documented	Standalone NewGame→Test01→select Paladin	Overlay Health/Mana at spawn	Match native Init (75/100, 25/50) or documented policy	Orphan GE / Init mismatch	Standalone / PIE
Potion updates Overlay	EffectActor path	Overlap HealthPotion	Overlay Health rises +25	ASC Health changed; bar updates	Overlay or apply broken	PIE
Combat vs potion divergence	Dual resources	Take legacy damage then potion	DEPRECATED vs ASC values	Divergence documented or SoT enforced	Confirms P0 dual-resource risk	PIE

2. Ability authority and replication

Test	Static prerequisite	Setup	Observation	Pass condition	Failure implication	Mode
Amazonian 001 listen-server	Implemented path	Host+client; Amazonian melee	Damage Authority; montage both	Authority damage once; clients see montage	Authority/replication defect	Listen-server + Two-client
Wizard stub	Stub	Activate Ability 001	PrintString / no combat	Stub only	Unexpected child override	PIE

3. Animation callback execution

Test	Static prerequisite	Setup	Observation	Pass condition	Failure implication	Mode
AN_Ability_001 fires UseAbility	AN wiring	Paladin/Amazonian 001	Hit window applies damage	Damage at notify time	Notify not evaluated on server	PIE / Listen-server
Cleric 001 dead receiver	Unimplemented UseAbility001	Cleric 001	Montage plays; no hit	Partial confirmed	Unexpected hit path	PIE

4. Ability interruption and cleanup

Test	Static prerequisite	Setup	Observation	Pass condition	Failure implication	Mode
Interrupt mid-montage	Pins unwired	Cancel/stun/move cancel mid-001	CurrentlyAttacking state	Clears or stuck documented	P1 cleanup risk confirmed	PIE
AN_AttackComplete path	Connected notify	Complete full montage	CurrentlyAttacking false	Lockout released	Cleanup broken even on complete	PIE

5. Player damage and death

Test	Static prerequisite	Setup	Observation	Pass condition	Failure implication	Mode
Amazonian AnyDamage death	Partial death path	Reduce health to ≤0	PlayerDeath; ABP Death	Death reached	Death unreachable	PIE
Paladin lethal path	Inherited death	Apply lethal damage source	Death or no-op	Path documented	Missing inbound damage	PIE

6. Enemy ASC compatibility

Test	Static prerequisite	Setup	Observation	Pass condition	Failure implication	Mode
Potion on enemy	GetASC nullptr	Overlap potion on skeleton	GE apply + destroy	Early-out no heal; actor may destroy	Confirms destroy-without-heal	PIE
Direct enemy ASC Health	ASC on self	Inspect ASC after spawn	Health Init present	Component alive despite GetASC defect	ASC missing entirely	PIE / Manual Editor

7. Enemy damage reception and death

Test	Static prerequisite	Setup	Observation	Pass condition	Failure implication	Mode
Player hit skeleton	No ReceiveAnyDamage	Amazonian 001 on skeleton	Health/death response	No health change (expected today)	Unexpected consumer found	PIE
IsDead forced false	ABP Update	Force IsDead true then tick	Death state	Forced false prevents Death	Or Death somehow reachable	PIE / Manual Editor
AIController possession	PlacedInWorld	PIE possess check	Controller class	Possessed by AIController	Unpossessed	PIE

8. Pickup authority and replication

Test	Static prerequisite	Setup	Observation	Pass condition	Failure implication	Mode
EffectActor listen-server	Authority Risk	Host+client overlap potion	GE apply count; destroy	Single authoritative apply	Double apply/destroy	Listen-server + Two-client
Gold authority	Authority gated	Overlap gold	SFX+destroy; AddGold	No score change (unimplemented)	Unexpected score store	PIE

9. Character-selection networking

Test	Static prerequisite	Setup	Observation	Pass condition	Failure implication	Mode
Remote client select UI	Server-only create	Listen-server two clients	Widget on client	Client has UI and can spawn	Client stuck — P1 confirmed	Listen-server + Two-client
Gunslinger absence	Not in UI	Open select	Class buttons	No Gunslinger	Unexpected button	Standalone

10. Session create/find/join/travel/destroy

Test	Static prerequisite	Setup	Observation	Pass condition	Failure implication	Mode
Host create	Partial host path	HostGame	Session + travel Dev_Island	Lands listen-server	OSS/config failure	Listen-server
Find sessions	Find connected	Refresh	Slot list	Rows appear	Find broken	Two-client
Join travel	No OnSuccess pin	JoinGame	Travel to host map	Client travels	Join travel broken	Two-client
Destroy/leave	Missing DestroySession	Return MainMenu mid-session	Session state	Document leak/orphan session	Confirms Missing cleanup	Listen-server

11. Gold and currency

Test	Static prerequisite	Setup	Observation	Pass condition	Failure implication	Mode
AddGold no-op	Unimplemented	Pick gold	Score/UI	No persistent gold	Unexpected implementation elsewhere	PIE
No stamina pickup	Negative inventory	Search/play	No stamina collectible	Confirmed Missing	Asset found	Standalone

12. Respawn and HUD recreation

Test	Static prerequisite	Setup	Observation	Pass condition	Failure implication	Mode
Respawn Overlay	Server_RespawnPlayer	Die → respawn	Overlay bars	HUD recreated; attrs reset per policy	HUD/attr stuck	PIE
Possessed Server_UpdateHUD	Delay 0.4 path	Possess	Legacy HUD call	No-op (expected)	Unexpected UpdatePlayerHUD impl	PIE

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Requires Manual Editor Inspection

Question	Priority
AnimNotify trigger times / track indices	Medium
Montage section / blend / root-motion flags	Low
ABP_Skeleton Death transition pin wiring	Low
Sphere GenerateOverlapEvents / collision profile on EffectActors	Medium
FCanUseMana function body	Medium
CommonUI content usage	Low

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Priority order for later verification

1. Phase 2A design: canonical attribute/authority/cleanup contracts (do not skip)
2. Controlled PIE — menu→Test01 spawn, Overlay, potion GE, gold no-op, enemy idle, Amazonian 001
3. Interrupt cleanup + dual-resource divergence
4. Multiplayer PIE — host Dev_Island, join travel, remote char-select, EffectActor authority
5. Manual Editor — collision templates, AnimGraph pins, notify times

Do not begin Phase 2 implementation until Phase 2A contracts are approved.