# 02 — Player State & Embodiment Systems (Systems 08-15)

**Category Purpose:** These 8 systems form the player character's core simulation layer — health, stamina, stress, movement, hiding, first-person body, camera, and metrics tracking. They cascade: health affects stress, stress affects movement, movement affects camera. All feed into the animation system (ABP_GASP) via event dispatchers.

---

## System Index

| # | System | Asset Type | Role |
|---|--------|-----------|------|
| 08 | `BPC_HealthSystem` | Component | Health pool, damage resistance, death trigger, healing |
| 09 | `BPC_StaminaSystem` | Component | Stamina pool, sprint/action drain, exhaustion states |
| 10 | `BPC_StressSystem` | Component | Psychological stress, tiers (Calm→Catatonic), hallucinations |
| 11 | `BPC_MovementStateSystem` | Component | Movement mode + posture tracking; GASP liaison; footsteps |
| 12 | `BPC_HidingSystem` | Component | Hide/peek/breath-hold; LOS checks; stress decay while hidden |
| 13 | `BPC_EmbodimentSystem` | Component | First-person body mesh, arm IK, visibility modes, overlays |
| 14 | `BPC_CameraStateLayer` | Component | Camera FOV/offset/rotation layers for all states; shake system |
| 15 | `BPC_PlayerMetricsTracker` | Component | Player metrics: accuracy, deaths, playstyle ratios |

---

## Category Data Flow — The Cascade

```
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                      PLAYER SIMULATION CASCADE                       │
│                                                                      │
│  Combat Damage                                                       │
│      ↓                                                               │
│  BPC_HealthSystem                                                    │
│      ↓ dispatchers: OnDamageTaken →                                  │
│  BPC_StressSystem  ←── also fed by: enemy proximity, environment,    │
│      ↓ dispatchers: OnStressTierChanged →         narrative events   │
│  BPC_CameraStateLayer  (FOV pulse, chromatic aberration)             │
│  BPC_MovementStateSystem  (movement penalties at high stress)        │
│      ↓ dispatchers: OnMovementModeChanged →                          │
│  BPC_StaminaSystem  (regen blocked while sprinting)                  │
│  ABP_GASP  (animation selection)                                     │
│      ↓ dispatchers: OnSprintStateChanged →                           │
│  BPC_StaminaSystem  (continuous drain during sprint)                 │
│                                                                      │
│  BPC_HidingSystem  ←── interacts with both:                          │
│      ↓ stress decay while hidden                                     │
│      ↓ camera constrained while hiding                              │
│      ↓ movement disabled while inside spot                           │
│                                                                      │
│  BPC_EmbodimentSystem  ←── visual overlays from damage/water         │
│  BPC_PlayerMetricsTracker  ←── records everything for analytics      │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```

---

## 08 — BPC_HealthSystem: Health, Damage & Death

**What It Does:** The central survivability component. Manages a health pool (MaxHealth → CurrentHealth), applies damage with type-based resistance calculation, handles healing, tracks death state (Alive → Dying → Dead → PermaDeath), and fires dispatchers that cascade to stress, UI, and death handling systems.

**How It Works Internally:**

**Damage Application Flow:**
1. `ApplyDamage(DamageEvent)` called by weapon, trap, or environment
2. Early-out checks: Is DeathState == Dead? Is bIsInvincible? → return 0
3. Calculate resistance: look up `S_DamageResistance` for `DamageType`, multiply `BaseAmount` by `Multiplier`
4. `CurrentHealth -= EffectiveDamage`
5. Reset `RegenDelay` timer (regen starts after delay from last damage)
6. Fire `OnDamageTaken` → `BPC_StressSystem` reacts, HUD updates
7. Check thresholds: if `CurrentHealth <= 0` → `HandleDeath()`; if `CurrentHealth <= CriticalHealthPercent * MaxHealth` → fire `OnHealthCritical`
8. If DamageType is `Fear` → stress multiplier on `BPC_StressSystem`

**Resistance System:**
- Default resistances stored as array of `S_DamageResistance` (type → multiplier)
- 7 damage types: Physical, Arcane, Fire, Poison, Fear, Environmental, True (bypasses all)
- `AddResistance()` / `RemoveResistance()` at runtime for buffs/debuffs

**Death States:**
- `Alive` → normal; `Dying` → downed, waiting for recovery/final death; `Dead` → no actions; `PermaDeath` → save-scrubbing locked
- On death: clear all timers (regen, DoT, invincibility), fire `OnDeath`, notify `GM_CoreGameMode.HandlePlayerDead()`

**Health Regeneration:**
- `RegenDelay` seconds after last damage before regen starts
- Timer ticks `RegenRate` HP per second until `CurrentHealth >= MaxHealth`
- Blocked by death state

**Implementation Patterns:**
- `GetHealthNormalised()` returns 0.0-1.0 for UI bars — smooth interpolation, never raw polling
- `KillInstant()` bypasses everything for scripted deaths
- `ApplyDamageOverTime()` creates a looping timer with unique SourceName to prevent stacking
- `SetMaxHealth(NewMax, bMaintainRatio)` scales CurrentHealth proportionally or clamps
- All dispatchers fire on authority; UI binds and reacts

**Integration Points:**
- **Listens to:** Nothing directly (called by damagers)
- **Broadcasts:** `OnHealthChanged`, `OnDamageTaken`, `OnHealthCritical`, `OnDeath`, `OnDeathStateChanged`, `OnInvincibilityChanged`
- **Key consumers:** `BPC_StressSystem` (damage → stress), `WBP_HUD` (health bar), `GM_CoreGameMode` (death), `BPC_HitReactionSystem` (stagger)

**Edge Cases:**
- Invincibility blocks all damage for its duration (used after respawn/dodge)
- DoT with same SourceName replaces existing (no stacking)
- ApplyHealing on dead character returns 0, no dispatchers
- Negative damage treated as 0

---

## 09 — BPC_StaminaSystem: Stamina Pool & Exhaustion

**What It Does:** Manages a stamina resource that drains during sprinting, jumping, climbing, dodging, and special attacks. Enforces minimum stamina thresholds per action, applies exhaustion penalties (Normal → Low → Exhausted), and coordinates with MovementState for regen blocking while moving.

**How It Works Internally:**

**Drain System:**
- Each `E_StaminaActionType` (Sprint, Jump, Climb, SpecialAttack, Dodge, Environment) has a `S_StaminaDrainRate` config: `DrainPerSecond` (continuous), `DrainFlat` (one-shot), `MinStamina` (threshold to perform), `CooldownAfterUse`
- `DrainStamina(ActionType)` checks: cooldown active? sufficient stamina? → deduct, update exhaustion, start regen delay
- `StartContinuousDrain(ActionType)` for sprint/climb — timer runs at 0.1s intervals
- `StopContinuousDrain(ActionType)` stops when action ends

**Exhaustion States:**
- `Normal` (full operation) → `Low` (below LowThreshold, heavy breathing) → `Exhausted` (below ExhaustedThreshold, cannot sprint, slow regen)
- `UpdateExhaustionState()` checks `CurrentStamina / MaxStamina` against configured thresholds
- Transition downward is instant; recovery is gradual
- `OnExhausted` dispatcher → player controller shows feedback, sprint blocked

**Regeneration:**
- `RegenSettings` configures: `RegenRate`, `RegenDelay`, `ExhaustedRegenRate`, `ExhaustedRegenDelay`, `RegenBlockedWhileMoving`
- If `RegenBlockedWhileMoving`: listens to `BPC_MovementStateSystem.OnMovementModeChanged`, pauses regen when speed > walk
- `BlockRegen(Duration)` for external debuffs

**Implementation Patterns:**
- `CanAffordAction(ActionType)` checks both stamina level and cooldown before allowing
- Per-action cooldowns prevent dodge/jump spamming
- `RestoreStamina(Amount, Tags)` for potions/resting
- `SetMaxStamina(NewMax, bMaintainRatio)` scales current proportionally

**Integration Points:**
- **Called by:** `PC_PlayerController` (sprint, jump, dodge input)
- **Broadcasts:** `OnStaminaChanged` → `WBP_HUD`, `OnExhausted` → movement/audio, `OnExhaustionStateChanged` → `ABP_GASP` (breathing anim)
- **Listens to:** `BPC_MovementStateSystem.OnMovementModeChanged` (regen blocking)
- **Key consumers:** `BPC_MovementStateSystem` (exhausted blocks sprint), `BPC_CameraStateLayer` (exhaustion effects)

**Edge Cases:**
- Multiple continuous drains stack independently
- DrainStamina during cooldown returns false without side effects
- MaxStamina change with bMaintainRatio preserves current percentage
- All timers cleaned on component destroy

---

## 10 — BPC_StressSystem: Psychological Stress & Sanity

**What It Does:** Simulates the player's psychological state via an accumulating stress meter. Multiple stress sources contribute simultaneously (enemy proximity, environmental horror, health deficit, narrative events, supernatural, isolation). Stress tiers (Calm→Uneasy→Distressed→Panicked→Terrified→Catatonic) drive visual distortion, audio hallucinations, movement penalties, and narrative branching.

**How It Works Internally:**

**Multi-Source Architecture:**
- `ActiveSources` map (FName identifier → `S_StressSourceData`) tracks all contributing sources
- Each source has: `CurrentIntensity`, `MaxIntensity`, `DecayRate`, `SourceTags`
- `AddStressSource()` adds or updates a source; `RemoveStressSource()` removes it
- `RecalculateFromSources()` sums all source intensities and updates total

**Stress Events:**
- `AddStress(Event)` can be instant (`bIsInstant`) or gradual (adds to source system)
- `HealthDeficitMultiplier` amplifies incoming stress when health < 50% — creates death spiral feel
- `OnDamageTakenHandler` converts damage amount to stress (Fear damage type gets 2x multiplier)
- `ForcePanic(Duration)` temporarily forces Panicked tier for narrative use

**Tier System:**
- 6 tiers with configurable thresholds: `Uneasy` (subtle audio), `Distressed` (visual noise, heartbeat), `Panicked` (heavy distortion, movement penalty), `Terrified` (hallucinations, input inversion), `Catatonic` (freeze/stumble)
- `UpdateTier()` compares `CurrentStress` against threshold values
- Tier transitions fire `OnStressTierChanged` — systems react to tier, not raw stress value
- `TierEntryTimes` map records when each tier was entered for duration tracking

**Hallucination System:**
- At `Terrified` tier: `HandleHallucinationCheck()` rolls random chance each tick
- Triggers random hallucination events (visual, audio, dialogue)
- Stops when tier drops below `Distressed`

**Safe Zones & Recovery:**
- `SetSafeZone(bSafe)` toggles passive decay
- `PassiveDecayTick()` slowly reduces stress when in safe area or below Distressed
- `OnSafeZoneChanged` dispatcher → atmosphere system adjusts

**Implementation Patterns:**
- Sources with identifiers enable precise tracking (e.g., "Enemy_Guard_12", "Area_Basement")
- `GetTierDuration(Tier)` for narrative systems to query how long player has been panicked
- At Catatonic, further stress accumulation is blocked (immune at max)
- All effects driven by tier dispatchers, never by polling

**Integration Points:**
- **Called by:** Enemies (proximity), environment triggers, `BPC_HealthSystem` (damage handler)
- **Broadcasts:** `OnStressTierChanged` → `BPC_CameraStateLayer` (post-process), `ABP_GASP` (anim), `WBP_HUD` (vignette), `OnHallucinationTriggered` → hallucination/audio managers, `OnCatatonicStateEntered` → input lockdown
- **Listens to:** `BPC_HealthSystem.OnDamageTaken`

**Edge Cases:**
- Catatonic blocks all non-instant stress additions
- Stress clamping prevents overflow past MaxStress
- Source with matching identifier updates existing entry (no duplicate sources)
- ForcePanic temporarily locks tier and restores gradually after duration

---

## 11 — BPC_MovementStateSystem: Movement Mode & Posture

**What It Does:** The "movement oracle" — tracks the player's current state (movement mode + posture), reports changes via dispatchers, and applies movement settings to the CharacterMovementComponent. Other systems query here instead of polling the movement component directly. Bridges gameplay state to GASP animation.

**How It Works Internally:**

**Dual State Tracking:**
- `CurrentMovementMode` (Idle, Walking, Jogging, Sprinting, CrouchWalk, Sneaking) — speed tier
- `CurrentPosture` (Standing, Crouching, Prone, Sliding, Climbing, Vaulting) — body position
- These are independent — you can be Sprinting while Standing, or CrouchWalk while Crouching
- `PreviousMovementMode` and `PreviousPosture` stored for transition detection

**Movement Settings Application:**
- `MovementSettings` map (Mode → `S_MovementSettings`) defines: `MaxWalkSpeed`, `Acceleration`, `Deceleration`, `GroundFriction`, `bCanSprint`, `bCanCrouch`, `StaminaDrainMultiplier`
- `SetMovementMode(NewMode)` applies the corresponding settings to `CharacterMovementComponent`
- `SetPosture(NewPosture)` adjusts CapsuleComponent half-height (Standing=96, Crouch=60, Prone=30)
- Prone requires going through Crouching first (enforced)

**Movement Penalties:**
- `ApplyMovementPenalty(Multiplier, Duration, PenaltyTag)` temporarily multiplies MaxWalkSpeed
- Timer restores original value after Duration
- Used by stress system (movement penalty at high stress), injury system, debuffs
- Each penalty tagged for tracking — multiple penalties stack multiplicatively?

**Footstep System:**
- `CalculateFootstep()`: line trace downward from foot → get surface physical material → look up `S_FootstepProfile` matching surface and mode
- `DefaultFootstepProfile` as fallback
- Fires `OnFootstep` dispatcher with mode and surface type for audio system
- Velocity threshold determines soft vs hard footstep sound

**GASP Integration:**
- On every mode/posture change: notify ABP_GASP via direct reference or interface
- Sets GASP-specific animation variables (bStrafing, bSprinting, gait, stance)
- This is the ONLY component that talks directly to ABP_GASP for movement state

**Implementation Patterns:**
- Does NOT handle input — input remains in `PC_PlayerController`
- `CanTransitionToPosture(TargetPosture)` traces for ceiling clearance
- `SetSprinting(bSprinting)` wraps SetMovementMode with stamina awareness
- `OnMovementUpdated(Tick)` checks velocity, detects start/stop, tracks ground state
- `GetCurrentSpeedNormalised()` for smooth animation blend values

**Integration Points:**
- **Called by:** `PC_PlayerController` (input → mode changes)
- **Broadcasts:** `OnMovementModeChanged`, `OnPostureChanged`, `OnMovementStart/Stop`, `OnSprintStateChanged`, `OnJumped/Landed`, `OnFootstep`
- **Key consumers:** `ABP_GASP` (animation), `BPC_StaminaSystem` (drain/regen), `BPC_CameraStateLayer` (FOV), `BP_AudioManager` (footsteps), `BPC_InteractionDetector` (range scaling)

**Edge Cases:**
- Forced transitions (knockdown) apply impulse regardless of current state
- Cannot transition to upright if ceiling is too low (traced by CanTransitionToPosture)
- Rapid mode switching is protected by TransitionBlendTime
- Sprinting auto-stops when stamina hits 0 (external listener)

---

## 12 — BPC_HidingSystem: Stealth & Concealment

**What It Does:** Manages the player entering, occupying, peeking from, and exiting environmental hiding spots. Handles line-of-sight checks against enemies, breath-holding mechanics, and stress reduction while concealed. The central hub for all stealth gameplay.

**How It Works Internally:**

**Hide State Machine:**
```
Exposed → Entering → Hidden ⇄ Peeking → Exiting → Exposed
```
- `Entering/Exiting`: transient animation states
- `Hidden`: fully concealed, LOS blocked, stress decaying
- `Peeking`: partial exposure, camera offset, timed max duration
- Each transition broadcasts `OnHideStateChanged`

**Hide Spot Types:**
- `Locker`: fully enclosed (wardrobe, locker) — complete concealment
- `BehindCover`: behind low wall/crate — peeking possible
- `Under`: under bed/table — prone entry
- `InShadow`: standing in shadow volume — dynamic, proximity-based
- `TallGrass`: crouch-moving through vegetation — partial concealment
- Each type stored in `S_HideSpotInfo` from the hiding spot actor

**Entry Protocol:**
1. Player presses interact near a hide spot
2. `EnterHideSpot(HideSpotActor)` → validate I_HidingSpot interface, check slot availability
3. Set `CurrentHideState = Entering`, disable movement input
4. Play entering animation → animation notify triggers `OnAnimationHideEnterComplete`
5. Set `CurrentHideState = Hidden`, start stress decay timer, start periodic LOS check

**Line of Sight (LOS) System:**
- `IsPlayerDetectable(EnemyLocation, DetectionRange)` called by AI perception
- If not hidden: always detectable
- If hidden: line trace from enemy to player → if trace hits hide spot actor before player: concealed
- Peeking state increases detection radius
- `PerformLOSCheck()` runs on timer: iterates all enemies in range, checks each
- If any enemy has LOS: fire `OnHideSpotCompromised` → stress spike, forced exit warning

**Peek System:**
- `StartPeek(Direction)` — Left/Right/Over from behind cover
- Camera moves to peek socket location on hide spot actor
- `MaxPeekDuration` timer forces return to Hidden
- `PeekCooldown` prevents rapid toggling

**Stress Interaction:**
- `StressDecayWhileHidden` applied per second while in Hidden state
- `bBlocksStress` on hide spot prevents new stress sources from affecting player
- Hide spots double as psychological safe rooms

**Implementation Patterns:**
- `ForceKickFromHide()` for enemy discovery — bForceExit skips animation
- `TryBreathHold()` reduces noise for 8 seconds near enemies
- `OnDamageWhileHiding` handler: penetrating damage forces exit; non-penetrating converts to stress
- Destroying a hide spot while player is inside force-exits them

**Integration Points:**
- **Called by:** `PC_PlayerController` (interact input), AI (IsPlayerDetectable queries)
- **Broadcasts:** `OnHideStateChanged`, `OnEntered/ExitedHidingSpot`, `OnPeekStarted/Ended`, `OnHideSpotCompromised`, `OnForcedExitWarning`, `OnBreathHoldChanged`
- **Key consumers:** `BPC_CameraStateLayer` (peek/hide offsets), `BPC_StressSystem` (decay), `ABP_GASP` (hide anims), `AI_EnemyController` (awareness), `WBP_HUD` (hide indicators)

**Edge Cases:**
- EnterHideSpot while already hiding returns false
- ExitHideSpot while Exposed does nothing
- Multiple players can't occupy limited-slot spots
- Peek max duration and cooldown enforced
- Shutting down the hide spot actor force-exits the player

---

## 13 — BPC_EmbodimentSystem: First-Person Body

**What It Does:** Creates first-person body awareness — the player sees their arms, shadow, and optionally legs/torso in context-appropriate situations. Manages mesh visibility modes, environmental body overlays (blood, water, mud), wall proximity detection for arm IK, and shadow casting.

**How It Works Internally:**

**Visibility Modes:**
- `FullBody` (third-person, mirrors, death) → `ArmsOnly` (default first-person) → `ArmsAndShadow` → `Minimal` (only hands, high stress) → `Hidden` (cutscenes, UI)
- `SetVisibilityMode(NewMode, bInstant)` toggles mesh components: ArmsMesh, BodyShadowComponent, optional TorsoMesh
- `S_BodyPartVisibility` struct derived from mode controls individual part visibility

**Overlay System:**
- `E_BodyOverlayState`: Clean, BloodSpatter, WaterDroplets, Mud, Toxic
- `ApplyOverlay(Overlay)` with blend: sets MaterialParameter on ArmsMesh toward `TargetValue` at `BlendSpeed`
- Auto-fades after `Duration` seconds
- `ClearOverlay(Type)` removes single or all overlays
- Multiple overlays stack: blood + water = combined effect on material
- `ApplyOverlayBlendTick()` runs each frame for smooth transitions

**Wall Proximity / Arm IK:**
- `CheckWallProximity()`: line trace from camera forward by `BrushTraceDistance`
- If wall detected: apply IK offset to arms (avoids clipping), set `bIsNearWall = true`
- Fires `OnWallProximityChanged` → ABP_Arms for IK adjustment

**Damage/Environment Integration:**
- `OnDamageTakenBloodHandler`: blood overlay intensity scales with damage amount
- `OnEnterWaterHandler`: water droplets overlay with fast blend, auto-dries
- Bound to `BPC_HealthSystem.OnDamageTaken` and water volume triggers

**Implementation Patterns:**
- Mesh references cached at BeginPlay from owner (first-person skeletal mesh)
- Shadow uses separate component with shadow-only material — not full character mesh
- All overlay blending uses Material Parameter Collections for real-time updates
- Wall proximity is simple line trace; advanced IK requires arms animation blueprint

**Integration Points:**
- **Listens to:** `BPC_HealthSystem.OnDamageTaken` (blood), water volume triggers
- **Broadcasts:** `OnVisibilityModeChanged` → `BPC_CameraStateLayer` (FOV adjust), `OnOverlayChanged` → `WBP_HUD` (screen effects), `OnWallProximityChanged` → ABP_Arms

**Edge Cases:**
- Rapid visibility changes don't cause rendering glitches due to fade transitions
- Overlays stack: intensity values combined via material logic
- Hidden mode overrides all — hides everything regardless of other settings

---

## 14 — BPC_CameraStateLayer: Dynamic Camera Controller

**What It Does:** Centralizes all camera-modifying logic: field-of-view changes per state, camera shake system with priority queuing, post-process overrides (vignette, chromatic aberration, color grading), head bob, and location/rotation offsets per game state. Other systems request camera changes here instead of directly manipulating the camera.

**How It Works Internally:**

**Camera State System:**
- 10 states: Default, Aiming, Sprinting, Crouching, Peeking, Hiding, Stressed, Injured, Death, Cutscene
- Each has `S_CameraStateConfig`: TargetFOV, BlendSpeed, HeadOffset, HeadRotation, pitch constraints, head bob settings
- `RequestCameraState(NewState, bImmediate)` sets targets and starts blending
- `BlendToTargetFOV()` runs per tick: smooth interpolation to target FOV
- `BlendCameraOffset()` interpolates head position/rotation offsets

**Camera Shake System:**
- `S_CameraShakeRequest`: ShakeClass, Scale, Priority (Low/Medium/High/Cinematic), Duration, bIsLooping, Tag
- Priority system: higher priority shakes override lower; same tag replaces existing
- `PlayCameraShake(ShakeRequest)` adds to ActiveShakeRequests map and starts playback
- If Duration > 0: timer auto-stops shake
- `StopCameraShake(ShakeTag)` removes specific shake

**Post-Process Overrides:**
- `S_PostProcessOverride`: vignette, chromatic aberration, color grading LUT
- `ApplyPostProcessOverride(Override, bInstant)` blends Material Parameter Collection values
- `ClearPostProcessOverride(BlendTime)` returns to defaults
- Used by stress system (CA at high stress), injury (vignette), death (fade to black)

**Dynamic Effects:**
- **Sprint:** FOV widens by SprintFOVMultiplier
- **Stress:** `UpdateStressPulse()` applies sine-wave FOV oscillation for "unease" feel
- **Crouch:** slight downward offset
- **Peek:** camera moves to hide spot peek socket
- **Hiding:** constricted FOV, darkness effect

**Reactivity:**
- Binds to `BPC_MovementStateSystem.OnMovementModeChanged` → Sprint/Crouch/Default FOV
- Binds to `BPC_StressSystem.OnStressTierChanged` → stress effects at Panicked+
- Binds to `BPC_HealthSystem.OnDamageTaken` → injury shake, vignette
- Called directly by `BPC_HidingSystem` for peek/hide camera states

**Implementation Patterns:**
- Uses Material Parameter Collection (MPC_CameraEffects) for post-process parameters
- Camera shakes authored as Blueprint Camera Shake classes
- Pitch constraints enforced during hiding/peeking states
- All blending is frame-rate independent via DeltaTime

**Integration Points:**
- **Broadcasts:** `OnCameraStateChanged`, `OnFOVChanged`, `OnShakeStarted/Ended`, `OnPostProcessChanged`
- **Called by:** Any system needing camera change
- **Key consumers:** PlayerCameraManager (direct application), `WBP_HUD` (post-process materials)

**Edge Cases:**
- Shake with same tag and lower priority is ignored (not stacked)
- Rapid FOV switching blends smoothly — no snap transitions
- Stress pulse uses sine wave to prevent jitter
- All active shakes stopped on component destroy or pawn unpossess

---

## 15 — BPC_PlayerMetricsTracker: Analytics & Playstyle

**What It Does:** Records player behavior metrics throughout a session: accuracy (shots fired vs hit), deaths count, damage dealt/received, items used, hiding time, sprint time, objectives completed. Used by `BPC_PlaystyleClassifier` to categorize player as Aggressive/Stealthy/Explorer/Balanced, and by `BPC_DifficultyManager` for adaptive tuning.

**How It Works Internally:**
- Listens to relevant dispatchers from HealthSystem (deaths), WeaponBase (shots/hits), InventorySystem (items used), HidingSystem (hide time), MovementState (sprint time)
- Accumulates counters and ratios internally
- Provides query functions for other adaptive systems
- Persists across sessions via `I_Persistable` for long-term playstyle tracking

**Implementation Patterns:**
- Pure listener — never calls into other systems, only receives events
- All metrics are gameplay-tag keyed for extensibility
- Ratios computed on demand, not continuously

---

## Common Implementation Patterns in This Category

1. **Cascade Architecture:** Systems don't poll each other — they bind to dispatchers. Health change → stress reaction → camera effect → movement penalty. Each system reacts independently.
2. **Normalized Values for UI:** `GetHealthNormalised()`, `GetStaminaNormalised()`, `GetStressNormalised()` all return 0.0-1.0 — UI widgets interpolate smoothly.
3. **Timer-Based Ticks:** Regen, drain, stress decay all use 0.1s interval timers — not event tick. Better performance.
4. **State Not Polling:** Camera doesn't ask "am I sprinting?" — it binds to `OnMovementModeChanged` and reacts.
5. **Threshold Not Continuous:** Stress/hiding systems use tier/state thresholds — other systems react to tier changes, not raw values.
6. **Data Config Everything:** Damage resistances, movement speeds, stamina drain rates, stress thresholds — all in exposed variables or Data Assets, never hardcoded.

---

## Multiplayer Networking

### Category Authority Map
| System | Authority Pattern | Client Prediction |
|--------|------------------|-------------------|
| `BPC_HealthSystem` | Server-authoritative damage/healing/death | Client predicts damage flash; server corrects health via OnRep |
| `BPC_StaminaSystem` | Server-authoritative drain/restore | Client predicts bar decrease; server corrects via OnRep |
| `BPC_StressSystem` | Server-authoritative stress accumulation | Client plays local hallucinations; server is canonical |
| `BPC_MovementStateSystem` | Server-authoritative mode/posture | Native CMC replication handles position/velocity |
| `BPC_HidingSystem` | Server-authoritative enter/exit/peek | Client predicts animation; server validates slot availability |
| `BPC_EmbodimentSystem` | Minimal — visibility/overlay state only synced | Rendering is local per-client |
| `BPC_CameraStateLayer` | State enum only synced | FOV, shake, post-process are local per-client |
| `BPC_PlayerMetricsTracker` | Server accumulates; snapshot replicates | No client prediction needed |

### Key Server RPCs
- `Server_ApplyDamage` / `Server_ApplyHealing` — validated by server before health modification
- `Server_DrainStamina` / `Server_StartContinuousDrain` — validated against MinStamina thresholds
- `Server_AddStress` / `Server_AddStressSource` — stress sources validated server-side
- `Server_SetMovementMode` / `Server_SetPosture` — validated against MovementSettings
- `Server_EnterHideSpot` / `Server_ExitHideSpot` — validated against slot availability

### Multiplayer Cascade
The cascade (Health→Stress→Camera→Movement) works identically in multiplayer because each system fires the same dispatchers regardless of whether the state change came from local mutation or `OnRep`. No special-case multiplayer code needed in the cascade chain.

### Full Spec
See [`docs/architecture/multiplayer-networking.md`](../architecture/multiplayer-networking.md) Section 3.2.

---

*Developer Reference v1.0 — 02 Player Systems. Companion to docs/blueprints/02-player/ specs.*