UE5-Modular-Game-Framework/docs/blueprints/10-adaptive/97_BPC_MemoryDriftSystem.md

BPC_MemoryDriftSystem — Memory Drift System

Blueprint Spec — UE 5.5–5.7

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Parent Class

ActorComponent

Dependencies

• Requires: BPC_AdaptiveEnvironmentDirector — Receives drift trigger requests
• Requires: DA_RoomMutation — Mutation definitions per room
• Required By: World room actors — Mutations applied to specific rooms
• Required By: GS_CoreGameState — Tracks active mutations per session
• Engine/Plugin Requirements: GameplayTags (room tags, mutation tags), Level Streaming

Purpose

Manages the "room swap" or "memory drift" effect — subtle environmental changes to rooms the player has already visited. Tracks room visit history and triggers mutations (moved objects, changed lighting, new content appearing) based on adaptive director input and story progression.

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1. Enums

Uses GameplayTags for room and mutation identification. No new enums defined.

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2. Structs

S_RoomVisitData

Field	Type	Description
RoomTag	GameplayTag	Identifier for the room/area
VisitCount	Integer	Number of times player has entered this room
LastVisitTime	Float	Game time of most recent visit
ActiveMutationTag	GameplayTag	Currently active mutation in this room (None if unchanged)

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3. Variables

Configuration (Instance Editable, Expose On Spawn)

Variable	Type	Default	Category	Description
MutationRegistry	Array of DA_RoomMutation	Empty	MutationConfig	Available mutations for all rooms
DriftIntensity	Float	0.2	MutationConfig	Global mutation intensity 0.0–1.0 (0=none, 1=max)

Internal (Private / Protected, No Expose)

Variable	Type	Default	Category	Description
VisitedRooms	Map (GameplayTag → S_RoomVisitData)	Empty	Internal	Per-room visit history
ActiveMutations	Set of GameplayTag	Empty	Internal	Currently active mutation tags

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4. Functions

Public Functions

RegisterRoomVisit → void

• Description: Called when the player enters a room. Updates visit count and timestamp.
• Parameters:

  Param	Type	Description
  RoomTag	GameplayTag	Room being entered

• Blueprint Authority: Any
• Flow: Check if RoomTag in VisitedRooms → if yes, increment VisitCount → if no, create new entry → update LastVisitTime

TriggerDrift → void

• Description: Triggers a room mutation for a specific room or the most recently revisited room.
• Parameters:

  Param	Type	Description
  RoomTag	GameplayTag	Target room (None = select automatically)
  Intensity	Float	Override intensity for this drift

• Blueprint Authority: Any
• Flow: Select mutation from registry → apply to target room → add to ActiveMutations → broadcast OnDriftTriggered

SelectMutation → DA_RoomMutation

• Description: Picks an appropriate mutation for a room based on visit count, drift intensity, and story state.
• Parameters:

  Param	Type	Description
  RoomTag	GameplayTag	Room to mutate

• Blueprint Authority: Any
• Flow: Filter MutationRegistry by RoomTag → filter by eligibility (visit count >= min visits, drift intensity >= min required) → select highest priority eligible mutation

GetVisitedRooms → Array of S_RoomVisitData

• Description: Returns all room visit records for external analysis.
• Parameters: None
• Blueprint Authority: Any

GetActiveMutations → Set of GameplayTag

• Description: Returns all currently active mutation tags.
• Parameters: None
• Blueprint Authority: Any

ResetRoom → void

• Description: Clears mutations from a room, restoring its original state.
• Parameters:

  Param	Type	Description
  RoomTag	GameplayTag	Room to reset

• Blueprint Authority: Any

SetDriftIntensity → void

• Description: Updates the global drift intensity.
• Parameters:

  Param	Type	Description
  NewIntensity	Float	0.0–1.0

• Blueprint Authority: Any

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5. Event Dispatchers

Dispatcher	Parameters	Bind Access	Description
OnDriftTriggered	RoomTag: GameplayTag, MutationTag: GameplayTag	Public	A room mutation was applied
OnDriftCleared	RoomTag: GameplayTag	Public	A room's mutations were cleared
OnRoomFirstVisit	RoomTag: GameplayTag	Public	First time player enters a room
OnRoomRevisit	RoomTag: GameplayTag, VisitCount: Integer	Public	Player re-enters a previously visited room

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6. Overridden Events / Custom Events

Event: BeginPlay

• Description: Initialises mutation registry from level data and subscribes to room trigger volumes.
• Flow:
  1. Load MutationRegistry for current level
  2. Register room trigger volume overlap events
  3. Set initial DriftIntensity from game settings

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7. Blueprint Graph Logic Flow

flowchart TD
    A[Player enters room trigger] --> B[RegisterRoomVisit RoomTag]
    B --> C{First visit?}
    C -->|Yes| D[Create new S_RoomVisitData]
    C -->|No| E[Increment VisitCount]
    D --> F[Broadcast OnRoomFirstVisit]
    E --> G[Broadcast OnRoomRevisit]
    F --> H
    G --> H{Due for mutation?}
    H -->|Yes| I[SelectMutation for RoomTag]
    H -->|No| J[Wait for next visit]
    I --> K{Mutation eligible?}
    K -->|Yes| L[Apply mutation to room]
    K -->|No| J
    L --> M[Add to ActiveMutations]
    M --> N[Broadcast OnDriftTriggered]

    O[AdaptiveDirector requests drift] --> P[TriggerDrift target room]
    P --> I

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8. Communication Matrix

Who Talks	How	What Is Sent
Room trigger volumes	Overlap event	RoomTag: GameplayTag
BPC_AdaptiveEnvironmentDirector	Direct call	TriggerDrift(RoomTag, Intensity)
DA_RoomMutation	Data asset read	Mutation definition: what to change, how, conditions
World room actors	Direct call	Apply mutation changes to specific room
GS_CoreGameState	Direct write	Active mutation set for save persistence

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9. Validation / Testing Checklist

• S_RoomVisitData struct has all 4 fields
• RegisterRoomVisit correctly tracks first vs repeat visits
• VisitedRooms map updates VisitCount and LastVisitTime correctly
• SelectMutation filters by room tag and eligibility conditions
• TriggerDrift applies mutation and broadcasts OnDriftTriggered
• ResetRoom clears mutations and restores room to original state
• DriftIntensity gates which mutations are eligible
• Edge case: player revisits room many times → mutations escalate progressively
• Edge case: no eligible mutations for room → no change made
• Edge case: rapid room switching → visit counts tracked independently per room

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10. Reuse Notes

• MutationRegistry is populated per level — each level defines which rooms can mutate and how
• DriftIntensity is ramped up by the adaptive director as the game progresses
• For non-horror games, leave MutationRegistry empty to disable the system
• Room tags are defined in DA_GameTagRegistry — add project-specific rooms there
• Extend DA_RoomMutation with new mutation types (actor spawn, light change, sound trigger, etc.)

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Specification based on Master Section 9.3, line 2760.