63 — BPC_FearSystem

Blueprint Spec — UE 5.5–5.7

Parent Class

ActorComponent

Dependencies

GI_GameFramework — Central game instance access
BPC_PlayerMetricsTracker — Player anxiety/stress metrics
BPC_DifficultyManager — Fear intensity modifier
BPC_StressSystem — Player stress level
BPC_AtmosphereController — Atmosphere response
BPC_AudioManager — Audio feedback
BPC_VFXManager — Visual feedback
BPC_LightingManager — Lighting response
BPC_NarrativeStateSystem — Story-aware fear triggers

Purpose

Core fear and anxiety system that manages the player's fear level, fear sources, fear decay, and fear-induced gameplay effects. Acts as the central orchestrator for all horror-related feedback loops — audio, visual, AI behavior, and UI — driven by the player's current fear state and environmental context.

Variables

Name	Type	Description
`CurrentFearLevel`	Float (0–100)	Current fear value
`MaxFearLevel`	Float	Cap for fear (default 100)
`FearDecayRate`	Float	Passive fear reduction per second
`FearThresholds`	TMap<EFearThreshold, Float>	Threshold values for each fear tier
`ActiveFearSources`	TArray<FFearSource>	Currently contributing fear sources
`FearMultiplier`	Float	Global multiplier (from DifficultyManager)
`bIsInPanicState`	Bool	Overwhelmed by fear
`PanicDuration`	Float	Seconds of panic state
`PanicTimer`	Float	Panic countdown
`LastIncreaseTime`	Float	When fear last increased
`bFearDecayPaused`	Bool	Freeze decay
`EnvironmentalFearModifier`	Float	Ambient fear from atmosphere
`DarknessFearMultiplier`	Float	Extra fear in dark areas
`IsolatedFearMultiplier`	Float	Extra fear when alone
`ProximityFearMultiplier`	Float	Extra fear from nearby threats
`bIsInSafeZone`	Bool	Safe zone overrides fear

Enums

Enum	Values	Description
`EFearThreshold`	Calm, Uneasy, Nervous, Afraid, Terrified, Panic	Fear tiers

Structs

Struct	Fields	Description
`FFearSource`	SourceName: FName, BaseValue: Float, CurrentValue: Float, DecayDelay: Float, bIsDecaying: Bool, TimeSinceTrigger: Float, Tag: FGameplayTag	Active fear contributor
`FFearEvent`	Source: FName, Value: Float, Duration: Float, bInstant: Bool, bStack: Bool, AssociatedTag: FGameplayTag	Incoming fear impulse

Functions

Name	Inputs	Outputs	Description
`Initialize`	—	—	Setup thresholds, bind events
`AddFear`	Event: FFearEvent	—	Add fear from any source
`RemoveFearSource`	SourceName: FName	—	Remove specific fear source
`ClearAllFear`	—	—	Reset fear to baseline
`GetFearLevel`	—	Float	Current fear value
`GetFearThreshold`	—	EFearThreshold	Current fear tier
`IsInPanic`	—	Bool	Panic state check
`SetFearDecayRate`	NewRate: Float	—	Override decay speed
`PauseFearDecay`	bPaused: Bool	—	Freeze/unfreeze decay
`UpdateEnvironmentalFear`	Modifier: Float	—	Ambient fear contribution
`CalculateFearTier`	FearValue: Float	EFearThreshold	Determine current tier
`TriggerPanic`	Duration: Float	—	Force panic state
`ResolvePanic`	—	—	End panic state early
`ApplyFearEffect`	Effect: EFearEffect	—	Gameplay consequences of fear

Event Dispatchers

Name	Parameters	Fired When
`OnFearLevelChanged`	NewFear: Float, Threshold: EFearThreshold	Any fear change
`OnFearThresholdReached`	Threshold: EFearThreshold	Cross a fear tier boundary
`OnPanicStarted`	—	Panic state entered
`OnPanicEnded`	—	Panic state ended
`OnFearSourceAdded`	Source: FFearSource	New fear source registered
`OnFearSourceRemoved`	SourceName: FName	Fear source expired

Blueprint Flow

[Tick — every frame]
  └─► If not bFearDecayPaused AND not bIsInPanicState:
         CurrentFearLevel -= FearDecayRate * DeltaTime
         Clamp CurrentFearLevel to 0..MaxFearLevel
  └─► Process active fear sources:
         For each FFearSource in ActiveFearSources:
              Source.TimeSinceTrigger += DeltaTime
              If Source.TimeSinceTrigger > Source.DecayDelay:
                   Source.bIsDecaying = true
                   Source.CurrentValue -= DecayRate * DeltaTime
              If Source.CurrentValue <= 0:
                   Remove from ActiveFearSources
                   Fire OnFearSourceRemoved
  └─► If bIsInPanicState:
         PanicTimer -= DeltaTime
         If PanicTimer <= 0:
              ResolvePanic()
  └─► CalculateFearTier(CurrentFearLevel)
  └─► If tier changed since last frame:
         Fire OnFearThresholdReached(NewThreshold)

[AddFear]
  └─► Apply modifiers:
         EffectiveValue = Event.Value * FearMultiplier
         EffectiveValue *= EnvironmentalFearModifier
         EffectiveValue *= DarknessFearModifier (if in dark volume)
         EffectiveValue *= IsolatedFearModifier (if no allies)
         EffectiveValue *= ProximityFearModifier (if enemies nearby)
  └─► If Event.bStack:
         Find existing source by Event.Source
         If found: Stack.Value += EffectiveValue
         Else: Create new FFearSource
  └─► Else:
         Create new FFearSource with Event parameters
  └─► CurrentFearLevel += EffectiveValue
  └─► Clamp to MaxFearLevel
  └─► Check if panic threshold crossed:
         If CurrentFearLevel >= FearThresholds[Panic]:
              TriggerPanic(PanicDuration)
  └─► Fire OnFearLevelChanged(CurrentFearLevel, CurrentThreshold)
  └─► Fire OnFearSourceAdded(NewSource)

[TriggerPanic]
  └─► bIsInPanicState = true
  └─► PanicTimer = Duration (or PanicDuration default)
  └─► ApplyFearEffect(EPanicEffects)
  └─► BPC_AtmosphereController.TriggerPanicMode()
  └─► BPC_AudioManager.PlayPanicAudio()
  └─► BPC_VFXManager.TriggerPanicVFX()
  └─► UI: Show panic overlay
  └─► Fire OnPanicStarted

[ResolvePanic]
  └─► bIsInPanicState = false
  └─► CurrentFearLevel = FearThresholds[Terrified] * 0.8
  └─► BPC_AtmosphereController.EndPanicMode()
  └─► BPC_AudioManager.StopPanicAudio()
  └─► Fire OnPanicEnded

[ApplyFearEffect — based on current threshold]
  └─► EFearThreshold.Calm: No effects
  └─► EFearThreshold.Uneasy: Subtle audio cues, slight camera sway
  └─► EFearThreshold.Nervous: UI vignette, breathing sounds, reduced stamina regen
  └─► EFearThreshold.Afraid: Visibility distortion, movement speed penalty, aim shake
  └─► EFearThreshold.Terrified: Severe vignette, stammering audio, weapon sway
  └─► EFearThreshold.Panic: Tunnel vision, audio distortion, sprint penalty, AI gets buffs

Communications With

Target	Method	Why
`BPC_PlayerMetricsTracker`	Get Owner Component	Track fear history for metrics
`BPC_StressSystem`	Get Owner Component	Stress/fear feedback loop
`BPC_DifficultyManager`	Get Owner Component	Fear intensity modifier
`BPC_AtmosphereController`	Direct call	Atmosphere panic mode
`BPC_AudioManager`	Direct call	Panic audio, fear ambience
`BPC_VFXManager`	Direct call	Visual effects per tier
`BPC_LightingManager`	Direct call	Dynamic lighting response
`SS_UIManager`	Subsystem	HUD fear indicator, panic overlay
`BPC_NarrativeStateSystem`	Get Owner Component	Story-aware fear modifiers
`BPC_HealthSystem`	Get Owner Component	Panic damage if health low
`AI_EnemyControllers`	Event Dispatcher	AI aggression rise with player fear

Reuse Notes

Single instance on player character (or PlayerController)
All fear sources are stackable and independently decayable
Thresholds are designer-configurable at runtime
Fear multiplier from DifficultyManager allows difficulty to scale horror
Safe zones (checkpoints, safe rooms) pause fear accumulation and decay
Panic state is a temporary debuff with full cleanup on resolve
UI reads OnFearLevelChanged dispatcher, never polls

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