UE5-Modular-Game-Framework/docs/blueprints/02-player/10_BPC_StressSystem.md

10 — Stress / Sanity System (BPC_StressSystem)

Purpose

Tracks the player's psychological state via a stress meter that accumulates from environmental horror, enemy proximity, health deficits, and narrative events. Drives visual distortion, audio hallucinations, gameplay penalties, and narrative branching based on sanity thresholds.

Dependencies

• Requires: BPC_HealthSystem (low health triggers stress), GI_GameFramework (phase checks)
• Required By: BPC_PlayerController (shader/audio effects), WBP_HUD (stress vignette), NarrativeManager (sanity-gated content), BPC_AdaptiveEnvironment (world distortion)
• Engine/Plugin Requirements: GameplayTags, Timers, Material Parameter Collections (for post-process effects)

Class Info

Property	Value
Parent Class	ActorComponent
Class Type	Blueprint Component
Asset Path	Content/Framework/Player/BPC_StressSystem
Implements Interfaces	None

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1. Enums

E_StressTier

Value	Description
Calm = 0	No stress effects
Uneasy = 1	Subtle audio cues, slight FOV shift
Distressed = 2	Visual noise, heartbeat audio, reduced stamina regen
Panicked = 3	Heavy distortion, screen shake, movement penalty
Terrified = 4	Hallucinations, audio distortion, random input inversion
Catatonic = 5	Brief freeze/stumble, forced slow walk

E_StressSource

Value	Description
EnemyProximity = 0	Nearby hostile presence
EnvironmentalHorror = 1	Gore, darkness, unsettling areas
HealthDeficit = 2	Low health triggers fear
NarrativeEvent = 3	Scripted story beats
Supernatural = 4	Ghosts, paranormal activity
Isolation = 5	Long periods alone
TraumaTrigger = 6	PTSD flashback spots

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2. Structs

S_StressThresholds

Field	Type	Description
UneasyThreshold	Float	Stress value to enter Uneasy tier
DistressedThreshold	Float	Stress value to enter Distressed
PanickedThreshold	Float	Stress value to enter Panicked
TerrifiedThreshold	Float	Stress value to enter Terrified
CatatonicThreshold	Float	Stress value to enter Catatonic

S_StressSourceData

Field	Type	Description
SourceType	E_StressSource	Category of source
CurrentIntensity	Float	Current contribution from this source [0..Max]
MaxIntensity	Float	Maximum contribution this source can apply
DecayRate	Float	How fast this source fades when no longer active
SourceTags	GameplayTagContainer	Contextual tags for filtering
SourceIdentifier	FName	Unique name for this specific source instance

S_StressEvent

Field	Type	Description
Amount	Float	Stress to add or remove
SourceType	E_StressSource	Category of source
Instigator	Actor	What caused the stress change
bIsInstant	Boolean	If true, bypasses buildup curve
EventTags	GameplayTagContainer	Additional context

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3. Variables

Configuration (Instance Editable, Expose On Spawn)

Variable	Type	Default	Category	Description
MaxStress	Float	100.0	Stress Config	Maximum stress value
Thresholds	S_StressThresholds	(15, 30, 50, 75, 90)	Stress Config	Threshold values for each tier
PassiveDecayRate	Float	2.0	Stress Config	Stress lost per second when in calm area
PanicDecayDelay	Float	5.0	Stress Config	Seconds at max tier before forced decay begins
bEnableHallucinations	Boolean	true	Stress Config	Allow visual/audio hallucinations at high stress
bCanGoCatatonic	Boolean	true	Stress Config	Allow catatonic freeze state
bStressAffectsMovement	Boolean	true	Stress Config	Apply movement penalties from stress
HealthDeficitMultiplier	Float	1.5	Stress Config	How much low health amplifies incoming stress

Internal (Private / Protected, No Expose)

Variable	Type	Default	Category	Description
CurrentStress	Float	0.0	Stress State	Current accumulated stress
CurrentTier	E_StressTier	Calm	Stress State	Current stress tier
ActiveSources	Map<FName, S_StressSourceData>	{}	Stress State	Currently contributing stress sources
StressDecayTimer	FTimerHandle	-	Stress State	Timer for passive decay tick
bIsInSafeZone	Boolean	true	Stress State	True when player is in a calm area
LastStressTime	Float	0.0	Stress State	World time of last stress change
bHallucinationsActive	Boolean	false	Stress State	Whether hallucinations are currently triggered
TierEntryTimes	Map<E_StressTier, float>	{}	Stress State	World time when each tier was entered

Replicated (if multiplayer)

Variable	Type	Condition	Description
CurrentStress	Float	RepNotify	Replicated for UI and effects
CurrentTier	E_StressTier	RepNotify	Replicated tier state

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4. Functions

Public Functions

AddStress → Float (actual stress added)

• Description: Adds stress from a source. Returns amount actually added.
• Parameters:

  Param	Type	Description
  Event	S_StressEvent	Stress event to apply

• Blueprint Authority: Any
• Flow:
  1. If CurrentTier == Catatonic and !Event.bIsInstant: return 0 (immune at max)
  2. If HealthDeficitMultiplier > 1.0 and health < 50%: scale amount
  3. If Event.bIsInstant: CurrentStress += Event.Amount
  4. Else: add/update ActiveSources with Event data, recalculate from sources
  5. Clamp CurrentStress to [0, MaxStress]
  6. Update CurrentTier
  7. Fire OnStressChanged
  8. If tier changed: fire OnStressTierChanged
  9. If tier >= Panicked: start tick for hallucinations
  10. Return delta

RemoveStress → Float

• Description: Reduces stress directly or removes a specific source.
• Parameters:

  Param	Type	Description
  Amount	Float	Amount to reduce
  SourceIdentifier	FName	Optional — if set, remove this source entirely

• Flow:
  1. If SourceIdentifier set: remove from ActiveSources, recalculate total
  2. Else: CurrentStress = FMath::Max(0, CurrentStress - Amount)
  3. Update CurrentTier
  4. Fire OnStressChanged
  5. If tier changed: fire OnStressTierChanged

AddStressSource → void

• Parameters:

  Param	Type	Description
  SourceData	S_StressSourceData	Source configuration to add

• Flow:
  1. If SourceData.SourceIdentifier already in ActiveSources: update MaxIntensity and DecayRate
  2. Else: add new entry
  3. Recalculate total stress from all sources

RemoveStressSource → void

• Parameters:

  Param	Type	Description
  SourceIdentifier	FName	Source to remove

• Flow:
  1. Remove from ActiveSources
  2. Recalculate total stress

SetSafeZone → void

• Parameters:

  Param	Type	Description
  bSafe	Boolean	Whether player is in a safe zone

• Flow:
  1. bIsInSafeZone = bSafe
  2. If bSafe: begin passive decay
  3. If !bSafe: stop passive decay
  4. Fire OnSafeZoneChanged

GetStressNormalised → Float [0.0 - 1.0]

• Flow: Return CurrentStress / MaxStress

GetTierDuration → Float

• Parameters:

  Param	Type	Description
  Tier	E_StressTier	Which tier to query

• Description: Returns how long the player has been in the given tier.
• Flow: If TierEntryTimes contains Tier: return CurrentWorldTime - TierEntryTimes[Tier]; else return 0

Protected / Private Functions

UpdateTier → void

• Flow:
  1. OldTier = CurrentTier
  2. Check CurrentStress against Thresholds in descending order
  3. NewTier = matching tier (highest threshold exceeded)
  4. If NewTier != OldTier:
     • CurrentTier = NewTier
     • Record TierEntryTimes[NewTier] = CurrentWorldTime
     • Fire OnStressTierChanged

RecalculateFromSources → void

• Flow:
  1. Total = 0.0
  2. For each ActiveSource: Total += Source.CurrentIntensity
  3. CurrentStress = FMath::Clamp(Total, 0, MaxStress)
  4. UpdateTier
  5. Fire OnStressChanged

PassiveDecayTick → void

• Flow:
  1. If bIsInSafeZone or CurrentTier < Distressed or CurrentStress <= 0: return
  2. DecayAmount = PassiveDecayRate * 0.1
  3. CurrentStress = FMath::Max(0, CurrentStress - DecayAmount)
  4. Fire OnStressChanged

HandleHallucinationCheck → void

• Flow:
  1. If CurrentTier < Terrified or !bEnableHallucinations:
     • If bHallucinationsActive: StopHallucinations
     • return
  2. Random chance each tick (e.g., 5% per second at Terrified)
  3. If roll succeeds: trigger random hallucination event
  4. Fire OnHallucinationTriggered

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5. Event Dispatchers

Dispatcher	Parameters	Bind Access	Description
OnStressChanged	float OldStress, float NewStress	Public	Fired on any stress change
OnStressTierChanged	E_StressTier OldTier, E_StressTier NewTier	Public	Fired when stress tier changes
OnStressSourceAdded	FName SourceIdentifier, E_StressSource SourceType	Public	Fired when a new stress source is added
OnStressSourceRemoved	FName SourceIdentifier	Public	Fired when a stress source is removed
OnSafeZoneChanged	bool bIsSafe	Public	Fired when entering/leaving safe zone
OnHallucinationTriggered	E_HallucinationType Type	Public	Fired when a hallucination event occurs
OnCatatonicStateEntered	none	Public	Fired when entering Catatonic tier
OnStressRecovered	none	Public	Fired when stress drops back to Calm

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6. Overridden Events / Custom Events

Event: BeginPlay

• Description: Initialises stress system, binds to health component if available.
• Flow:
  1. CurrentStress = 0.0
  2. CurrentTier = Calm
  3. Find BPC_HealthSystem on owner
  4. If found: bind OnDamageTaken to a handler that adds stress for damage taken
  5. Start passive decay timer (interval 0.1s)

Custom Event: OnDamageTakenHandler

• Parameters: S_DamageEvent DamageEvent, float EffectiveDamage
• Description: Stress response to taking damage.
• Flow:
  1. StressAmount = EffectiveDamage * 0.5
  2. If DamageType == Fear: StressAmount *= 2.0
  3. Build S_StressEvent with SourceType = HealthDeficit
  4. Call AddStress

Custom Event: ForcePanic

• Parameters: float Duration
• Description: Forcibly raises stress to Panicked tier for a duration, used by narrative events.
• Flow:
  1. CurrentStress = Thresholds.PanickedThreshold
  2. UpdateTier
  3. Start timer for Duration
  4. On timer end: gradually return stress to previous level

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7. Blueprint Graph Logic Flow

flowchart TD
    A[AddStress called] --> B{CurrentTier == Catatonic?}
    B -->|Yes| C[Return 0]
    B -->|No| D[Apply HealthDeficitMultiplier]
    D --> E[Update ActiveSources map]
    E --> F[Recalculate total stress]
    F --> G[Clamp to 0..MaxStress]
    G --> H{NewTier == OldTier?}
    H -->|No| I[Update CurrentTier]
    I --> J[Record tier entry time]
    J --> K[Fire OnStressTierChanged]
    H -->|Yes| L[Skip tier update]
    K --> M{Tier >= Panicked?}
    M -->|Yes| N[Start hallucination ticker]
    M -->|No| O{Stress dropped below Distressed?}
    O -->|Yes| P[Stop hallucinations]
    O -->|No| Q[Continue passive decay]
    N --> R[Fire OnStressChanged]
    P --> R
    Q --> R

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8. Communication Matrix

Who Talks	How	What Is Sent
BPC_StressSystem	Dispatcher	OnStressTierChanged -> PC_PlayerController (post-process), ABP_GASP (anim), WBP_HUD (vignette)
BPC_StressSystem	Dispatcher	OnHallucinationTriggered -> BP_HallucinationManager, BP_AudioManager
BPC_StressSystem	Dispatcher	OnStressChanged -> WBP_HUD (stress bar)
BPC_StressSystem	Dispatcher	OnCatatonicStateEntered -> BPC_PlayerController (input lockdown)
External (Enemies)	Direct	Calls AddStressSource on detection
External (BP_DeathZone)	Direct	Calls AddStress via interface
BPC_HealthSystem	Listener	Binds to OnDamageTaken for health-deficit stress
BPC_StressSystem	Dispatcher	OnSafeZoneChanged -> BPC_AdaptiveAtmosphere

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9. Validation / Testing Checklist

• Stress accumulates from multiple sources and sums correctly
• Stress decays passively when in safe zone or above Distressed
• Tier transitions fire exactly once per threshold crossing
• Catatonic tier blocks further stress accumulation
• Hallucinations trigger randomly at Terrified tier and stop below it
• Stress sources with identifiers are properly tracked and removed
• Edge case: Stress added while at MaxStress clamps and does not overflow
• Edge case: RemoveStress with source identifier removes only that source
• Edge case: ForcePanic temporarily locks tier and restores after duration
• All timers clean up on component destroy

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10. Reuse Notes

• Can be used on NPCs for a simplified "morale" system (remove hallucination features).
• Stress tiers can gate narrative content — questgivers behave differently based on player stress.
• Hallucination types can be configured via Data Asset (DA_HallucinationConfig).
• For multiplayer: Stress is server-authoritative; clients receive tier changes for local effects.
• The HealthDeficitMultiplier creates a death spiral feel — use carefully for horror pacing.
• Safe zones double as narrative checkpoints and stress recovery areas.

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Blueprint Spec: Stress/Sanity System. Conforms to TEMPLATE.md v1.0 — part of the UE5 Modular Game Framework.