42 — BPC_BranchingConsequenceSystem

Blueprint Spec — UE 5.5–5.7

Parent Class

ActorComponent

Dependencies

Purpose

Evaluates narrative consequences when flags change. Listens for flag changes across the narrative state and fires off deferred or immediate consequences: new dialogue, objective updates, world-state changes, or scene transitions.

Responsibilities

Watch for flag changes (via dispatcher from BPC_NarrativeStateSystem)
Match changed flags against DA_ConsequenceRule entries
Execute matched consequence actions (play dialogue, update objective, modify world, trigger cutscene)
Handle priority and stacking for multiple consequences firing simultaneously
Separate immediate vs. delayed consequences (allow narrative beat to breathe)

Does NOT Handle

Setting flags (that is BPC_NarrativeStateSystem)
Playing dialogue lines (that is BPC_DialoguePlaybackSystem)
Evaluating choices (that is BPC_DialogueChoiceSystem)
Triggering cutscene play (that is BPC_CutsceneBridge)

Variables

Name	Type	Description
`ConsequenceRules`	Array of DA_ConsequenceRule	Loaded rules from content registry
`PendingConsequences`	Array of FConsequencePayload	Queue of delayed consequences
`ActiveConsequenceCount`	Integer	Prevent stacking beyond max
`MaxConcurrentConsequences`	Integer	Max simultaneous actions (default 3)

Structs

Struct	Fields	Description
`FConsequencePayload`	RuleRef: DA_ConsequenceRule, TriggerFlag: GameplayTag, FireTime: Float (world time for delayed), bIsImmediate: Bool	Holds a consequence awaiting execution

Enums

Enum	Values	Description
`EConsequenceActionType`	PlayDialogue, UpdateObjective, SetWorldState, TriggerCutscene, UnlockLore, ModifyStat, SpawnActor, DestroyActor	Types of actions a consequence can perform

Functions / Events

Name	Inputs	Outputs	Description
`RegisterConsequenceRule`	Rule: DA_ConsequenceRule	—	Add a rule to active set
`OnFlagChanged`	FlagTag: GameplayTag, bIsSet: Bool	—	Dispatcher callback from narrative state
`EvaluateRulesForFlag`	FlagTag: GameplayTag	Array of DA_ConsequenceRule	Find matching rules
`ExecuteConsequence`	Rule: DA_ConsequenceRule	—	Fire immediate or queue delayed
`ExecuteImmediateAction`	Action: FConsequenceData	—	Internal: performs single action
`ProcessDelayedConsequences`	—	—	Called every tick or on timer for delayed queue
`ClearPendingConsequences`	—	—	Clear all pending (e.g., on scene transition)
`GetActiveRuleCount`	—	Integer

Data: FConsequenceData (Inline in DA_ConsequenceRule)

Field	Type	Description
ActionType	Enum(EConsequenceActionType)	What to do
TargetTag	GameplayTag	Dialogue sequence, objective, or world flag to apply
FloatValue	Float	Numeric modifier (e.g., stat change)
DelaySeconds	Float	0 = immediate, >0 = delayed
bBlocking	Bool	If true, wait for this to complete before next
Priority	Integer	Higher = execute first

Event Dispatchers

Name	Parameters	Fired When
`OnConsequenceTriggered`	Rule: DA_ConsequenceRule, ActionType: EConsequenceActionType	Consequence begins execution
`OnConsequenceCompleted`	Rule: DA_ConsequenceRule	Consequence finished
`OnConsequenceQueueChanged`	PendingCount: Integer	Delayed queue size changed

Blueprint Flow

[BPC_NarrativeStateSystem dispatches OnFlagChanged]
  └─► BPC_BranchingConsequenceSystem.OnFlagChanged(FlagTag, bIsSet)
  └─► EvaluateRulesForFlag(FlagTag)
  └─► For each matching DA_ConsequenceRule:
      └─► Check rule's required flag state matches current state
      └─► If match → ExecuteConsequence(Rule)

[ExecuteConsequence - immediate]
  └─► Broadcast OnConsequenceTriggered
  └─► ExecuteImmediateAction(Action)
  └─► Switch on ActionType:
      PlayDialogue → request BPC_DialoguePlaybackSystem.PlaySequence(TargetTag)
      UpdateObjective → request BPC_ObjectiveSystem.AddOrUpdateObjective(...)
      SetWorldState → BPC_NarrativeStateSystem.SetStateFlag(TargetTag, true)
      TriggerCutscene → request BPC_CutsceneBridge.BeginCutscene(TargetTag)
      UnlockLore → BPC_NarrativeStateSystem.UnlockLoreEntry(TargetTag)
      ModifyStat → through player's stat component
      SpawnActor → spawn from registry
      DestroyActor → destroy by tag lookup
  └─► Broadcast OnConsequenceCompleted

[ExecuteConsequence - delayed]
  └─► Create FConsequencePayload with FireTime = WorldTime + DelaySeconds
  └─► Add to PendingConsequences array
  └─► Sort by FireTime
  └─► Broadcast OnConsequenceQueueChanged

Communications With

Target System	Method	Why
`BPC_NarrativeStateSystem`	Dispatcher (receives) + Direct (sets world state)	Listens for flag changes, may set additional flags
`BPC_DialoguePlaybackSystem`	Direct	Trigger dialogue sequences as consequences
`BPC_ObjectiveSystem`	Direct	Update/add objectives as consequences
`BPC_CutsceneBridge`	Direct	Trigger cutscenes as consequences
`BPC_LoreUnlockSystem`	Direct	Unlock lore entries

Reuse Notes

Consequence rules are data-driven via DA_ConsequenceRule, enabling designers to author branch logic without blueprint edits. The system supports both immediate and delayed consequences, allowing dramatic pacing. Priority sorting ensures critical consequences fire first. Blocking flag prevents race conditions between sequential narrative beats.

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