---
tags:
- roadmap
- backlog
updated: 2026-06-08
permalink: gamevault/06-roadmap/backlog
---

# Backlog

Open / candidate work only. **Done items live in [[Milestones]] + their DR / session log** (this file is intentionally
kept to the forward-looking pool — promote an item to [[Milestones|a milestone]] when committed, then drop it here).
Last decluttered 2026-06-08 (removed all shipped `[x]` items; their context is preserved in the linked records).

## NEXT — Inventory · Equipment · Progression (roadmap [[DR-026_Inventory_Equipment_Progression_Foundation]] / [[DR-027_Equipment_Slots_Phase1]])

Phases 0 (inventory backbone) + 1 (equipment slots) shipped 2026-06-08. Remaining phases, in order:

- [ ] **Phase 2 — tool-gated harvesting** (NEXT): bake `RequiredToolType`/`RequiredToolTier` on `ResourceNode`/`BlightClutter`; `ResourceHarvestSystem` gates + scales yield by the owner's equipped Tool-slot tier (the Tool slot is already reserved + baked). The gear-tier progression loop. "Need a [tool]" HUD cue.
- [ ] **Phase 3 — crafting + per-player persistence**: extend the Fabricator to craft *items* into a player's inventory; equip-tier gates; additive `SaveData` v3 that restores inventory + equipment AND **replays equip** on load (effects are event-driven, so a buffer restore alone wouldn't re-add the StatModifiers).
- [ ] **Phase 4 — (optional) multi-slot spell loadout**: expand the single `AbilityRef` into primary + 2–3 hotkey ability slots (subsumes the old "multi-ability slots" item). Per-slot cooldowns/inputs.
- [ ] **Items/abilities UI pipeline** (was the deferred M3 item): icons + descriptions via a managed lookup keyed by `ItemId`/`AbilityId`, off the blob (the HUD inventory/equipment panels show names only today).
- [ ] **Multi-prefab ability variants** — *partly addressed by Phase 1* ([[DR-027_Equipment_Slots_Phase1]]): different weapons already swap the projectile prefab via `AbilityRef.Id` + the catalog. Only multiple cosmetic prefab variants *per single ability* remain (needs `ProjectileClassificationSystem` generalized beyond one shared prefab).

## Combat / enemies

- [ ] **Live interactive fire test** (focused Play: press fire → predicted projectile + dummy/Husk HP drop) — the server loop + replication are validated; the input→`AbilityFireSystem`→predict-spawn→classify path is only validated structurally.
- [ ] **Ranged Husk (Spitter)** — a server-spawned enemy-projectile subsystem for dodge depth (melee-only today).
- [ ] **Boss / per-wave composition weighting** (brutes later, swarms early) instead of flat round-robin; a "broodmaker" that spawns.
- [ ] **Server perf under wave load** — validate in a real standalone build (in-editor multi-world cost ruled out Burst; single-process ServerWorld+ClientWorld+physics+waves is the likely factor).
- [ ] **Projectile/pickup visuals** — primitive meshes/materials today; optional predicted client-side auto-target if the soft server reconcile feels off.

## Automation (M7 follow-ups)

- [ ] **Throughput visuals** (item-on-belt) — server-only machine buffers don't reach clients (they see only `PlacedStructure.Type`); add one small replicated byte if live belt visuals are wanted.
- [ ] **Relevancy ceiling** — `RegionRelevancySystem`'s O(structures×connections)/tick scan becomes load-bearing at high conveyor counts; batch it when counts grow.
- [ ] **Recipe depth** — multi-input fabricator recipes; fabricator→conveyor output chaining (give the fabricator a `MachineOutput`); per-machine distinct meshes (they reuse the Turret mesh as a placeholder).

## Frontend / infrastructure

- [ ] **Operator-run validation** — launch the Windows build → menu → Single/Host/Join; a real **2-build LAN Host↔Join**; MPPM co-op regression in default-editor mode.
- [ ] **Controls settings + key rebinding** (Input System rebinding UI) — out of the Graphics/Audio settings scope so far.
- [ ] **Full base-state saves** (placed structures done in M7; add threat/storage) — `SaveData` is versioned so this is additive.
- [ ] **Unity Relay** for remote (non-LAN) Host/Join — swap the endpoint source feeding `ConnectionConfig` (the frontend lifecycle is transport-agnostic).
- [ ] **Dedicated-server build** — the `RequestedPlayType==Server` auto-host branch is in but UNTESTED.
- [ ] **Volume-slider theming** — sliders render via the default runtime theme; swap to +/- cycle rows if a build shows them unstyled.

## Physics / character controller (M5b)

- [ ] **Multi-client CC interpolation validation** — live two-build/thin-client run to confirm remote-peer smoothness (predicted-only `CharacterInterpolation` variant is in; only single-client validated). Pairs with the M4 real-LAN two-build test.
- [ ] **Player-vs-player collision** — currently non-physical (`SimulateDynamicBody=false`); enable + handle masses if mutual push is wanted.
- [ ] **Gravity / verticality** — CC character is gravity-free + planar (no floor collider); add gravity + a ground collider + reconsider `SnapToGround` if terrain is introduced.
- [ ] **CC package version** — 1.4.2 declares `entities/physics@1.3.x` (resolves via SemVer floor); move to a CC build targeting Entities 6.x when published.
- [ ] **Physics-based hit detection** (lag compensation `NetCodePhysicsConfig` + `PhysicsWorldHistorySingleton`; projectiles as physics bodies; hard rotation lock via `PhysicsMass.InverseInertia=0`) — only if the swept-segment server check is replaced.

## World / visuals

- [ ] **Base-side cohesion accents** — cyan ordered-Aether lights + perimeter relief + tiled base ground (the Blightfield/biomes got the dressing budget; see [[DR-025_World_Environment_Redo_Natural_Frontier]]).
- [ ] **Clearing as a spatial mechanic** — cleared cells are juice + scrap only today; make them buildable / reveal hidden nodes (the "functional gating" fork).
- [ ] **Per-`Variant` clutter meshes** — `BlightClutter.Variant` is replicated + round-robined but the prefab is single-mesh (additive, no schema change).
- [ ] **Ghost-prop Synty reskin** — Storage / UpgradePickup ghosts still use placeholder meshes.
- [ ] **Decor LOD → cosmetic-only** — cosmetic prop LODs are world GameObjects; keep them off the server tick budget.
- [ ] **VFX-Graph hit/beam packs** + **BioHorror corrupted-zone accent set** (deferred art); **material fidelity** (ORM repack / small ShaderGraph + baked reflection probe).

## Cleanup (low value, deliberately deferred)

- [ ] **Optional code-tidy** (no behaviour change): `SettingsService` migrate-then-clamp ordering; `ConveyorTransportSystem`'s 6 parallel snapshot arrays → one struct array; `WorldFeedbackSystem.TintForResource` if-chain → lookup; `PlayerInputGatherSystem` device-active dedup. [[2026-06-06_Cleanup_Alignment]].