---
id: multiplayer
title: "Multiplayer — replication, netcode, the console"
status: provisional
source_sections: "PROGRESS_LOG.md §7 (Phase 7), §8 (P6); docs/HARD_PROBLEMS.md (P6)"
related_topics: [wintesla-port, combat-damage, locomotion, decomp-reference]
key_terms: [master, replicant, EGG, dead-reckon]
open_questions:
  - "Cross-pod combat (damage to a replicant's master); replicant gait; pod-LAN config"
---

# Multiplayer

Pod-to-pod networked play. The hard infrastructure exists (WinTesla replaced DOS `NETNUB` with a
WinSock2 TCP stack); the work is integrating + smoke-testing it for BT. Full detail:
`docs/PROGRESS_LOG.md §7, §8`; the problem writeup: `docs/HARD_PROBLEMS.md` (P6).

## The stack (already reconstructed)
- WinTesla replaced `NETNUB` with a **3446-line WinSock2 TCP** reimplementation (`MUNGA_L4/L4NET.CPP`,
  `SOCK_STREAM`/ReliableMode, zero SOCK_DGRAM); the master/replicant distributed-sim core
  (InterestManager/Entity/HostManager) is complete. So MP = integrate + smoke-test that stack (gated
  on P3 locomotion + P5 entity lifecycle + subsystem WAVEs). The rumored `L4NET.CPP:1853` send-size
  bug is DEAD CODE (`#if MESSAGE_BUFFERING`==0). [T2]

## Master / replicant model
- **[[master]]** = a locally-simulated entity (your mech + dummies); drives itself + EMITS update records.
- **[[replicant]]** = a peer's mech, a local proxy; DeadReckons toward the master's replicated position.
  MUST `SetValidFlag()` at creation or every message defers forever ([[reconstruction-gotchas]] §9).

## How a session forms
`-net <port>` = networked mode (the pod listens on <port> for a CONSOLE, boots ConsoleOnly; game mesh
= <port>+1). Solo (no `-net`) never touches WinSock. The mission egg's `[pilots]` section IS the
roster (`pilot=ip[:port]` + a per-address page); each pod self-identifies by local-IP+game-port,
connects to earlier pilots, listens for later ones — a deterministic full mesh; the mission loads when
all connect. The **CONSOLE** (operator station — ABSENT from every archive) delivers the egg as chunked
`ReceiveEggFileMessage` packets + the LAUNCH `RunMissionMessage`; **`tools/btconsole.py` is our console
emulator** (⚠ `NotationFile::ReadText` expects NUL-SEPARATED lines). [T2]

## Verified milestones (one box, two instances)
- **P6 smoke test:** two instances share a world — console egg → TCP mesh → synchronized start →
  bidirectional entity replication (each renders its own mech + the peer's REPLICANT), 0 crashes.
- **Movement replication:** A's mech WALKS on B's screen (the replicant tracks the master to ~1.5u via
  dead-reckoning). The authentic mission-start ladder runs (CreatingMission→…→RunningMission via the
  console LAUNCH). SIX bugs fixed to get here (dead-reckoner install, replicant-motion DeadReckon,
  master emission threshold, emission gated on RunningMission, the console-must-LAUNCH fact, replicant
  validity). [T2]
- **Wire-format bug class found+fixed:** MakeMessages replicate RAW over TCP, so string payload must be
  INLINE (`char[N]` at the binary offsets), not a `const char*` pointer (garbage cross-pod). Check
  EVERY MakeMessage for pointer payloads. [T2]

## Debug tooling (`BT_NET_TRACE`, permanent)
`[net-tx]/[net-rx]` (L4NET), `[net-upd]` (update lookup), `[upd-repl]`, `[ent-exec]` (state ladder).
Per-instance: `BT_LOG=<file>` + `BT_AFFINITY=<mask>` (CPU pin). Update stream ≈ 60 Hz × 144-byte
records per moving master. [T2]

## Cross-pod combat step 1+2 (task #46, 2026-07-09) [T2 findings]
**Step 1 — target ANY peer mech: DONE + verified.** A live-mech registry (`BTRegisterMech`/
`BTDeregisterMech` from the Mech ctor/dtor, btplayer.cpp) collects every Mech — player, dummy,
AND peer replicants.  The mech4 boresight world-pick now walks `BTGetTargetCandidates` (all mechs
≠ shooter) and picks the CLOSEST the ray strikes, retargeting the whole fire/damage block from
the solo `gEnemyMech` to the picked `hotTarget` (missile impact + projectile validation
generalised via `BTIsRegisteredMech`).  Verified one-box: instance A correctly enumerates B's
mech as a live `ReplicantInstance` (inst=4), 20 zones, `ownerID=3`, alive.  Solo un-regressed
(pick→damage→kill chain clean).
**Step 2 — cross-pod damage: dispatch + reroute CORRECT, wire delivery is the GAP.** The engine
`Entity::Dispatch` (ENTITY.cpp:244) DOES reroute a replicant's message:
`if (GetInstance()==ReplicantInstance) application->SendMessage(ownerID, EntityManagerClientID,
message)`.  Verified (`BT_MP_FORCE_DMG`): A dispatches TakeDamage at B's replicant with a VALID
`ownerID=3` → the reroute is invoked.  BUT B's master takes **0** damage (no STEP-6 `unaimed
hit`), and the message resolves nowhere on A either.  So the reroute FIRES but the dispatched
entity-message never reaches the owning master.  ⚠ Corrects the earlier [T3] "Dispatch already
reroutes" to: reroute code exists + is invoked with a valid owner; the break is DOWNSTREAM in the
transport/delivery of a *dispatched* message (vs the auto-replicated update records, which flow —
`net-rx` works both ways).  ⚠ `[net-tx]` trace tag is NOT wired on the send path (logs 0 even
though rx proves sends happen) — instrument the actual `Application::SendMessage`→`RoutePacket`→
L4NET send + B-side `EntityManager` receive/deliver to localise.  Diagnostics: `BT_MP_LOG`
(candidate dump), `BT_MP_FORCE_DMG` (direct replicant-dispatch proof hook).

## Remaining (P6 phase 4 / Phase 7)
Cross-pod damage WIRE DELIVERY (the step-2 gap above — the next MP task); interactive 2-window
driving + the `-net`-mode aim projection / drive (A's aim ray was dead — `noRay`, and
`BT_AUTODRIVE`/`BT_GOTO` didn't move A in `-net` mode); replicant GAIT animation (derive from
replicated velocity); the pod-LAN config (real IPs, bare-IP pilot entries). See [[open-questions]]. [T3]

## MP-front scout (task #45, 2026-07-09) — the P6 chain SURVIVES the combat/HUD rework [T2]
Re-ran the one-box smoke test on the current build (world-pick targeting, weapon groups, death
transition, HUD all landed since P6): console egg → mesh → RunningMission on BOTH instances, 174+
×144-byte update records EACH side (msgID=6), 2 mech trees per instance, 0 crashes over ~6 min.
**Gap map to a first playable LAN fight** (in wiring order):
1. **Enemy selection**: the world-pick tests only `gEnemyMech` (the solo dummy, btplayer.cpp:791).
   MP: the pick must test every OTHER mech (the peer replicants) — generalize to a candidate walk
   (mech entities != viewpoint). Small.
2. **Cross-pod damage**: dispatch TakeDamage at the REPLICANT → verify the engine reroute carries
   it to the owning master (the KB claims Dispatch reroutes; not yet exercised with our STEP-6
   handler). The master takes real zone damage + runs its own death transition (task #42 placed the
   death dispatch victim-side — MP-correct by construction).
3. **Victim visuals on the shooter's screen**: the wreck swap gates on zone/graphic state the
   REPLICANT copy may never see (zone damage may not replicate — only pose updates confirmed).
   Check DamageZone/subsystem state in the update stream; else replicate the death as an event.
4. **Cross-pod beam visuals**: replicant emitters don't run the local trigger sim, so the peer's
   beams never draw today. ⭐ The authentic path exists: ServiceDischarge/ContinueDischarge SEND
   **beam-keepalive messages** (`FUN_0041c350`, templates @0x511e6c/@0x511e78, emitter.cpp already
   stubs them) — decode + route those to drive replicant beam draws.
5. **2-window driving**: input gates on window focus (alternate windows; `BT_KEY_NOFOCUS` for
   harness). DEATHS scoring should light via the existing BTPostKillScore MP branch. Respawn =
   the P5 teardown debt (deferred until needed).

## Key Relationships
- Base: [[wintesla-port]] (L4NET). Depends on: [[locomotion]] (update writer), [[combat-damage]]
  (entity lifecycle). Detail: `docs/HARD_PROBLEMS.md` (P6).