context: cylinder hit-location (STEP 6) investigated — accurate structure + addresses

Per the 'correct errors' convention: the cited FUN_004a0230/FUN_0049ed0c don't exist. The real
CylinderDamageZoneTable = a list of 0x30-byte entries (FUN_0049e740) from resource 0x1d; the recon
builds the table (FUN_0049ea48, mislabeled StandingAnimation @Mech[0x111]) with an EMPTY name -> 0
entries -> no-op. The lookup + Mech::TakeDamageMessageHandler override are NOT in the exported decomp
(need disassembly). Recorded in combat-damage + open-questions.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

context/combat-damage.md

@@ -50,8 +50,19 @@ offsets). [T2]
 
 ## Damage delivery + the real damage model
 `Entity::TakeDamageMessage(id, size, inflictingEntityID, zone, Damage&)` → `target->Dispatch`.
-**Base handler IGNORES zone==−1** (the Mech cylinder-lookup override for unaimed hits is not
-reconstructed — send a VALID zone). `Mech__DamageZone::TakeDamage` → engine armor model (`damageLevel
+**Base handler IGNORES zone==−1** (`Entity::TakeDamageMessageHandler`, ENTITY.cpp:878 — returns on
+`damageZone==−1`; the message carries `invalidDamageZone = damageZone<0` + `damageData.impactPoint`).
+The Mech override that resolves an unaimed hit's zone from the impact point (the **cylinder hit-location
+model**, the deferred **STEP 6**) is NOT reconstructed — meanwhile send a VALID zone (mech4 aims a vital
+zone). **Investigated 2026-07 (durable):** the earlier-cited addresses `FUN_004a0230`/`FUN_0049ed0c` do
+NOT exist — the real pieces are: the **CylinderDamageZoneTable** = a list of 0x30-byte cylinder entries
+(entry ctor `FUN_0049e740`) loaded from resource type **0x1d** by the mech's cylinder-table NAME; the
+table ctor is `FUN_0049ea48` (vtable 0x50bd84, alloc 0x2c, cached at `Mech[0x111]`=byte 0x444) — the recon
+DOES build it (mislabeled `StandingAnimation`, mech.cpp:1221) but with an EMPTY name → 0 entries → the
+lookup is a no-op. The **lookup + the `Mech::TakeDamageMessageHandler` override are NOT in the exported
+decomp** (assert-anchored pass skipped them → need disassembly). So STEP 6 = fix the resource name +
+reverse the 0x30-byte entry format (`FUN_0049e740`) + disassemble & reconstruct the handler/lookup + wire
+the vtable override. `Mech__DamageZone::TakeDamage` → engine armor model (`damageLevel
 += damageAmount*damageScale[type]`) → 1.0 = zone destroyed → death. The Mech ctor populates the
 inherited `damageZones[]` from the DamageZoneStream (type 0x14) resource. `class Damage{ damageType
 (Collision/Ballistic/Explosive/Laser/Energy), damageAmount, damageForce, surfaceNormal, impactPoint,

context/open-questions.md

@@ -71,7 +71,13 @@ authentic path scoped.
 - Authentic per-mech TURN-RATE constant (currently a bring-up constant rate).
 - Body-callback gimp handlers (states 16-19, targets 0x70b2/0x7161 undecoded → fall back to stand);
   airborne callbacks (`FUN_004a6344`/`FUN_004a7970`).
-- Wall-block-vs-climb tuning; collision DAMAGE application (computed, not applied in bring-up).
+- Wall-block-vs-climb tuning; collision DAMAGE application (computed, not applied — blocked on the
+  cylinder hit-location model / STEP 6, below, to resolve the impact point → zone; else aim a fixed zone).
+- **Cylinder hit-location (STEP 6)** — the Mech override that maps an unaimed hit's impactPoint → a damage
+  zone. Investigated 2026-07 (see [[combat-damage]]): the table (list of 0x30-byte entries, `FUN_0049e740`,
+  resource type 0x1d) IS built (recon `StandingAnimation` @Mech[0x111], but with an EMPTY name → 0 entries);
+  the lookup + `Mech::TakeDamageMessageHandler` override are NOT in the exported decomp (need disassembly).
+  Meatier than a captured-fn reconstruction — the cited `FUN_004a0230`/`FUN_0049ed0c` don't exist.
 - Death: reconstruct `DeathShutdown` (RP `VTV::DeathShutdown` analog) + collapse anim + destroyed
   skin. The wreck-stays behavior we ship is faithful; do NOT issue DestroyEntityMessage on death.