Entry 37

Level 4 playable, spawn groups, movers, loading screens

2026-10-1522mplay

A seventh delegated map, docs/engine/level-04.md, traced 7 Voyages of Cynthia and checked it in the oracle. The tracer found the oracle loads Tommy unless the character byte is poked: main takes it from the previous level. The port now plays the level.

Framework:

• The playable character by level (0x80018598): Spike in 4 and 11. His body, his animations, turn 298, the camera aiming 400 up.
• Spawn groups (LP kind 7, 0x800c4bac): x in the template word, then y, z, the group, a running threshold (100 ends a group), a post link. 0x8004fe14: r = (rand & 255) % 100, the first unused spot above r, then r = 0, five rounds.
• Collectibles come in LP +0x46 copies. With a group (+0x48, used when +0x4a is set) they go to its spots. Copies 0 is one object where it stands: DB04's decorations (template 1141, kind 16) have group 0 but must not take Cynthia's spots.
• Kinds 4 and 14 heal by their +0x6d (template +0x32): bones 63.
• COL floor flags (record +4); a room hook for scripts (0x8007f498); hint cards a level shows (0x80044434).
• Movers (template class 11, 0x8004ee00): per axis a step to the range; with template flag 0x10000000 back and forth, else once. They are armed by the trigger radius and carry a player standing on top.
• The loading screen before each level, the "already earned" notes, and "Returning to Main Menus" on quitting.

Level 4 (rugrats::level4):

• Spike starts on LP 260. Cynthia is hidden as scenery and drawn at a group 0 spot. Her LP +0x42 door is taken away (0x80047e30).
• Rooms 26 and 21 set phases 2 and 3 and the respawn. From phase 2, water floors (flag 1) cost 5 standing or 3 moving every 36 VSyncs.
• Room 40's script 2: the 130 s clock, card HINT15, the portrait (sprite 287), phase 4.
• Rats prowl and bite for 3 (sound 168).
• Within 2000 of Cynthia: cine 48, won. The clock out: a cry, a try, the clock again and Cynthia at an unused spot.

Checked in scripted runs:

• Cynthia starts at spot 2; dropped into room 40, phase 4 with the clock and the portrait.
• Water costs about 8 health a second there; next to Cynthia's spot, cine 48.
• The rafts in room 22 run back and forth.