## Summary
- **Add a self-referencing `InterpolationHandler` to `ValueStringBuilder`** that writes directly into the builder's buffer — zero intermediate allocation, works with `stackalloc`-backed builders
- **Replace all `System.Text.StringBuilder` usage** across the codebase with `ValueStringBuilder`
- **Convert `ValueStringBuilder.Create()` to `stackalloc`** at 10 sites where output length is provably bounded
- **Convert manual `Dispose()` to `using var`** where possible, and hoist loop-scoped builders outside loops with `Reset()`
- **Convert verbose `Append()` chains to `Append($"...")`** interpolation for readability
- **Add comprehensive documentation** for string handling patterns
## InterpolationHandler Design
`ValueStringBuilder` is a `ref struct`, which creates challenges for C#'s interpolated string handler pattern:
- **`ref` fields to ref structs are not allowed** (CS9050)
- **`[InterpolatedStringHandlerArgument("")]` passes struct receivers by value**, not by ref
- **`ISelfInterpolatedStringHandler` requires boxing** ref structs into interface fields
**Solution: Copy-and-reconcile pattern.** The handler receives a value copy of the builder. The copy shares the same underlying `char` buffer (`Span` points to the same `stackalloc`/pooled memory), so writes go to the original buffer. `Append()` reconciles by `this = handler._builder`, updating `_length` and any buffer references changed by `Grow()`.
This is safe because:
- The game loop is single-threaded — no concurrent access between handler construction and reconciliation
- If `Grow()` occurs in the copy, the original's stale buffer isn't accessed until `Append()` replaces it
- `Dispose()` correctly returns the reconciled buffer to the pool
## Changes by Category
### ValueStringBuilder (`Projects/Server/Buffers/ValueStringBuilder.cs`)
- Added nested `InterpolationHandler` ref struct with copy-and-reconcile pattern
- Added `Append([InterpolatedStringHandlerArgument("")] scoped ref InterpolationHandler)` method
- Removed `RawInterpolatedStringHandler` overloads (new handler replaces them)
- All `AppendFormatted` overloads delegate to existing `Append` methods (no code duplication)
- Alignment support via direct private field access (nested type privilege)
### StringBuilder → ValueStringBuilder (15 files)
Replaced all `new StringBuilder()` with `ValueStringBuilder.Create()` or `stackalloc`:
- ConPVP games: KingOfTheHill, DoubleDom, CTF, BombingRun, TourneyMatch
- ConPVP infrastructure: Tournament, Participant, TourneyParticipant
- ConPVP gumps: ArenaGump, TournamentBracketGump, AcceptTeamGump, ConfirmSignupGump
- Commands: Handlers, Logging, Add
- Other: TownCrier, SpeechLogGump, TestCenter
Key patterns:
- `sb = new StringBuilder()` reassignment → `sb.Reset()`
- `sb.AppendFormat("{0:N0}", value)` → `sb.Append($"{value:N0}")`
- `sb.Append(x).Append(y)` chains → separate statements (VSB returns void)
### Create() → stackalloc (10 files)
Converted heap-allocated builders to stackalloc where output is bounded:
- ClientVersion (32), MapSelection (160), HouseRaffleStone (48)
- HolySense (96), UnholySense (96), ClientVerification (192)
- AcceptTeamGump (64), ConfirmSignupGump (64)
- BaseWeapon (160), BaseArmor (128)
### Loop optimizations (2 files)
Hoisted `ValueStringBuilder` creation outside loops with `Reset()` per iteration:
- TourneyMatch.cs: `using var` inside for loop → stackalloc before loop
- ArenaGump.cs: `Create()` + `Dispose()` per iteration → stackalloc before loop
### Append chain → interpolation (5 files)
Converted multi-line `Append()` chains to `Append($"...")`:
- BountyMessage.cs: title switch (6 cases), paragraph (15→1 Append), description lines, closing
- AcceptTeamGump, ConfirmSignupGump, TournamentBracketGump: tournament type strings
- AdminGump: comment/tag formatting in loops
### Documentation
- `dev-docs/string-handling.md`: Full reference — construction, interpolation, disposal, decision guide
- `dev-docs/claude-skills/modernuo-string-handling.md`: Claude skill with quick reference
- `CLAUDE.md`: Added rule 17 (no StringBuilder), dev-docs table entry, skills table entry
- `dev-docs/code-standards.md`: Updated memory management section
## Test Plan
- [x] `dotnet build` — 0 errors, 0 warnings
- [x] `dotnet test` — 940/940 tests pass
- [x] 28 ValueStringBuilder tests covering all reconciliation scenarios:
- Stackalloc no-grow, stackalloc with grow (→pool transition)
- Heap no-grow, heap with grow, heap double grow
- Pre-existing content with and without grow
- Sequential multiple `Append($"...")` calls
- Mixed plain + interpolated Append
- Empty interpolation, literal-only, format specifiers
- Null string holes, ISpanFormattable types
- Dispose after stackalloc→pool grow
### Summary
Converts ethics system to entity persistence and removes the persistence item.
### TODO
1. The enable/disable toggle doesn't propagate to all code that does Ethics checks (notoriety, pvp, etc).
2. We need commands to remove them from an ethic.
### Summary
- Fixes the name `Vegies` to `Veggies`
- Adds feeding leather to goats
- Adds metal for Lava Lizards
- Fixes Bone Helm being classified as plate instead of bone.
- Fixes wooden shields not classified as wood.
### Note
On OSI, the preferred foods on the animal lore gump doesn't contain all possible favorite food categories. Furthermore, the one listed is not necessarily always the "first" in the list of possible categories. We aren't going to try and fix that since it isn't important.
## Overhaul to Stamina (Overweight) System
### Added configurations
```json
{
"settings": {
"stamina.enableMountStamina": "True",
"stamina.cannotMoveWhenFatigued": "True",
"stamina.stonesPerOverweightLoss": "25",
"stamina.stonesOverweightAllowance": "4",
"stamina.baseOverweightLoss": "5",
"stamina.additionalLossWhenBelow": "0.1",
"stamina.mountLastMoveStepsReset": "01:00:00:00",
"stamina.enableMountStamina": "True",
"stamina.useMountStaminaOnlyWhenOverloaded": "False",
},
}
```
- `stamina.cannotMoveWhenFatigued` - By default, Pre-AOS expansions will outright block a player if they are fatigued. A player is fatigued when they run out of stamina by any mechanism.
- `stamina.stonesPerOverweightLoss` - The amount of stamina lost for every X stones above overweight. Example, if a person is overweight 28 stones overweight, then there there is 1 additional stamina. 28 / 25 = 1 (no decimals, no rounding)
- `stamina.stonesOverweightAllowance` - The number of stones allowed before overweight penalties take affect. This _does not_ substract from the overweight stones calculation.
- `stamina.baseOverweightLoss` - The base amount of stamina loss for being overweight. While running, the final amount is multiplied by 2. If mount stamina is turned off, then the final amount is divided by 3 while mounted.
### Mount stamina
Mounts have a new property `StepsMax` to determine the maximum steps they can take before being fatigued. To regain steps, the player _must stay on the mount and not move_ (per OSI). The gain rates are configurable. If a mount is dismounted, or the player logs off, the mount is considered inactive and mounts regain all of their steps after _24 hours_.
### Changes to player stamina
Players now have a proper inactivity time reset for their steps. If a player is idle for 16 seconds (including logging off, or the server being offline), then the steps counter is rest.
### Developer Notes
- `StepsTaken` - This field has been removed. It was not serialized and could not be used reliably. If a developer was using it, then the recommendation is to build a mechanism to track total steps another way.
- `IHasStamina` - This new interface was added and currently `IMount` and `PlayerMobile` are valid types.
Important: Entities that are sent to the StaminaSystem for tracking (mounts, players, or something else), must be an `ISerializable` to be serialized properly. If they are not, then the serialization system will record a null, and nothing will be deserialized upon world load. No errors will be given.
* Movie ignore mobiles to Mobile class
* Allow necromancer familiars to ignore mobiles
* ChampionSpawn should not quietly fail when creating new spawn
* Fix client party crash bug: 2 people partied, the leader logs out, other client is hung
* Fix spellbooks creating with magery/meditation only and creating magery multiple times
* Fix BaseRunicTool.GetRandomSlayer() creating more undead slayers than intended
* Do not allow players to dismount each other whilst mounted
* Fix AOS onwards damage increase tooltip and wrong formula in AOS
* Fix monsters killing other monster revenants + animate dead should not attack player pets + other animates
* Fix fire steed having loot pack added twice
* Fix oaks spawn not able to create Unicorns + Kirins via Activator.CreateInstace() due to constructor having name as parametr
* Fix ignoreMobiles flag not propagated to client for non-players.
* Fix harrower tents not leeching from players
* Fix boats speedhacking around the map
* Fix bless, agility etc. not renewing duration
* Fix reveal always worked
* Fix empty constructor for steeds so they don't throw now.
* Removes scaled speed by dex for monsters
* Changes scaled speed by dex for pets (HS+ expansion) to be 400ms -> 100ms between 50 -> 200 dex
* Removes speed changes that were broken for various mobs
* Combines "Legacy" speed and renames the class to `NPCSpeeds`
* Creates speed "classes" (slow, medium, fast, very fast)
* Introduces a new overridable property `SpeedClass`. Register a new speed class using `NPCSpeeds.Register()` and then set the speed class to bulk/mass apply speeds.
Order of speed determination:
1. SpeedMod
2. SpeedClass property (not null)
3. SpeedClass entry in Data\npc-speeds.json for that type
4. "Fast" (200ms Active, 400ms Passive)
* Adds the following configurations:
* `movement.delay.npcMinDelay` - 0.1 - Pets or Non-monster NPCs
* `movement.delay.npcMaxDelay` - 0.4 - Pets or Non-monster NPCs
* `movement.delay.monsterMinDelay` - 0.4 - Non-pet Monsters or NPC vs Player Combat
* `movement.delay.monsterMaxDelay` - 0.8 - Non-pet Monsters or NPC vs Player Combat
* `movement.delay.monsterMinDex` - 150 - Dex maximum for delay by dex
* `movement.delay.MinDex` - 190 - Dex maximum for delay by dex
- [X] Changes effect packets
- [X] Updates playing sounds
- [X] Updates Effects class to have more options so there are less direct calls to building the packets
- [X] Changes bonding status packet
