The pure SerializationGenerator conversion of `BaseCreature`, split out of #2592 so it can serve as the reference for converting every other large hand-written class in the Delta Saves project (#7, phase 3). Two behaviour changes from #2592 are deliberately not here and follow in their own PRs on top of this one: `SpeedClass`, and the collapse of `ControlMaster`/`SummonMaster` into one reference (a creature can lose or keep either independently: Blade Spirits and Energy Vortexes are summoned but never controlled, EnragedCreature and talisman summons keep a summon master with neither flag set).
## What this is
- `BaseCreature` becomes `[SerializationGenerator(23, false)]` with a `[SerializableField]` per serialized slot and `[SaveFlag]` elision on nearly every field, so a stock creature serializes to its version plus flags. Field orders run 0..53 with no gaps (54 fields).
- The hand-written reader stays as `private void Deserialize(IGenericReader reader, int version)` for every pre-codegen version (0..22); post-codegen bumps use `MigrateFrom` from here on. `[AfterDeserialization]` carries the post-load fixups main did after reading (stat timers, AI type, followers, reacquire seeding).
- `ControlMaster` and `SummonMaster` stay two independent fields with main's semantics, each elided when null.
- `DamageMin`/`DamageMax`/`ActiveSpeed`/`PassiveSpeed` are no longer virtual (nothing in the tree overrode them); comments swept to the constraints that matter.
- Direct writes to serialized backing fields outside the generated setters (`SetDamage`, `SetResistance`, the move-speed helpers, the loot flag, feed loyalty, the delete timer) call `this.MarkDirty()`, matching the #2609 standard, so the class is ready for delta saves once `Mobile` is audited.
- Schema `Server.Mobiles.BaseCreature.v23.json` regenerated by the tool (a second run produces no diff).
## Deferred to follow-up PRs
SpeedClass: the serialized `_speedClass` field, `DefaultSpeedClass` replacing the type constant, `ApplySpeedClass`/`OnSpeedClassChange`, "None means custom", the four-speeds-as-one-block elision, `NPCSpeeds.FindEntry(SpeedLevel)`, the constructor fallback to Medium, and their tests.
Master references: serializing one `Master` with a `Controlled`/`Summoned` fan-out and the `SetControlMaster` lockstep.
## Tests
UOContent.Tests 776 / Server.Tests 855 green. `BaseCreatureSerializationTests` covers: a default creature elides to version + flags; a populated creature round-trips with exact byte consumption; back-to-back saves are byte-identical; an uncontrolled summon keeps its SummonMaster; byte-authentic v22 legacy streams (replicas of main's `Serialize`) load through the legacy reader for a wild tamable, a controlled pet, a controlled summon with an anchored `SummonEnd`, and a summon-master-only creature (the EnragedCreature shape); a running delete timer round-trips through `[DeserializeTimer]`; `Friends`, `CurrentWayPoint` and `HomeMap` round-trip; a `BaseVendor` stub round-trips the generated BaseVendor v2 → generated BaseCreature v23 chain.
## Behaviour notes for reviewers
- `ActiveMoveSpeed`/`PassiveMoveSpeed` getters return the raw override (0 = inherit); `CurrentMoveSpeed` is the resolved pace.
- Speeds elided as table defaults re-snap to the current `npc-speeds.json` on load, so table edits reach unmodified spawns on restart.
- `GetSpeeds` no longer throws on the save/load path when the table has no entry for the type: saves elide against the creature's own values and loads keep the stream. Construction still throws (`InvalidOperationException`, was `KeyNotFoundException`). An elided load with no table entry would otherwise resume at speed 0, so `[AfterDeserialization]` logs once and paces it at Medium.
- `virtual` removed from `ActiveSpeed`, `PassiveSpeed`, `DamageMin`, `DamageMax` (no overrides in the tree; forks may have some).
- `ControlMaster`, `SummonMaster`, `ControlOrder`, `Tamable`, `IsParagon` are `[SerializableProperty]` over hand-written setters because follower bookkeeping must run before the assignment, which a `fieldChanged` hook cannot express; the wire format is identical.
## Prerequisites for cherry-picking
#2609 (BaseVendor is already generated on top of BaseCreature) and SerializationGenerator 4.1.0.
Fixes#1690. Addresses Blood Oath holistically — three bugs found while researching the spell against RunUO, ServUO, the UODemise/uo.com guides, and the archived UOGuide page.
## Bugs fixed
### 1. Expiry timing (the filed issue)
The `ExpireTimer` polled every 1s, so expiry and death/delete cleanup lagged up to ~1s. Replaced with a **single-shot** timer plus centralized `[OnEvent]` handlers on `PlayerDeathEvent`/`PlayerDeletedEvent`/`CreatureDeathEvent`/`CreatureDeletedEvent` — the oath now breaks immediately on death/delete of either party.
### 2. Duration formula
Used `/80` (the bugged in-game tooltip value) instead of the real OSI formula `((SpiritSpeak - Resist) / 8) + 8`. Confirmed by RunUO, ServUO, the emulator guides, and the code's own fixed-point comment. At GM Spirit Speak this changes duration from ~9.5s to 23s and makes Spirit Speak actually affect duration.
### 3. Damage reflection (`BaseCreature.Damage` vs `PlayerMobile.Damage`)
`BaseCreature.Damage` diverged: it attributed the reflected hit to the attacker itself (`from.Damage(amount, from)`) instead of the caster, reflected the bonused (not original) amount, used `×1.1` vs `×1.2`, lacked the caster-survival guard, and had no Publish 48 resist mitigation.
Unified both paths: reflect the **original** damage attributed to the **caster** at `×1.2`. Publish 48 resist mitigation now applies only to creature casters and is gated behind `Core.SA`.
## Internals
- Collapsed the parallel `_oathTable` into a single `_table` keyed by both participants → shared timer, so `RemoveCurse` resolves from either side (required by the event handlers).
- Extracted `GetDurationSeconds` and `ComputeReflectedDamage` as testable statics.
## Tests
13 new tests (duration formula, reflection mitigation, oath lifecycle, end-to-end event-driven removal). Full suite: **436/436 pass**.
### Summary
- Drastically streamlines the spell targeting by collapsing the target classes into a single `SpellTarget<T>` class.
- Moves TargetRange to the spell itself so it can be used by MageAI.
- Changes range check in MageAI to use TargetRange. This should fix target acquisition bugs
### Summary
- Cleans up target cancellation being called incorrectly.
- An invalid target type (which should never happen), now calls `OnTargetUntargetable` instead of `OnTargetCanceled`
- Removes double calls to `FinishSequence` in Spells.
### Summary
- Fixes various memory leaks related to spells
- Fixes Spell Plague
- Added ability to determine if `sdi` should take effect for Spell Damage.
- Fixes animal form timer ticking non-stop while logged out.
* * Fix statmod naming mismatch: everything in code searches for "[Magic] {type} Offset" but stat reductions are being added as "[Magic] {type} Curse"
* Clarifies and cleans up curses
* Fixes blood oath
* * NobleSacrifice remove all curses in one go
* Dont need a method
* Fix extra parentheses
Co-authored-by: Kamron Batman <3953314+kamronbatman@users.noreply.github.com>
- [X] Caches DateTime.NowUtc on the game loop (not other threads)
- [X] Replaces all locations where it makes sense
- [X] Adds Min/Max for `IComparable` (TimeSpan, DateTimes, etc)
Closes#261
