Map Validation, Save Pipeline & Playtest Runtime

Saints Studio incorporates automated map validation, an internal server sync pipeline, and an instantaneous in-engine playtest runtime (PIE).

1. Studio Validation Engine & Problems Panel

Before persisting a map to the database, mapSaveValidation.ts scans the map grid and entities for structural errors displayed in the Problems Panel:

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                   Studio Problems Panel                  │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ ❌ Error: Missing ground GID at cell [14, 22] (Void)     │
│ ⚠️ Warn: Warp tile at [30, 12] links to missing map 'cave'│
│ ⚠️ Warn: NPC 'npc_miner_02' placed in solid collision cell│
│ ℹ️ Info: Auto-bootstrapping default grass GID (17)       │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

• Missing Ground Tiles: Flags unpainted cells ($GID = 0$) on Layer 0 to prevent black rendering voids.
• Unreachable Warps: Identifies warp gates surrounded by solid collision tags.
• Broken Warp Links: Verifies that target map IDs exist in the database and target coordinates are within map bounds.
• Orphan Entities: Detects NPCs or Spawners placed outside the grid dimensions.
• Tileset GID Bootstrap: Automatically injects default solid grass tiles (DEFAULT_STUDIO_GROUND_GID = 17) for unpopulated base cells.

2. Save & Synchronization Pipeline

Saving in Studio triggers a coordinated workflow between Next.js and the Go MMO service:

[Studio Editor] ────(Ctrl+S)────► [POST /api/maps]
                                         │
                                         ▼ (Prisma / SQLite Persist)
[Go MMO :3001]  ◄───(POST /sync-map)─────┘
       │
       ▼ (Reload collision matrix)
[Connected Players on Map] ───(map_reloaded socket)───► [Live Tile Remesh]

1. Client Save: The user hits Ctrl+S or clicks Save Map.
2. Persistence: Next.js saves the WorldMap record to SQLite/Prisma.
3. Cluster Notification: Next.js invokes POST http://localhost:3001/api/internal/sync-map.
4. Broadcast: Go MMO reloads the map collision grid and broadcasts map_reloaded to active players, triggering seamless chunk remeshing.

3. Play-In-Editor (PIE) Runtime

Pressing Ctrl+E toggles the Playtest Runtime directly in the Studio viewport:

• Editor Controls Suspended: Brush cursors, tile selections, and gizmos are muted.
• Player Character Instantiation: Spawns a playable character at the camera center or map spawn point.
• Live Systems Active: Movement physics, collision checks, NPC dialogue, hotbars, and creature encounters run immediately.
• Lossless State Restoration: Pressing Ctrl+E again exits playtest and restores exact editor viewports, brush settings, and panel layouts.