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Cave

Based on game build 714014 | Last updated: 2026-03-04

Overview​

cave.lua defines the Cave world type for Don't Starve Together. It specifies all prefabs used in the cave, loads required assets (sound, image), and sets up world-level components via common_postinit (client+server) and master_postinit (server-only). It integrates spawners for enemies (e.g., worms, acid bats), world features (e.g., gelblobs), and meta-structure managers (e.g., Archive, Vault, Rifts). The world is constructed using MakeWorld, registering physics for tile collision and enabling flying creatures to cross barriers.

Usage example​

This file is not manually instantiated by modders. It is used internally by the game engine when the Cave world type is selected during world generation. Modders extend or override its behavior by creating new prefabs or wrapping its spawner components.

Dependencies & tags​

Components used:
ambientlighting, dynamicmusic, ambientsound, dsp, colourcube, hallucinations, grottowaterfallsoundcontroller, shadowcreaturespawner, shadowhandspawner, brightmarespawner, toadstoolspawner, grottowarmanager, acidbatwavemanager, rabbitkingmanager, shadowparasitemanager, caveins, kramped, chessunlocks, townportalregistry, linkeditemmanager, forestresourcespawner, regrowthmanager, desolationspawner, mermkingmanager, feasts, yotd_raceprizemanager, yotc_raceprizemanager, yotb_stagemanager, worldoverseer, daywalkerspawner, hounded, ropebridgemanager, gelblobspawner, retrofitcavemap_anr, archivemanager, riftspawner, miasmamanager, shadowthrallmanager, ruinsshadelingspawner, shadowthrall_mimics, decoratedgrave_ghostmanager, vaultroommanager
Tags: cave (passed to MakeWorld)

Properties​

No public properties exposed. The only instance-level state is encapsulated in components added during master_postinit.

Main functions​

tile_physics_init(inst)​

  • Description: Initializes tile collision for the cave world, marking certain terrain tiles as impassable to land units and setting underwater depth.
  • Parameters: inst (TheWorld instance).
  • Returns: Nothing.
  • Error states: None.

common_postinit(inst)​

  • Description: Initializes client/server shared components (e.g., lighting, ambient sound). On dedicated servers, most client-only components are skipped.
  • Parameters: inst (TheWorld instance).
  • Returns: Nothing.
  • Error states: None.

master_postinit(inst)​

  • Description: Initializes server-only spawner and management components required for cave gameplay (e.g., worm waves, Rabbit King, Archive structures, Rifts).
  • Parameters: inst (TheWorld instance).
  • Returns: inst (for chaining, per DST convention).
  • Error states: None.

AddCaveGelSpawns(inst)​

  • Description: Scans the world tilemap to find eligible locations for gelblobspawningground entities based on terrain edge detection and bucket aggregation, ensuring even spacing and valid placement. Runs once after world load.
  • Parameters: inst (TheWorld instance).
  • Returns: Nothing (spawns gelblobspawningground prefabs via SpawnPrefab).
  • Error states: Exits early if gelblobspawningground already exists. Does not spawn if location conflicts with Archive/Labyrinth/Atrium zones.

Events & listeners​

None identified. Event handling occurs inside individual spawner components (e.g., hounded) rather than on the world instance itself.