Daywalker Pillar

Based on game build 714014 | Last updated: 2026-03-05

Overview

The daywalker_pillar component manages a stationary environmental structure used during encounters with the Daywalker boss. It supports dynamic chain rendering that visually connects the pillar to a prisoner (the Daywalker), and handles structural degradation via mining. The component integrates tightly with the workable, lootdropper, entitytracker, and updatelooper systems to synchronize visuals, physics, and gameplay logic across clients and servers.

Usage example

local pillar = SpawnPrefab("daywalker_pillar")
local prisoner = SpawnPrefab("daywalker")

pillar:SetPrisoner(prisoner)
pillar.components.workable:SetWorkLeft(10) -- Adjust initial health

Dependencies & tags

Components used: inspectable, workable, lootdropper, entitytracker, updatelooper, transform, animstate, soundemitter, light, minimapentity, network, inventory (via external calls), tool (via external calls)
Tags added by prefab: daywalker_pillar, event_trigger, regrowth_blocker, NOCLICK, FX, decor (on child entities)

Properties

Property	Type	Default Value	Description
level	string	"full"	Current structural integrity level ("full", "med", "low", "lowest").
prisoner	net_entity proxy	nil	Networked reference to the attached Daywalker prisoner.
enablechains	net_bool proxy	false	Controls whether chain visual FX should be rendered.
debris	net_tinybyte proxy	0	Triggers debris FX; higher values produce larger debris animations.
chains	table	nil	Array of chain link entities (IF spawned).
chainbracket	Entity	nil	Bracket FX entity holding chains on the pillar.
vibratetime	number	0	Accumulator used for vibrating chain animation math.
vibrateamp	number	0	Current vibration amplitude (0 = no vibration, up to ~1.2).
vibratespike	boolean	false	If true, next frame resets amplitude to spike level.
fadelight	number	nil	Used to fade out light intensity when pillar is destroyed.
sleeptask	Task	nil	Delayed removal task for chains when entity goes to sleep.

Main functions

SetPrisoner(prisoner)

• Description: Attaches or detaches a Daywalker prisoner to the pillar, managing chain visuals and event subscriptions accordingly.
• Parameters: prisoner (Entity or nil) — the entity to chain to, or nil to remove.
• Returns: Nothing.
• Error states: No side effects if prisoner equals the current value.

EnableChains(enable)

• Description: Enables or disables chain rendering and sets up per-frame updates for visual chain follow logic.
• Parameters: enable (boolean) — whether to show chains.
• Returns: Nothing.
• Error states: If on a dedicated server, FX logic is skipped (only affects owner client).

IsResonating(inst)

• Description: Helper that checks if the pillar is currently vibrating.
• Parameters: inst (Entity) — the pillar instance.
• Returns: true if the current animation is "pillar_shake", otherwise false.

OnWorked(inst, worker, workleft, numworks)

• Description: Handles partial and full mining progress. Triggers hit animation, debris FX, light color updates, chain vibration (if tool is tough), and appropriate recoil behavior.
• Parameters:
  • inst (Entity) — the pillar instance.
  • worker (Entity or nil) — the entity performing the mining.
  • workleft (number) — remaining work to finish.
  • numworks (number) — work amount applied (not used directly).
• Returns: Nothing.
• Error states: Does not fire chain vibration if worker is absent or tool lacks CanDoToughWork().

OnWorkFinished(inst, worker)

• Description: Executes when the pillar is fully destroyed. Drops loot, removes base entities, triggers fall animation, and fades out lights.
• Parameters: inst, worker (see OnWorked).
• Returns: Nothing.
• Error states: Only proceeds if inst.persists is true (i.e., not a temporary version).

SpawnChains(inst)

• Description: Instantiates and attaches chain link entities and bracket; registers per-frame update loop.
• Parameters: inst (Entity) — the pillar instance.
• Returns: Nothing.
• Error states: Creates FX only if inst.chains == nil; does not double-create.

RemoveChains(inst, broken)

• Description: Removes chain entities and cleans up state. Supports normal removal or "broken" state (where chains fall and animate separately).
• Parameters:
  • inst (Entity)
  • broken (boolean) — if true, chains are detached and break animated; otherwise removed immediately.
• Returns: Nothing.

UpdateBuild(inst, workleft)

• Description: Evaluates current workleft against thresholds and updates visual symbol overrides (pillar_low, pillar_med, pillar_lowest) and light intensity. Also grants marble loot on level drops.
• Parameters:
  • inst (Entity)
  • workleft (number) — current work remaining.
• Returns: changed (boolean) — whether a build level changed, and dlevel (number) — how many levels dropped.
• Error states: Does nothing if workleft doesn’t cross threshold.

GetPrisoner(inst)

• Description: Returns the currently attached prisoner entity.
• Parameters: inst (Entity)
• Returns: Entity or nil.

OnEndVibrate(inst)

• Description: Stops chain vibration effects when vibration timer expires.
• Parameters: inst (Entity)
• Returns: Nothing.

OnDebrisDirty(inst)

• Description: Triggers small or large debris FX based on the debris net value.
• Parameters: inst (Entity)
• Returns: Nothing.

ClearNearbyColliders(inst)

• Description: Adjusts pillar position to avoid colliding with blockers (e.g., trees, rocks) spawned at same location (for legacy save compatibility).
• Parameters: inst (Entity)
• Returns: Nothing.

Events & listeners

• Listens to:
  • daywalker_pillar.restartvibrate — internal event to reset vibration spike.
  • daywalkerchainbreak — fired by prisoner to indicate chain was severed.
  • onremove — on prisoner or self, to clean up chains and state.
  • chainsdirty, debrisdirty — networked dirty flags for client-side FX updates.
• Pushes:
  • daywalker_pillar.restartvibrate — triggers vibration spike.
  • pillarremoved, pillarvibrating — notifies prisoner when pillar state changes.