Mindcontroller

Based on game build 714014 | Last updated: 2026-03-06

Overview

Mindcontroller is a transient, classified entity component responsible for managing the progression and duration of a mind control effect on a target entity. It acts as a controlled "debuff" attached to the victim, incrementing an internal level counter over time and stopping itself when the control expires. It integrates with the debuff component and synchronizes state over the network via net_byte. The component is instantiated and managed exclusively on the master sim, and only emits minimal logic on clients.

Usage example

-- Typically not added manually; created by the Stalker prefab during mind control
-- This example shows conceptual usage:
local mindcontroller = SpawnPrefab("mindcontroller")
mindcontroller.components.debuff:Attach(target)

Dependencies & tags

Components used: debuff, net_byte Tags: Adds CLASSIFIED to the instance.

Properties

Property	Type	Default Value	Description
_level	net_byte	0	Networked level counter (0 to MAX_LEVEL = 135).
countdown	number	Initial value derived from CONTROL_LEVEL	Local tick countdown used to stop the debuff.
CONTROl_LEVEL	number (constant)	110	Threshold level at which mind control is considered active.
EXTEND_TICKS	number (constant)	25	Additional ticks added to countdown if level < CONTROL_LEVEL.

Main functions

OnAttached(inst, target)

• Description: Callback invoked when the debuff is attached to a target entity. Parents the mindcontroller to the target and reports the target to the network component.
• Parameters:
  • inst (Entity) — The mindcontroller entity instance.
  • target (Entity) — The entity being controlled.
• Returns: Nothing.

ExtendDebuff(inst)

• Description: Resets or extends the internal countdown timer based on current level. Adds extra ticks (EXTEND_TICKS) if the current level is below CONTROL_LEVEL.
• Parameters:
  • inst (Entity) — The mindcontroller entity instance.
• Returns: Nothing.

OnUpdate(inst, ismastersim)

• Description: Runs periodically to advance the mind control level, notify the target of progress, and decrement the countdown timer. Stops the debuff when the countdown expires.
• Parameters:
  • inst (Entity) — The mindcontroller entity instance.
  • ismastersim (boolean) — True when running on the master simulation (server).
• Returns: Nothing.
• Error states: Noop on clients (except level reporting via network sync). Only the master sim modifies countdown and calls debuff:Stop().

Events & listeners

• Listens to: None directly via inst:ListenForEvent. Logic is driven via periodic task and debuff callbacks.
• Pushes: mindcontrollevel and mindcontrolled events on the target entity (parent:PushEvent(...)) during OnUpdate, when attached and past CONTROL_LEVEL, respectively.

Note: These pushed events originate from the target entity, not the mindcontroller itself.