Architecture

⚙️ SAGE ENGINE ARCHITECTURE

“Every system is a thread — and every thread remembers.”

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🧩 Core Design Philosophy

The S.Y.N.T.H.R.E.A.D. Advanced Game Engine (SAGE) is built on a modular, inter-dependent subsystem model inside Unreal Engine 5.6.
Each module communicates through the ThreadCore, forming what we call the Lattice — a living data network where systems exchange memory, state, and emotion.

🕸️ SAGE doesn’t just simulate worlds — it remembers them.

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🧠 The Layered Structure

1️⃣ System Layer – The Foundation

Module	Description
ThreadCore	The nucleus. Manages initialization, tick order, and inter-module communication.
ThreadData	Handles data persistence, save/load operations, and memory serialization.
ThreadTime	Governs world time, real-time sync (Thread TimeSync), and temporal events.
ThreadPrint	The emotional memory layer. Tracks player choices, presence, and consequence through a dynamic thread-signature system.

These systems define the “heartbeat” of SAGE — every other module listens to them.

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2️⃣ Gameplay Layer – The Living Systems

Module	Description
ThreadWorld	Controls world streaming, region management, and environment state.
ThreadCombat	Manages combat logic, stamina, and reactive enemy behavior.
ThreadDialogue	Handles narrative flow, player choice, and voice/event triggers.
ThreadQuests	Quest and objective tracking — integrates with ThreadPrint for moral weight and consequence.
ThreadAI	Core NPC logic, decision trees, and emotional learning via ThreadPrint hooks.

These subsystems breathe life into the game — they’re what make SAGE feel alive, not just run.

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3️⃣ Presentation Layer – The Expression

Module	Description
ThreadCinematics	Manages reactive cutscenes, mood blending, and world-aware camera transitions.
ThreadUI	Controls all HUDs, menus, overlays, and cinematic letterboxing through the UThreadUISubsystem.
ThreadAudio (future)	Adaptive soundscapes and emotional resonance matching.

This layer translates system behavior into visual and sensory feedback — emotion made visible.

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4️⃣ Editor & Tooling Layer

Tool	Description
ThreadCoreEditor	The custom Unreal Editor extension — used for visualizing thread flow, debugging subsystems, and managing engine settings.
Dev Safety Kit	Diagnostic suite for catching unsafe Blueprint or C++ references, memory leaks, and module misfires.

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🕸️ The Data Lattice

SAGE communicates through the Lattice, a flexible inter-module message bus built on UE5’s subsystem architecture.
It ensures every module can talk without circular dependency issues.

ThreadCore
  ├── ThreadData
  │     ├── ThreadPrint
  │     └── ThreadTime
  ├── ThreadWorld
  │     ├── ThreadCombat
  │     ├── ThreadAI
  │     ├── ThreadDialogue
  │     └── ThreadQuests
  └── ThreadCinematics + ThreadUI

The Lattice ensures that every system — from combat to dialogue — can listen, respond, and evolve in harmony.

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🧬 Reactive Design in Motion

• Dynamic ThreadSync: Real-time world synchronization based on player login time.
• ThreadMemory Propagation: Past decisions influence NPC temperament, dialogue, and ambient world changes.
• Subsystem Failover: If a module fails, ThreadCore reroutes behavior to maintain stability (emotional memory persists).
• Blueprint Hooks: All subsystems expose BlueprintCallable nodes for hybrid development.

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📊 Design Goals for Future Versions

Version	Focus
v0.3.0 – “The Thread Weaves”	Add ThreadLore, emotional AI, and persistent world relationships.
v0.4.0 – “The Thread Remembers”	Introduce memory-based procedural storytelling.
v1.0.0 – “The Thread Complete”	Launch SDK for external studios + plugin API support.

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🧾 References

• ThreadCore Reference →
• Subsystem Relationships →
• Developer Coding Standards →
• ThreadPrint Framework →

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© 2025 C38 ImagineWorks LLC
🕸️ “We don’t think outside the box — there was never a box to begin with.”