From 5c2c65850e3d59522188d5ad354861cb0f2bec28 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: boxswapper <boxswappers@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2026 21:21:52 -0600
Subject: [PATCH] add 3-4x wildlife modlet for 7dtd, re-enable mod deploy,
 strip dead v3.x serverconfig props

---
 roles/7dtd/files/mods/MoreAnimals.zip         | Bin 0 -> 1962 bytes
 .../mods/MoreAnimals/Config/spawning.xml      |  33 ++++++++++++
 roles/7dtd/files/mods/MoreAnimals/ModInfo.xml |   7 +++
 roles/7dtd/tasks/main.yml                     |  46 +++++++++-------
 roles/7dtd/templates/sdtdserver.xml.j2        |  51 ++++++------------
 vars.yml                                      |  30 ++++++++---
 6 files changed, 105 insertions(+), 62 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 roles/7dtd/files/mods/MoreAnimals.zip
 create mode 100644 roles/7dtd/files/mods/MoreAnimals/Config/spawning.xml
 create mode 100644 roles/7dtd/files/mods/MoreAnimals/ModInfo.xml

diff --git a/roles/7dtd/files/mods/MoreAnimals.zip b/roles/7dtd/files/mods/MoreAnimals.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..538ace69e143475289fb326e0f74004be51d0f30
GIT binary patch
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diff --git a/roles/7dtd/files/mods/MoreAnimals/Config/spawning.xml b/roles/7dtd/files/mods/MoreAnimals/Config/spawning.xml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..796ebea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/7dtd/files/mods/MoreAnimals/Config/spawning.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+<configs>
+  <!--
+    More Animals per Area - v3.x spawn-density patch for the dedicated server.
+
+    Written for the v3.0+ spawning.xml schema (validated against the v3.0 shipped file):
+    - maxcount is now per 80x80m "biome chunk" (vanilla = 1 for every animal group).
+      Friendly groups: WildGameForest (day/Any, all biomes), WildGameForestNight
+      (pine/burnt), WildGameStagNight (snow/wasteland). Predators: EnemyAnimalsForest,
+      EnemyAnimalsBurntForestAny/Night, EnemyAnimalsDesert/Night, EnemyAnimalsSnow/Night,
+      EnemyAnimalsWasteland/Night. The starts-with() selectors cover ALL current and future
+      variants and cannot hit non-animal spawns (EnemyVulture*, ZombiesAll do not match).
+    - respawndelay is SIX comma-separated game-day values, one per sandbox Respawn speed:
+      Default,VerySlow,Slow,Normal,Fast,VeryFast (multipliers 1.75,1.35,1,0.65,0.35).
+      A single scalar corrupts the entry on v3.x. Base values: 0.25 for friendly game
+      (~6x faster than the 1.5 vanilla), 0.6 for night/predator groups.
+    - GATE: XML mods are only honored while the sandbox "Density" options (Day/Night Animal
+      + Enemy) are set to Default. If a SandboxCode sets any density != Default, THIS PATCH
+      IS IGNORED and the sandbox value wins - use SandboxCode density in that case.
+    - EnemyAnimalsSnowNight / EnemyAnimalsWasteland* are zombie animals (undead), included
+      by the selector but worth knowing about.
+
+    Effect vs vanilla (pine forest): WildGameForest 1->4 alive per 80x80m chunk, respawn
+    1.5d->0.25d; predators 1->3, respawn 2.9d->0.6d - roughly a 3-4x wildlife increase.
+  -->
+
+  <!-- Friendly animals (day + night, all biomes): 4 alive per chunk, base respawn 0.25d -->
+  <set xpath="/spawning/biome/spawn[starts-with(@entitygroup,'WildGame')]/@maxcount">4</set>
+  <set xpath="/spawning/biome/spawn[starts-with(@entitygroup,'WildGame')]/@respawndelay">0.25,0.438,0.338,0.25,0.163,0.088</set>
+
+  <!-- Hostile animals (all biome variants incl. zombie-animal night groups): 3 alive per chunk, base respawn 0.6d -->
+  <set xpath="/spawning/biome/spawn[starts-with(@entitygroup,'EnemyAnimals')]/@maxcount">3</set>
+  <set xpath="/spawning/biome/spawn[starts-with(@entitygroup,'EnemyAnimals')]/@respawndelay">0.6,1.05,0.81,0.6,0.39,0.21</set>
+</configs>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/roles/7dtd/files/mods/MoreAnimals/ModInfo.xml b/roles/7dtd/files/mods/MoreAnimals/ModInfo.xml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fe020df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/7dtd/files/mods/MoreAnimals/ModInfo.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+<xml>
+  <Name value="MoreAnimals"/>
+  <DisplayName value="More Animals per Area"/>
+  <Version value="1.1"/>
+  <Description value="Raises wild-game and predator spawn density (maxcount) and respawn rate in every biome. Pure XML data patch - no DLLs, no client install, EAC-safe."/>
+  <Author value="boxswapper"/>
+</xml>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/roles/7dtd/tasks/main.yml b/roles/7dtd/tasks/main.yml
index e67abac..6fa45da 100644
--- a/roles/7dtd/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/7dtd/tasks/main.yml
@@ -36,33 +36,39 @@
 # Mods live in the bind-mounted serverfiles; the container loads them on its next start
 # (recreate on every deploy re-reads them). zips come from roles/7dtd/files/mods (sdtd_mods
 # in vars.yml), extracted one level deep (each zip carries its own mod subfolder; prefix
-# folders with z- if they must sort LAST for load order). unarchive only ADDS — it never
-# removes, so a mod dropped from sdtd_mods would keep loading: with an empty list we wipe
-# the whole dir and the create-task below rebuilds it empty. Partial mod swaps are not
-# auto-cleaned (the role only knows zip names, not the folders zips unpack into) — remove
-# those retired folders from the box by hand.
+# folders with z- if they must sort LAST for load order).
+# Deployed now: MoreAnimals — a PURE XML data patch (no DLL/Harmony) raising wild-game/predator
+# spawn density (v3.x schema: maxcount per 80x80m chunk + 6-value respawndelay tuples). Works
+# with EAC ON, needs NO client install (spawning is server-authoritative; the server pushes its
+# XML state to clients on connect). GATE: XML values apply only while the sandbox Density options
+# are Default — once sdtd_sandbox_code sets any density != Default, the sandbox value wins and
+# this patch is inert; use SandboxCode Day/Night Animal Density + Respawn instead.
+# unarchive only ADDS — it never removes, so a mod dropped from sdtd_mods would keep loading:
+# with an empty list we wipe the whole dir and the create-task below rebuilds it empty.
+# Partial mod swaps are not auto-cleaned (the role only knows zip names, not the folders zips
+# unpack into) — remove those retired folders from the box by hand.
 - name: Remove 7 Days to Die Mods directory when no mods are deployed
   ansible.builtin.file:
     path: /opt/apps/7dtd/serverfiles/Mods
     state: absent
   when: sdtd_mods | length == 0
 
-# - name: Create 7 Days to Die Mods directory (container user)
-#   ansible.builtin.file:
-#     path: /opt/apps/7dtd/serverfiles/Mods
-#     state: directory
-#     owner: '1000'
-#     group: '1000'
-#     mode: '0755'
+- name: Create 7 Days to Die Mods directory (container user)
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: /opt/apps/7dtd/serverfiles/Mods
+    state: directory
+    owner: '1000'
+    group: '1000'
+    mode: '0755'
 
-# - name: Deploy 7 Days to Die mods from vendored zips
-#   ansible.builtin.unarchive:
-#     src: "mods/{{ item }}"
-#     dest: /opt/apps/7dtd/serverfiles/Mods
-#     owner: '1000'
-#     group: '1000'
-#     mode: '0755'
-#   loop: "{{ sdtd_mods }}"
+- name: Deploy 7 Days to Die mods from vendored zips
+  ansible.builtin.unarchive:
+    src: "mods/{{ item }}"
+    dest: /opt/apps/7dtd/serverfiles/Mods
+    owner: '1000'
+    group: '1000'
+    mode: '0755'
+  loop: "{{ sdtd_mods }}"
 
 - name: Template 7 Days to Die serverconfig from vars.yml
   ansible.builtin.template:
diff --git a/roles/7dtd/templates/sdtdserver.xml.j2 b/roles/7dtd/templates/sdtdserver.xml.j2
index 243e595..6aa16e1 100644
--- a/roles/7dtd/templates/sdtdserver.xml.j2
+++ b/roles/7dtd/templates/sdtdserver.xml.j2
@@ -62,52 +62,35 @@
   <property name="GameName" value="{{ sdtd_game_name }}" />
   <property name="GameMode" value="{{ sdtd_game_mode }}" />
 
-  <!-- Difficulty: 0 = Scavenger, 1 = Adventurer, 2 = Nomad, 3 = Warrior, 4 = Survivalist, 5 = Insane -->
-  <property name="GameDifficulty" value="{{ sdtd_difficulty }}" />
-  <property name="BlockDamagePlayer" value="100" />
-  <property name="BlockDamageAI" value="100" />
-  <property name="BlockDamageAIBM" value="100" />
-  <property name="XPMultiplier" value="{{ sdtd_xp_multiplier }}" />
+  <!-- v3.x GAMEPLAY TUNING MOVED TO SANDBOXCODE: GameDifficulty, XPMultiplier, DayNightLength,
+       DayLightLength, DeathPenalty, DropOnDeath/DropOnQuit, zombie speeds (ZombieMove etc.),
+       BloodMoon*, LootAbundance, LootRespawnDays, AirDropFrequency, BlockDamage*, EnemySpawnMode
+       were REMOVED from serverconfig.xml in v3.0 and are silently IGNORED - the game reads only
+       the SandboxCode. Empty code = Adventurer defaults. To restore the server's intended tuning:
+       client -> New Game -> Sandbox Options -> mirror the sdtd_* reference vars in vars.yml ->
+       copy code -> set sdtd_sandbox_code in vars.yml. MaxSpawnedZombies/MaxSpawnedAnimals remain
+       live serverconfig properties (see below). -->
+{% if sdtd_sandbox_code %}
+  <property name="SandboxCode" value="{{ sdtd_sandbox_code }}" />
+{% endif %}
+
+  <!-- Still-live v3.x gameplay properties (not moved to sandbox) -->
   <property name="PlayerSafeZoneLevel" value="5" />
   <property name="PlayerSafeZoneHours" value="5" />
-
-  <!-- Day/night: DayNightLength = real minutes per in-game day, DayLightLength = in-game hours of daylight -->
   <property name="BuildCreate" value="false" />
-  <property name="DayNightLength" value="{{ sdtd_day_night_length }}" />
-  <property name="DayLightLength" value="{{ sdtd_day_light_length }}" />
-  <property name="DeathPenalty" value="1" />
-  <!-- DropOnDeath: 0 = nothing, 1 = everything, 2 = toolbelt only, 3 = backpack only, 4 = delete all -->
-  <property name="DropOnDeath" value="{{ sdtd_drop_on_death }}" />
-  <property name="DropOnQuit" value="0" />
   <property name="BedrollDeadZoneSize" value="15" />
   <property name="BedrollExpiryTime" value="45" />
 
-  <!-- Performance related -->
+  <!-- Performance / spawn caps (live properties; animal density itself is patched by the
+       MoreAnimals modlet on Data/Config/spawning.xml - XML values apply only while the sandbox
+       Density options are Default) -->
   <property name="MaxSpawnedZombies" value="{{ sdtd_max_spawned_zombies }}" />
   <property name="MaxSpawnedAnimals" value="{{ sdtd_max_spawn_animals }}" />
   <property name="ServerMaxAllowedViewDistance" value="12" />
   <property name="MaxQueuedMeshLayers" value="1000" />
 
-  <!-- Zombie settings. ZombieMove: 0 = walk, 1 = jog, 2 = run, 3 = sprint, 4 = nightmare -->
-  <property name="EnemySpawnMode" value="true" />
-  <property name="EnemyDifficulty" value="0" />
-  <property name="ZombieFeralSense" value="0" />
-  <property name="ZombieMove" value="{{ sdtd_zombie_move }}" />
-  <property name="ZombieMoveNight" value="{{ sdtd_zombie_move_night }}" />
-  <property name="ZombieFeralMove" value="3" />
-  <property name="ZombieBMMove" value="3" />
-  <property name="BloodMoonFrequency" value="{{ sdtd_bloodmoon_frequency }}" />
-  <property name="BloodMoonRange" value="0" />
-  <property name="BloodMoonWarning" value="8" />
-  <property name="BloodMoonEnemyCount" value="{{ sdtd_bloodmoon_enemy_count }}" />
-
-  <!-- Loot -->
-  <property name="LootAbundance" value="{{ sdtd_loot_abundance }}" />
-  <property name="LootRespawnDays" value="7" />
-  <property name="AirDropFrequency" value="{{ sdtd_airdrop_frequency }}" />
-  <property name="AirDropMarker" value="true" />
-
   <!-- Multiplayer. PlayerKillingMode: 0 = no killing, 1 = kill allies only, 2 = kill strangers only, 3 = kill everyone -->
+  <property name="AirDropMarker" value="true" />
   <property name="PartySharedKillRange" value="100" />
   <property name="PlayerKillingMode" value="{{ sdtd_player_killing_mode }}" />
 
diff --git a/vars.yml b/vars.yml
index dfa47d0..9aa3497 100755
--- a/vars.yml
+++ b/vars.yml
@@ -184,6 +184,18 @@ sdtd_game_world: RWG
 sdtd_worldgen_seed: boxswapper
 sdtd_worldgen_size: 10240
 sdtd_game_name: Boxswapper
+## v3.0+ SandboxCode — the ONLY gameplay tuning v3.x reads. The vars below this block
+## (sdtd_difficulty .. sdtd_airdrop_frequency) are REFERENCE-ONLY: v3.0 removed them from
+## serverconfig.xml, the template no longer renders them, and the game IGNORES them. Empty
+## code = Adventurer defaults. To restore the server's intended tuning generate a code:
+## client -> New Game -> Sandbox Options -> set options to match the vars below
+## (Difficulty Nomad, XP 250, DayNight 60, DayLight 18, Blood Moon 20 days, DropOnDeath
+## Everything, Loot 150, AirDrop 24h) PLUS Day Animal Density = High and
+## Day Animal Respawn = Fast (Night similar if you want night wildlife) -> copy -> paste here.
+## While the code is empty, the MoreAnimals modlet controls wildlife density (it applies only
+## while the sandbox Density options are Default).
+sdtd_sandbox_code: ""
+## ── REFERENCE VARS FOR SANDBOXCODE GENERATION (not rendered to serverconfig.xml on v3.x) ──
 ## Difficulty: 0 = Scavenger, 1 = Adventurer, 2 = Nomad, 3 = Warrior, 4 = Survivalist, 5 = Insane
 sdtd_difficulty: "2"
 sdtd_day_night_length: 60
@@ -200,15 +212,17 @@ sdtd_airdrop_frequency: 24
 ## PlayerKillingMode: 0 = no killing, 1 = kill allies only, 2 = kill strangers only, 3 = kill everyone
 sdtd_player_killing_mode: "3"
 sdtd_max_spawned_zombies: 64
-## EAC is ON (default protection). It was OFF while code mods were deployed — EAC blocks
-## their Harmony hooks, so keep "false" if mods are ever reinstalled.
+## EAC is ON (default protection). EAC blocks CODE mods (Harmony DLL hooks) — that is why it was
+## OFF while code mods were deployed. PURE XML data modlets (like MoreAnimals below) carry no DLL
+## and work fine with EAC ON; keep "false" only if code mods are ever reinstalled.
 sdtd_eac_enabled: "true"
-## Game mods: NONE deployed (Singularity 4.1.3 + No Respawn Near Backpack 2.0.0.0 were
-## removed; EAC was flipped back on as part of that change). To re-add a mod: drop the zip
-## into roles/7dtd/files/mods/ and list its name here. NOTE: the role's unarchive task only
-## ADDS mods — retiring to an EMPTY list wipes the whole server Mods dir; swapping one mod
-## for another (non-empty list) requires removing the retired folder from the box by hand.
-sdtd_mods: []
+## Game mods deployed: MoreAnimals.zip — pure XML spawn-density patch (roles/7dtd/files/mods).
+## Server-side only: clients join vanilla with EAC ON, nothing to install. To re-add/swap a mod:
+## drop the zip into roles/7dtd/files/mods/ and list its name here. unarchive only ADDS — it
+## never removes, so a mod dropped from this list would keep loading: with an EMPTY list we wipe
+## the whole server Mods dir; swapping one mod for another (non-empty list) requires removing the
+## retired folder from the box by hand.
+sdtd_mods: [MoreAnimals.zip]
 sdtd_xp_multiplier: 250
 sdtd_telnet_enabled: "true"