GDScript Patterns for Hell Scout

New Node/Component Checklist

When creating a new game entity (player, NPC, interactable):

1. •Define class_name with PascalCase
2. •Use @export for external node references (Health, Controller, etc.)
3. •Connect signals in _enter_tree(), not _ready()
4. •Name callbacks _on_<source>_<signal_name>()
5. •Reference input actions via R.player_actions, never raw strings
6. •Clean up dynamic nodes with tree_exiting signal

Controller Integration

All controllable entities use the Controller pattern:

@export var controller: Controller

func _enter_tree() -> void:
    controller.attacked.connect(_on_controller_attacked)
    controller.moved.connect(_on_controller_moved)
    controller.dash.connect(_on_controller_dash)

Combat Integration

Entities that deal damage: add a HitBox child with collision on layer 3. Entities that take damage: add a HurtBox child with @export var health: Health, collision on layer 4.

Action Priority

Always respect: Dash > Attack > Movement. Check dash_controller.is_dashing before allowing attack. Check _current_melee_attack != null before allowing movement direction changes.

Scene Instantiation

Dynamic scenes (like MeleeAttack) are instantiated, added as children, and cleaned up on tree_exiting:

var instance = _scene.instantiate()
add_child(instance)
instance.connect("tree_exiting", func(): instance_ref = null)