AgrarianGameArchive/Docs/TemplateVariantDecision.md

Unreal Template Variant Decision

Version 0.01 decision: remove unused Unreal starter variants from the long-term Agrarian project.

Decision

Agrarian should not keep the unused starter gameplay variants as normal project surface area.

Removed:

• Variant_Combat
• Variant_Platforming
• Variant_SideScrolling
• Their maps, external actors, external objects, input assets, UI assets, VFX, and prototype content.

Keep temporarily:

• ThirdPerson compatibility assets only while references are audited. The active player, controller, and game mode Blueprint paths now live under /Game/Agrarian/Blueprints/Characters.
• Source LevelPrototyping meshes may remain only as copy sources for repeatable setup scripts. Active setup outputs now use Agrarian-native placeholder mesh assets under /Game/Agrarian/Environment/PlaceholderMeshes.
• Shared mannequin/animation content only where current Agrarian assets still reference it.

Why

The extra starter variants increase compile time, plugin dependencies, content noise, and risk during packaging. They also make the project look like a generic Unreal template instead of an Agrarian-specific survival game.

The removed compiled variant source pulled in StateTree and GameplayStateTree through Combat and SideScrolling template AI code. After the variant source/content cleanup, those plugin dependencies were removed from the baseline.

Cleanup Rules

Cleanup performed:

1. Removed unused variant C++ folders and include paths.
2. Removed matching content folders and external actor/object data.
3. Removed StateTreeModule and GameplayStateTreeModule.
4. Disabled StateTree and GameplayStateTree in AgrarianGame.uproject.
5. Replaced the current ThirdPerson player/game mode paths with Agrarian-owned player, controller, and game mode Blueprint assets.
6. Replaced the active LevelPrototyping cube/cylinder placeholder dependencies with Agrarian-native placeholder mesh assets.

Current State

Decision and cleanup are complete for the unused starter variants. Remaining starter/prototype dependencies are intentionally narrow and no longer block version 0.01 project-structure completion:

• ThirdPerson active player/game mode paths have been replaced. Remaining ThirdPerson compatibility assets should be deleted only after redirector and editor reference checks confirm they are unused.
• Active setup scripts, prototype Blueprints, and the Ground Zero map now use Agrarian-native placeholder mesh assets. LevelPrototyping can be removed after later reference audits confirm no editor-only copy-source path is still needed.