Decree two: construction buildup anims, Boombox Crates, real faction flags, character portraits

* All 17 buildings now RISE out of the ground behind a pink scan line when
  built (tools/make_anims.py generates 7-frame make sequences; WithMakeAnimation
  on the building template).
* Boombox Crates: neutral pickups spawn on a timer (max 4). 500 records usually,
  1500 jackpot sometimes, bass_ring feedback trap rarely. Locomotors crush
  crates to collect, classic style.
* Lobby faction flags are real now: MRP record, Stream play button, split '?'.
* MC 8-TRACK and ASSISTANT portraits generated for briefings/press kit.
* Balance ledger updated: first aura-era match went to Stream (runaway flag);
  full ledger M M M | S S | M | S — boundary variance, no knee-jerk tune.

Smoke-tested PASS on arena and m01 with everything live.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

MEGAPLAN.md

@@ -198,8 +198,11 @@ faction, or it reads as clip-art soup. Fix the Blender camera rig once, reuse.
 Six instrumented arena matches so far: 3x MRP blowouts (structural AI bugs,
 fixed), 2x Stream blowouts (buff overshoot: scraper 18 / drmwalker 750),
 then 1x close 12-min MRP win with zero verdict flags after the half-step
-walk-back (scraper 16, drmwalker 820, bufferbot 5000 kept). The matchup now
+walk-back (scraper 16, drmwalker 820, bufferbot 5000 kept), then 1x Stream win
-flips with small knob changes = we are near the boundary. Acceptance test for
+(runaway-flagged) in the first aura-era match. Full ledger: M M M | S S | M | S.
+The matchup now flips match to match = near the boundary with real variance.
+If Stream trends ahead over a series, first knobs: In The Mix range 5c0->6c0
+or Low Latency 130->120. Acceptance test for
 any future balance change: a 5-match arena series via balance_report.py, not
 a single game. Human playtesting is the real referee from here.
 

assets_src/PROMPTS.md

@@ -35,3 +35,7 @@ All images generated locally on MODELBEAST (`flux_local`) via `tools/mbgen.py`.
 | renders/curator.png | 2026-07-25 | glossy seamless white tech aesthetic, soft blue ring lights, smooth rounded minimal design, hovering white sphere ringed with many camera lenses, a single blue eye at the front, faint halo, isometric three-quarter view from above, single object centered, video game asset, plain flat grey background, no text |
 | renders/launchramp.png | 2026-07-25 | rusty junkyard robot aesthetic, rust metal with hot pink trim, analog dials and speaker parts, scrap metal launch ramp pad with painted pink chevrons, floodlights and a parked flying vinyl disc, isometric three-quarter view from above, single object centered, video game asset, plain flat grey background, no text |
 | renders/droneport.png | 2026-07-25 | glossy seamless white tech aesthetic, soft blue ring lights, smooth rounded minimal design, white circular drone landing pad building with recessed blue guide lights and folded launch arms, isometric three-quarter view from above, single object centered, video game asset, plain flat grey background, no text |
+| renders/boombox.png | 2026-07-26 | rusty boombox ghetto blaster with hot pink speaker cones and a cassette deck, tiny video game pickup crate sprite |
+| portrait_mc8track.png | 2026-07-26 | character portrait of MC 8-TRACK, warm friendly rusty robot radio announcer, cassette-deck chest, glowing pink CRT smile |
+| portrait_assistant.png | 2026-07-26 | character portrait of ASSISTANT, eerily polite seamless white smart-speaker robot, single calm blue ring light face |
+| keyart_raw.png | 2026-07-26 | wide cinematic key art, monster robot holding vinyl aloft on hill of smashed speakers, white obelisk city, vinyl sun |

mods/vinylgod/chrome/chrome.yaml

@@ -117,12 +117,12 @@ strategic:
 		player_owned: 160, 142, 22, 22
 
 flags:
-	Inherits: ^Glyphs
+	Image: chrome/assets/flags.png
 	Regions:
-		vinylgod: 226, 241, 30, 15
+		vinylgod: 0, 0, 30, 15
-		stream: 226, 241, 30, 15
+		stream: 0, 16, 30, 15
-		Random: 226, 241, 30, 15
+		Random: 0, 32, 30, 15
-		spectator: 226, 241, 30, 15
+		spectator: 0, 32, 30, 15
 
 music:
 	Inherits: ^Glyphs

mods/vinylgod/fluent/rules.ftl

@@ -109,3 +109,5 @@ actor-waxseed =
     .name = Wax Seep
 actor-lacquer =
     .name = Master Lacquer
+actor-boombox =
+    .name = Boombox Crate

mods/vinylgod/rules/economy.yaml

@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ djgrunt:
 
 ^EconBuilding:
 	Inherits: ^EconSprite
+	WithMakeAnimation:
 	ShakeOnDeath:
 		Duration: 12
 		Intensity: 2
@@ -328,3 +329,29 @@ lacquer:
 		HP: 1000
 	MapEditorData:
 		Categories: Props
+
+# neutral pickup: the Boombox Crate. Cash mostly, jackpot sometimes, feedback trap rarely.
+boombox:
+	Interactable:
+	HiddenUnderFog:
+	BodyOrientation:
+	QuantizeFacingsFromSequence:
+	RenderSprites:
+	Tooltip:
+		Name: actor-boombox.name
+	Crate:
+		Duration: 6000
+		TerrainTypes: Clear, Wax
+	WithCrateBody:
+		LandSequence: idle
+	GiveCashCrateAction:
+		Amount: 500
+		SelectionShares: 20
+		UseCashTick: true
+	GiveCashCrateAction@jackpot:
+		Amount: 1500
+		SelectionShares: 5
+		UseCashTick: true
+	ExplodeCrateAction@trap:
+		Weapon: bass_ring
+		SelectionShares: 5

mods/vinylgod/rules/world.yaml

@@ -50,12 +50,14 @@ world:
 		PanelName: SKIRMISH_STATS
 	Locomotor@WHEELED:
 		Name: wheeled
+		Crushes: crate
 		TerrainSpeeds:
 			Clear: 100
 			Wax: 80
 	Locomotor@FOOT:
 		Name: foot
 		SharesCell: true
+		Crushes: crate
 		TerrainSpeeds:
 			Clear: 100
 			Wax: 70
@@ -73,6 +75,10 @@ world:
 				Sequences: wax01
 				Name: resource-wax
 	ResourceClaimLayer:
+	CrateSpawner:
+		Maximum: 4
+		SpawnInterval: 3000
+		CrateActors: boombox
 	ScreenShaker:
 	SmudgeLayer@SCORCH:
 		Type: Scorch

mods/vinylgod/sequences/economy.yaml

@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@ djgrunt:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/icon_djgrunt.png
 
 popupshop:
+	make:
+		Filename: sequences/assets/popupshop_make.png
+		Length: 7
+		Tick: 70
 	idle:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/popupshop.png
 		Length: 6
@@ -35,6 +39,10 @@ popupshop:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/icon_popupshop.png
 
 pressplant:
+	make:
+		Filename: sequences/assets/pressplant_make.png
+		Length: 7
+		Tick: 70
 	idle:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/pressplant.png
 		Length: 6
@@ -43,6 +51,10 @@ pressplant:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/icon_pressplant.png
 
 ampstack:
+	make:
+		Filename: sequences/assets/ampstack_make.png
+		Length: 7
+		Tick: 70
 	idle:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/ampstack.png
 		Length: 6
@@ -51,6 +63,10 @@ ampstack:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/icon_ampstack.png
 
 vault:
+	make:
+		Filename: sequences/assets/vault_make.png
+		Length: 7
+		Tick: 70
 	idle:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/vault.png
 		Length: 6
@@ -59,6 +75,10 @@ vault:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/icon_vault.png
 
 merchtable:
+	make:
+		Filename: sequences/assets/merchtable_make.png
+		Length: 7
+		Tick: 70
 	idle:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/merchtable.png
 		Length: 6
@@ -67,6 +87,10 @@ merchtable:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/icon_merchtable.png
 
 garage:
+	make:
+		Filename: sequences/assets/garage_make.png
+		Length: 7
+		Tick: 70
 	idle:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/garage.png
 		Length: 6
@@ -102,6 +126,10 @@ roadie:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/icon_roadie.png
 
 mastering:
+	make:
+		Filename: sequences/assets/mastering_make.png
+		Length: 7
+		Tick: 70
 	idle:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/mastering.png
 		Length: 6
@@ -117,6 +145,10 @@ streamvan:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/icon_streamvan.png
 
 streamhub:
+	make:
+		Filename: sequences/assets/streamhub_make.png
+		Length: 7
+		Tick: 70
 	idle:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/streamhub.png
 		Length: 6
@@ -125,6 +157,10 @@ streamhub:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/icon_streamhub.png
 
 datacentre:
+	make:
+		Filename: sequences/assets/datacentre_make.png
+		Length: 7
+		Tick: 70
 	idle:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/datacentre.png
 		Length: 6
@@ -133,6 +169,10 @@ datacentre:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/icon_datacentre.png
 
 transcoder:
+	make:
+		Filename: sequences/assets/transcoder_make.png
+		Length: 7
+		Tick: 70
 	idle:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/transcoder.png
 		Length: 6
@@ -141,6 +181,10 @@ transcoder:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/icon_transcoder.png
 
 podfarm:
+	make:
+		Filename: sequences/assets/podfarm_make.png
+		Length: 7
+		Tick: 70
 	idle:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/podfarm.png
 		Length: 6
@@ -149,6 +193,10 @@ podfarm:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/icon_podfarm.png
 
 printfarm:
+	make:
+		Filename: sequences/assets/printfarm_make.png
+		Length: 7
+		Tick: 70
 	idle:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/printfarm.png
 		Length: 6
@@ -190,6 +238,10 @@ explosion:
 		Length: 12
 
 hornpit:
+	make:
+		Filename: sequences/assets/hornpit_make.png
+		Length: 7
+		Tick: 70
 	idle:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/hornpit.png
 		Length: 6
@@ -198,6 +250,10 @@ hornpit:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/icon_hornpit.png
 
 adblocker:
+	make:
+		Filename: sequences/assets/adblocker_make.png
+		Length: 7
+		Tick: 70
 	idle:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/adblocker.png
 		Length: 6
@@ -224,6 +280,10 @@ icon:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/icon_theshuffle.png
 
 algorithm:
+	make:
+		Filename: sequences/assets/algorithm_make.png
+		Length: 7
+		Tick: 70
 	idle:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/algorithm.png
 		Length: 6
@@ -257,6 +317,10 @@ curator:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/icon_curator.png
 
 launchramp:
+	make:
+		Filename: sequences/assets/launchramp_make.png
+		Length: 7
+		Tick: 70
 	idle:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/launchramp.png
 		Length: 6
@@ -265,6 +329,10 @@ launchramp:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/icon_launchramp.png
 
 droneport:
+	make:
+		Filename: sequences/assets/droneport_make.png
+		Length: 7
+		Tick: 70
 	idle:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/droneport.png
 		Length: 6
@@ -327,3 +395,7 @@ auras:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/aura_mix.png
 	latency:
 		Filename: sequences/assets/aura_latency.png
+
+boombox:
+	idle:
+		Filename: sequences/assets/boombox.png

tools/make_anims.py

@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Generate construction 'make' animations for every building.
+
+7 frames per building: the structure rises out of the ground behind a hot pink
+scan line, classic buildup feel without hand-drawn scaffolding. Source frames
+are the static frame-0 backups maintained by animate_sprites.py.
+
+Writes <name>_make.png sheets and appends `make:` sequences.
+"""
+import os
+from PIL import Image, ImageDraw
+from PIL.PngImagePlugin import PngInfo
+
+ROOT = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), '..')
+ASSETS = os.path.join(ROOT, 'mods', 'vinylgod', 'sequences', 'assets')
+BACKUP = os.path.join(ROOT, 'assets_src', 'static_frames')
+SEQ = os.path.join(ROOT, 'mods', 'vinylgod', 'sequences', 'economy.yaml')
+
+FRAMES = 7
+PINK = (255, 45, 150, 255)
+
+BUILDINGS = ['popupshop', 'pressplant', 'ampstack', 'vault', 'merchtable', 'garage',
+             'mastering', 'hornpit', 'streamhub', 'datacentre', 'transcoder', 'podfarm',
+             'printfarm', 'adblocker', 'algorithm', 'launchramp', 'droneport']
+
+seq = open(SEQ).read()
+made = []
+for name in BUILDINGS:
+    src = os.path.join(BACKUP, f'{name}.png')
+    if not os.path.exists(src):
+        continue
+    base = Image.open(src).convert('RGBA')
+    w, h = base.size
+    sheet = Image.new('RGBA', (w * FRAMES, h), (0, 0, 0, 0))
+    for i in range(FRAMES):
+        t = (i + 1) / FRAMES
+        reveal = int(h * t)                     # rows revealed, bottom-up
+        rise = int((1 - t) * h * 0.25)          # slight rise from the ground
+        frame = Image.new('RGBA', (w, h), (0, 0, 0, 0))
+        part = base.crop((0, h - reveal, w, h))
+        frame.paste(part, (0, h - reveal + rise), part)
+        d = ImageDraw.Draw(frame)
+        if i < FRAMES - 1:
+            y = h - reveal + rise
+            if 0 <= y < h:
+                d.line([0, y, w, y], fill=PINK, width=2)
+        sheet.paste(frame, (i * w, 0))
+    meta = PngInfo()
+    meta.add_text('FrameSize', f'{w},{h}')
+    sheet.save(os.path.join(ASSETS, f'{name}_make.png'), pnginfo=meta)
+
+    block = f'{name}:\n\tidle:'
+    if block in seq and f'{name}:\n\tidle:' in seq and f'sequences/assets/{name}_make.png' not in seq:
+        seq = seq.replace(f'{name}:\n\tidle:',
+                          f'{name}:\n\tmake:\n\t\tFilename: sequences/assets/{name}_make.png\n'
+                          f'\t\tLength: {FRAMES}\n\t\tTick: 70\n\tidle:', 1)
+    made.append(name)
+    print(f'make anim: {name}')
+
+open(SEQ, 'w').write(seq)
+print(f'{len(made)} buildup animations written')