Scenario Hub

The Scenario Hub (scenario_hub.xml, 1,251,276 bytes ~1.25MB) is the central orchestrator for the entire Timelines DLC. It serves three roles simultaneously:

1. Game start — x4ep1_gamestart_hub (player begins at Hub)
2. Scenario selection UI — ScenarioSelectionMenu for picking which scenario to play
3. Hub NPC infrastructure — Background actors, scenes, cutscene system

• Script: scenario_hub.xml
• DLC: Timelines
• Text page: 30293
• MDScript module: x4ep1_gamestart_hub

Mission entry: “Hub Game Start”

Cue: Start (module x4ep1_gamestart_hub)

• In-game name: Begin at Scenario Hub (player chooses a Timelines scenario)
• Find in game: Start a new game with the Hub gamestart selected
• Prerequisites: Timelines DLC installed
• What player encounters:
  • Player spawned at the Hub location
  • Reposition_Player (deprecated — comment in vanilla says “Deprecated”) — old player positioning system
  • Modern player spawn via Player_Spawn_At_Location library — supports $PlayerSpawnForceLocation for scene-forced spawn locations
  • Hub greeting from background actors
• Where: Scenario Hub station (specific Timelines DLC location)
• NPCs involved: Background actors (multiple, greet player)
• Reward: Hub access; scenario selection UI available
• Chains to: Scenario_Console_Interacted → individual scenarios
• Code reference: scenario_hub.xml Start

Mod conflict risks — Hub Game Start

• ❌ Custom-gamestart mods that override x4ep1_gamestart_hub break Timelines entry
• ❌ Mods that disable the Hub station macro prevent player spawn
• ⚠ Mods that override Player_Spawn_At_Location library affect scenario re-entry

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Mission entry: “Scenario Selection”

Cue: Scenario_Console_Interacted (instantiated)

• In-game name: Choose a scenario via Hub console
• Path/Chapter: Hub (selection)
• Find in game: Player interacts with a Hub console
• Prerequisites: At Hub
• What player encounters:
  • Trigger event: event_ui_triggered screen="'ScenarioSelectionMenu'"
  • UI presents scenario list
  • Player picks scenario → exit Hub into scenario context
  • Or chooses menu_close → return to Hub
• Where: Hub console
• Reward: Enters selected scenario
• Chains to: Selected scenario’s Start cue
• Code reference: scenario_hub.xml Scenario_Console_Interacted

Mod conflict risks — Scenario Selection

• ❌ UI mods that override ScenarioSelectionMenu screen break selection
• ❌ Mods that disable event_ui_triggered break interaction detection

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Hub support systems

Reward Notifications

Reward_Notifications (namespace=this)

Handles reward delivery to player after scenario completion. Posts notifications to UI.

Tutorial reminder hints

Tutorial_Reminder_Hint (onfail=cancel)
Open_Universe_Reminder_Hint (onfail=cancel)

Periodic reminders if player seems lost — hints about tutorials or open-universe gameplay.

Hub actor management

Cue	Purpose
RemoveHubActors_DEBUG (ref RemoveHubActors)	Debug: remove all Hub actors for testing
ResetHubActors_DEBUG (ref ResetHubActors)	Debug: reset Hub actors
ResetHubActorsRef (ref ResetHubActors)	Runtime reset (post-scenario)
PlaceAllActors (onfail=cancel)	Place all Hub actors
Follow_Behaviour_Update (instanced, 2s)	Update follow-behavior for companion NPCs
BackgroundActors_Greeting (instanced)	NPCs greet player

Scenes orchestrator

Scenes (comment="resetable for debugging")
├── SceneActivator (instanced)
│   ├── SceneActivator_CharactersTransitCheck (0.1s polling, 0.5s checktime, instanced)
│   ├── ScenePlacementRunnin_GenericHello (instanced)
│   └── SceneActivator_Warning_ActorNotSpawned (one-time warning)
└── Scene_Manager_Helpers (collapsible VS group)
    ├── IntroCutscene_Dialogue_Abort (instanced)
    ├── SohnenCutscene_Sequence_ShotChange (instanced)
    └── ResetHubActorsRef (ref ResetHubActors)

The Scenes block orchestrates dialogue cutscenes with the Sohnen and Intro cutscene variants. Cutscenes have abort, shot-change, end, and finished sub-cues.

Crate mechanic

Crate_Opened (instanced)

When player opens a crate at the Hub, triggers reward delivery.

Story completed cutscene

StoryCompleted_CreditsCutscene
StoryCompleted_CutsceneEnded

After player completes all Timelines content, a credits cutscene plays.

Debug NPC

Scenario_Debug_NPC (onfail=cancel)
├── Scenario_Debug_NPC_Conv_Started (instanced)
├── Scenario_Debug_NPC_Menu_Story_Scenes (instanced)
└── Scenario_Debug_NPC_Set_Scene_Uncomplete_Act_Choice (instanced)

A debug NPC at the Hub allows developers to test individual scenes / set scenes as incomplete. Modders should NOT depend on this NPC.

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Player spawn library

library name="Player_Spawn_At_Location" purpose="include_actions"

The library spawns the player at:

• $PlayerSpawnForceLocation (if a scenario forced a specific location)
• Default Hub position otherwise

Modders adding scenarios should respect this library — setting $PlayerSpawnForceLocation before entering the scenario.

Cutscene infrastructure

The Hub provides shared cutscene infrastructure for all Timelines scenarios:

• Intro Cutscene with IntroCutscene_Dialogue_Abort
• Sohnen Cutscene with SohnenCutscene_Dialogue_Abort / _EndCutscene / _Finished / _Sequence_ShotChange

The Sohnen is a recurring Timelines NPC / cutscene actor. Scenarios reference Sohnen cutscenes for narrative continuity.

Mod conflict risks (Hub-wide)

• ❌ Mods that override the Hub station macro break everything
• ❌ Mods that change Sohnen actor / cutscene system break narrative continuity
• ❌ Mods that disable event_ui_triggered break scenario selection
• ❌ Mods that change Player_Spawn_At_Location library affect scenario re-entry
• ❌ Mods that disable cutscene system break intros + endings
• ⚠ Mods adding bulk NPCs at Hub can collide with BackgroundActors greeting
• ⚠ Tutorial-mods can collide with Tutorial_Reminder_Hint

Code references

Concern	Cue
Game start	Start (module x4ep1_gamestart_hub)
Player spawn library	Player_Spawn_At_Location
Scenario selection	Scenario_Console_Interacted (instanced)
UI screen trigger	event_ui_triggered screen='ScenarioSelectionMenu'
Reward delivery	Reward_Notifications
Background NPCs	BackgroundActors_Greeting (instanced)
Follow behavior	Follow_Behaviour_Update (2s, instanced)
Cutscene system	IntroCutscene_*, SohnenCutscene_*
Crate reward	Crate_Opened (instanced)
Story completion	StoryCompleted_CreditsCutscene + _CutsceneEnded
Debug NPC	Scenario_Debug_NPC block
Tutorial reminder	Tutorial_Reminder_Hint

Related

• Timelines arcs overview
• Scenarios catalog — all 20+ scenarios
• Boss + epic scenarios — boss battles and epic set-pieces
• Research + Epilogue — abandoned ships + epilogue
• Game starts catalog — Hub gamestart

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The Scenario Hub is the architectural heart of Timelines — without it, no scenario can be entered. Mods that break the Hub silently break the entire DLC.