Add the conversion match mode

Introduce a second match mode alongside Classic. In Conversion mode
hiders are invisible to each other (and to hunters during Hide), and a
hunter hit converts the hider into a full hunter in place instead of
sending them to the spectator freecam. The mode is replicated to all
clients through the existing phase named-message byte; visibility is
computed locally per client per mode.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>

Assets/Scripts/MatchManager.cs

@@ -71,6 +71,18 @@ public class MatchManager : MonoBehaviour
     /// and the match HUD countdown.</summary>
     public enum MatchSubPhase { None, Hide, Seek, Resolution }
 
+    /// <summary>How the running match behaves. Chosen server-side (<see cref="matchMode"/>) and replicated
+    /// to every client alongside the sub-phase (so visibility is right from the first Hide frame and late
+    /// joiners sync it). Differs only in hider visibility and what a hit does:
+    /// <list type="bullet">
+    /// <item><b>Classic</b> - hiders hidden from hunters during Hide only; a hit marks the hider FOUND
+    /// (body hidden for all, owner drops to free-cam spectating).</item>
+    /// <item><b>Conversion</b> - hiders are hidden from EACH OTHER too (Hide and Seek); during Seek only
+    /// hunters see hiders; a hit CONVERTS the hider into a Hunter (respawned as the Hunter variant in place),
+    /// so it keeps playing on the hunters' side. Resolution reveals everyone in both modes.</item>
+    /// </list></summary>
+    public enum MatchMode { Classic, Conversion }
+
     public static MatchManager Instance { get; private set; }
 
     [Header("Scenes (must be in Build Settings)")]
@@ -103,6 +115,12 @@ public class MatchManager : MonoBehaviour
              "fan-out is applied on top (NetworkPlayerSetup.PlaceOnSpawnRing).")]
     [SerializeField] private Vector3 matchSpawnCenter = new Vector3(0f, 1f, 0f);
 
+    [Header("Match mode")]
+    [Tooltip("Classic = hiders are visible to each other, a hit marks them FOUND (free-cam spectating). " +
+             "Conversion = hiders are hidden from each other too (only hunters see them during Seek), and a " +
+             "hit CONVERTS the hider into a Hunter that keeps playing. Replicated to clients on match start.")]
+    [SerializeField] private MatchMode matchMode = MatchMode.Classic;
+
     [Header("Match phases (seconds)")]
     [Tooltip("HIDE phase length. Hunters move freely but cannot see the hiders (hider meshes are hidden on " +
              "hunter clients); hiders scatter and hide.")]
@@ -142,11 +160,14 @@ public class MatchManager : MonoBehaviour
     private MatchSubPhase _subPhase = MatchSubPhase.None;
     private float _phaseEndTime;     // Time.time when the current sub-phase ends (for the HUD countdown)
     private float _phaseDuration;
+    private MatchMode _localMode = MatchMode.Classic; // mirror of the server's matchMode, carried in the phase message
 
     /// <summary>True while a match sub-phase (Hide/Seek/Resolution) is running on this machine.</summary>
     public bool MatchActive => _subPhase != MatchSubPhase.None;
     /// <summary>This machine's current sub-phase (mirror of the server's broadcast).</summary>
     public MatchSubPhase LocalSubPhase => _subPhase;
+    /// <summary>The running match's mode (mirror of the server's choice). Drives per-client hider visibility.</summary>
+    public MatchMode LocalMatchMode => _localMode;
     /// <summary>Seconds left in the current sub-phase for the HUD (clamped to 0; cosmetic).</summary>
     public float LocalPhaseRemaining => Mathf.Max(0f, _phaseEndTime - Time.time);
     /// <summary>Total length of the current sub-phase (for a HUD progress bar, if wanted).</summary>
@@ -316,7 +337,7 @@ public class MatchManager : MonoBehaviour
         _hasAuthorityClient = false;
         _isLocalAuthority = false;
         Phase = MatchPhase.Lobby;
-        ApplyPhaseLocal(MatchSubPhase.None, 0f);
+        ApplyPhaseLocal(MatchSubPhase.None, 0f, _localMode);
         _pendingHiders.Clear();
         if (_net)
         {
@@ -389,8 +410,8 @@ public class MatchManager : MonoBehaviour
         if (Phase == MatchPhase.InMatch)
         {
             SpawnFor(clientId, spectatorPrefab, matchSpawnCenter);
-            // Sync the joiner's HUD/visibility to the running sub-phase (remaining time as the duration).
+            // Sync the joiner's HUD/visibility to the running sub-phase + mode (remaining time as the duration).
-            BroadcastPhase(_subPhase, LocalPhaseRemaining, clientId, false);
+            BroadcastPhase(_subPhase, LocalPhaseRemaining, matchMode, clientId, false);
             return;
         }
         SpawnFor(clientId, _playerPrefab, lobbySpawnCenter);
@@ -532,31 +553,34 @@ public class MatchManager : MonoBehaviour
     // Server-only. Applies the sub-phase to the server's own mirror and broadcasts it to every other client.
     private void SetPhaseServer(MatchSubPhase phase, float duration)
     {
-        ApplyPhaseLocal(phase, duration);
+        ApplyPhaseLocal(phase, duration, matchMode);
-        BroadcastPhase(phase, duration, 0, true);
+        BroadcastPhase(phase, duration, matchMode, 0, true);
     }
 
-    // Sets this machine's sub-phase mirror + countdown and notifies followers (HUD / visibility). Shared by
+    // Sets this machine's sub-phase mirror + countdown + mode and notifies followers (HUD / visibility).
-    // the server's SetPhaseServer and a client's OnPhaseMessage handler.
+    // Shared by the server's SetPhaseServer and a client's OnPhaseMessage handler.
-    private void ApplyPhaseLocal(MatchSubPhase phase, float duration)
+    private void ApplyPhaseLocal(MatchSubPhase phase, float duration, MatchMode mode)
     {
         bool changed = _subPhase != phase;
         _subPhase = phase;
         _phaseDuration = duration;
         _phaseEndTime = Time.time + duration;
+        _localMode = mode;
         if (changed) SubPhaseChanged?.Invoke(phase);
     }
 
-    // Sends a sub-phase (byte) + its remaining duration (float) to one client, or to all clients except the
+    // Sends a sub-phase (byte) + its remaining duration (float) + the match mode (byte) to one client, or to
-    // server itself (which applied it directly in SetPhaseServer, so it must not double-apply via loopback).
+    // all clients except the server itself (which applied it directly in SetPhaseServer, so it must not
-    private void BroadcastPhase(MatchSubPhase phase, float duration, ulong targetClient, bool toAll)
+    // double-apply via loopback).
+    private void BroadcastPhase(MatchSubPhase phase, float duration, MatchMode mode, ulong targetClient, bool toAll)
     {
         var cmm = _net != null ? _net.CustomMessagingManager : null;
         if (cmm == null) return;
-        using (var writer = new FastBufferWriter(sizeof(byte) + sizeof(float), Allocator.Temp))
+        using (var writer = new FastBufferWriter(sizeof(byte) + sizeof(float) + sizeof(byte), Allocator.Temp))
         {
             writer.WriteValueSafe((byte)phase);
             writer.WriteValueSafe(duration);
+            writer.WriteValueSafe((byte)mode);
             if (toAll)
             {
                 // Every client except the server itself (the host already applied it directly in
@@ -579,7 +603,8 @@ public class MatchManager : MonoBehaviour
     {
         reader.ReadValueSafe(out byte phase);
         reader.ReadValueSafe(out float duration);
-        ApplyPhaseLocal((MatchSubPhase)phase, duration);
+        reader.ReadValueSafe(out byte mode);
+        ApplyPhaseLocal((MatchSubPhase)phase, duration, (MatchMode)mode);
     }
 
     /// <summary>Client-side: the local hunter's shoot raycast hit the hider owned by <paramref name="targetClientId"/>.
@@ -619,17 +644,45 @@ public class MatchManager : MonoBehaviour
         MarkHiderFound(targetClientId);
     }
 
-    // Server-only. Flags the hider's avatar found (replicated by its NetworkPlayerSetup) and drops it from
+    // Server-only. Resolves a hit on a hider for the active mode, and drops it from the pending set; the seek
-    // the pending set; the seek loop ends the phase early once that empties.
+    // loop ends the phase early once that empties (no hiders left to find/convert). Classic flags the avatar
+    // found (replicated by its NetworkPlayerSetup -> free-cam); Conversion respawns it as a Hunter.
     private void MarkHiderFound(ulong hiderClientId)
     {
         _pendingHiders.Remove(hiderClientId);
         if (_net.ConnectedClients.TryGetValue(hiderClientId, out var c) && c.PlayerObject)
         {
-            var setup = c.PlayerObject.GetComponent<NetworkPlayerSetup>();
+            if (matchMode == MatchMode.Conversion)
-            if (setup) setup.ServerMarkFound();
+                ConvertToHunter(hiderClientId, c.PlayerObject);
+            else
+            {
+                var setup = c.PlayerObject.GetComponent<NetworkPlayerSetup>();
+                if (setup) setup.ServerMarkFound();
+            }
         }
-        Debug.Log($"[MatchManager] Hider {hiderClientId} found - {_pendingHiders.Count} hider(s) left.", this);
+        string verb = matchMode == MatchMode.Conversion ? "converted to hunter" : "found";
+        Debug.Log($"[MatchManager] Hider {hiderClientId} {verb} - {_pendingHiders.Count} hider(s) left.", this);
+    }
+
+    // Server-only (Conversion mode). Despawns the tagged hider's avatar and respawns it as the Hunter prefab
+    // variant for the same client, AT THE SAME position/rotation - it converts where it was tagged, no teleport.
+    // The fresh Hunter's owner skips its spawn-placement because the match is mid-Seek (see NetworkPlayerSetup),
+    // so the server-set position sticks. Same despawn-then-spawn pattern as RespawnAll; the owner's painting
+    // carries across via the per-machine paint carry. After this the client plays as a full hunter (size,
+    // sprint, first-person, shooting) with no special-case runtime state.
+    private void ConvertToHunter(ulong clientId, NetworkObject current)
+    {
+        if (!hunterPrefab)
+        {
+            Debug.LogError("[MatchManager] Hunter prefab missing - cannot convert hider.", this);
+            return;
+        }
+        Vector3 pos = current.transform.position;
+        Quaternion rot = current.transform.rotation;
+        current.Despawn(true);
+
+        var go = Instantiate(hunterPrefab, pos, rot);
+        go.GetComponent<NetworkObject>().SpawnAsPlayerObject(clientId);
     }
 
     // True if the client's current avatar is a Hunter role variant (used to gate shooting server-side).

Assets/Scripts/NetworkPlayerSetup.cs

@@ -86,7 +86,12 @@ public class NetworkPlayerSetup : NetworkBehaviour
 
         if (IsOwner)
         {
-            PlaceAtSpawn();
+            // A Conversion-mode tag respawns the hider as this Hunter variant mid-Seek; keep the server-set
+            // position (it converts where it was tagged) by skipping the spawn-area/ring placement. Match-start
+            // variants spawn while the sub-phase is still None, so they DO place; end-match lobby avatars spawn
+            // after the sub-phase is cleared, so they place too. Only an in-place conversion lands here mid-Seek.
+            if (!SpawnedMidSeek())
+                PlaceAtSpawn();
 
             var manager = FindFirstObjectByType<GameModeManager>(FindObjectsInactive.Include);
             if (manager)
@@ -168,9 +173,10 @@ public class NetworkPlayerSetup : NetworkBehaviour
     private void Update() => UpdateVisibility();
 
     // Per-client visibility: each machine decides whether to render THIS avatar's body from the LOCAL
-    // viewer's perspective. A found hider is hidden for everyone; during HIDE, hiders are hidden on hunter
+    // viewer's perspective (hunter bodies are always visible; only hider bodies are ever hidden). A found
-    // clients only (the spec - hunters can't see hiders yet). The local owner's own body is left alone unless
+    // hider (Classic) is hidden for everyone. Otherwise it depends on the match MODE - see ComputeVisible.
-    // found, so this never fights the FirstPersonController's own-body self-hide.
+    // The local owner's own body is left alone unless found, so this never fights the FirstPersonController's
+    // own-body self-hide.
     private void UpdateVisibility()
     {
         bool found = _isFound.Value;
@@ -187,20 +193,46 @@ public class NetworkPlayerSetup : NetworkBehaviour
         _visibilityApplied = true;
     }
 
+    // Decides whether THIS avatar's body is rendered for the local viewer. Hunters and non-match avatars are
+    // always visible; a Classic-found hider is always hidden; Resolution reveals everyone. The rest is the
+    // hider-visibility matrix per mode:
+    //   Classic    - Hide: hidden from hunters only (hiders still see each other); Seek: visible to all.
+    //   Conversion - Hide: hidden from EVERYONE (hiders don't see each other either); Seek: only hunters see
+    //                hiders (so they can shoot them; hiders stay blind to each other).
     private bool ComputeVisible(bool found)
     {
-        if (found) return false;
+        if (found) return false; // Classic: a found hider is out of play, hidden for all
 
         var match = MatchManager.Instance;
-        if (match && match.MatchActive
+        if (!match || !match.MatchActive) return true; // lobby / no match -> everything visible
-                  && match.LocalSubPhase == MatchManager.MatchSubPhase.Hide
+        if (role != PlayerRole.Hider) return true;     // hunters are always visible
-                  && role == PlayerRole.Hider
-                  && LocalViewerIsHunter())
-            return false;
 
+        var phase = match.LocalSubPhase;
+        if (phase == MatchManager.MatchSubPhase.Resolution) return true; // all revealed at the end
+
+        if (match.LocalMatchMode == MatchManager.MatchMode.Conversion)
+        {
+            // Hiders are hidden from each other the whole match; only hunters get to see them, and only
+            // during Seek (so the hide phase truly hides them from everyone but themselves).
+            if (phase == MatchManager.MatchSubPhase.Hide) return false;
+            if (phase == MatchManager.MatchSubPhase.Seek) return LocalViewerIsHunter();
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        // Classic: hiders are hidden from hunters during Hide only; visible to everyone otherwise.
+        if (phase == MatchManager.MatchSubPhase.Hide && LocalViewerIsHunter()) return false;
         return true;
     }
 
+    // True if this avatar is spawning during the SEEK sub-phase - i.e. a Conversion-mode tag respawning a
+    // hider as the Hunter variant in place. Match-start and end-match respawns never happen during Seek
+    // (start spawns before Hide, end spawns after the phase is cleared), so this uniquely flags a conversion.
+    private static bool SpawnedMidSeek()
+    {
+        var match = MatchManager.Instance;
+        return match && match.LocalSubPhase == MatchManager.MatchSubPhase.Seek;
+    }
+
     // True if THIS machine's local player is a Hunter role variant (so it must not see hiders during hide).
     private static bool LocalViewerIsHunter()
     {