Improve Vault109 chargen flow and LooksMenu handling

Move first-time character menu orchestration out of Papyrus and into the C++ session-launch flow. CO_Vault109StartQuestScript.psc now only teleports the player and sets stage 10. F4TSessionLaunch.cpp adds camera preparation/restoration, direct PlayerCamera/ThirdPersonState face-camera tuning, primary console ShowLooksMenu 14 path, Actor.ShowLooksMenu fallback, retry/timeouts and guarded state resets. Added logging and counters for Looks/SPECIAL menu polling. Updated changelog.md and docs/dev-log.md to describe the new flow and testing notes.

changelog.md

@@ -33,6 +33,15 @@ For testing notes, milestone summaries, known issues, and next steps, see [`docs
 - Replaced invalid default GUI weather IDs with valid Fallout 4 weather form IDs so `fw <id>` no longer fails with "Invalid weather ...".
 - Corrected `Clear` preset ID typo from `0002852a` to valid `0002b52a` (`CommonwealthClear`).
 - Time apply now converts `timeHHmm` to Fallout game-hour float before executing `set gamehour`, fixing 2200-style values applying incorrectly.
+- Corrected `CO_Vault109StartQuestScript.psc` to compile against Fallout 4 Papyrus by replacing unsupported `Actor.ShowLooksMenu`/`UI.IsMenuOpen` calls with `Game.ShowRaceMenu` and `Utility.IsInMenuMode`.
+- Race customization now forces third-person camera and a short pre-menu settle delay before `ShowRaceMenu`, fixing cases where the menu opens but the player model is not visible.
+- `CO_Vault109StartQuestScript` now uses configurable `RaceMenuMode` (default `0`) plus `RaceMenuFallbackMode` (default `1`) for `ShowRaceMenu`.
+- Race menu open flow now retries with fallback mode if the primary mode does not enter menu mode.
+- Moved first-time character customization menu control out of `CO_Vault109StartQuestScript.psc`; the quest now only handles spawn/stage while plugin C++ session-launch flow owns Looks/SPECIAL sequencing.
+- First-time C++ character creation now prepares camera context with `ForceThirdPerson`, opens Looks via `ShowLooksMenu 14`, retries with `Actor.ShowLooksMenu` fallback, and times out/reset safely if Looks menu never opens.
+- When `LooksMenu` is confirmed open, C++ now applies chargen camera context (`SetInChargen 1` + `ForceThirdPerson`) and restores it on close, fixing first-person camera persistence during customization.
+- Looks menu camera correction now directly sets `PlayerCamera` to third-person state for several polls while `LooksMenu` is open, avoiding reliance on console-only camera commands.
+- Looks menu camera correction now configures the `ThirdPersonState` for face editing by zeroing shoulder offsets, flipping camera yaw toward the player, enabling free rotation, and applying a closer zoom offset.
 
 ### Changed
 - Weather presets store the exact `fw` console argument (8-digit hex); edit `server/world_state_presets.py` only if a preset ID fails in your console.
@@ -42,7 +51,7 @@ For testing notes, milestone summaries, known issues, and next steps, see [`docs
 - Reformatted `changelog.md` to follow [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/).
 - First-time character creation launch now uses `coc COVault109` and waits for the `COVault109` start cell instead of `SanctuaryExt`.
 - First-time `COVault109` launch now starts `CO_Vault109StartQuest` once per first-time join flow so the quest can move the player to its preset spawn marker.
-
+- `CO_Vault109StartQuest` now opens `ShowRaceMenu(player, 1)` after stage-10 spawn completion, waits for menu mode to close, then opens `ShowSPECIALMenu` for name/S.P.E.C.I.A.L. setup.
 
 ## [0.0.1] - 2026-06-23
 

creation-kit/scripts/source/CO_Vault109StartQuestScript.psc

@@ -6,9 +6,10 @@ Event OnQuestInit()
     If IsStageDone(10) == False
         Utility.Wait(1.0)
 
+        Actor playerRef = Game.GetPlayer()
         Debug.Notification("Vault 109 spawn quest ran")
-        Game.GetPlayer().MoveTo(Vault109SpawnMarker)
+        playerRef.MoveTo(Vault109SpawnMarker)
 
         SetStage(10)
     EndIf
-EndEvent
+EndEvent

docs/dev-log.md

@@ -6198,4 +6198,51 @@ internet via port forwarding) can connect using the host PC's IP and port.
 
 ### Next Steps
 - Test two PCs on the same LAN using the host machine's IP in Direct Connect.
-- Add optional config file loading for `host` and `port` overrides.
+- Add optional config file loading for `host` and `port` overrides.
+
+---
+
+## 2026-06-28 - Vault 109 post-spawn character setup flow
+
+### Summary
+Updated the Vault 109 start quest script so first-time spawn now chains directly into
+character setup menus using compile-safe Fallout 4 Papyrus calls, then the SPECIAL/name setup menu.
+
+### Files Changed
+- `creation-kit/scripts/source/CO_Vault109StartQuestScript.psc`
+- `plugin/src/F4TSessionLaunch.cpp`
+- `changelog.md`
+- `docs/dev-log.md`
+
+### Details
+- Kept the existing spawn behavior (move player to `Vault109SpawnMarker`) and stage completion gate (`SetStage(10)`).
+- Reverted quest-side menu orchestration: `CO_Vault109StartQuestScript.psc` now only teleports to `Vault109SpawnMarker` and sets stage 10.
+- First-time character setup UI is now fully owned by plugin C++ session-launch flow (`Actor.ShowLooksMenu` then `ShowSPECIALMenu`) instead of Papyrus `ShowRaceMenu`.
+- Added C++ camera prep before Looks (`ForceThirdPerson`) without forcing global chargen state.
+- Changed primary Looks open path to C++ console `ShowLooksMenu 14` for compatibility in this runtime.
+- Added guarded fallback to existing `Actor.ShowLooksMenu` call if Looks does not open quickly, plus a max-open timeout that resets first-time state instead of hanging indefinitely.
+- Added post-open camera correction: when `LooksMenu` is detected open, C++ applies `SetInChargen 1` + `ForceThirdPerson`, then restores with `SetInChargen 0` after Looks closes.
+- Added direct `PlayerCamera` third-person state correction and repeated short camera nudges while `LooksMenu` remains open, so the menu cannot remain stuck in first-person due to ignored console camera commands.
+- Added face-edit camera tuning on `ThirdPersonState`: zero shoulder offsets, front-facing yaw based on player heading, free rotation, and closer zoom.
+
+### Testing
+- Not run in this session (Creation Kit/Papyrus runtime not available in this environment).
+- Expected flow:
+  - Start first-time join flow that triggers `CO_Vault109StartQuest`.
+  - Player is moved to `Vault109SpawnMarker`.
+  - C++ first attempts `ShowLooksMenu 14` with camera prep; if it fails to open, fallback `Actor.ShowLooksMenu` is issued.
+  - Looks menu opens from C++ first-time flow after Vault 109 spawn quest completes.
+  - On first LooksMenu-open detection, camera context is re-applied so customization does not remain in first-person.
+  - Direct `PlayerCamera`/`ThirdPersonState` face-camera correction runs for the first few LooksMenu polls.
+  - On exiting Looks menu, SPECIAL menu opens from C++.
+  - Stage 10 remains completed and quest does not re-run on subsequent init.
+- Verify in logs:
+  - `CommonwealthOnline.log` for quest trigger ordering around first-time launch.
+  - Papyrus logs for timeout traces only if menu open/close fails.
+
+### Known Issues
+- Not yet runtime-validated in-game; menu timing can vary with load state and other UI transitions.
+
+### Next Steps
+- Run in-game first-time flow and verify C++ LooksMenu then SPECIAL menu sequence.
+- If SPECIAL does not reliably include name entry in your setup, evaluate explicit `ShowNameMenu` before or after SPECIAL based on observed FO4 behavior.

plugin/src/F4TSessionLaunch.cpp

@@ -10,7 +10,9 @@
 #include "RE/G/GameScript.h"
 #include "RE/L/LoadingMenu.h"
 #include "RE/M/MainMenu.h"
+#include "RE/P/PlayerCamera.h"
 #include "RE/P/PlayerCharacter.h"
+#include "RE/T/ThirdPersonState.h"
 #include "RE/T/TESWorldSpace.h"
 #include "RE/U/UI.h"
 
@@ -25,6 +27,11 @@ namespace
 	constexpr int kSpawnPollIntervalFrames = 15;
 	constexpr int kMaxSpawnWaitAttempts = 600;
 	constexpr int kWorldReadyDelayPolls = 10;
+	constexpr int kLooksMenuFallbackDelayPolls = 40;
+	constexpr int kLooksMenuOpenMaxPolls = 300;
+	constexpr int kLooksMenuCameraNudgeMaxPolls = 20;
+	constexpr float kPi = 3.14159265358979323846F;
+	constexpr float kLooksMenuFaceCameraZoomOffset = -90.0F;
 
 	enum class CharGenPhase
 	{
@@ -45,9 +52,13 @@ namespace
 	bool g_vault109StartQuestIssued = false;
 	bool g_sawLooksMenuOpen = false;
 	bool g_sawSpecialMenuOpen = false;
+	bool g_looksMenuFallbackIssued = false;
+	bool g_looksMenuCameraContextApplied = false;
 	int g_spawnPollFrameCounter = 0;
 	int g_spawnWaitAttempts = 0;
 	int g_worldReadyPolls = 0;
+	int g_looksMenuOpenPolls = 0;
+	int g_looksMenuCameraNudgePolls = 0;
 
 	std::string GetLogPrefix()
 	{
@@ -244,8 +255,92 @@ namespace
 		return true;
 	}
 
+	float NormalizeRadians(float a_angle)
+	{
+		while (a_angle > kPi) {
+			a_angle -= 2.0F * kPi;
+		}
+		while (a_angle < -kPi) {
+			a_angle += 2.0F * kPi;
+		}
+		return a_angle;
+	}
+
+	bool ForcePlayerThirdPersonCamera()
+	{
+		auto* camera = RE::PlayerCamera::GetSingleton();
+		if (!camera) {
+			LogWarning("PlayerCamera unavailable while forcing third-person camera.");
+			return false;
+		}
+
+		auto thirdPersonState = camera->GetState(RE::CameraState::k3rdPerson);
+		if (!thirdPersonState) {
+			LogWarning("Third-person camera state unavailable while forcing Looks menu camera.");
+			return false;
+		}
+
+		if (auto* state = static_cast<RE::ThirdPersonState*>(thirdPersonState.get())) {
+			const auto* player = RE::PlayerCharacter::GetSingleton();
+			const float faceCameraYaw = NormalizeRadians((player ? player->GetHeading() : camera->heading) + kPi);
+
+			state->SetFreeRotationMode(true, true);
+			state->freeRotation.x = faceCameraYaw;
+			state->freeRotation.y = 0.0F;
+			state->targetYaw = faceCameraYaw;
+			state->currentYaw = faceCameraYaw;
+			state->targetShoulderOffset = RE::NiPoint3{ 0.0F, 0.0F, 0.0F };
+			state->currentShoulderOffset = RE::NiPoint3{ 0.0F, 0.0F, 0.0F };
+			state->sideOffsetCollisionBlend = RE::NiPoint3{ 0.0F, 0.0F, 0.0F };
+			state->targetZoomOffset = kLooksMenuFaceCameraZoomOffset;
+			state->currentZoomOffset = kLooksMenuFaceCameraZoomOffset;
+			state->cameraHeightAdjust = 0.0F;
+			state->show3rdPersonModel = true;
+			state->zoomingInto1st = false;
+			state->preserveRotation = true;
+			state->applyOffsets = true;
+		}
+
+		camera->SetState(thirdPersonState.get());
+		return camera->QCameraEquals(RE::CameraState::k3rdPerson);
+	}
+
+	void PrepareCharGenCameraContext()
+	{
+		ForcePlayerThirdPersonCamera();
+		RE::Console::ExecuteCommand("ForceThirdPerson");
+		LogInfo("Prepared camera context before Looks menu.");
+	}
+
+	void ApplyLooksMenuCameraContext()
+	{
+		if (g_looksMenuCameraContextApplied) {
+			return;
+		}
+
+		RE::Console::ExecuteCommand("SetInChargen 1");
+		ForcePlayerThirdPersonCamera();
+		RE::Console::ExecuteCommand("ForceThirdPerson");
+		g_looksMenuCameraContextApplied = true;
+		g_looksMenuCameraNudgePolls = 0;
+		LogInfo("Applied chargen camera context after Looks menu open.");
+	}
+
+	void RestoreCharGenCameraContext()
+	{
+		if (!g_looksMenuCameraContextApplied) {
+			return;
+		}
+
+		RE::Console::ExecuteCommand("SetInChargen 0");
+		g_looksMenuCameraContextApplied = false;
+		g_looksMenuCameraNudgePolls = 0;
+		LogInfo("Restored chargen camera context after Looks menu.");
+	}
+
 	void ResetFirstJoinState()
 	{
+		RestoreCharGenCameraContext();
 		g_charGenPhase = CharGenPhase::None;
 		g_pendingProfileBind = false;
 		g_pendingProfileBindServerKey.clear();
@@ -253,13 +348,18 @@ namespace
 		g_vault109StartQuestIssued = false;
 		g_sawLooksMenuOpen = false;
 		g_sawSpecialMenuOpen = false;
+		g_looksMenuFallbackIssued = false;
+		g_looksMenuCameraContextApplied = false;
 		g_spawnPollFrameCounter = 0;
 		g_spawnWaitAttempts = 0;
 		g_worldReadyPolls = 0;
+		g_looksMenuOpenPolls = 0;
+		g_looksMenuCameraNudgePolls = 0;
 	}
 
 	void QueueFirstTimeCocJoin(const std::string& a_serverKey)
 	{
+		RestoreCharGenCameraContext();
 		g_charGenPhase = CharGenPhase::CocLoading;
 		g_pendingProfileBind = true;
 		g_pendingProfileBindServerKey = a_serverKey;
@@ -267,9 +367,13 @@ namespace
 		g_vault109StartQuestIssued = false;
 		g_sawLooksMenuOpen = false;
 		g_sawSpecialMenuOpen = false;
+		g_looksMenuFallbackIssued = false;
+		g_looksMenuCameraContextApplied = false;
 		g_spawnPollFrameCounter = 0;
 		g_spawnWaitAttempts = 0;
 		g_worldReadyPolls = 0;
+		g_looksMenuOpenPolls = 0;
+		g_looksMenuCameraNudgePolls = 0;
 		LogInfo(std::format("Queued first-time coc join for server {}.", a_serverKey));
 	}
 
@@ -295,7 +399,14 @@ namespace
 		LogInfo("Issued startquest CO_Vault109StartQuest for first-time COVault109 flow.");
 	}
 
-	void OpenLooksMenu()
+	void OpenLooksMenuPrimary()
+	{
+		PrepareCharGenCameraContext();
+		RE::Console::ExecuteCommand("ShowLooksMenu 14");
+		LogInfo("Issued 'ShowLooksMenu 14' for first-time character creation.");
+	}
+
+	void OpenLooksMenuFallback()
 	{
 		auto* gameVM = RE::GameVM::GetSingleton();
 		auto* player = RE::PlayerCharacter::GetSingleton();
@@ -307,13 +418,13 @@ namespace
 					"Actor",
 					"ShowLooksMenu",
 					nullptr);
-				LogInfo("Dispatched Actor.ShowLooksMenu for first-time character creation.");
+				LogInfo("Fallback: dispatched Actor.ShowLooksMenu for first-time character creation.");
 				return;
 			}
 		}
 
 		RE::Console::ExecuteCommand("CallFunction Actor ShowLooksMenu player");
-		LogInfo("Fell back to CallFunction Actor ShowLooksMenu player.");
+		LogInfo("Fallback: used CallFunction Actor ShowLooksMenu player.");
 	}
 
 	void OpenSpecialMenu()
@@ -397,6 +508,7 @@ namespace
 
 	void CompleteFirstTimeJoin(RE::PlayerCharacter& a_player)
 	{
+		RestoreCharGenCameraContext();
 		LogPlayerLocation("First-time join complete after character creation", a_player);
 		g_charGenPhase = CharGenPhase::Complete;
 		g_spawnWaitAttempts = 0;
@@ -452,21 +564,46 @@ namespace
 		}
 
 		if (g_charGenPhase == CharGenPhase::OpeningLooksMenu) {
-			OpenLooksMenu();
+			g_sawLooksMenuOpen = false;
+			g_looksMenuFallbackIssued = false;
+			g_looksMenuOpenPolls = 0;
+			g_looksMenuCameraNudgePolls = 0;
+			OpenLooksMenuPrimary();
 			g_charGenPhase = CharGenPhase::WaitingForLooksMenuClose;
 			return;
 		}
 
 		if (g_charGenPhase == CharGenPhase::WaitingForLooksMenuClose) {
 			if (IsMenuOpen("LooksMenu")) {
-				g_sawLooksMenuOpen = true;
+				if (!g_sawLooksMenuOpen) {
+					g_sawLooksMenuOpen = true;
+					ApplyLooksMenuCameraContext();
+				}
+				if (g_looksMenuCameraNudgePolls < kLooksMenuCameraNudgeMaxPolls) {
+					++g_looksMenuCameraNudgePolls;
+					ForcePlayerThirdPersonCamera();
+					RE::Console::ExecuteCommand("ForceThirdPerson");
+				}
 				return;
 			}
 
 			if (!g_sawLooksMenuOpen) {
+				++g_looksMenuOpenPolls;
+
+				if (!g_looksMenuFallbackIssued && g_looksMenuOpenPolls >= kLooksMenuFallbackDelayPolls) {
+					g_looksMenuFallbackIssued = true;
+					LogWarning("Looks menu did not open after primary ShowLooksMenu command; issuing Actor.ShowLooksMenu fallback.");
+					OpenLooksMenuFallback();
+				}
+
+				if (g_looksMenuOpenPolls >= kLooksMenuOpenMaxPolls) {
+					LogWarning("Timed out waiting for Looks menu to open.");
+					ResetFirstJoinState();
+				}
 				return;
 			}
 
+			RestoreCharGenCameraContext();
 			g_charGenPhase = CharGenPhase::OpeningSpecialMenu;
 			return;
 		}