Each defeat triggers a random roll against the DeathChance config value. If the roll hits, the character dies permanently — all local saves are deleted and the vanilla hardcore death screens play (loading screen, death context, return to main menu). If the roll misses, the character respawns through the normal defeat scenario.

The permanent death counter increments with each death. In split-screen, a single roll determines death for all softcore characters.

Game mode selection dialog — Normal, Softcore, and Hardcore options

Softcore mode disclaimer warning before character creation

The button appears alongside the normal Save button for softcore characters. Clicking it triggers a save followed by a full copy of the save instance directory to a protected backup folder. A configurable cooldown (default 24 in-game hours) prevents spam — the button displays the remaining time when inactive. Oldest backups are automatically pruned when the configurable limit (default 10) is exceeded.

Save Backup button in the pause menu, colored purple

Save Backup button showing the cooldown timer

When you reach the character select screen, the mod scans all backup directories. Any backed-up character whose UID is missing from the active save list is restored. The restore copies all save instance directories from the backup back into the game's save folder, then registers the character in the save system so it appears in the selection list. Restored save instances display a purple "Backup" label to distinguish them from original saves.

Restored save instances labeled "Backup" in the save selection list

On the character select screen, softcore characters display a purple "Softcore" label (or "Softcore N" where N is the permanent death count) in place of the hardcore skull icon. In the save instance list (shown when selecting which save to load), any slot that was restored from a backup gets a purple "Backup" badge. These visual cues help you identify softcore characters and distinguish restored saves from originals at a glance.

Softcore label with permanent death count on the character select screen

Backup label on restored save instances

In split-screen, each player's softcore status is tracked independently via per-character metadata files. Both players can select softcore mode during character creation. Each character's death behavior follows their own mode. When either player clicks the "Save Backup" button in the pause menu, both players' saves are backed up at once. Each character tracks its own backup cooldown independently. The character selection panel correctly shows softcore characters as selectable regardless of their difficulty mode.

The backup cooldown uses in-game time (tracked by the game's clock), not real-world time, so it only counts time spent playing with the save loaded. The static cooldown defaults to 24 in-game hours and can be set to 0 to disable it entirely. A cooldown randomizer can be enabled to roll a random cooldown between a configurable min and max (default 24–168 hours) each time a backup is created. For characters restored from backup, the cooldown initialization is deferred until the game time becomes valid (after scene loading completes). The backup limit (default 10) automatically removes the oldest backup instances when exceeded.

Save Backup button in the pause menu, colored purple

Save Backup button showing the cooldown timer

Fired before a manual backup is created. The callerUID parameter contains the UID of the character who triggered the save.

EventBus.Subscribe("gymmed.softcore_mode_*", "SaveBackupBefore", payload =>
{
    string callerUID = payload.Get<string>("callerUID", null);
    if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(callerUID)) return;
    // Your code here
});

Fired after a manual backup is created. The callerUID parameter contains the UID of the backed-up character.

EventBus.Subscribe("gymmed.softcore_mode_*", "SaveBackupAfter", payload =>
{
    string callerUID = payload.Get<string>("callerUID", null);
    if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(callerUID)) return;
    // Your code here
});

Fired before the permanent death roll is made. The softcoreUIDs parameter contains the list of UIDs for all softcore characters at 0 HP.

EventBus.Subscribe("gymmed.softcore_mode_*", "DeathRollBefore", payload =>
{
    var uids = payload.Get<List<string>>("softcoreUIDs", null);
    if (uids == null || uids.Count == 0) return;
    // Your code here
});

Fired after the death roll is made. The rollResult parameter indicates if death was triggered, and affectedUIDs lists the characters whose death count was incremented.

EventBus.Subscribe("gymmed.softcore_mode_*", "DeathRollAfter", payload =>
{
    bool deathTriggered = payload.Get<bool>("rollResult", false);
    var affectedUIDs = payload.Get<List<string>>("affectedUIDs", null);
    // Your code here
});