feat: Initialize core game scene, managers, UI, multiplayer spawning, message bar, and pre-game countdown.

scenes/main.gd

@@ -246,6 +246,47 @@ func add_message_to_bar(player_name: String, message: String, type: int = Messag
 func broadcast_message(player_name: String, message: String):
 	add_message_to_bar(player_name, message)
 
+func _start_pre_game_countdown():
+	"""Show a 3-second countdown on all clients before starting."""
+	for i in range(3, 0, -1):
+		if can_rpc():
+			rpc("sync_countdown", str(i))
+		await get_tree().create_timer(1.0).timeout
+	
+	if can_rpc():
+		rpc("sync_countdown", "GO!")
+	await get_tree().create_timer(0.5).timeout
+	
+	if can_rpc():
+		rpc("sync_countdown", "")
+
+@rpc("call_local", "reliable")
+func sync_countdown(text: String):
+	var label = get_node_or_null("CountdownLabel")
+	if not label and text != "":
+		label = Label.new()
+		label.name = "CountdownLabel"
+		add_child(label)
+		
+		# Center and Style
+		label.anchors_preset = Control.PRESET_CENTER
+		label.set_anchors_and_offsets_preset(Control.PRESET_CENTER)
+		label.grow_horizontal = Control.GROW_DIRECTION_BOTH
+		label.grow_vertical = Control.GROW_DIRECTION_BOTH
+		label.horizontal_alignment = HORIZONTAL_ALIGNMENT_CENTER
+		label.vertical_alignment = VERTICAL_ALIGNMENT_CENTER
+		
+		label.add_theme_font_size_override("font_size", 120)
+		label.add_theme_color_override("font_outline_color", Color.BLACK)
+		label.add_theme_constant_override("outline_size", 12)
+		label.add_theme_color_override("font_color", Color.YELLOW)
+	
+	if label:
+		label.text = text
+		if text == "":
+			label.queue_free()
+		elif text == "GO!":
+			label.add_theme_color_override("font_color", Color.GREEN)
 
 func _setup_global_match_timer_ui():
 	"""Create the global match timer display at the top of the screen."""
@@ -549,6 +590,9 @@ func _start_game():
 		# This safely sends RPCs over the completed socket connection
 		_assign_random_spawn_positions()
 		
+		# PRE-GAME COUNTDOWN (3s)
+		await _start_pre_game_countdown()
+		
 		GameStateManager.start_game()
 		if can_rpc():
 			rpc("sync_game_start", GameStateManager.players, TurnManager.turn_based_mode)
@@ -695,26 +739,14 @@ func _assign_random_spawn_positions():
 
 func _assign_stop_n_go_spawn_positions(all_players: Array):
 	"""Assigns spawns to the far left columns (Start Line) for Stop N Go mode."""
-	var enhanced_gridmap = $EnhancedGridMap
-	var valid_spawns = []
-	
-	# Find all walkable tiles in the ONLY first column (x = 0)
-	for x in range(1):
-		for z in range(enhanced_gridmap.rows):
-			var ground = enhanced_gridmap.get_cell_item(Vector3i(x, 0, z))
-			if ground == 0 or ground == 2 or ground == 6: # Walkable, Start Line, or Safe Zone
-				valid_spawns.append(Vector2i(x, z))
-	
-	valid_spawns.shuffle()
-	
-	# Sort players for deterministic assignment
+	# Sort players for deterministic assignment based on ID
 	all_players.sort_custom(func(a, b): return a.name.to_int() < b.name.to_int())
 
 	var spawn_index = 0
 	for player in all_players:
-		var assigned_pos = Vector2i(0, 0) # Fallback
-		if spawn_index < valid_spawns.size():
-			assigned_pos = valid_spawns[spawn_index]
+		# Use deterministic assignment from (0, 1) to (0, 8) to keep players separate
+		# Start Line is Column 0. We use rows 1 to 8.
+		var assigned_pos = Vector2i(0, spawn_index + 1)
 		
 		# Ensure immediate sync
 		player.position = player.grid_to_world(assigned_pos)
@@ -725,7 +757,7 @@ func _assign_stop_n_go_spawn_positions(all_players: Array):
 			player.rpc("set_spawn_position", assigned_pos)
 		
 		spawn_index += 1
-		print("[StopNGo] Assigned starting block %s to player %s" % [assigned_pos, player.name])
+		print("[StopNGo] Assigned fixed starting block %s to player %s" % [assigned_pos, player.name])
 
 # =============================================================================
 # Tekton NPC Management

scripts/bot_controller.gd

@@ -83,6 +83,10 @@ func _physics_process(delta):
 	if not multiplayer.is_server():
 		return
 
+	# Only run if game has started
+	if not GameStateManager.is_game_started():
+		return
+
 	# STUCK PREVENTION
 	if actor.is_player_moving:
 		_stuck_timer += delta

scripts/managers/game_state_manager.gd

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ extends Node
 signal game_started()
 signal game_state_changed()
 
-@export var enable_bots: bool = false
+@export var enable_bots: bool = true
 @export var max_players: int = 8
 
 var players: Array = []