i have a concept of a plan lol ok

Core/GameEngine/Include/GameNetwork/GameInfo.h

@@ -273,8 +273,9 @@ UnsignedShort GameInfo::getSuperweaponRestriction() const { return m_superweapon
 Bool        GameInfo::oldFactionsOnly() const           { return m_oldFactionsOnly; }
 void        GameInfo::setOldFactionsOnly( Bool oldFactionsOnly ) { m_oldFactionsOnly = oldFactionsOnly; }
 
-AsciiString GameInfoToAsciiString( const GameInfo *game );
-Bool ParseAsciiStringToGameInfo( GameInfo *game, AsciiString options );
+// TheSuperHackers @info arcticdolphin 02/03/2026 Added includeSeed and requireSeed parameters, defaulted to retail behavior.
+AsciiString GameInfoToAsciiString( const GameInfo *game, Bool includeSeed = TRUE );
+Bool ParseAsciiStringToGameInfo( GameInfo *game, AsciiString options, Bool requireSeed = TRUE );
 
 
 /**

Core/GameEngine/Include/GameNetwork/LANAPI.h

@@ -173,6 +173,13 @@ struct LANMessage
 		MSG_INACTIVE,						///< I've alt-tabbed out.  Unaccept me cause I'm a poo-flinging monkey.
 
 		MSG_REQUEST_GAME_INFO,	///< For direct connect, get the game info from a specific IP Address
+
+#if !RETAIL_COMPATIBLE_NETWORKING
+		// TheSuperHackers @feature arcticdolphin 02/03/2026 Commit-reveal protocol message types.
+		MSG_SEED_COMMIT,	///< Seed commitment broadcast
+		MSG_SEED_REVEAL,	///< Seed reveal broadcast
+		MSG_SEED_READY,		///< Seed protocol complete acknowledgment
+#endif
 	} messageType;
 
 	WideChar name[g_lanPlayerNameLength+1]; ///< My name, for convenience
@@ -267,6 +274,29 @@ struct LANMessage
 			char options[m_lanMaxOptionsLength+1];
 		} GameOptions;
 
+#if !RETAIL_COMPATIBLE_NETWORKING
+		// TheSuperHackers @feature arcticdolphin 02/03/2026 Commit-reveal protocol message payloads.
+		struct
+		{
+			BYTE roundNonce[4];	///< First 4 bytes of host commit: ties this message to the current round
+			BYTE commit[32];	///< SHA-256(secret || senderSlot)
+			BYTE senderSlot;	///< Slot index of the sending player
+		} SeedCommit;
+
+		struct
+		{
+			BYTE roundNonce[4];	///< First 4 bytes of host commit: ties this message to the current round
+			BYTE secret[16];	///< The original 128-bit secret value
+			BYTE senderSlot;	///< Slot index of the sending player
+		} SeedReveal;
+
+		struct
+		{
+			BYTE roundNonce[4];	///< First 4 bytes of host commit: ties this ack to the current round
+			BYTE senderSlot;	///< Slot index of the sending player
+		} SeedReady;
+#endif
+
 	};
 };
 #pragma pack(pop)
@@ -386,6 +416,49 @@ class LANAPI : public LANAPIInterface
 
 	Bool								m_isActive;			///< is the game currently active?
 
+#if !RETAIL_COMPATIBLE_NETWORKING
+	// TheSuperHackers @feature arcticdolphin 02/03/2026 Commit-reveal protocol state.
+	enum SeedPhase
+	{
+		SEED_PHASE_NONE = 0,									///< Not in protocol
+		SEED_PHASE_AWAITING_COMMITS,							///< Host: waiting for all commits; Non-host: committed, awaiting reveal trigger
+		SEED_PHASE_AWAITING_REVEALS,							///< Host: waiting for all reveals; Non-host: revealed, awaiting game start
+	};
+	static const UnsignedInt	s_seedPhaseTimeoutMs;			///< Per-phase timeout
+	static const UnsignedInt	s_seedResendIntervalMs;			///< Interval between seed message resends
+	SeedPhase					m_seedPhase;
+	Bool						m_seedReady;					///< TRUE once seed protocol completed successfully
+	BYTE						m_localSeedSecret[16];			///< Local random 128-bit secret
+	BYTE						m_localSeedCommit[32];			///< Commitment hash of local secret
+	BYTE						m_slotSeedCommit[MAX_SLOTS][32];///< Received commits per slot
+	BYTE						m_slotSeedReveal[MAX_SLOTS][16];///< Received 128-bit secrets per slot
+	Bool						m_slotCommitReceived[MAX_SLOTS];
+	Bool						m_slotRevealReceived[MAX_SLOTS];
+	Bool						m_slotSeedReady[MAX_SLOTS];		///< Which slots have acknowledged seed ready
+	BYTE						m_slotPendingRevealSecret[MAX_SLOTS][16]; ///< Buffered early reveal secret (before commit arrived)
+	BYTE						m_slotPendingRevealNonce[MAX_SLOTS][4];  ///< Round nonce from buffered early reveal
+	Bool						m_slotPendingRevealValid[MAX_SLOTS];     ///< Whether a pending reveal is buffered for this slot
+	UnsignedInt					m_seedPhaseDeadline;			///< Phase deadline
+	UnsignedInt					m_seedResendTime;				///< Next seed message resend time
+
+	void resetSeedProtocolState();								///< Clear all per-round seed protocol state
+	void beginSeedCommitPhase();								///< Generate secret, broadcast commit, enter commit phase
+	void beginSeedRevealPhase();								///< Enter reveal phase and broadcast own reveal
+	void finalizeSeed();										///< XOR secrets, set seed, notify readiness
+	void abortSeedProtocol(const wchar_t *reason = nullptr);
+	void processVerifiedReveal(Int slot, const BYTE secret[16], const BYTE roundNonce[4]); ///< Verify nonce+commitment, store reveal, advance protocol
+	void flushPendingReveal(Int slot);							///< Drain buffered early reveal for slot if commit is now available
+	Bool checkSeedSlotFlags(const Bool flags[], Bool skipLocal) const;
+	Bool allSeedCommitsReceived()     { return checkSeedSlotFlags(m_slotCommitReceived,  TRUE); }
+	Bool allSeedRevealsReceived()     { return checkSeedSlotFlags(m_slotRevealReceived,  TRUE); }
+	Bool allSeedReadyReceived()       { return checkSeedSlotFlags(m_slotSeedReady,       FALSE); } ///< Includes local slot
+	static Bool generateLocalSecret(BYTE secret[16]);
+	static Bool computeSeedCommitment(const BYTE secret[16], BYTE senderSlot, BYTE outCommit[32]);
+	void handleSeedCommit(LANMessage *msg, UnsignedInt senderIP);
+	void handleSeedReveal(LANMessage *msg, UnsignedInt senderIP);
+	void handleSeedReady(LANMessage *msg, UnsignedInt senderIP);
+#endif
+
 protected:
 	void sendMessage(LANMessage *msg, UnsignedInt ip = 0); // Convenience function
 	void removePlayer(LANPlayer *player);

Core/GameEngine/Source/GameNetwork/GameInfo.cpp

@@ -888,7 +888,8 @@ Bool GameInfo::isSandbox()
 
 static const char slotListID		= 'S';
 
-AsciiString GameInfoToAsciiString( const GameInfo *game )
+// TheSuperHackers @info arcticdolphin 02/03/2026 Added includeSeed parameter.
+AsciiString GameInfoToAsciiString( const GameInfo *game, Bool includeSeed )
 {
 	if (!game)
 		return AsciiString::TheEmptyString;
@@ -917,14 +918,26 @@ AsciiString GameInfoToAsciiString( const GameInfo *game )
 		DEBUG_LOG(("Map name is %s", mapName.str()));
 	}
 
+#if RETAIL_COMPATIBLE_NETWORKING
+	// TheSuperHackers @info arcticdolphin 03/03/2026 Added includeSeed parameter to conditionally insert SD=.
+	(void)includeSeed;
+	const Bool emitSeed = TRUE;
+#else
+	const Bool emitSeed = includeSeed;
+#endif
+
+	AsciiString seedField;
+	if (emitSeed)
+		seedField.format("SD=%d;", game->getSeed());
+
 	AsciiString optionsString;
 #if RTS_GENERALS
-	optionsString.format("M=%2.2x%s;MC=%X;MS=%d;SD=%d;C=%d;", game->getMapContentsMask(), newMapName.str(),
-		game->getMapCRC(), game->getMapSize(), game->getSeed(), game->getCRCInterval());
+	optionsString.format("M=%2.2x%s;MC=%X;MS=%d;%sC=%d;", game->getMapContentsMask(), newMapName.str(),
+		game->getMapCRC(), game->getMapSize(), seedField.str(), game->getCRCInterval());
 #else
-	optionsString.format("US=%d;M=%2.2x%s;MC=%X;MS=%d;SD=%d;C=%d;SR=%u;SC=%u;O=%c;", game->getUseStats(), game->getMapContentsMask(), newMapName.str(),
-		game->getMapCRC(), game->getMapSize(), game->getSeed(), game->getCRCInterval(), game->getSuperweaponRestriction(),
-		game->getStartingCash().countMoney(), game->oldFactionsOnly() ? 'Y' : 'N' );
+	optionsString.format("US=%d;M=%2.2x%s;MC=%X;MS=%d;%sC=%d;SR=%u;SC=%u;O=%c;", game->getUseStats(), game->getMapContentsMask(), newMapName.str(),
+		game->getMapCRC(), game->getMapSize(), seedField.str(), game->getCRCInterval(), game->getSuperweaponRestriction(),
+		game->getStartingCash().countMoney(), game->oldFactionsOnly() ? 'Y' : 'N');
 #endif
 
 	//add player info for each slot
@@ -1000,8 +1013,14 @@ static Int grabHexInt(const char *s)
 	Int b = strtol(tmp, nullptr, 16);
 	return b;
 }
-Bool ParseAsciiStringToGameInfo(GameInfo *game, AsciiString options)
+
+// TheSuperHackers @info arcticdolphin 02/03/2026 Added requireSeed parameter.
+Bool ParseAsciiStringToGameInfo(GameInfo *game, AsciiString options, Bool requireSeed)
 {
+#if RETAIL_COMPATIBLE_NETWORKING
+	// TheSuperHackers @info arcticdolphin 02/03/2026 requireSeed is unused in retail builds; seed is always required.
+	(void)requireSeed;
+#endif
 	// Parse game options
 	char *buf = strdup(options.str());
 	char *bufPtr = buf;
@@ -1482,7 +1501,12 @@ Bool ParseAsciiStringToGameInfo(GameInfo *game, AsciiString options)
 	//  * StartingCash
 	//  * OldFactionsOnly
 	// In Generals they never were.
+#if !RETAIL_COMPATIBLE_NETWORKING
+	// TheSuperHackers @info arcticdolphin 02/03/2026 SD= may be absent when requireSeed=false.
+	if (optionsOk && sawMap && sawMapCRC && sawMapSize && (!requireSeed || sawSeed) && sawSlotlist && sawCRC)
+#else
 	if (optionsOk && sawMap && sawMapCRC && sawMapSize && sawSeed && sawSlotlist && sawCRC)
+#endif
 	{
 		// We were setting the Global Data directly here, but Instead, I'm now
 		// first setting the data in game.  We'll set the global data when
@@ -1499,7 +1523,13 @@ Bool ParseAsciiStringToGameInfo(GameInfo *game, AsciiString options)
 		game->setMapCRC(mapCRC);
 		game->setMapSize(mapSize);
 		game->setMapContentsMask(mapContentsMask);
-		game->setSeed(seed);
+		// TheSuperHackers @info arcticdolphin 02/03/2026 Only apply seed when SD= was present.
+		// When SD= is omitted (non-retail commit-reveal path), leave the seed unchanged so that
+		// periodic game-options re-broadcasts do not overwrite the value set by finalizeSeed().
+		if (sawSeed)
+		{
+			game->setSeed(seed);
+		}
 		game->setCRCInterval(crc);
 		game->setUseStats(useStats);
 		game->setSuperweaponRestriction(restriction);