Changelog

1.2.2 - 2026-09-18

Replaced the exact game-version allowlist with startup API validation. Compatible future patches no longer require a version-only update.
Incompatible APIs still fail closed; World Engine retains its exact method-body audit.

Fixed the optional player-cap override rejecting Valheim 1.0.14 and blocking hosting or new admissions.
Retained Valheim 1.0.12 support and all method-body, loaded-IL, conflict, and admission-integrity checks. Unknown builds remain rejected.

Added an optional, configurable 2–64 player cap with coordinated Steam, PlayFab, and admission limits, including the dedicated host's transport slot.
Added startup validation and admission integrity checks for the audited Valheim 1.0.12 hosting-limit patches.
Added runicworld_status, peer counts, Steam/PlayFab RTT and traffic rates, queue diagnostics, ownership-transfer counters, and possible synchronization-starvation indicators.
Added configurable, sustained server-health warnings with recovery messages and rate limiting.
Preserved existing save smoothing and read-only world diagnostics.

Migrated save timing to Valheim 1.0.7's exact ZDOMan.SaveChunks and LoadChunks contracts while retaining a separate legacy-world load observation seam.
Added the required assembly_utils reference for the new file-source parameter and verified all observatory targets against both installed client and dedicated-server assemblies.
Updated the release dependency floor to BepInExPack Valheim 5.4.2350.

Reworked the Thunderstore description and README opening to lead with the player problem, the mod's core benefit, major features, in-game feel, and then safety and compatibility details.
Description-only package update. The plugin DLL and gameplay behavior are byte-for-byte unchanged from 1.1.0.

Added bounded main-thread save preparation smoothing for asynchronous periodic saves.
Coalesces overlapping requests, never defers synchronous shutdown saves, and never accesses Unity objects from a background worker.

Kept constant-time aggregate ZDO observability and interval event counters.
Kept installed-Valheim-verified save/load timing hooks with exception-preserving finalizers.
Made Enabled = false startup-inert and deferred Harmony construction until after the setting gate.
Verified exact installed field shapes and kept load completion within the one-second sample ceiling.
Removed the Core registry, capability, protocol, service, and world-data ownership declaration architecture; BepInExPack Valheim is the only runtime dependency.
Preserved all unknown data and retained no deletion, compaction, or sync-scheduling path.