> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://stellarskills.gitbook.io/stellarskills-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://stellarskills.gitbook.io/stellarskills-docs/configuration/general-policy.md).

# general policy

`general.yml` mixes operational settings with compatibility/reference descriptors. The [full defaults](file:///4985688/reference/general.md) retain every field. This page explains what changing them can and cannot do.

## Active policy

| Field                                            | Current interpretation                                                                                |
| ------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `starting-balance`                               | Initial balance grant policy; distinct from class starting rewards                                    |
| `allocation.allow-cost-bypass`                   | Must combine with the granted bypass permission                                                       |
| `allocation.allow-requirement-bypass`            | Must combine with the granted requirement-bypass permission                                           |
| `safety.editor-session-minutes`                  | Authoring session duration, clamped to 1–240 minutes                                                  |
| `rpg-hud.enabled`, `rpg-hud.allow-player-studio` | Server HUD/studio policy; packaged false                                                              |
| `rpg-hud.update-interval-ticks`                  | HUD synchronization interval when that subsystem is used                                              |
| `rpg-hud.theme`                                  | Inherited/explicit supported HUD presentation identity                                                |
| `rpg-hud.elements`                               | Availability of portrait, legendary timer, money and progression elements                             |
| `rpg-hud.controls`                               | Limits on player visibility/move/resize/colors/opacity/content/presets/screens/animation/grid editing |
| `rpg-hud.defaults`                               | Default element presentation/preferences, not player gameplay buffs                                   |

HUD control bounds include minimum/maximum scale and opacity. Element defaults include normalized screen X/Y, width/height, scale/opacity, background/primary/secondary/text colors, and icon/label/value/bar/background/border visibility. See the full reference rather than inventing fields.

{% hint style="warning" %}
These options describe a dormant subsystem for this rollout; keep all enabling/studio switches false unless deliberately testing it.
{% endhint %}

## Descriptors that do not override code

| Field/group                                                                         | Important boundary                                                                                                    |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `language`                                                                          | Actual UI locale selection follows the client's supported language, with English fallback                             |
| `default-profile`, `profile-limit`                                                  | Do not activate a complete alternative ownership/profile system by themselves                                         |
| `client.optional`                                                                   | Networking is registered as optional in code; a YAML toggle is not a complete forced-client login policy              |
| `client.protocol`                                                                   | Informational protocol declaration; actual protocol is compiled as 20                                                 |
| `client.require-for-editor`                                                         | The visual editor still requires a compatible engine; false does not create a vanilla editor                          |
| `safety.max-trees`, `max-nodes-per-tree`, `max-edges-per-tree`, `max-payload-bytes` | Document safety expectations; hard-coded validator/network bounds remain authoritative                                |
| `safety.mutation-actions-per-two-seconds`                                           | The current action guard uses a hard-coded 16-action/two-second window                                                |
| `effects.direct-pvp-stat-bonuses`                                                   | Cannot override Pixelmon damage hook's unconditional PvP guard                                                        |
| `effects.missing-integration-policy`                                                | Per-effect parsed policies and actual consumer availability matter; not an automatic node-refund switch               |
| `effects.probability-trace-decimals`                                                | Do not assume it dynamically changes every formatted trace                                                            |
| `reload.staged`, `preserve-live-on-error`, `validation-timeout-seconds`             | Reload code implements its own staged/recovery flow; these descriptors do not create arbitrary alternate reload modes |
| `audit.enabled`, `retention-days`                                                   | Do not assume these disable every audit write or implement cleanup across all persistent history                      |

The reason to retain these descriptors is compatibility and operator context, not a promise that every one is a live tuning knob. Inspect implementation limits before changing a server policy by name alone.

## Recommended production baseline

* Keep ordinary costs and requirements enforced.
* Keep RPG HUD/studio disabled for now.
* Use the compatible protocol build instead of manually altering a protocol number.
* Choose real class, quest, level, module and node settings for gameplay control.
* Use reload only after validation; back up files/database separately.

See [disabling matrix](broken://pages/9683c5768f1e5a77d199b93693af991936dc27dd) for real feature-level controls.