T6: expand telemetry to T5-parity reports and add .join module

- Telemetry: async queued game_start/heartbeat/round_change/game_end with
  sequenced FIFO, watchdog, log-level dvar, and per-player stats snapshot
- Join: new tws_t6_join.gsc chat command lets late spectators enter mid-match
- Update NOTES/README/check.ps1 to reflect the six-module layout

t6/NOTES.md

@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ config have been removed from this project.
 | Enemy count | Stock `_zm_utility::get_current_zombie_count()` plus queued zombies | Uses the map's zombie team and enemy filters |
 | Timers | Seed elapsed time for late joiners; stop round watcher/reset on game over | T6 timer behavior; keep frozen timers frozen |
 | AFK | Maintain control freeze, disable guns/grenades, guard player state and stale grace threads | Requested movement/shooting fix; retain `.afk` / `.back` and two-second grace |
-| Telemetry | Global `httpPost(url, options)`; no unnecessary common dependency | Avoid raw-loader `http.gsc` and obsolete common-path lookup errors |
+| Telemetry | Global `httpPost(url, options)`; T5-parity queue + heartbeat + game_start/end + watchdog + log-level dvar; per-player `guid` sources from Plutonium's `player.guid` engine property (T5 uses `player getGuid()` method); per-match `kills`/`headshots`/`downs`/`revives` fall back to `0` when `player.stats[]` is unpopulated | T6 has no `getGuid` method but exposes the persistent identity as `.guid` on the player entity; `_zm_stats` writes only into persistent stat storage, so `player.stats[]` is not a stock T6 field. Payload keys match T5 for downstream shape parity |
+| Join | Port of T5 `tws_join.gsc`; uses `level.spawnplayer` / `level.custom_spawnplayer` (lowercase) and `maps\mp\zombies\_zm::spectator_respawn`; readiness gated on `self.sessionstate == "spectator"` instead of T5's `self.initialized` | T6 stock spectator respawn hook lives in `_zm.gsc`; `self.initialized` is a T5 SP zombiemode marker that T6 stock does not populate the same way |
 
 Common retains the T5 HUD constants, helpers and first-spawn dispatcher.
 HUD again owns the `hud_game_over` notification fan-out. Lock again waits on HUD

t6/README.md

@@ -9,11 +9,12 @@ just like T5. There is no separate TWS config file or database setup.
 | `tws_t6_hud.gsc` | Match/round timers, name, zombie count and health bar | Common |
 | `tws_t6_afk.gsc` | `.afk` / `.back`, protection, movement and weapon blocking | Common |
 | `tws_t6_lock.gsc` | Lock at round 20; clear password on game over | Common, HUD |
-| `tws_t6_telemetry.gsc` | HTTP JSON round updates, enabled by default | t6-gsc-utils |
+| `tws_t6_telemetry.gsc` | Async queued game reports (game_start/heartbeat/round_change/game_end) | t6-gsc-utils |
+| `tws_t6_join.gsc` | `.join` chat command lets a spectator newcomer enter mid-match once | Common |
 
 ## Install
 
-1. Copy these five `tws_t6_*.gsc` files into `Plutonium/storage/t6/scripts/zm/`.
+1. Copy these six `tws_t6_*.gsc` files into `Plutonium/storage/t6/scripts/zm/`.
 2. For telemetry, install [t6-gsc-utils v3.1.1](https://github.com/alicealys/t6-gsc-utils/releases/tag/v3.1.1)
    in `Plutonium/plugins/` and restart the server process. The other four scripts
    do not require that plugin.
@@ -60,21 +61,41 @@ set tws_server_id "t6_zombie_town_1"
 set tws_telemetry_url "http://192.168.1.199:3000/api/telemetry"
 ```
 
-It sends the first occupied positive round and subsequent round changes:
+It sends four event types over the life of a match, mirroring the T5 script:
 
-```json
+| Event | When | Round in payload |
-{"event":"round_change","server":"t6_zombie_town_1","round":17,"players":4}
+| --- | --- | --- |
-```
+| `game_start` | First playable spawn | omitted |
+| `heartbeat` | Every 30s while the match is in progress | current round |
+| `round_change` | Every new positive round | new round |
+| `game_end` | `end_game` / `game_ended` / `intermission` | final round |
 
-Delivery is asynchronous, with one in-flight request and one replaceable pending
+Each event payload includes `event`, `server`, `map`, `round` (except `game_start`)
-observation. Transport failures retry at most three times (1/2/5 seconds), retiring
+and a `players` array with `name`, `guid`, `kills`, `headshots`, `downs`, `revives`
-snapshots older than 15 seconds or superseded by a newer round. Transport success
+and `score` per player. `guid` reads Plutonium's `player.guid` engine property
-does not establish API acceptance. These reports update Fleet; they do not send
+(T5 uses the `player getGuid()` method — T6 has no such method, but the field is
-beta boot, session, feature or match-completion evidence.
+equivalent for identity purposes). `kills`/`headshots`/`downs`/`revives` read
+from `player.stats[]` if a mod populates it, otherwise `0`.
+
+Delivery is asynchronous with a sequenced FIFO queue and one in-flight request.
+The queue survives the game-end signal so the final snapshot drains. There is no
+automatic retry: the receiver may already have accepted the event. Transport
+success reports the HTTP call finished, not that the API accepted it. Increase
+`tws_telemetry_log_level` to `2` for per-event capture/queue/response logging;
+set to `0` to silence non-error output.
+
+## `.join` for newcomers
+
+Late connectors who never got a spawn can type `.join` in chat to leave spectator
+mode before the round ends, once per connection. `.join` is rejected if the player
+has already played, if the game is not running, if no active player is alive, or
+during intermission. The script hooks the stock `spectator_respawn` path via
+`level.custom_spawnplayer`; it does not skip the map-authored spawn callback if
+another mod installed one first.
 
 ## Validation
 
-All five scripts compile for T6 PC with gsc-tool 1.4.10. To repeat:
+All six scripts compile for T6 PC with gsc-tool 1.4.10. To repeat:
 
 ```powershell
 .\tools\check.ps1 -CompilerPath C:\path\to\gsc-tool.exe

t6/tools/check.ps1

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ $ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
 $compiler = (Resolve-Path -LiteralPath $CompilerPath).Path
 $repo = Split-Path -Parent $PSScriptRoot
 $files = @(Get-ChildItem -LiteralPath $repo -Filter 'tws_t6_*.gsc' | Sort-Object Name)
-if ($files.Count -ne 5) { throw 'Expected the five TWS modules: common, HUD, AFK, lock, telemetry.' }
+if ($files.Count -ne 6) { throw 'Expected the six TWS modules: common, HUD, AFK, lock, telemetry, join.' }
 $common = Get-Content -LiteralPath (Join-Path $repo 'tws_t6_common.gsc') -Raw
 $functions = @([regex]::Matches($common, '(?m)^([a-zA-Z_][a-zA-Z_0-9]*)\([^\r\n]*\)\s*\r?\n\{') | ForEach-Object { $_.Groups[1].Value })
 foreach ($file in $files) {
@@ -31,4 +31,4 @@ foreach ($file in $files) {
     }
     Write-Output "PASS $($file.Name)"
 }
-Write-Output 'All five T6 compile checks and common references passed. Runtime linking/gameplay require Plutonium.'
+Write-Output 'All six T6 compile checks and common references passed. Runtime linking/gameplay require Plutonium.'

t6/tws_t6_join.gsc

@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+/* tws_t6_join.gsc - .join lets a newcomer leave spectator mode before round end. */
+
+#include maps\mp\_utility;
+#include common_scripts\utility;
+
+// Plutonium probes both entry points; runtime setup belongs in init.
+main()
+{
+    println("[tws_t6_join] main reached");
+}
+
+init()
+{
+    println("[tws_t6_join] init reached");
+
+    scripts\zm\tws_t6_common::ensure_config();
+    scripts\zm\tws_t6_common::register_spawn_handler(::join_spawn);
+
+    level thread join_chat_listener();
+}
+
+// Never reset this on death or round change. Spectator spawns do not count.
+join_spawn()
+{
+    self.tws_join_has_played = true;
+}
+
+join_chat_listener()
+{
+    level endon("end_game");
+    level endon("game_ended");
+    level endon("intermission");
+
+    for (;;)
+    {
+        level waittill("say", message, player);
+
+        if (!isDefined(player) || !isDefined(message))
+            continue;
+
+        if (toLower(message) == ".join")
+            player thread join_request();
+    }
+}
+
+join_request()
+{
+    self endon("disconnect");
+    level endon("end_game");
+    level endon("game_ended");
+    level endon("intermission");
+
+    // The spawn handler flag is set on first playable spawn only; spectator
+    // spawns do not trigger it. Belt-and-suspenders against re-triggering.
+    if (is_true(self.tws_join_has_played) || is_true(self.tws_join_used))
+    {
+        self iPrintLnBold("^3.join is only for newcomers who have not played yet");
+        return;
+    }
+
+    // Fail closed while the stock connection setup is still in progress.
+    // T6 stock does not populate self.initialized the way T5 SP zombiemode
+    // does; use sessionstate as the readiness signal.
+    if (!isDefined(self.sessionstate) || self.sessionstate != "spectator")
+    {
+        self iPrintLnBold("^3.join is only available while waiting to enter the game");
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if (is_true(level.intermission) || is_true(level.gameended) ||
+        !isDefined(level.round_number) || level.round_number < 1 ||
+        !isDefined(level.spawnplayer) || !join_has_active_player())
+    {
+        self iPrintLnBold("^3The game is not ready for .join");
+        return;
+    }
+
+    // Late connections can miss the stock seeding of self.spectator_respawn
+    // (stock asserts it in spectator_respawn); pick a random map spawn point
+    // as a fallback so the stock callback can proceed.
+    if (!isDefined(self.spectator_respawn))
+    {
+        points = getstructarray("initial_spawn_points", "targetname");
+        if (!isDefined(points) || points.size == 0)
+        {
+            self iPrintLnBold("^3No spawn point available; wait for the next round");
+            return;
+        }
+
+        self.spectator_respawn = points[randomInt(points.size)];
+    }
+
+    // Match stock spectators_respawn setup. Preserve any map-specific
+    // spawn callback if another mod already installed one.
+    if (!isDefined(level.custom_spawnplayer))
+        level.custom_spawnplayer = maps\mp\zombies\_zm::spectator_respawn;
+
+    // Consume BEFORE entering stock code, which may yield. Repeated chat
+    // commands cannot start overlapping spawns or grant another life.
+    self.tws_join_used = true;
+    self [[level.spawnplayer]]();
+}
+
+join_has_active_player()
+{
+    players = getPlayers();
+    for (i = 0; i < players.size; i++)
+    {
+        player = players[i];
+        if (isDefined(player.sessionstate) && player.sessionstate == "playing" &&
+            isAlive(player) && !(player maps\mp\zombies\_zm_laststand::player_is_in_laststand()))
+            return true;
+    }
+
+    return false;
+}

t6/tws_t6_telemetry.gsc

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* tws_t6_telemetry.gsc - direct HTTP round telemetry via t6-gsc-utils. */
+/* tws_t6_telemetry.gsc - Zombies game reports via t6-gsc-utils v3.1.1. */
 
 #include maps\mp\_utility;
 #include common_scripts\utility;
@@ -12,15 +12,15 @@ main()
 init()
 {
     println("[tws_t6_telemetry] init reached");
-    // Loaded only from scripts/zm; no shared HUD configuration is needed.
+
-    // Enabled when unset; explicitly set 0 to opt out.
+    scripts\zm\tws_t6_common::ensure_config();
+
     if (GetDvar("tws_telemetry_enabled") == "0")
     {
-        println("[tws_t6_telemetry] disabled");
+        println("[tws_t6_telemetry] Disabled by tws_telemetry_enabled=0");
         return;
     }
 
-    // Repeated init in the same VM must not create competing senders.
     if (isDefined(level.telemetry_initialized))
         return;
 
@@ -31,133 +31,403 @@ init()
     level.telemetry_server = GetDvar("tws_server_id");
     if (level.telemetry_server == "" || level.telemetry_server.size > 255)
     {
-        println("[tws_t6_telemetry] Set tws_server_id to the exact registered server name (1-255 characters)");
+        println("^1[tws_t6_telemetry] Set tws_server_id to the exact registered server name (1-255 characters)");
         return;
     }
 
     level.telemetry_initialized = true;
-    level.telemetry_pending = undefined;
+    level.telemetry_started = false;
-    println("[tws_t6_telemetry] watching for an occupied positive round");
+    level.telemetry_ended = false;
-    level thread telemetry_delivery_worker();
+    level.telemetry_last_round = -1;
+    level.telemetry_queue = [];
+    level.telemetry_queue_read = 0;
+    level.telemetry_queue_write = 0;
+    level.telemetry_sequence = 0;
+    level.telemetry_completed = 0;
+    level.telemetry_failed = 0;
+    level.telemetry_failure_streak = 0;
+    level.telemetry_last_completed = -1;
+    level.telemetry_last_capture = getTime();
+    level.telemetry_round_tick = getTime();
+    level.telemetry_capture_event = "none";
+    level.telemetry_sender_state = "starting";
+    level.telemetry_inflight = undefined;
+
+    telemetry_log(1, "Initialized; waiting for match start. log_level=" + telemetry_log_level());
+
+    // Route through the shared dispatcher; a duplicate connected listener
+    // would fight the T6 common spawn dispatcher.
+    scripts\zm\tws_t6_common::register_spawn_handler(::telemetry_game_start);
+
+    level thread telemetry_game_end_watcher();
+    level thread telemetry_sender();
     level thread telemetry_round_watcher();
+    level thread telemetry_watchdog();
 }
 
-// Independent of HUD installation. Report the first occupied positive round,
+// First playable spawn starts the match, including maps that pre-seed round 1.
-// including round 1 when the map pre-seeds it, then each observed transition.
+// Later spawns and joins must not reopen the match or repeat game_start.
-telemetry_round_watcher()
+telemetry_game_start()
 {
-    level endon("end_game");
+    if (level.telemetry_started || level.telemetry_ended)
-    level endon("game_ended");
+        return;
-    level endon("intermission");
 
-    last_round = -1;
+    level.telemetry_started = true;
+    level.telemetry_last_capture = getTime();
+    telemetry_log(1, "Match start detected");
+    telemetry_enqueue("game_start");
+    level thread telemetry_heartbeat_watcher();
+}
+
+// Start the interval with the match, independently of round changes or joins.
+telemetry_heartbeat_watcher()
+{
+    level endon("telemetry_finished");
 
     for (;;)
     {
-        if (isDefined(level.round_number) && level.round_number >= 1 &&
+        wait (30);
-            level.round_number != last_round)
+        telemetry_report_round();
+        telemetry_enqueue("heartbeat");
+    }
+}
+
+// Independent of HUD installation and player count. Poll for a positive round
+// with any player present as a fallback in case the dispatcher spawn hook missed
+// the first spawn (late-attach or stock ordering quirk).
+telemetry_round_watcher()
+{
+    level endon("telemetry_finished");
+
+    for (;;)
+    {
+        level.telemetry_round_tick = getTime();
+        if (!level.telemetry_started && isDefined(level.round_number) &&
+            level.round_number >= 1 && getPlayers().size > 0)
         {
-            players = getPlayers();
+            telemetry_log(1, "Starting from round_watcher fallback");
-            if (players.size > 0)
+            telemetry_game_start();
-            {
-                last_round = level.round_number;
-
-                // Snapshot values before handing off to the HTTP thread.
-                data = [];
-                data["event"] = "round_change";
-                data["round"] = int(last_round);
-                data["server"] = level.telemetry_server;
-                data["players"] = players.size;
-
-                // No runId field (including null/empty), boot, session or
-                // feature events in Fleet-only mode. Keep just the newest
-                // pending observation so an outage cannot build a backlog.
-                pending = spawnStruct();
-                println("[tws_t6_telemetry] serializing round " + last_round);
-                pending.body = jsonSerialize(data);
-                pending.observed_at = getTime();
-                level.telemetry_pending = pending;
-            }
         }
 
+        telemetry_report_round();
         wait (0.5);
     }
 }
 
-telemetry_delivery_worker()
+telemetry_report_round()
 {
-    level endon("end_game");
+    if (!level.telemetry_started || level.telemetry_ended ||
-    level endon("game_ended");
+        !isDefined(level.round_number) || level.round_number < 0)
-    level endon("intermission");
+        return;
 
-    backoff = [];
+    round = telemetry_nonnegative_int(level.round_number);
-    backoff[0] = 1;
+    if (round == level.telemetry_last_round)
-    backoff[1] = 2;
+        return;
-    backoff[2] = 5;
 
-    for (;;)
+    level.telemetry_last_round = round;
+    telemetry_enqueue("round_change");
+}
+
+telemetry_game_end_watcher()
+{
+    // One waiter consumes the first end signal, even if a map fires all three.
+    level waittill_any("end_game", "game_ended", "intermission");
+    telemetry_log(1, "Game-end signal received; stopping producers and draining queue");
+
+    // Preserve order even if the match ends before the next polling tick.
+    telemetry_game_start();
+    telemetry_report_round();
+    level.telemetry_ended = true;
+    level notify("telemetry_finished");
+    telemetry_enqueue("game_end");
+}
+
+telemetry_nonnegative_int(value)
+{
+    if (!isDefined(value) || value < 0)
+        return 0;
+
+    return int(value);
+}
+
+// T6 stock does not expose per-match kill/headshot/down/revive counters as a
+// plain player.stats[] dictionary the way T5 does; _zm_stats writes through
+// increment_client_stat / increment_player_stat into persistent stat storage.
+// Read player.stats[name] when present so any mod that mirrors T5 into it
+// still populates the report; otherwise emit 0 to preserve payload shape.
+telemetry_stat(player, name)
+{
+    if (!isDefined(player.stats) || !isDefined(player.stats[name]))
+        return 0;
+
+    return telemetry_nonnegative_int(player.stats[name]);
+}
+
+telemetry_players_json(include_stats)
+{
+    players = getPlayers();
+    body = "[";
+
+    for (i = 0; i < players.size; i++)
     {
-        if (!isDefined(level.telemetry_pending))
+        player = players[i];
+        if (!isDefined(player))
         {
-            wait (0.5);
+            telemetry_log(0, "WARNING: skipping undefined player at roster index " + i);
             continue;
         }
 
-        pending = level.telemetry_pending;
+        data = [];
-        level.telemetry_pending = undefined;
+        if (isDefined(player.name))
-
+            data["name"] = "" + player.name;
-        // One in-flight request plus one replaceable pending observation.
+        else if (isDefined(player.playername))
-        // A newer observation always retires retries of an older round.
+            data["name"] = "" + player.playername;
-        for (attempt = 0; attempt < 4; attempt++)
+        else
         {
-            if (isDefined(level.telemetry_pending) ||
+            telemetry_log(0, "WARNING: skipping player without a name at roster index " + i);
-                getTime() - pending.observed_at > 15000)
+            continue;
-                break;
-
-            if (telemetry_send(pending.body))
-                break;
-
-            if (attempt < 3)
-                wait (backoff[attempt]);
         }
+
+        // T6 exposes the persistent per-player identity as the .guid property
+        // (Plutonium engine field; not a method call and not from the plugin).
+        // With a linked Plutonium account it is the account ID; guest/local
+        // sessions fall back to the client slot number, which is expected.
+        // Force to string so the receiver never sees a numeric guid.
+        guid = player.guid;
+        if (!isDefined(guid) || guid == "" || data["name"] == "")
+        {
+            telemetry_log(0, "WARNING: skipping player with incomplete identity at roster index " + i);
+            continue;
+        }
+        data["guid"] = "" + guid;
+
+        if (include_stats)
+        {
+            data["kills"] = telemetry_stat(player, "kills");
+            data["headshots"] = telemetry_stat(player, "headshots");
+            data["downs"] = telemetry_stat(player, "downs");
+            data["revives"] = telemetry_stat(player, "revives");
+            // Current spendable points, not the lifetime points-earned stat.
+            data["score"] = telemetry_nonnegative_int(player.score);
+        }
+
+        if (body != "[")
+            body += ",";
+        body += jsonSerialize(data);
+    }
+
+    // t6-gsc-utils serializes an empty GSC array as null. Build only the
+    // array delimiters ourselves; the serializer still escapes all strings.
+    return body + "]";
+}
+
+telemetry_enqueue(event_name)
+{
+    level.telemetry_capture_event = event_name;
+    telemetry_log(2, "Capturing event=" + event_name);
+    // Snapshot and serialize before yielding, including during game over.
+    body = "{\"event\":" + jsonSerialize(event_name);
+    body += ",\"server\":" + jsonSerialize(level.telemetry_server);
+    body += ",\"map\":" + jsonSerialize(GetDvar("mapname"));
+    if (event_name != "game_start")
+        body += ",\"round\":" + telemetry_nonnegative_int(level.round_number);
+    body += ",\"players\":" + telemetry_players_json(event_name != "game_start") + "}";
+
+    entry = [];
+    level.telemetry_sequence++;
+    entry["id"] = level.telemetry_sequence;
+    entry["event"] = event_name;
+    entry["round"] = telemetry_nonnegative_int(level.round_number);
+    entry["captured"] = getTime();
+    entry["body"] = body;
+    level.telemetry_queue[level.telemetry_queue_write] = entry;
+    level.telemetry_queue_write++;
+    level.telemetry_last_capture = getTime();
+    level.telemetry_capture_event = "none";
+    telemetry_log(2, "Queued " + telemetry_event_label(entry) + " pending=" + telemetry_pending());
+    level notify("telemetry_queued");
+}
+
+// A single worker keeps one request in flight. It survives game-over notifies
+// to drain the final snapshot; no retries, discovery, or beta-specific calls.
+telemetry_sender()
+{
+    for (;;)
+    {
+        if (level.telemetry_queue_read == level.telemetry_queue_write)
+        {
+            level.telemetry_queue = [];
+            level.telemetry_queue_read = 0;
+            level.telemetry_queue_write = 0;
+            if (level.telemetry_ended)
+            {
+                level.telemetry_sender_state = "drained";
+                telemetry_log(1, "Queue drained after game end; completed=" + level.telemetry_completed + " failed=" + level.telemetry_failed);
+                level notify("telemetry_drained");
+                return;
+            }
+
+            level.telemetry_sender_state = "idle";
+            level waittill("telemetry_queued");
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        entry = level.telemetry_queue[level.telemetry_queue_read];
+        level.telemetry_queue[level.telemetry_queue_read] = undefined;
+        level.telemetry_queue_read++;
+        telemetry_send(entry);
     }
 }
 
-// Returns transport completion only, NEVER beta/API acceptance. The released
+// v3.1.1 global alias: httpPost(url, options) with options["method"|"headers"|"body"].
-// plugin exposes body/success/error but no HTTP status or cancellation. Do not
+// The plugin exposes no cancellation API and no HTTP status code; treat the
-// start a replacement request on a script timeout: the old one could still
+// success flag as transport completion only and never overlap requests.
-// commit later and overwrite Fleet with a stale round. Gameplay never waits
+telemetry_send(entry)
-// on this worker. Malformed/HTML bodies are not passed to throwing jsonParse.
-telemetry_send(body)
 {
+    level.telemetry_inflight = entry;
+    level.telemetry_request_started = getTime();
+    level.telemetry_sender_state = "creating_request";
+    label = telemetry_event_label(entry);
+    telemetry_log(1, "Sending " + label + " queue_ms=" + (getTime() - entry["captured"]) + " pending=" + telemetry_pending());
+
     headers = [];
     headers["Content-Type"] = "application/json";
 
     options = [];
     options["method"] = "POST";
     options["headers"] = headers;
-    options["body"] = body;
+    options["body"] = entry["body"];
 
-    // v3.1.1 global alias: options array, NOT positional body/headers.
-    // Avoid the raw loader treating the http namespace as http.gsc.
-    println("[tws_t6_telemetry] calling httpPost");
     request = httpPost(level.telemetry_url, options);
-    println("[tws_t6_telemetry] HTTP handle returned; waiting for completion");
+    if (!isDefined(request))
+    {
+        telemetry_transport_failed(label + " request handle is undefined; skipping event");
+        level.telemetry_inflight = undefined;
+        level.telemetry_sender_state = "idle";
+        return;
+    }
+
+    level.telemetry_sender_state = "waiting_http";
     request waittill("done", response, success, error);
-    println("[tws_t6_telemetry] HTTP completion received");
+    elapsed = getTime() - level.telemetry_request_started;
+    level.telemetry_last_completed = getTime();
 
     // The plugin's success flag reports transport completion, not HTTP status.
-    // Unscoped round reports replace Fleet state; retrying the same snapshot
+    // No automatic retry: the receiver may already have accepted the event.
-    // cannot duplicate beta evidence. HTTP errors cannot be classified here,
-    // so only reported transport failures receive bounded retries.
     if (!isDefined(success) || !success)
     {
         if (!isDefined(error))
             error = "unknown transport error";
-        print("^1[tws_t6_telemetry] Round telemetry failed: " + error);
+        telemetry_transport_failed(label + " elapsed_ms=" + elapsed + " error=" + telemetry_preview(error));
-        return false;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        level.telemetry_completed++;
+        if (level.telemetry_failure_streak > 0)
+            telemetry_log(0, "Transport recovered after " + level.telemetry_failure_streak + " failures; " + label);
+        level.telemetry_failure_streak = 0;
+        telemetry_log(1, "Transport completed " + label + " elapsed_ms=" + elapsed + " (API acceptance unverified)");
+        if (!isDefined(response) || response == "")
+            telemetry_log(0, "WARNING: empty API response for " + label);
+        else
+            telemetry_log(2, "Response " + label + " body=" + telemetry_preview(response));
     }
 
-    println("[tws_t6_telemetry] Transport completed; API acceptance is not verified by this plugin");
+    level.telemetry_inflight = undefined;
-    return true;
+    level.telemetry_sender_state = "idle";
+}
+
+telemetry_transport_failed(detail)
+{
+    level.telemetry_failed++;
+    level.telemetry_failure_streak++;
+    telemetry_log(0, "ERROR: transport failed " + detail + " consecutive_failures=" + level.telemetry_failure_streak);
+}
+
+telemetry_pending()
+{
+    return level.telemetry_queue_write - level.telemetry_queue_read;
+}
+
+telemetry_event_label(entry)
+{
+    return "id=" + entry["id"] + " event=" + entry["event"] + " round=" + entry["round"];
+}
+
+// Read live so diagnostics can be increased without restarting the map.
+telemetry_log_level()
+{
+    raw = GetDvar("tws_telemetry_log_level");
+    if (raw == "0")
+        return 0;
+    if (raw == "2")
+        return 2;
+    return 1;
+}
+
+telemetry_log(verbosity, message)
+{
+    if (verbosity > telemetry_log_level())
+        return;
+
+    println("[tws_t6_telemetry] server=" + level.telemetry_server + " map=" + GetDvar("mapname") + " time_ms=" + getTime() + " " + message);
+}
+
+// Escape newlines/control characters and bound response/error output. Do not
+// jsonParse arbitrary replies: a proxy may return HTML or malformed JSON.
+telemetry_preview(value)
+{
+    if (!isDefined(value))
+        return "<undefined>";
+    value = "" + value;
+    if (value.size > 256)
+        value = getSubStr(value, 0, 256) + "... [truncated]";
+    return jsonSerialize(value);
+}
+
+// Independent of producers and the HTTP wait; survives game over until drain.
+// The plugin cannot cancel requests. Warn without opening overlapping POSTs
+// that could arrive out of order or exhaust its native worker pool.
+telemetry_watchdog()
+{
+    level endon("telemetry_drained");
+    for (;;)
+    {
+        wait (30);
+        now = getTime();
+        pending = telemetry_pending();
+        completion_age = -1;
+        if (level.telemetry_last_completed >= 0)
+            completion_age = now - level.telemetry_last_completed;
+
+        telemetry_log(1, "Health started=" + level.telemetry_started + " ended=" + level.telemetry_ended +
+            " sender=" + level.telemetry_sender_state + " capturing=" + level.telemetry_capture_event +
+            " pending=" + pending + " queued_total=" + level.telemetry_sequence +
+            " completed=" + level.telemetry_completed + " failed=" + level.telemetry_failed +
+            " last_done_ms_ago=" + completion_age);
+
+        if (isDefined(level.telemetry_inflight))
+        {
+            age = now - level.telemetry_request_started;
+            if (age >= 30000)
+                telemetry_log(0, "WARNING: HTTP stalled " + telemetry_event_label(level.telemetry_inflight) +
+                    " elapsed_ms=" + age + " pending=" + pending + " stage=" + level.telemetry_sender_state +
+                    "; waiting for plugin completion (no cancellation API)");
+        }
+        else if (pending > 0)
+        {
+            oldest = level.telemetry_queue[level.telemetry_queue_read];
+            if (now - oldest["captured"] >= 30000)
+                telemetry_log(0, "WARNING: sender is not consuming queued reports; " + telemetry_event_label(oldest));
+        }
+
+        if (!level.telemetry_ended)
+        {
+            if (now - level.telemetry_round_tick > 5000)
+                telemetry_log(0, "WARNING: round watcher has stopped advancing");
+            if (level.telemetry_started && now - level.telemetry_last_capture >= 65000)
+                telemetry_log(0, "WARNING: no snapshot captured for " + (now - level.telemetry_last_capture) +
+                    "ms; capture_event=" + level.telemetry_capture_event);
+        }
+    }
 }