Show damage flash in spectator

docs/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -34,6 +34,12 @@ Version 1.3.0 (Bakeapple): Not yet released
 - Default gore level to 1
 - Default `gibbing` to disabled for dedicated servers
 
+[@nickalreadyinuse](https://github.com/nickalreadyinuse)
+- Sync animation state for crouched players in first person spectate view
+- Sync rail scanner in first person spectate
+- Implement damage screen flash in first person spectate mode
+- Add `cl_damageflash_spectator` console command to toggle damage screen flash in first person spectate
+
 [@natarii](https://github.com/natarii)
 - Implement FFLink client functionality in launcher
 
@@ -50,8 +56,6 @@ Version 1.3.0 (Bakeapple): Not yet released
 
 [@nickalreadyinuse](https://github.com/nickalreadyinuse)
 - Optimize network performance for `af_obj_update` packets and bot decommission logic
-- Sync animation state for crouched players in first person spectate view
-- Sync rail scanner in first person spectate
 - Fix Alt+Enter crash in Direct3D 11 renderer
 
 Version 1.2.2 (Willow): Released Jan-04-2026

game_patch/misc/alpine_settings.cpp

@@ -346,6 +346,10 @@ bool alpine_player_settings_load(rf::Player* player)
         g_alpine_game_config.damage_screen_flash = std::stoi(settings["DamageScreenFlash"]);
         processed_keys.insert("DamageScreenFlash");
     }
+    if (settings.count("SpectateDamageScreenFlash")) {
+        g_alpine_game_config.spectate_damage_screen_flash = std::stoi(settings["SpectateDamageScreenFlash"]);
+        processed_keys.insert("SpectateDamageScreenFlash");
+    }
     if (settings.count("ExplosionFlashLightsWeapons")) {
         g_alpine_game_config.explosion_weapon_flash_lights = std::stoi(settings["ExplosionFlashLightsWeapons"]);
         processed_keys.insert("ExplosionFlashLightsWeapons");
@@ -1115,6 +1119,7 @@ void alpine_player_settings_save(rf::Player* player)
     file << "NeverAutoswitchExplosives=" << player->settings.dont_autoswitch_to_explosives << "\n";
     file << "ToggleCrouch=" << player->settings.toggle_crouch << "\n";
     file << "DamageScreenFlash=" << g_alpine_game_config.damage_screen_flash << "\n";
+    file << "SpectateDamageScreenFlash=" << g_alpine_game_config.spectate_damage_screen_flash << "\n";
     file << "ExplosionFlashLightsWeapons=" << g_alpine_game_config.explosion_weapon_flash_lights << "\n";
     file << "ExplosionFlashLightsEnv=" << g_alpine_game_config.explosion_env_flash_lights << "\n";
     file << "BurningEntityLights=" << g_alpine_game_config.burning_entity_lights << "\n";

game_patch/misc/alpine_settings.h

@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ struct AlpineGameSettings
     bool show_run_timer = true;
     bool multi_ricochet = false;
     bool damage_screen_flash = true;
+    bool spectate_damage_screen_flash = true;
     bool explosion_weapon_flash_lights = true;
     bool explosion_env_flash_lights = true;
     bool burning_entity_lights = true;

game_patch/misc/player.cpp

@@ -487,7 +487,8 @@ FunHook<void()> players_do_frame_hook{
     []() {
         players_do_frame_hook.call_target();
         if (multi_spectate_is_spectating()) {
-            rf::hud_do_frame(multi_spectate_get_target_player());
+            rf::Player* target = multi_spectate_get_target_player();
+            rf::hud_do_frame(target);
         }
         else {
             local_delayed_spawn_do_frame(); // try to spawn if a delayed spawn is queued
@@ -513,6 +514,15 @@ ConsoleCommand2 damage_screen_flash_cmd{
     "Toggle damage screen flash effect",
 };
 
+ConsoleCommand2 spectate_damage_screen_flash_cmd{
+    "cl_damageflash_spectator",
+    []() {
+        g_alpine_game_config.spectate_damage_screen_flash = !g_alpine_game_config.spectate_damage_screen_flash;
+        rf::console::print("Spectator damage screen flash effect is {}", g_alpine_game_config.spectate_damage_screen_flash ? "enabled" : "disabled");
+    },
+    "Toggle damage screen flash effect while spectating",
+};
+
 ConsoleCommand2 weapon_explosion_flash_lights_cmd{
     "cl_explosionflashweapons",
     []() {
@@ -926,6 +936,7 @@ void player_do_patch()
 
     // Commands
     damage_screen_flash_cmd.register_cmd();
+    spectate_damage_screen_flash_cmd.register_cmd();
     weapon_explosion_flash_lights_cmd.register_cmd();
     env_explosion_flash_lights_cmd.register_cmd();
     burning_entity_lights_cmd.register_cmd();

game_patch/multi/network.cpp

@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include "server_internal.h"
 #include "../main/main.h"
 #include "../hud/hud.h"
+#include "../hud/multi_spectate.h"
 #include "../rf/multi.h"
 #include "../rf/misc.h"
 #include "../rf/player/player.h"
@@ -903,6 +904,26 @@ CodeInjection process_obj_update_check_flags_injection{
         },
     };
 
+// Trigger spectator damage screen flash when the spectated player's health or armor decreases.
+// Injected at the point in process_obj_update_packet where a health/armor decrease has been
+// confirmed (OUF_HEALTH_ARMOR set, new value < entity value) but before the local-player check.
+// edi = entity pointer at this address.
+CodeInjection process_obj_update_health_armor_spectate_injection{
+    0x0047E4DA,
+    [](auto& regs) {
+        if (!g_alpine_game_config.spectate_damage_screen_flash || rf::is_server)
+            return;
+        rf::Entity* entity = regs.edi;
+        if (!entity)
+            return;
+        rf::Player* spectated = multi_spectate_get_target_player();
+        if (!spectated || spectated == rf::local_player || multi_spectate_is_freelook())
+            return;
+        if (entity == rf::entity_from_handle(spectated->entity_handle))
+            rf::local_screen_flash(rf::local_player, 255, 0, 0, 128);
+    },
+};
+
 CodeInjection process_obj_update_weapon_fire_injection{
     0x0047E2FF,
     [](auto& regs) {
@@ -2378,6 +2399,9 @@ void network_init()
     // Fix obj_update packet handling
     process_obj_update_check_flags_injection.install();
 
+    // Spectator damage screen flash via obj_update health/armor
+    process_obj_update_health_armor_spectate_injection.install();
+
     // Verify on/off weapons handling
     process_obj_update_weapon_fire_injection.install();