Keep multiplayer options in the start menu only; free M for the world map.

The menu no longer opens in-game and will not reappear after gameplay has started.

Co-authored-by: Cursor <cursoragent@cursor.com>

Docs/Multiplayer.md

@@ -1,16 +1,9 @@
 # Multiplayer, Steam & Server Admin
 
-## In-Game Menu (`M`)
+## Start Menu
 
-Opens automatically on start and again with **M**:
-
-- **Map** selection
-- **Backend**: Auto / Steam / LAN
-- **Host Port** + Max Players
-- **Find Steam** / **Find LAN**
-- **Join selected session**
-- **Connect by IP:Port**
-- **Play Solo**
+Map / Steam / LAN / IP:Port selection appears **only at game start**.  
+It is not bound to a key in-game (`M` is reserved for the world map).
 
 ## Steam
 

README.md

@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ A life-simulation action RPG remake inspired by Fantasy Life, built in **Unreal
 | Interact / Craft | E | X / Square |
 | Attack | LMB | RT |
 | Toggle camera (Top-Down / FP) | C | Menu |
-| Multiplayer menu | M | — |
 | Pause | Esc | Start |
 
 ### Pause menu shortcuts

Source/VocationLife/Private/VocationGameInstance.cpp

@@ -21,6 +21,11 @@ void UVocationGameInstance::Init()
 	OnDataReady.Broadcast();
 }
 
+void UVocationGameInstance::MarkGameplayStarted()
+{
+	bHasEnteredGameplay = true;
+}
+
 void UVocationGameInstance::InitializeDefaultData()
 {
 	ItemDefinitions.Empty();

Source/VocationLife/Private/VocationHUD.cpp

@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ void AVocationHUD::DrawMainHUD()
 	}
 	else
 	{
-		const FString Controls = TEXT("WASD Move | C Camera | M Multiplayer | E Interact | LMB Attack | I Save | Esc Pause");
+		const FString Controls = TEXT("WASD Move | C Camera | E Interact | LMB Attack | I Save | Esc Pause");
 		Canvas->DrawColor = FColor(200, 200, 200);
 		Canvas->DrawText(GEngine->GetSmallFont(), Controls, 40.f * Scale, Canvas->ClipY - 60.f * Scale, Scale, Scale);
 	}

Source/VocationLife/Private/VocationMainMenuWidget.cpp

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 #include "VocationMainMenuWidget.h"
 #include "VocationSessionSubsystem.h"
+#include "VocationGameInstance.h"
 #include "Components/Button.h"
 #include "Components/ComboBoxString.h"
 #include "Components/EditableTextBox.h"
@@ -72,7 +73,7 @@ void UVocationMainMenuWidget::BuildUI()
 		}
 	};
 
-	AddToColumn(MakeLabel(WidgetTree, TEXT("Title"), TEXT("VocationLife Multiplayer")));
+	AddToColumn(MakeLabel(WidgetTree, TEXT("Title"), TEXT("VocationLife — Start Menu")));
 
 	AddToColumn(MakeLabel(WidgetTree, TEXT("MapLabel"), TEXT("Map")));
 	MapCombo = WidgetTree->ConstructWidget<UComboBoxString>(UComboBoxString::StaticClass(), TEXT("MapCombo"));
@@ -182,6 +183,22 @@ void UVocationMainMenuWidget::SetStatus(const FString& Message)
 	}
 }
 
+void UVocationMainMenuWidget::LeaveStartMenu()
+{
+	if (UVocationGameInstance* GI = GetGameInstance<UVocationGameInstance>())
+	{
+		GI->MarkGameplayStarted();
+	}
+
+	if (APlayerController* PC = GetOwningPlayer())
+	{
+		PC->bShowMouseCursor = false;
+		PC->SetInputMode(FInputModeGameOnly());
+	}
+
+	RemoveFromParent();
+}
+
 void UVocationMainMenuWidget::OnHostClicked()
 {
 	UVocationSessionSubsystem* Sessions = GetGameInstance() ? GetGameInstance()->GetSubsystem<UVocationSessionSubsystem>() : nullptr;
@@ -202,8 +219,8 @@ void UVocationMainMenuWidget::OnHostClicked()
 	if (BackendIndex == 2) Backend = EVocationNetBackend::LAN;
 
 	SetStatus(TEXT("Hosting..."));
+	LeaveStartMenu();
 	Sessions->HostSession(MaxPlayers, Name, MapPath, Port, Backend, Backend == EVocationNetBackend::LAN);
-	RemoveFromParent();
 }
 
 void UVocationMainMenuWidget::OnFindSteamClicked()
@@ -235,6 +252,7 @@ void UVocationMainMenuWidget::OnJoinSelectedClicked()
 			return;
 		}
 		SetStatus(TEXT("Joining session..."));
+		LeaveStartMenu();
 		Sessions->JoinSessionByIndex(Index);
 	}
 }
@@ -246,8 +264,8 @@ void UVocationMainMenuWidget::OnConnectIpClicked()
 		const FString IP = IpBox ? IpBox->GetText().ToString() : TEXT("127.0.0.1");
 		const int32 Port = JoinPortBox ? FCString::Atoi(*JoinPortBox->GetText().ToString()) : 7777;
 		SetStatus(FString::Printf(TEXT("Connecting to %s:%d ..."), *IP, Port));
+		LeaveStartMenu();
 		Sessions->ConnectByIP(IP, Port);
-		RemoveFromParent();
 	}
 }
 
@@ -257,8 +275,8 @@ void UVocationMainMenuWidget::OnSoloClicked()
 	{
 		const int32 MapIndex = MapCombo ? MapCombo->GetSelectedIndex() : 0;
 		const FString MapPath = CachedMaps.IsValidIndex(MapIndex) ? CachedMaps[MapIndex].MapPath : TEXT("/Engine/Maps/Entry");
+		LeaveStartMenu();
 		Sessions->TravelToMap(MapPath, false, 7777);
-		RemoveFromParent();
 	}
 }
 
@@ -295,6 +313,6 @@ void UVocationMainMenuWidget::OnSessionJoined(bool bSuccess)
 	SetStatus(bSuccess ? TEXT("Join/host ok") : TEXT("Join/host failed"));
 	if (bSuccess)
 	{
-		RemoveFromParent();
+		LeaveStartMenu();
 	}
 }

Source/VocationLife/Private/VocationPlayerController.cpp

@@ -44,10 +44,10 @@ void AVocationPlayerController::BeginPlay()
 		GI->SetGraphicsPreset(GI->GetGraphicsPreset(), GI->IsRayTracingEnabled());
 	}
 
-	// Show multiplayer menu on first load (local player only).
+	// Start menu only once per game session — not reopenable in-game (M reserved for map).
 	if (IsLocalController() && !IsRunningDedicatedServer())
 	{
-		ToggleMultiplayerMenu();
+		ShowStartMenuIfNeeded();
 	}
 }
 
@@ -75,7 +75,6 @@ void AVocationPlayerController::SetupInputComponent()
 	InputComponent->BindKey(EKeys::F3, IE_Pressed, this, &AVocationPlayerController::ApplyHighGraphics).bConsumeInput = false;
 	InputComponent->BindKey(EKeys::F4, IE_Pressed, this, &AVocationPlayerController::ApplyUltraGraphics).bConsumeInput = false;
 	InputComponent->BindKey(EKeys::F5, IE_Pressed, this, &AVocationPlayerController::ApplyRayTracingGraphics).bConsumeInput = false;
-	InputComponent->BindKey(EKeys::M, IE_Pressed, this, &AVocationPlayerController::ToggleMultiplayerMenu).bConsumeInput = false;
 	InputComponent->BindKey(EKeys::H, IE_Pressed, this, &AVocationPlayerController::HostCoopGame).bConsumeInput = false;
 	InputComponent->BindKey(EKeys::J, IE_Pressed, this, &AVocationPlayerController::JoinFirstFoundSession).bConsumeInput = false;
 	InputComponent->BindKey(EKeys::S, IE_Pressed, this, &AVocationPlayerController::QuickSave).bConsumeInput = false;
@@ -118,13 +117,16 @@ void AVocationPlayerController::ClearInteractionPrompt()
 	}
 }
 
-void AVocationPlayerController::ToggleMultiplayerMenu()
+void AVocationPlayerController::ShowStartMenuIfNeeded()
 {
+	UVocationGameInstance* GI = GetGameInstance<UVocationGameInstance>();
+	if (!GI || GI->HasGameplayStarted())
+	{
+		return;
+	}
+
 	if (MultiplayerMenu && MultiplayerMenu->IsInViewport())
 	{
-		MultiplayerMenu->RemoveFromParent();
-		bShowMouseCursor = false;
-		SetInputMode(FInputModeGameOnly());
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -133,9 +135,8 @@ void AVocationPlayerController::ToggleMultiplayerMenu()
 	{
 		MultiplayerMenu->AddToViewport(100);
 		bShowMouseCursor = true;
-		FInputModeGameAndUI Mode;
+		FInputModeUIOnly Mode;
 		Mode.SetLockMouseToViewportBehavior(EMouseLockMode::DoNotLock);
-		Mode.SetHideCursorDuringCapture(false);
 		SetInputMode(Mode);
 	}
 }
@@ -144,6 +145,10 @@ void AVocationPlayerController::HostCoopGame()
 {
 	if (UVocationSessionSubsystem* Sessions = GetGameInstance()->GetSubsystem<UVocationSessionSubsystem>())
 	{
+		if (UVocationGameInstance* GI = GetGameInstance<UVocationGameInstance>())
+		{
+			GI->MarkGameplayStarted();
+		}
 		Sessions->HostSession(4, TEXT("VocationLife"), TEXT("/Engine/Maps/Entry"), 7777, EVocationNetBackend::Auto, false);
 	}
 }

Source/VocationLife/Public/VocationGameInstance.h

@@ -48,6 +48,13 @@ public:
 	UFUNCTION(BlueprintCallable, Category = "VocationLife|Graphics")
 	bool IsRayTracingEnabled() const { return bRayTracingEnabled; }
 
+	/** Once true, the start/multiplayer menu will not open again this session. */
+	UFUNCTION(BlueprintCallable, Category = "VocationLife|UI")
+	void MarkGameplayStarted();
+
+	UFUNCTION(BlueprintCallable, Category = "VocationLife|UI")
+	bool HasGameplayStarted() const { return bHasEnteredGameplay; }
+
 	UPROPERTY(BlueprintAssignable, Category = "VocationLife")
 	FOnVocationDataReady OnDataReady;
 
@@ -68,4 +75,7 @@ protected:
 
 	UPROPERTY()
 	bool bRayTracingEnabled = false;
+
+	UPROPERTY()
+	bool bHasEnteredGameplay = false;
 };

Source/VocationLife/Public/VocationMainMenuWidget.h

@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ protected:
 	UFUNCTION()
 	void OnSessionJoined(bool bSuccess);
 
+	void LeaveStartMenu();
+
 	UPROPERTY()
 	TObjectPtr<UComboBoxString> MapCombo;
 

Source/VocationLife/Public/VocationPlayerController.h

@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ public:
 	void ClearInteractionPrompt();
 
 	UFUNCTION(BlueprintCallable, Category = "VocationLife|UI")
-	void ToggleMultiplayerMenu();
+	void ShowStartMenuIfNeeded();
 
 	UFUNCTION(BlueprintCallable, Category = "VocationLife|Session")
 	void HostCoopGame();