Gate

The Gate is a placeable building that controls access along paths and walkways. It provides three user-selectable modes—Open, Closed, and Automated—and can be linked to signal sources for conditional operation. Gates affect pathfinding where they are placed: when open they allow unrestricted passage; when closed they block passage for the duration of closure.

The control panel exposes three buttons: Open, Closed and Automated. Choosing Automated reveals a dropdown to assign a signal source (such as a lever, sensor or logic element). Automated mode toggles the gate state according to the linked signal. Beavers and bots that already have a confirmed destination do not get stopped mid-walk if a gate closes after they commit; they continue to their target even if the gate closes behind them. Agents that need to return or re-plan will treat a closed gate as an obstacle and will calculate alternate routes where available.

Gates integrate with the path network in the same way as removing a section of path: a newly closed gate behaves like a removed path segment for agents that are planning routes. Gates do not permanently trap agents; they will reroute when necessary and will not become stuck simply because a gate closes.

Practical notes and usage:

• Use Gates to control traffic flow, segregate areas (work vs. residential), and protect resources or livestock by limiting access along specific walkways.
• In Automated mode, combine Gates with sensors or timers to create scheduled access windows or to open only when an authorized signal is present.
• Place Gates at choke points to manage traffic congestion or to prevent certain classes of agents from entering sensitive districts.
• Remember that agents already en route to a destination will not be interrupted by a gate closing after they start moving; plan gate timing accordingly if precise control over movement is required.
• Gates are primarily a utility for organization and access control rather than a means of permanently sealing off an area; ensure alternative routes or persistent closures where complete containment is needed.

A Gate also serves a visual and thematic role as the entry point to enclosed districts and farms, echoing real-world usage where gates regulate who may enter or leave an area.