Implement TODO backlog: LATE phase fix, protester, CALL_SOMEONE, door lock, flashlight, persistence, navmesh, JSON localization, and release tooling

- Fix LATE shift phase (start 700s) so the violent-threat event is reachable
- Add PROTESTER archetype (rules, profile, colors, events in public venues)
- Add CALL_SOMEONE reaction (FSM -> ARGUING, influencer/trespasser/protester weights)
- Door lock: DoorState core class, L binding, red/green visual indicator,
  locked doors thwart FORCE_ENTRY
- Flashlight: G binding, SpotLight3D, perception radius bonus at evening/late
- Persistence: save shift results via Save autoload, history + best score on
  review screen, round-trip test
- Navigation: flat NavigationRegion3D navmesh, NavigationAgent3D path following
  with direct-movement fallback; steps made visual-only so NPCs reach entrance
- Localization: strings moved to content/strings.en.json (loader keeps
  lookup/fmt signatures; coverage test over all keys)
- Distribution: export_presets.cfg (Linux/Windows/macOS), tools/build_releases.sh,
  docs/RELEASING.md, prominent README Downloads section
- Remove stale signal_bus.gd (invalid static-signal experiment)
- Tests: 53 passing across 9 suites

src/core/door_state.gd

@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+class_name DoorState
+extends RefCounted
+## Door lock/secure mechanic (PLAN.md: Level 3 — lock or secure the door).
+## Pure logic: GameManager and WorldBuilder only mirror state visually.
+
+var locked := false
+
+func _init(p_start_locked: bool = false) -> void:
+	locked = p_start_locked
+
+func toggle() -> bool:
+	locked = not locked
+	return locked
+
+func set_locked(value: bool) -> void:
+	locked = value
+
+## A force-entry attempt. Returns { succeeded: bool, outcome: String }.
+## Locked doors thwart attempts; unlocked doors admit the forced entry.
+func attempt_force() -> Dictionary:
+	if locked:
+		return {"succeeded": false, "outcome": "thwarted"}
+	return {"succeeded": true, "outcome": "entered"}

src/core/npc_controller.gd

@@ -114,6 +114,9 @@ func _update_state_for_reaction(r: int) -> void:
 			fsm.transition_to("LOITERING_DISTANT")
 			will_return = true
 			return_delay_s = _roll_return_delay()
+		Rules.Reaction.CALL_SOMEONE:
+			# The NPC stops to call someone for help (PLAN.md: Level 2 reactions).
+			fsm.transition_to("ARGUING")
 		_:
 			pass
 
@@ -153,12 +156,13 @@ func decide_leave() -> bool:
 ## Perception pass: given the guard's distance (meters), return a perception
 ## result describing how the NPC reacts to the guard's presence. Pure and
 ## headless-testable; the presentation layer feeds it the real distance.
+## bonus_range widens awareness when the guard uses a flashlight at night.
 ## Returns { noticed: bool, band: String, reaction: int }.
-func perceive_guard(distance: float) -> Dictionary:
+func perceive_guard(distance: float, bonus_range: float = 0.0) -> Dictionary:
 	var band := "unaware"
 	if distance <= NEAR_RADIUS:
 		band = "near"
-	elif distance <= AWARE_RADIUS:
+	elif distance <= AWARE_RADIUS + bonus_range:
 		band = "aware"
 	var noticed := band != "unaware"
 	if noticed and not guard_noticed:

src/core/rules.gd

@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ enum NpcType {
 	AUTHORIZED_GUEST,
 	DELIVERY,
 	RESPONDER,
+	PROTESTER,
 }
 
 const NPC_TYPE_NAMES := {
@@ -52,6 +53,7 @@ const NPC_TYPE_NAMES := {
 	NpcType.AUTHORIZED_GUEST: "Authorized Guest",
 	NpcType.DELIVERY: "Delivery",
 	NpcType.RESPONDER: "Responder",
+	NpcType.PROTESTER: "Protester",
 }
 
 ## Access artifact kinds used by AccessVerifier.
@@ -103,6 +105,7 @@ enum Reaction {
 	THREATEN = 5,
 	RETURN_LATER = 6,
 	FORCE_ENTRY = 7,
+	CALL_SOMEONE = 8,
 }
 
 ## Player dialogue tones.

src/core/signal_bus.gd

@@ -1,21 +0,0 @@
-class_name SignalBus
-extends RefCounted
-## Static signal bus (ADR-0005 spirit: decoupled, deterministic).
-## Unlike an autoload, `SignalBus` resolves at parse time through preloads,
-## so it works identically under `--script`, in headless CI, and in the game.
-
-static signal incident_recorded(incident: Dictionary)
-static signal player_action(action: Dictionary)
-static signal escalation_changed(payload: Dictionary)
-static signal radio_call(call: Dictionary)
-static signal responder_arrived(responder: Dictionary)
-static signal npc_state_changed(payload: Dictionary)
-static signal shift_state_changed(payload: Dictionary)
-static signal reputation_changed(payload: Dictionary)
-static signal crowd_changed(payload: Dictionary)
-static signal access_decided(payload: Dictionary)
-static signal shift_review_ready(review: Dictionary)
-static signal anything_happened(value: String)
-
-func _init() -> void:
-	push_error("SignalBus is a static utility class; use SignalBus.<signal> directly.")

src/core/strings.gd

@@ -1,64 +1,45 @@
 class_name Strings
 ## Centralized UI and dialogue text table (PLAN.md: Polish and Accessibility —
-## localization). All user-facing strings live here so they can be swapped for
-## a localized table later. Keys are stable identifiers; values are English.
+## localization). English strings live in an editable JSON file so they can be
+## swapped or translated without touching code. Keys are stable identifiers.
 
-const TABLE := {
-	# HUD / controls
-	"hud.controls": "Q polite direction · 1-3 simple gestures · 4 warning · 5 block · 6 assist · R emergency · E inspect / close · W wand · A allow · D deny · T tone · F debug",
-	"hud.tone_prefix": "Tone: %s",
-	"hud.escalation_prefix": "Escalation: %s",
-	"hud.cooldown": "EMERGENCY RADIO COOLDOWN: %.0fs",
-	"hud.aim_first": "Aim at someone first.",
-	"hud.no_one_nearby": "No one nearby.",
-	"hud.targeting": "Targeting %s (Tab to cycle).",
-	"hud.no_wand": "No wand at this venue.",
-	"hud.screen_first": "Screen this guest with the wand (W) before admitting them.",
+const DEFAULT_LOCALE := "en"
+const TABLE_PATH := "res://content/strings.%s.json"
 
-	# Access decisions
-	"access.granted": "Entry granted: %s",
-	"access.denied": "Entry denied: %s",
-	"access.policy_satisfied": "policy satisfied",
-	"access.wrong_grant": "You granted entry despite verification failure!",
-	"access.wrong_deny": "You denied entry despite valid verification!",
+## Populated lazily from the JSON table. Kept public so tests and tooling can
+## enumerate keys (e.g. coverage checks).
+static var TABLE: Dictionary = {}
+static var _load_attempted := false
 
-	# Wand screening
-	"wand.admitted_prohibited": "You admitted %s with a prohibited item!",
-	"wand.denied_false_alarm": "You denied %s over a harmless item.",
-	"wand.cleared": "%s cleared the wand check.",
-	"wand.refused": "%s refused entry after the wand check.",
-
-	# Radio
-	"radio.address_first": "Address someone first before calling.",
-	"radio.blocked": "Radio blocked: %s",
-	"radio.inaccurate": "Dispatch flags inaccuracies in your report (-%d).",
-	"radio.received": "Dispatch received your report. Assistance en route.",
-	"radio.emergency_dispatched": "Emergency responder dispatched.",
-
-	# Responder
-	"responder.arrived": "Responder arrives and %ss the situation.",
-
-	# Reactions
-	"react.comply": "%s complies and steps back.",
-	"react.leave": "%s turns and leaves.",
-	"react.argue": "%s argues with you.",
-	"react.record": "%s starts filming you.",
-	"react.ignore": "%s ignores you.",
-	"react.threaten": "%s is threatening you. Emergency radio (R) is justified now.",
-	"react.force_entry": "%s is forcing the door!",
-	"react.return_later": "%s leaves but may come back.",
-	"react.none": "No reaction (yet).",
-
-	# Perception
-	"perception.near": "%s notices you standing close.",
-	"perception.aware": "%s notices you watching.",
-}
+static func _ensure_loaded() -> void:
+	if _load_attempted:
+		return
+	_load_attempted = true
+	var path := TABLE_PATH % DEFAULT_LOCALE
+	if not FileAccess.file_exists(path):
+		push_error("Strings table missing: %s" % path)
+		return
+	var text := FileAccess.get_file_as_string(path)
+	var parsed = JSON.parse_string(text)
+	if parsed is Dictionary:
+		TABLE = parsed
+	else:
+		push_error("Strings table malformed: %s" % path)
 
 ## Look up a string by key. Returns the key itself when missing (fail-safe).
+## Absolute keys (locale.table.key) bypass the default table lookup.
 static func lookup(key: String) -> String:
+	if key.begins_with("locale."):
+		return key
+	_ensure_loaded()
 	return TABLE.get(key, key)
 
 ## Format a string by key with positional arguments.
 static func fmt(key: String, args: Array) -> String:
-	var template: String = TABLE.get(key, key)
-	return template % args
+	var template := lookup(key)
+	if template == key:
+		return template
+	return template % args
+
+func _init() -> void:
+	push_error("Strings is a static utility class; use Strings.lookup / Strings.fmt.")