find-CBasePlayerController_Respawn

Find CBasePlayerController_Respawn

Locate CBasePlayerController_Respawn vfunc call in CS2 server.dll or server.so using IDA Pro MCP tools.

Method

1. Search for the GMR_BeginRound log string:

   mcp__ida-pro-mcp__find_regex pattern="GMR_BeginRound"
   

2. Find cross-references to the string:

   mcp__ida-pro-mcp__xrefs_to addrs="<string_addr>"
   

   This leads to the CCSGameRules_BeginRound function.

3. Rename the function:

   mcp__ida-pro-mcp__rename batch={"func": {"addr": "<function_addr>", "name": "CCSGameRules_BeginRound"}}
   

4. Decompile and locate the respawn loop pattern:

   mcp__ida-pro-mcp__decompile addr="<function_addr>"
   

   Look for a loop pattern like this:

   do
   {
     v30 = *v28;                                          // player controller
     (*(void (__fastcall **)(__int64))(*(_QWORD *)*v28 + <PreRound_offset>))(*v28);
     v31 = sub_XXX(v30);                                  // resolve m_hPawn -> pawn entity
     // ... resolve another entity handle from controller ...
     if ( v31 )
     {
       if ( (*(unsigned __int8 (__fastcall **)(__int64))(*(_QWORD *)v31 + <IsAlive_offset>))(v31) )
       {
         (*(void (__fastcall **)(__int64))(*(_QWORD *)v33 + <AliveAction_offset>))(v33);
         if ( v36 )
         {
           sub_XXX(v36);
           sub_XXX(v36, 32LL);
         }
       }
       else if ( v36 && *(_BYTE *)(v30 + <team_offset>) == 3 || *(_BYTE *)(v30 + <team_offset>) == 2 )
       {
         sub_XXX(v36);                                    // reset pawn model/skeleton state
         (*(void (__fastcall **)(__int64))(*(_QWORD *)v30 + <Respawn_offset>))(v30);  // CBasePlayerController::Respawn
       }
     }
     ++v28;
   }
   while ( v28 != v29 );
   

   The loop iterates over a shuffled player controller list. For each controller:

   • Resolves the player pawn via m_hPawn handle
   • If pawn is alive: performs alive-state updates
   • If pawn is NOT alive AND team is T(2) or CT(3): calls controller->Respawn() via vtable

   Extract <Respawn_offset> from the virtual call on the controller (v30), in the else branch. This is the vfunc offset for CBasePlayerController_Respawn.

   Key identification points:

   • The Respawn call is in the else branch (pawn not alive)
   • It is guarded by a team number check (== 2 || == 3)
   • The call target is on the controller object, not the pawn
   • A model/skeleton reset function is called just before Respawn

5. Calculate vtable index:

   vfunc_index = <Respawn_offset> / 8
   

6. Generate vfunc offset signature:

   Identify the instruction address (inst_addr) of the virtual call call qword ptr [rax+<Respawn_offset>].

   ALWAYS Use SKILL /generate-signature-for-vfuncoffset to generate a robust and unique signature for CBasePlayerController_Respawn, with inst_addr and vfunc_offset from this step.

7. Write IDA analysis output as YAML beside the binary:

   ALWAYS Use SKILL /write-vfunc-as-yaml to write the analysis results.

   Required parameters:

   • func_name: CBasePlayerController_Respawn
   • func_addr: None (virtual call, actual address resolved at runtime)
   • func_sig: None
   • vfunc_sig: The validated signature from step 6

   VTable parameters:

   • vtable_name: CBasePlayerController
   • vfunc_offset: <Respawn_offset> from step 4
   • vfunc_index: The vtable index from step 5

Function Characteristics

• Purpose: Respawns a player controller's pawn at round start
• Called from: CCSGameRules_BeginRound — the round-start handler logged as "GMR_BeginRound"
• Call context: Only called for dead players on T(2) or CT(3) teams
• Call site object: CBasePlayerController (not the pawn)

VTable Information

• VTable Name: CBasePlayerController
• VTable Mangled Name: ??_7CBasePlayerController@@6B@ (Windows) / _ZTV21CBasePlayerController (Linux)
• VTable Offset: Changes with game updates. Extract from the CCSGameRules_BeginRound respawn loop.
• VTable Index: Changes with game updates. Resolve via <Respawn_offset> / 8.

String-Based Discovery

The primary discovery method uses the GMR_BeginRound log message:

1. Search string: "GMR_BeginRound"
2. Xref chain: String → CCSGameRules_BeginRound
3. Respawn loop: The function iterates shuffled players, calling controller->Respawn() via vtable for dead T/CT players

This is robust because:

• The GMR_BeginRound string is unique and stable across updates
• The respawn loop structure with team checks (2/3) is distinctive
• The vfunc offset is extracted directly from the call site

Output YAML Format

The output YAML filename depends on the platform:

• server.dll → CBasePlayerController_Respawn.windows.yaml
• server.so / libserver.so → CBasePlayerController_Respawn.linux.yaml