Version: 0.9.2.1

Co-authored-by: Paul <ritter.paul1+git@googlemail.com>

MSBuild/Robust.Engine.Version.props

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 <Project>
     <!-- This file automatically reset by Tools/version.py -->
-    <PropertyGroup><Version>0.8.86</Version></PropertyGroup>
+    <PropertyGroup><Version>0.9.2.1</Version></PropertyGroup>
 </Project>

Robust.Benchmarks/Serialization/BenchmarkIntSerializer.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 using System.Globalization;
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
@@ -19,10 +18,10 @@ namespace Robust.Benchmarks.Serialization
                 : new ErrorNode(node, $"Failed parsing int value: {node.Value}");
         }
 
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
-            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null)
+        public int Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null, int _ = default)
         {
-            return new DeserializedValue<int>(int.Parse(node.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+            return int.Parse(node.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
         }
 
         public DataNode Write(ISerializationManager serializationManager, int value, bool alwaysWrite = false,

Robust.Benchmarks/Serialization/Copy/SerializationCopyBenchmark.cs

@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ namespace Robust.Benchmarks.Serialization.Copy
 
             var seedMapping = yamlStream.Documents[0].RootNode.ToDataNodeCast<SequenceDataNode>().Cast<MappingDataNode>(0);
 
-            Seed = SerializationManager.ReadValueOrThrow<SeedDataDefinition>(seedMapping);
+            Seed = SerializationManager.Read<SeedDataDefinition>(seedMapping);
         }
 
         private const string String = "ABC";

Robust.Benchmarks/Serialization/Definitions/SeedDataDefinition.cs

@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ namespace Robust.Benchmarks.Serialization.Definitions
       Max: 10
       PotencyDivisor: 10";
 
-        [DataField("id", required: true)] public string ID { get; set; } = default!;
+        [IdDataFieldAttribute] public string ID { get; set; } = default!;
 
         #region Tracking
         [DataField("name")] public string Name { get; set; } = string.Empty;

Robust.Benchmarks/Serialization/Read/SerializationReadBenchmark.cs

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 using BenchmarkDotNet.Attributes;
 using Robust.Benchmarks.Serialization.Definitions;
 using Robust.Shared.Analyzers;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Mapping;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Sequence;
@@ -42,32 +41,32 @@ namespace Robust.Benchmarks.Serialization.Read
         private ValueDataNode FlagThirtyOne { get; } = new("ThirtyOne");
 
         [Benchmark]
-        public string? ReadString()
+        public string ReadString()
         {
-            return SerializationManager.ReadValue<string>(StringNode);
+            return SerializationManager.Read<string>(StringNode);
         }
 
         [Benchmark]
-        public int? ReadInteger()
+        public int ReadInteger()
         {
-            return SerializationManager.ReadValue<int>(IntNode);
+            return SerializationManager.Read<int>(IntNode);
         }
 
         [Benchmark]
-        public DataDefinitionWithString? ReadDataDefinitionWithString()
+        public DataDefinitionWithString ReadDataDefinitionWithString()
         {
-            return SerializationManager.ReadValue<DataDefinitionWithString>(StringDataDefNode);
+            return SerializationManager.Read<DataDefinitionWithString>(StringDataDefNode);
         }
 
         [Benchmark]
-        public SeedDataDefinition? ReadSeedDataDefinition()
+        public SeedDataDefinition ReadSeedDataDefinition()
         {
-            return SerializationManager.ReadValue<SeedDataDefinition>(SeedNode);
+            return SerializationManager.Read<SeedDataDefinition>(SeedNode);
         }
 
         [Benchmark]
         [BenchmarkCategory("flag")]
-        public DeserializationResult ReadFlagZero()
+        public object? ReadFlagZero()
         {
             return SerializationManager.ReadWithTypeSerializer(
                 typeof(int),
@@ -77,7 +76,7 @@ namespace Robust.Benchmarks.Serialization.Read
 
         [Benchmark]
         [BenchmarkCategory("flag")]
-        public DeserializationResult ReadThirtyOne()
+        public object? ReadThirtyOne()
         {
             return SerializationManager.ReadWithTypeSerializer(
                 typeof(int),
@@ -87,7 +86,7 @@ namespace Robust.Benchmarks.Serialization.Read
 
         [Benchmark]
         [BenchmarkCategory("customTypeSerializer")]
-        public DeserializationResult ReadIntegerCustomSerializer()
+        public object? ReadIntegerCustomSerializer()
         {
             return SerializationManager.ReadWithTypeSerializer(
                 typeof(int),

Robust.Benchmarks/Serialization/SerializationArrayBenchmark.cs

@@ -46,84 +46,84 @@ namespace Robust.Benchmarks.Serialization
         [BenchmarkCategory("read")]
         public string[]? ReadEmptyString()
         {
-            return SerializationManager.ReadValue<string[]>(EmptyNode);
+            return SerializationManager.Read<string[]>(EmptyNode);
         }
 
         [Benchmark]
         [BenchmarkCategory("read")]
         public string[]? ReadOneString()
         {
-            return SerializationManager.ReadValue<string[]>(OneIntNode);
+            return SerializationManager.Read<string[]>(OneIntNode);
         }
 
         [Benchmark]
         [BenchmarkCategory("read")]
         public string[]? ReadTenStrings()
         {
-            return SerializationManager.ReadValue<string[]>(TenIntsNode);
+            return SerializationManager.Read<string[]>(TenIntsNode);
         }
 
         [Benchmark]
         [BenchmarkCategory("read")]
         public int[]? ReadEmptyInt()
         {
-            return SerializationManager.ReadValue<int[]>(EmptyNode);
+            return SerializationManager.Read<int[]>(EmptyNode);
         }
 
         [Benchmark]
         [BenchmarkCategory("read")]
         public int[]? ReadOneInt()
         {
-            return SerializationManager.ReadValue<int[]>(OneIntNode);
+            return SerializationManager.Read<int[]>(OneIntNode);
         }
 
         [Benchmark]
         [BenchmarkCategory("read")]
         public int[]? ReadTenInts()
         {
-            return SerializationManager.ReadValue<int[]>(TenIntsNode);
+            return SerializationManager.Read<int[]>(TenIntsNode);
         }
 
         [Benchmark]
         [BenchmarkCategory("read")]
         public DataDefinitionWithString[]? ReadEmptyStringDataDef()
         {
-            return SerializationManager.ReadValue<DataDefinitionWithString[]>(EmptyNode);
+            return SerializationManager.Read<DataDefinitionWithString[]>(EmptyNode);
         }
 
         [Benchmark]
         [BenchmarkCategory("read")]
         public DataDefinitionWithString[]? ReadOneStringDataDef()
         {
-            return SerializationManager.ReadValue<DataDefinitionWithString[]>(OneStringDefNode);
+            return SerializationManager.Read<DataDefinitionWithString[]>(OneStringDefNode);
         }
 
         [Benchmark]
         [BenchmarkCategory("read")]
         public DataDefinitionWithString[]? ReadTenStringDataDefs()
         {
-            return SerializationManager.ReadValue<DataDefinitionWithString[]>(TenStringDefsNode);
+            return SerializationManager.Read<DataDefinitionWithString[]>(TenStringDefsNode);
         }
 
         [Benchmark]
         [BenchmarkCategory("read")]
         public SealedDataDefinitionWithString[]? ReadEmptySealedStringDataDef()
         {
-            return SerializationManager.ReadValue<SealedDataDefinitionWithString[]>(EmptyNode);
+            return SerializationManager.Read<SealedDataDefinitionWithString[]>(EmptyNode);
         }
 
         [Benchmark]
         [BenchmarkCategory("read")]
         public SealedDataDefinitionWithString[]? ReadOneSealedStringDataDef()
         {
-            return SerializationManager.ReadValue<SealedDataDefinitionWithString[]>(OneStringDefNode);
+            return SerializationManager.Read<SealedDataDefinitionWithString[]>(OneStringDefNode);
         }
 
         [Benchmark]
         [BenchmarkCategory("read")]
         public SealedDataDefinitionWithString[]? ReadTenSealedStringDataDefs()
         {
-            return SerializationManager.ReadValue<SealedDataDefinitionWithString[]>(TenStringDefsNode);
+            return SerializationManager.Read<SealedDataDefinitionWithString[]>(TenStringDefsNode);
         }
     }
 }

Robust.Benchmarks/Serialization/Write/SerializationWriteBenchmark.cs

@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ namespace Robust.Benchmarks.Serialization.Write
 
             var seedMapping = yamlStream.Documents[0].RootNode.ToDataNodeCast<SequenceDataNode>().Cast<MappingDataNode>(0);
 
-            Seed = SerializationManager.ReadValueOrThrow<SeedDataDefinition>(seedMapping);
+            Seed = SerializationManager.Read<SeedDataDefinition>(seedMapping);
         }
 
         private const string String = "ABC";

Robust.Client/GameController/GameController.cs

@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ namespace Robust.Client
             _console.Initialize();
             _prototypeManager.Initialize();
             _prototypeManager.LoadDirectory(Options.PrototypeDirectory);
-            _prototypeManager.Resync();
+            _prototypeManager.ResolveResults();
             _entityManager.Initialize();
             _mapManager.Initialize();
             _gameStateManager.Initialize();

Robust.Client/Graphics/Shaders/ShaderPrototype.cs

@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ namespace Robust.Client.Graphics
         [Dependency] private readonly IResourceCache _resourceCache = default!;
 
         [ViewVariables]
-        [DataField("id", required: true)]
+        [IdDataFieldAttribute]
         public string ID { get; } = default!;
 
         private ShaderKind Kind;

Robust.Client/Input/InputManager.cs

@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ namespace Robust.Client.Input
 
             if (robustMapping.TryGet("binds", out var BaseKeyRegsNode))
             {
-                var baseKeyRegs = serializationManager.ReadValueOrThrow<KeyBindingRegistration[]>(BaseKeyRegsNode);
+                var baseKeyRegs = serializationManager.Read<KeyBindingRegistration[]>(BaseKeyRegsNode);
 
                 foreach (var reg in baseKeyRegs)
                 {
@@ -526,7 +526,7 @@ namespace Robust.Client.Input
 
             if (userData && robustMapping.TryGet("leaveEmpty", out var node))
             {
-                var leaveEmpty = serializationManager.ReadValueOrThrow<BoundKeyFunction[]>(node);
+                var leaveEmpty = serializationManager.Read<BoundKeyFunction[]>(node);
 
                 if (leaveEmpty.Length > 0)
                 {

Robust.Client/Serialization/AppearanceVisualizerSerializer.cs

@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
+using System;
 using Robust.Client.GameObjects;
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Reflection;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Mapping;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
@@ -16,26 +16,40 @@ namespace Robust.Client.Serialization
     [TypeSerializer]
     public sealed class AppearanceVisualizerSerializer : ITypeSerializer<AppearanceVisualizer, MappingDataNode>
     {
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, MappingDataNode node,
+        public AppearanceVisualizer Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, MappingDataNode node,
             IDependencyCollection dependencies,
             bool skipHook,
-            ISerializationContext? context = null)
+            ISerializationContext? context = null, AppearanceVisualizer? value = null)
         {
+            Type? type = null;
             if (!node.TryGet("type", out var typeNode))
-                throw new InvalidMappingException("No type specified for AppearanceVisualizer!");
+            {
+                if (value == null)
+                    throw new InvalidMappingException("No type specified for AppearanceVisualizer!");
 
-            if (typeNode is not ValueDataNode typeValueDataNode)
-                throw new InvalidMappingException("Type node not a value node for AppearanceVisualizer!");
+                type = value.GetType();
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                if (typeNode is not ValueDataNode typeValueDataNode)
+                    throw new InvalidMappingException("Type node not a value node for AppearanceVisualizer!");
 
-            var type = IoCManager.Resolve<IReflectionManager>()
-                .YamlTypeTagLookup(typeof(AppearanceVisualizer), typeValueDataNode.Value);
-            if (type == null)
-                throw new InvalidMappingException(
-                    $"Invalid type {typeValueDataNode.Value} specified for AppearanceVisualizer!");
+                type = IoCManager.Resolve<IReflectionManager>()
+                    .YamlTypeTagLookup(typeof(AppearanceVisualizer), typeValueDataNode.Value);
+                if (type == null)
+                    throw new InvalidMappingException(
+                        $"Invalid type {typeValueDataNode.Value} specified for AppearanceVisualizer!");
+
+                if(value != null && !type.IsInstanceOfType(value))
+                {
+                    throw new InvalidMappingException(
+                        $"Specified Type does not match type of provided Value for AppearanceVisualizer! (TypeOfValue: {value.GetType()}, ProvidedValue: {type})");
+                }
+            }
 
             var newNode = node.Copy();
             newNode.Remove("type");
-            return serializationManager.Read(type, newNode, context, skipHook);
+            return (AppearanceVisualizer) serializationManager.Read(type, newNode, context, skipHook, value)!;
         }
 
         public ValidationNode Validate(ISerializationManager serializationManager, MappingDataNode node,

Robust.Client/UserInterface/CustomControls/EntitySpawnWindow.cs

@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ namespace Robust.Client.UserInterface.CustomControls
 
             foreach (var prototype in prototypeManager.EnumeratePrototypes<EntityPrototype>())
             {
-                if (prototype.Abstract)
+                if (prototype.NoSpawn || prototype.Abstract)
                 {
                     continue;
                 }

Robust.Server/BaseServer.cs

@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ namespace Robust.Server
             var prototypeManager = IoCManager.Resolve<IPrototypeManager>();
             prototypeManager.Initialize();
             prototypeManager.LoadDirectory(Options.PrototypeDirectory);
-            prototypeManager.Resync();
+            prototypeManager.ResolveResults();
 
             _consoleHost.Initialize();
             _entityManager.Startup();

Robust.Server/GameStates/ChunkIndicesEnumerator.cs

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ public struct ChunkIndicesEnumerator
     private int _x;
     private int _y;
 
-    public ChunkIndicesEnumerator(Vector2 viewPos, float range, float chunkSize)
+    public ChunkIndicesEnumerator(Vector2 viewPos, Vector2 range, float chunkSize)
     {
         _bottomLeft = ((viewPos - range) / chunkSize).Floored();
         // Also floor this as we get the whole chunk anyway.

Robust.Server/GameStates/PVSSystem.cs

@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ internal sealed partial class PVSSystem : EntitySystem
     /// <summary>
     /// Size of the side of the view bounds square.
     /// </summary>
-    private float _viewSize;
+    private Vector2 _viewSize;
 
     /// <summary>
     /// If PVS disabled then we'll track if we've dumped all entities on the player.
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ internal sealed partial class PVSSystem : EntitySystem
         EntityManager.EntityDeleted += OnEntityDeleted;
 
         _configManager.OnValueChanged(CVars.NetPVS, SetPvs, true);
-        _configManager.OnValueChanged(CVars.NetMaxUpdateRange, OnViewsizeChanged, true);
+        _configManager.OnValueChanged(CVars.NetDefaultUpdateRange, OnViewsizeChanged, true);
 
         InitializeDirty();
     }
@@ -144,14 +144,14 @@ internal sealed partial class PVSSystem : EntitySystem
         EntityManager.EntityDeleted -= OnEntityDeleted;
 
         _configManager.UnsubValueChanged(CVars.NetPVS, SetPvs);
-        _configManager.UnsubValueChanged(CVars.NetMaxUpdateRange, OnViewsizeChanged);
+        _configManager.UnsubValueChanged(CVars.NetDefaultUpdateRange, OnViewsizeChanged);
 
         ShutdownDirty();
     }
 
-    private void OnViewsizeChanged(float obj)
+    private void OnViewsizeChanged(Vector2 obj)
     {
-        _viewSize = obj * 2;
+        _viewSize = obj;
     }
 
     private void SetPvs(bool value)
@@ -323,7 +323,6 @@ internal sealed partial class PVSSystem : EntitySystem
     {
         var playerChunks = new HashSet<int>[sessions.Length];
         var eyeQuery = EntityManager.GetEntityQuery<EyeComponent>();
-        var transformQuery = EntityManager.GetEntityQuery<TransformComponent>();
         var viewerEntities = new EntityUid[sessions.Length][];
 
         _chunkList.Clear();
@@ -350,11 +349,17 @@ internal sealed partial class PVSSystem : EntitySystem
 
             foreach (var eyeEuid in viewers)
             {
-                var (viewPos, range, mapId) = CalcViewBounds(in eyeEuid, transformQuery);
+                var xform = xformQuery.GetComponent(eyeEuid);
+                var viewPos = xform.WorldPosition;
+                var range = _viewSize;
+                var mapId = xform.MapID;
 
                 uint visMask = EyeComponent.DefaultVisibilityMask;
                 if (eyeQuery.TryGetComponent(eyeEuid, out var eyeComp))
+                {
                     visMask = eyeComp.VisibilityMask;
+                    range *= eyeComp.Zoom;
+                }
 
                 // Get the nyoom dictionary for index lookups.
                 if (!_mapIndices.TryGetValue(visMask, out var mapDict))
@@ -399,7 +404,7 @@ internal sealed partial class PVSSystem : EntitySystem
                              physicsQuery,
                              true))
                 {
-                    var localPos = transformQuery.GetComponent(mapGrid.GridEntityId).InvWorldMatrix.Transform(viewPos);
+                    var localPos = xformQuery.GetComponent(mapGrid.GridEntityId).InvWorldMatrix.Transform(viewPos);
 
                     var gridChunkEnumerator =
                         new ChunkIndicesEnumerator(localPos, range, ChunkSize);
@@ -963,13 +968,6 @@ internal sealed partial class PVSSystem : EntitySystem
         return viewerArray;
     }
 
-    // Read Safe
-    private (Vector2 worldPos, float range, MapId mapId) CalcViewBounds(in EntityUid euid, EntityQuery<TransformComponent> transformQuery)
-    {
-        var xform = transformQuery.GetComponent(euid);
-        return (xform.WorldPosition, _viewSize / 2f, xform.MapID);
-    }
-
     public sealed class SetPolicy<T> : PooledObjectPolicy<HashSet<T>>
     {
         public override HashSet<T> Create()

Robust.Server/Maps/GridSerializer.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,218 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Globalization;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Linq;
+using Robust.Shared.GameObjects;
+using Robust.Shared.IoC;
+using Robust.Shared.Map;
+using Robust.Shared.Maths;
+using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
+using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
+using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
+using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Mapping;
+using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Sequence;
+using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
+using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
+using Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Interfaces;
+
+namespace Robust.Server.Maps
+{
+    [TypeSerializer]
+    internal sealed class MapChunkSerializer : ITypeSerializer<MapChunk, MappingDataNode>
+    {
+        public ValidationNode Validate(ISerializationManager serializationManager, MappingDataNode node,
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, ISerializationContext? context = null)
+        {
+            throw new NotImplementedException();
+        }
+
+        public MapChunk Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, MappingDataNode node,
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null, MapChunk? chunk = null)
+        {
+            var tileNode = (ValueDataNode)node["tiles"];
+            var tileBytes = Convert.FromBase64String(tileNode.Value);
+
+            using var stream = new MemoryStream(tileBytes);
+            using var reader = new BinaryReader(stream);
+
+            var mapManager = dependencies.Resolve<IMapManager>();
+            mapManager.SuppressOnTileChanged = true;
+
+            if (chunk == null)
+            {
+                throw new InvalidOperationException(
+                    $"Someone tried deserializing a gridchunk without passing a value.");
+            }
+
+            if (context is not MapLoader.MapContext mapContext)
+            {
+                throw new InvalidOperationException(
+                    $"Someone tried serializing a gridchunk without passing {nameof(MapLoader.MapContext)} as context.");
+            }
+
+            var tileMap = mapContext.TileMap;
+
+            if (tileMap == null)
+            {
+                throw new InvalidOperationException(
+                    $"Someone tried deserializing a gridchunk before deserializing the tileMap.");
+            }
+
+            chunk.SuppressCollisionRegeneration = true;
+
+            var tileDefinitionManager = dependencies.Resolve<ITileDefinitionManager>();
+
+            for (ushort y = 0; y < chunk.ChunkSize; y++)
+            {
+                for (ushort x = 0; x < chunk.ChunkSize; x++)
+                {
+                    var id = reader.ReadUInt16();
+                    var flags = (TileRenderFlag)reader.ReadByte();
+                    var variant = reader.ReadByte();
+
+                    var defName = tileMap[id];
+                    id = tileDefinitionManager[defName].TileId;
+
+                    var tile = new Tile(id, flags, variant);
+                    chunk.SetTile(x, y, tile);
+                }
+            }
+
+            chunk.SuppressCollisionRegeneration = false;
+            mapManager.SuppressOnTileChanged = false;
+
+            return chunk;
+        }
+
+        public DataNode Write(ISerializationManager serializationManager, MapChunk value, bool alwaysWrite = false,
+            ISerializationContext? context = null)
+        {
+            var root = new MappingDataNode();
+            var ind = new ValueDataNode($"{value.X},{value.Y}");
+            root.Add("ind", ind);
+
+            var gridNode = new ValueDataNode();
+            root.Add("tiles", gridNode);
+
+            gridNode.Value = SerializeTiles(value);
+
+            return root;
+        }
+
+        private static string SerializeTiles(MapChunk chunk)
+        {
+            // number of bytes written per tile, because sizeof(Tile) is useless.
+            const int structSize = 4;
+
+            var nTiles = chunk.ChunkSize * chunk.ChunkSize * structSize;
+            var barr = new byte[nTiles];
+
+            using (var stream = new MemoryStream(barr))
+            using (var writer = new BinaryWriter(stream))
+            {
+                for (ushort y = 0; y < chunk.ChunkSize; y++)
+                {
+                    for (ushort x = 0; x < chunk.ChunkSize; x++)
+                    {
+                        var tile = chunk.GetTile(x, y);
+                        writer.Write(tile.TypeId);
+                        writer.Write((byte)tile.Flags);
+                        writer.Write(tile.Variant);
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            return Convert.ToBase64String(barr);
+        }
+
+        public MapChunk Copy(ISerializationManager serializationManager, MapChunk source, MapChunk target, bool skipHook,
+            ISerializationContext? context = null)
+        {
+            throw new NotImplementedException();
+        }
+    }
+
+    //todo paul make this be used
+    [TypeSerializer]
+    internal sealed class GridSerializer : ITypeSerializer<MapGrid, MappingDataNode>
+    {
+
+        public ValidationNode Validate(ISerializationManager serializationManager, MappingDataNode node,
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, ISerializationContext? context = null)
+        {
+            throw new NotImplementedException();
+        }
+
+        public MapGrid Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, MappingDataNode node,
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null, MapGrid? grid = null)
+        {
+            var info = node.Get<MappingDataNode>("settings");
+            var chunks = node.Get<SequenceDataNode>("chunks");
+            ushort csz = 0;
+            ushort tsz = 0;
+            float sgsz = 0.0f;
+
+            foreach (var kvInfo in info.Cast<KeyValuePair<ValueDataNode, ValueDataNode>>())
+            {
+                var key = kvInfo.Key.Value;
+                var val = kvInfo.Value.Value;
+                if (key == "chunksize")
+                    csz = ushort.Parse(val);
+                else if (key == "tilesize")
+                    tsz = ushort.Parse(val);
+                else if (key == "snapsize")
+                    sgsz = float.Parse(val, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
+            }
+
+            //TODO: Pass in options
+            if (context is not MapLoader.MapContext mapContext)
+            {
+                throw new InvalidOperationException(
+                    $"Someone tried serializing a mapgrid without passing {nameof(MapLoader.MapContext)} as context.");
+            }
+
+            if (grid == null) throw new NotImplementedException();
+            //todo paul grid ??= dependencies.Resolve<MapManager>().CreateUnboundGrid(mapContext.TargetMap);
+
+            foreach (var chunkNode in chunks.Cast<MappingDataNode>())
+            {
+                var (chunkOffsetX, chunkOffsetY) =
+                    serializationManager.Read<Vector2i>(chunkNode["ind"], context, skipHook);
+                var chunk = grid.GetChunk(chunkOffsetX, chunkOffsetY);
+                serializationManager.Read(typeof(MapChunkSerializer), chunkNode, context, skipHook, chunk);
+            }
+
+            return grid;
+        }
+
+        public DataNode Write(ISerializationManager serializationManager, MapGrid value, bool alwaysWrite = false,
+            ISerializationContext? context = null)
+        {
+            var gridn = new MappingDataNode();
+            var info = new MappingDataNode();
+            var chunkSeq = new SequenceDataNode();
+
+            gridn.Add("settings", info);
+            gridn.Add("chunks", chunkSeq);
+
+            info.Add("chunksize", value.ChunkSize.ToString(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+            info.Add("tilesize", value.TileSize.ToString(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+
+            var chunks = value.GetMapChunks();
+            foreach (var chunk in chunks)
+            {
+                var chunkNode = serializationManager.WriteValue(chunk.Value);
+                chunkSeq.Add(chunkNode);
+            }
+
+            return gridn;
+        }
+
+        public MapGrid Copy(ISerializationManager serializationManager, MapGrid source, MapGrid target, bool skipHook,
+            ISerializationContext? context = null)
+        {
+            throw new NotImplementedException();
+        }
+    }
+}

Robust.Server/Maps/MapLoader.cs

@@ -13,14 +13,15 @@ using Robust.Shared.GameObjects;
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Log;
 using Robust.Shared.Map;
+using Robust.Shared.Maths;
 using Robust.Shared.Physics;
 using Robust.Shared.Physics.Dynamics;
 using Robust.Shared.Prototypes;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Mapping;
+using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Sequence;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Interfaces;
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
         [Dependency] private readonly ITileDefinitionManager _tileDefinitionManager = default!;
         [Dependency] private readonly IServerEntityManagerInternal _serverEntityManager = default!;
         [Dependency] private readonly IPrototypeManager _prototypeManager = default!;
+        [Dependency] private readonly ISerializationManager _serializationManager = default!;
 
         public event Action<YamlStream, string>? LoadedMapData;
 
@@ -52,7 +54,7 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
         {
             var grid = _mapManager.GetGrid(gridId);
 
-            var context = new MapContext(_mapManager, _tileDefinitionManager, _serverEntityManager, _prototypeManager);
+            var context = new MapContext(_mapManager, _tileDefinitionManager, _serverEntityManager, _prototypeManager, _serializationManager);
             context.RegisterGrid(grid);
             var root = context.Serialize();
             var document = new YamlDocument(root);
@@ -99,7 +101,7 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
                 }
 
                 var context = new MapContext(_mapManager, _tileDefinitionManager, _serverEntityManager,
-                    _prototypeManager, (YamlMappingNode) data.RootNode, mapId, options);
+                    _prototypeManager, _serializationManager, data.RootNode.ToDataNodeCast<MappingDataNode>(), mapId, options);
                 context.Deserialize();
                 grid = context.Grids[0];
 
@@ -139,7 +141,7 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
         public void SaveMap(MapId mapId, string yamlPath)
         {
             Logger.InfoS("map", $"Saving map {mapId} to {yamlPath}");
-            var context = new MapContext(_mapManager, _tileDefinitionManager, _serverEntityManager, _prototypeManager);
+            var context = new MapContext(_mapManager, _tileDefinitionManager, _serverEntityManager, _prototypeManager, _serializationManager);
             foreach (var grid in _mapManager.GetAllMapGrids(mapId))
             {
                 context.RegisterGrid(grid);
@@ -206,7 +208,7 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
                 LoadedMapData?.Invoke(data.Stream, resPath.ToString());
 
                 var context = new MapContext(_mapManager, _tileDefinitionManager, _serverEntityManager,
-                    _prototypeManager, (YamlMappingNode) data.RootNode, mapId, options);
+                    _prototypeManager, _serializationManager, data.RootNode.ToDataNodeCast<MappingDataNode>(), mapId, options);
                 context.Deserialize();
 
                 PostDeserialize(mapId, context);
@@ -216,7 +218,7 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
         /// <summary>
         ///     Handles the primary bulk of state during the map serialization process.
         /// </summary>
-        private sealed class MapContext : ISerializationContext, IEntityLoadContext,
+        internal sealed class MapContext : ISerializationContext, IEntityLoadContext,
             ITypeSerializer<GridId, ValueDataNode>,
             ITypeSerializer<EntityUid, ValueDataNode>,
             ITypeReaderWriter<EntityUid, ValueDataNode>
@@ -225,6 +227,7 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
             private readonly ITileDefinitionManager _tileDefinitionManager;
             private readonly IServerEntityManagerInternal _serverEntityManager;
             private readonly IPrototypeManager _prototypeManager;
+            private readonly ISerializationManager _serializationManager;
 
             private readonly MapLoadOptions? _loadOptions;
             private readonly Dictionary<GridId, int> GridIDMap = new();
@@ -235,19 +238,20 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
             private readonly Dictionary<int, EntityUid> UidEntityMap = new();
             public readonly List<EntityUid> Entities = new();
 
-            private readonly List<(EntityUid, YamlMappingNode)> _entitiesToDeserialize
+            private readonly List<(EntityUid, MappingDataNode)> _entitiesToDeserialize
                 = new();
 
             private bool IsBlueprintMode => GridIDMap.Count == 1;
 
-            private readonly YamlMappingNode RootNode;
-            private readonly MapId TargetMap;
+            private readonly MappingDataNode RootNode;
+            public readonly MapId TargetMap;
 
-            private Dictionary<string, YamlMappingNode>? CurrentReadingEntityComponents;
+            private Dictionary<string, MappingDataNode>? CurrentReadingEntityComponents;
 
             private string? CurrentWritingComponent;
             private EntityUid? CurrentWritingEntity;
 
+            public IReadOnlyDictionary<ushort, string>? TileMap => _tileMap;
             private Dictionary<ushort, string>? _tileMap;
 
             public Dictionary<(Type, Type), object> TypeReaders { get; }
@@ -258,14 +262,16 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
             public bool MapIsPostInit { get; private set; }
 
             public MapContext(IMapManagerInternal maps, ITileDefinitionManager tileDefs,
-                IServerEntityManagerInternal entities, IPrototypeManager prototypeManager)
+                IServerEntityManagerInternal entities, IPrototypeManager prototypeManager,
+                ISerializationManager serializationManager)
             {
                 _mapManager = maps;
                 _tileDefinitionManager = tileDefs;
                 _serverEntityManager = entities;
                 _prototypeManager = prototypeManager;
+                _serializationManager = serializationManager;
 
-                RootNode = new YamlMappingNode();
+                RootNode = new MappingDataNode();
                 TypeWriters = new Dictionary<Type, object>()
                 {
                     {typeof(GridId), this},
@@ -281,12 +287,14 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
             public MapContext(IMapManagerInternal maps, ITileDefinitionManager tileDefs,
                 IServerEntityManagerInternal entities,
                 IPrototypeManager prototypeManager,
-                YamlMappingNode node, MapId targetMapId, MapLoadOptions options)
+                ISerializationManager serializationManager,
+                MappingDataNode node, MapId targetMapId, MapLoadOptions options)
             {
                 _mapManager = maps;
                 _tileDefinitionManager = tileDefs;
                 _serverEntityManager = entities;
                 _loadOptions = options;
+                _serializationManager = serializationManager;
 
                 RootNode = node;
                 TargetMap = targetMapId;
@@ -355,13 +363,13 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
             private void VerifyEntitiesExist()
             {
                 var fail = false;
-                var entities = RootNode.GetNode<YamlSequenceNode>("entities");
+                var entities = RootNode.Get<SequenceDataNode>("entities");
                 var reportedError = new HashSet<string>();
-                foreach (var entityDef in entities.Cast<YamlMappingNode>())
+                foreach (var entityDef in entities.Cast<MappingDataNode>())
                 {
-                    if (entityDef.TryGetNode("type", out var typeNode))
+                    if (entityDef.TryGet<ValueDataNode>("type", out var typeNode))
                     {
-                        var type = typeNode.AsString();
+                        var type = typeNode.Value;
                         if (!_prototypeManager.HasIndex<EntityPrototype>(type) && !reportedError.Contains(type))
                         {
                             Logger.Error("Missing prototype for map: {0}", type);
@@ -384,7 +392,7 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
 
                 foreach (var (entity, data) in _entitiesToDeserialize)
                 {
-                    if (!data.TryGetNode("components", out YamlSequenceNode? componentList))
+                    if (!data.TryGet("components", out SequenceDataNode? componentList))
                     {
                         continue;
                     }
@@ -399,7 +407,7 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
                         var castComp = (Component) component;
                         var compName = compFactory.GetComponentName(castComp.GetType());
 
-                        if (componentList.Any(p => p["type"].AsString() == compName))
+                        if (componentList.Cast<MappingDataNode>().Any(p => ((ValueDataNode)p["type"]).Value == compName))
                         {
                             if (prototype.Components.ContainsKey(compName))
                             {
@@ -487,7 +495,7 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
                 // Now we need to actually bind the MapGrids to their components so that you can resolve GridId -> EntityUid
                 // After doing this, it should be 100% safe to use the MapManager API like normal.
 
-                var yamlGrids = RootNode.GetNode<YamlSequenceNode>("grids");
+                var yamlGrids = RootNode.Get<SequenceDataNode>("grids");
 
                 // get ents that the grids will bind to
                 var gridComps = new Dictionary<GridId, MapGridComponent>(_readGridIndices.Count);
@@ -511,28 +519,30 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
                 {
                     // Here is where the implicit index pairing magic happens from the yaml.
                     var gridIndex = _readGridIndices[index];
-                    var yamlGrid = (YamlMappingNode)yamlGrids.Children[index];
+                    var yamlGrid = (MappingDataNode)yamlGrids[index];
 
                     // designed to throw if something is broken, every grid must map to an ent
                     var gridComp = gridComps[gridIndex];
 
                     DebugTools.Assert(gridComp.GridIndex == gridIndex);
 
-                    YamlMappingNode yamlGridInfo = (YamlMappingNode)yamlGrid["settings"];
-                    YamlSequenceNode yamlGridChunks = (YamlSequenceNode)yamlGrid["chunks"];
+                    MappingDataNode yamlGridInfo = (MappingDataNode)yamlGrid["settings"];
+                    SequenceDataNode yamlGridChunks = (SequenceDataNode)yamlGrid["chunks"];
 
                     var grid = AllocateMapGrid(gridComp, yamlGridInfo);
 
-                    foreach (var chunkNode in yamlGridChunks.Cast<YamlMappingNode>())
+                    foreach (var chunkNode in yamlGridChunks.Cast<MappingDataNode>())
                     {
-                        YamlGridSerializer.DeserializeChunk(_mapManager, grid, chunkNode, _tileMap!, _tileDefinitionManager);
+                        var (chunkOffsetX, chunkOffsetY) = _serializationManager.Read<Vector2i>(chunkNode["ind"]);
+                        var chunk = grid.GetChunk(chunkOffsetX, chunkOffsetY);
+                        _serializationManager.Read(chunkNode, this, value: chunk);
                     }
 
                     Grids.Add(grid); // Grids are kept in index order
                 }
             }
 
-            private static MapGrid AllocateMapGrid(MapGridComponent gridComp, YamlMappingNode yamlGridInfo)
+            private static MapGrid AllocateMapGrid(MapGridComponent gridComp, MappingDataNode yamlGridInfo)
             {
                 // sane defaults
                 ushort csz = 16;
@@ -540,8 +550,8 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
 
                 foreach (var kvInfo in yamlGridInfo)
                 {
-                    var key = kvInfo.Key.ToString();
-                    var val = kvInfo.Value.ToString();
+                    var key = ((ValueDataNode)kvInfo.Key).Value;
+                    var val = ((ValueDataNode)kvInfo.Value).Value;
                     if (key == "chunksize")
                         csz = ushort.Parse(val);
                     else if (key == "tilesize")
@@ -590,14 +600,14 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
 
             private void ReadMetaSection()
             {
-                var meta = RootNode.GetNode<YamlMappingNode>("meta");
-                var ver = meta.GetNode("format").AsInt();
+                var meta = RootNode.Get<MappingDataNode>("meta");
+                var ver = meta.Get<ValueDataNode>("format").AsInt();
                 if (ver != MapFormatVersion)
                 {
                     throw new InvalidDataException("Cannot handle this map file version.");
                 }
 
-                if (meta.TryGetNode("postmapinit", out var mapInitNode))
+                if (meta.TryGet<ValueDataNode>("postmapinit", out var mapInitNode))
                 {
                     MapIsPostInit = mapInitNode.AsBool();
                 }
@@ -612,11 +622,11 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
                 // Load tile mapping so that we can map the stored tile IDs into the ones actually used at runtime.
                 _tileMap = new Dictionary<ushort, string>();
 
-                var tileMap = RootNode.GetNode<YamlMappingNode>("tilemap");
-                foreach (var (key, value) in tileMap)
+                var tileMap = RootNode.Get<MappingDataNode>("tilemap");
+                foreach (var (key, value) in tileMap.Children)
                 {
-                    var tileId = (ushort) key.AsInt();
-                    var tileDefName = value.AsString();
+                    var tileId = (ushort) ((ValueDataNode)key).AsInt();
+                    var tileDefName = ((ValueDataNode)value).Value;
                     _tileMap.Add(tileId, tileDefName);
                 }
             }
@@ -625,9 +635,9 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
             {
                 // sets up the mapping so the serializer can properly deserialize GridIds.
 
-                var yamlGrids = RootNode.GetNode<YamlSequenceNode>("grids");
+                var yamlGrids = RootNode.Get<SequenceDataNode>("grids");
 
-                for (var i = 0; i < yamlGrids.Children.Count; i++)
+                for (var i = 0; i < yamlGrids.Count; i++)
                 {
                     _readGridIndices.Add(_mapManager.GenerateGridId(null));
                 }
@@ -652,17 +662,17 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
 
             private void AllocEntities()
             {
-                var entities = RootNode.GetNode<YamlSequenceNode>("entities");
-                foreach (var entityDef in entities.Cast<YamlMappingNode>())
+                var entities = RootNode.Get<SequenceDataNode>("entities");
+                foreach (var entityDef in entities.Cast<MappingDataNode>())
                 {
                     string? type = null;
-                    if (entityDef.TryGetNode("type", out var typeNode))
+                    if (entityDef.TryGet<ValueDataNode>("type", out var typeNode))
                     {
-                        type = typeNode.AsString();
+                        type = typeNode.Value;
                     }
 
                     var uid = Entities.Count;
-                    if (entityDef.TryGetNode("uid", out var uidNode))
+                    if (entityDef.TryGet<ValueDataNode>("uid", out var uidNode))
                     {
                         uid = uidNode.AsInt();
                     }
@@ -684,15 +694,14 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
             {
                 foreach (var (entity, data) in _entitiesToDeserialize)
                 {
-                    CurrentReadingEntityComponents = new Dictionary<string, YamlMappingNode>();
-                    if (data.TryGetNode("components", out YamlSequenceNode? componentList))
+                    CurrentReadingEntityComponents = new Dictionary<string, MappingDataNode>();
+                    if (data.TryGet("components", out SequenceDataNode? componentList))
                     {
-                        foreach (var compData in componentList)
+                        foreach (var compData in componentList.Cast<MappingDataNode>())
                         {
-                            var copy = new YamlMappingNode(((YamlMappingNode)compData).AsEnumerable());
-                            copy.Children.Remove(new YamlScalarNode("type"));
-                            //TODO Paul: maybe replace mapping with datanode
-                            CurrentReadingEntityComponents[compData["type"].AsString()] = copy;
+                            var datanode = compData.Copy();
+                            datanode.Remove("type");
+                            CurrentReadingEntityComponents[((ValueDataNode)compData["type"]).Value] = datanode;
                         }
                     }
 
@@ -737,12 +746,12 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
                 PopulateEntityList();
                 WriteEntitySection();
 
-                return RootNode;
+                return RootNode.ToYaml();
             }
 
             private void WriteMetaSection()
             {
-                var meta = new YamlMappingNode();
+                var meta = new MappingDataNode();
                 RootNode.Add("meta", meta);
                 meta.Add("format", MapFormatVersion.ToString(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
                 // TODO: Make these values configurable.
@@ -764,7 +773,7 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
 
             private void WriteTileMapSection()
             {
-                var tileMap = new YamlMappingNode();
+                var tileMap = new MappingDataNode();
                 RootNode.Add("tilemap", tileMap);
                 foreach (var tileDefinition in _tileDefinitionManager)
                 {
@@ -774,12 +783,12 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
 
             private void WriteGridSection()
             {
-                var grids = new YamlSequenceNode();
+                var grids = new SequenceDataNode();
                 RootNode.Add("grids", grids);
 
                 foreach (var grid in Grids)
                 {
-                    var entry = YamlGridSerializer.SerializeGrid(grid);
+                    var entry = _serializationManager.WriteValue(grid, context: this);
                     grids.Add(entry);
                 }
             }
@@ -843,14 +852,14 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
                 var serializationManager = IoCManager.Resolve<ISerializationManager>();
                 var compFactory = IoCManager.Resolve<IComponentFactory>();
                 var metaQuery = _serverEntityManager.GetEntityQuery<MetaDataComponent>();
-                var entities = new YamlSequenceNode();
+                var entities = new SequenceDataNode();
                 RootNode.Add("entities", entities);
 
                 var prototypeCompCache = new Dictionary<string, Dictionary<string, MappingDataNode>>();
                 foreach (var (saveId, entityUid) in UidEntityMap.OrderBy(e=>e.Key))
                 {
                     CurrentWritingEntity = entityUid;
-                    var mapping = new YamlMappingNode
+                    var mapping = new MappingDataNode
                     {
                         {"uid", saveId.ToString(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture)}
                     };
@@ -870,7 +879,7 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
                         }
                     }
 
-                    var components = new YamlSequenceNode();
+                    var components = new SequenceDataNode();
 
                     // See engine#636 for why the Distinct() call.
                     foreach (var component in _serverEntityManager.GetComponents(entityUid))
@@ -894,11 +903,11 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
                         {
                             compMapping.Add("type", new ValueDataNode(compName));
                             // Something actually got written!
-                            components.Add(compMapping.ToYamlNode());
+                            components.Add(compMapping);
                         }
                     }
 
-                    if (components.Children.Count != 0)
+                    if (components.Count != 0)
                     {
                         mapping.Add("components", components);
                     }
@@ -908,8 +917,8 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
             }
 
             // Create custom object serializers that will correctly allow data to be overriden by the map file.
-            IComponent IEntityLoadContext.GetComponentData(string componentName,
-                IComponent? protoData)
+            MappingDataNode IEntityLoadContext.GetComponentData(string componentName,
+                MappingDataNode? protoData)
             {
                 if (CurrentReadingEntityComponents == null)
                 {
@@ -919,20 +928,15 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
                 var serializationManager = IoCManager.Resolve<ISerializationManager>();
                 var factory = IoCManager.Resolve<IComponentFactory>();
 
-                IComponent data = protoData != null
-                    ? serializationManager.CreateCopy(protoData, this)!
-                    : (IComponent) Activator.CreateInstance(factory.GetRegistration(componentName).Type)!;
-
                 if (CurrentReadingEntityComponents.TryGetValue(componentName, out var mapping))
                 {
-                    var mapData = (IDeserializedDefinition) serializationManager.Read(
-                        factory.GetRegistration(componentName).Type,
-                        mapping.ToDataNode(), this);
-                    var newData = serializationManager.PopulateDataDefinition(data, mapData);
-                    data = (IComponent) newData.RawValue!;
+                    if (protoData == null) return mapping.Copy();
+
+                    return serializationManager.PushCompositionWithGenericNode(
+                        factory.GetRegistration(componentName).Type, new[] { protoData }, mapping, this);
                 }
 
-                return data;
+                return protoData ?? new MappingDataNode();
             }
 
             public IEnumerable<string> GetExtraComponentTypes()
@@ -947,10 +951,10 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
                     : base(message) { }
             }
 
-            public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
+            public GridId Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
                 IDependencyCollection dependencies,
                 bool skipHook,
-                ISerializationContext? context = null)
+                ISerializationContext? context = null, GridId _ = default)
             {
                 // This is the code that deserializes the Grids index into the GridId. This has to happen between Grid allocation
                 // and when grids are bound to their entities.
@@ -966,7 +970,7 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
                     throw new MapLoadException($"Error in map file: found local grid ID '{val}' which does not exist.");
                 }
 
-                return new DeserializedValue<GridId>(_readGridIndices[val]);
+                return _readGridIndices[val];
             }
 
             ValidationNode ITypeValidator<EntityUid, ValueDataNode>.Validate(ISerializationManager serializationManager,
@@ -1032,15 +1036,15 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
                 }
             }
 
-            DeserializationResult ITypeReader<EntityUid, ValueDataNode>.Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager,
+            EntityUid ITypeReader<EntityUid, ValueDataNode>.Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager,
                 ValueDataNode node,
                 IDependencyCollection dependencies,
                 bool skipHook,
-                ISerializationContext? context)
+                ISerializationContext? context, EntityUid _)
             {
                 if (node.Value == "null")
                 {
-                    return new DeserializedValue<EntityUid>(EntityUid.Invalid);
+                    return EntityUid.Invalid;
                 }
 
                 var val = int.Parse(node.Value);
@@ -1048,11 +1052,11 @@ namespace Robust.Server.Maps
                 if (val >= Entities.Count || !UidEntityMap.ContainsKey(val) || !Entities.TryFirstOrNull(e => e == UidEntityMap[val], out var entity))
                 {
                     Logger.ErrorS("map", "Error in map file: found local entity UID '{0}' which does not exist.", val);
-                    return null!;
+                    return EntityUid.Invalid;
                 }
                 else
                 {
-                    return new DeserializedValue<EntityUid>(entity!.Value);
+                    return entity!.Value;
                 }
             }
 

Robust.Server/Maps/YamlGridSerializer.cs

@@ -1,120 +0,0 @@
-using System;
-using System.Collections.Generic;
-using System.Globalization;
-using System.IO;
-using System.Linq;
-using Robust.Shared.Map;
-using Robust.Shared.Utility;
-using YamlDotNet.Core;
-using YamlDotNet.RepresentationModel;
-
-namespace Robust.Server.Maps
-{
-    internal static class YamlGridSerializer
-    {
-        public static YamlMappingNode SerializeGrid(IMapGrid mapGrid)
-        {
-            var grid = (IMapGridInternal) mapGrid;
-
-            var gridn = new YamlMappingNode();
-            var info = new YamlMappingNode();
-            var chunkSeq = new YamlSequenceNode();
-
-            gridn.Add("settings", info);
-            gridn.Add("chunks", chunkSeq);
-
-            info.Add("chunksize", grid.ChunkSize.ToString(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
-            info.Add("tilesize", grid.TileSize.ToString(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
-
-            var chunks = grid.GetMapChunks();
-            foreach (var chunk in chunks)
-            {
-                var chunkNode = SerializeChunk(chunk.Value);
-                chunkSeq.Add(chunkNode);
-            }
-
-            return gridn;
-        }
-
-        private static YamlNode SerializeChunk(MapChunk chunk)
-        {
-            var root = new YamlMappingNode();
-            var value = new YamlScalarNode($"{chunk.X},{chunk.Y}");
-            value.Style = ScalarStyle.DoubleQuoted;
-            root.Add("ind", value);
-
-            var gridNode = new YamlScalarNode();
-            root.Add("tiles", gridNode);
-
-            gridNode.Value = SerializeTiles(chunk);
-
-            return root;
-        }
-
-        private static string SerializeTiles(MapChunk chunk)
-        {
-            // number of bytes written per tile, because sizeof(Tile) is useless.
-            const int structSize = 4;
-
-            var nTiles = chunk.ChunkSize * chunk.ChunkSize * structSize;
-            var barr = new byte[nTiles];
-
-            using (var stream = new MemoryStream(barr))
-            using (var writer = new BinaryWriter(stream))
-            {
-                for (ushort y = 0; y < chunk.ChunkSize; y++)
-                {
-                    for (ushort x = 0; x < chunk.ChunkSize; x++)
-                    {
-                        var tile = chunk.GetTile(x, y);
-                        writer.Write(tile.TypeId);
-                        writer.Write((byte)tile.Flags);
-                        writer.Write(tile.Variant);
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-
-            return Convert.ToBase64String(barr);
-        }
-
-        public static void DeserializeChunk(IMapManager mapMan, IMapGridInternal grid,
-            YamlMappingNode chunkData,
-            IReadOnlyDictionary<ushort, string> tileDefMapping,
-            ITileDefinitionManager tileDefinitionManager)
-        {
-            var indNode = chunkData["ind"];
-            var tileNode = chunkData["tiles"];
-
-            var (chunkOffsetX, chunkOffsetY) = indNode.AsVector2i();
-            var tileBytes = Convert.FromBase64String(tileNode.ToString());
-
-            using var stream = new MemoryStream(tileBytes);
-            using var reader = new BinaryReader(stream);
-
-            mapMan.SuppressOnTileChanged = true;
-
-            var chunk = grid.GetChunk(chunkOffsetX, chunkOffsetY);
-
-            chunk.SuppressCollisionRegeneration = true;
-
-            for (ushort y = 0; y < grid.ChunkSize; y++)
-            {
-                for (ushort x = 0; x < grid.ChunkSize; x++)
-                {
-                    var id = reader.ReadUInt16();
-                    var flags = (TileRenderFlag)reader.ReadByte();
-                    var variant = reader.ReadByte();
-
-                    var defName = tileDefMapping[id];
-                    id = tileDefinitionManager[defName].TileId;
-
-                    var tile = new Tile(id, flags, variant);
-                    chunk.SetTile(x, y, tile);
-                }
-            }
-
-            chunk.SuppressCollisionRegeneration = false;
-            mapMan.SuppressOnTileChanged = false;
-        }
-    }
-}

Robust.Shared/CVars.cs

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ using System.Threading;
 using Robust.Shared.Audio;
 using Robust.Shared.Configuration;
 using Robust.Shared.Log;
+using Robust.Shared.Maths;
 using Robust.Shared.Network;
 using Robust.Shared.Physics;
 
@@ -121,8 +122,8 @@ namespace Robust.Shared
         /// View size to take for PVS calculations,
         /// as the size of the sides of a square centered on the view points of clients.
         /// </summary>
-        public static readonly CVarDef<float> NetMaxUpdateRange =
-            CVarDef.Create("net.maxupdaterange", 12.5f, CVar.ARCHIVE | CVar.REPLICATED | CVar.SERVER);
+        public static readonly CVarDef<Vector2> NetDefaultUpdateRange =
+            CVarDef.Create("net.defaultupdaterange", new Vector2(12.5f, 12.5f), CVar.ARCHIVE | CVar.REPLICATED | CVar.SERVER);
 
         /// <summary>
         /// The amount of new entities that can be sent to a client in a single game state, under PVS.

Robust.Shared/GameObjects/Component.cs

@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.GameObjects
 
         /// <summary>
         /// Increases the life stage from <see cref="ComponentLifeStage.PreAdd" /> to <see cref="ComponentLifeStage.Added" />,
-        /// calling <see cref="OnAdd" />.
+        /// after raising a <see cref="ComponentAdd"/> event.
         /// </summary>
         internal void LifeAddToEntity(IEntityManager entManager)
         {
@@ -44,14 +44,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.GameObjects
             LifeStage = ComponentLifeStage.Adding;
             CreationTick = entManager.CurrentTick;
             entManager.EventBus.RaiseComponentEvent(this, CompAddInstance);
-            OnAdd();
-
-#if DEBUG
-            if (LifeStage != ComponentLifeStage.Added)
-            {
-                DebugTools.Assert($"Component {this.GetType().Name} did not call base {nameof(OnAdd)} in derived method.");
-            }
-#endif
+            LifeStage = ComponentLifeStage.Added;
         }
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -166,14 +159,6 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.GameObjects
         private static readonly ComponentShutdown CompShutdownInstance = new();
         private static readonly ComponentRemove CompRemoveInstance = new();
 
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Called when the component gets added to an entity.
-        /// </summary>
-        protected virtual void OnAdd()
-        {
-            LifeStage = ComponentLifeStage.Added;
-        }
-
         /// <summary>
         /// Called when all of the entity's other components have been added and are available,
         /// But are not necessarily initialized yet. DO NOT depend on the values of other components to be correct.

Robust.Shared/GameObjects/Components/Collidable/PhysicsComponent.Physics.cs

@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.GameObjects
         /// </summary>
         internal LinkedList<Contact> Contacts = new();
 
+        [DataField("ignorePaused"), ViewVariables(VVAccess.ReadWrite)]
         public bool IgnorePaused { get; set; }
 
         internal SharedPhysicsMapComponent? PhysicsMap { get; set; }
@@ -113,7 +114,8 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.GameObjects
                     _angularVelocity = 0.0f;
                     // SynchronizeFixtures(); TODO: When CCD
                 }
-                else
+                // Even if it's dynamic if it can't collide then don't force it awake.
+                else if (_canCollide)
                 {
                     SetAwake(true);
                 }

Robust.Shared/GameObjects/Components/DebugExceptionComponents.cs

@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-using System;
-
 namespace Robust.Shared.GameObjects
 {
     // If you wanna use these, add it to some random prototype.
@@ -11,24 +9,15 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.GameObjects
     /// <summary>
     /// Throws an exception in <see cref="OnAdd" />.
     /// </summary>
-    public sealed class DebugExceptionOnAddComponent : Component
-    {
-        protected override void OnAdd() => throw new NotSupportedException();
-    }
+    public sealed class DebugExceptionOnAddComponent : Component { }
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Throws an exception in <see cref="Initialize" />.
     /// </summary>
-    public sealed class DebugExceptionInitializeComponent : Component
-    {
-        protected override void Initialize() => throw new NotSupportedException();
-    }
+    public sealed class DebugExceptionInitializeComponent : Component { }
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Throws an exception in <see cref="Startup" />.
     /// </summary>
-    public sealed class DebugExceptionStartupComponent : Component
-    {
-        protected override void Startup() => throw new NotSupportedException();
-    }
+    public sealed class DebugExceptionStartupComponent : Component { }
 }

Robust.Shared/GameObjects/Components/IgnorePauseComponent.cs

@@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
-using Robust.Shared.IoC;
-using Robust.Shared.Map;
-
-namespace Robust.Shared.GameObjects
-{
-    [RegisterComponent]
-    public sealed class IgnorePauseComponent : Component
-    {
-        protected override void OnAdd()
-        {
-            base.OnAdd();
-            IoCManager.Resolve<IEntityManager>().GetComponent<MetaDataComponent>(Owner).EntityPaused = false;
-        }
-
-        protected override void OnRemove()
-        {
-            base.OnRemove();
-            var entMan = IoCManager.Resolve<IEntityManager>();
-            if (IoCManager.Resolve<IMapManager>().IsMapPaused(entMan.GetComponent<TransformComponent>(Owner).MapID))
-            {
-                entMan.GetComponent<MetaDataComponent>(Owner).EntityPaused = true;
-            }
-        }
-    }
-}

Robust.Shared/GameObjects/Components/MetaDataComponent.cs

@@ -151,12 +151,8 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.GameObjects
                 if (_entityPaused == value)
                     return;
 
-                var entMan = IoCManager.Resolve<IEntityManager>();
-                if (value && entMan.HasComponent<IgnorePauseComponent>(Owner))
-                    return;
-
                 _entityPaused = value;
-                entMan.EventBus.RaiseLocalEvent(Owner, new EntityPausedEvent(Owner, value));
+                IoCManager.Resolve<IEntityManager>().EventBus.RaiseLocalEvent(Owner, new EntityPausedEvent(Owner, value));
             }
         }
 

Robust.Shared/GameObjects/EntityManager.cs

@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.GameObjects
             var entity = AllocEntity(prototypeName, uid);
             try
             {
-                EntityPrototype.LoadEntity(GetComponent<MetaDataComponent>(entity).EntityPrototype, entity, ComponentFactory, this, _serManager, null);
+                EntityPrototype.LoadEntity(GetComponent<MetaDataComponent>(entity).EntityPrototype, entity, ComponentFactory, PrototypeManager, this, _serManager, null);
                 return entity;
             }
             catch (Exception e)
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.GameObjects
 
         private protected void LoadEntity(EntityUid entity, IEntityLoadContext? context)
         {
-            EntityPrototype.LoadEntity(GetComponent<MetaDataComponent>(entity).EntityPrototype, entity, ComponentFactory, this, _serManager, context);
+            EntityPrototype.LoadEntity(GetComponent<MetaDataComponent>(entity).EntityPrototype, entity, ComponentFactory, PrototypeManager, this, _serManager, context);
         }
 
         private void InitializeAndStartEntity(EntityUid entity, MapId mapId)

Robust.Shared/GameObjects/EntitySystem.Proxy.cs

@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ public partial class EntitySystem
 
     /// <inheritdoc cref="IEntityManager.TryGetComponent&lt;T&gt;(EntityUid?, out T)"/>
     [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
-    protected bool TryComp<T>(EntityUid? uid, [NotNullWhen(true)] out T? comp)
+    protected bool TryComp<T>([NotNullWhen(true)] EntityUid? uid, [NotNullWhen(true)] out T? comp)
     {
         if (!uid.HasValue)
         {

Robust.Shared/GameObjects/IEntityLoadContext.cs

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ using System.Collections.Generic;
 using Robust.Shared.Prototypes;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
+using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Mapping;
 using YamlDotNet.RepresentationModel;
 
 namespace Robust.Shared.GameObjects
@@ -14,7 +15,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.GameObjects
         /// <summary>
         ///     Gets the serializer used to ExposeData a specific component.
         /// </summary>
-        IComponent GetComponentData(string componentName, IComponent? protoData);
+        MappingDataNode GetComponentData(string componentName, MappingDataNode? protoData);
 
         /// <summary>
         ///     Gets extra component names that must also be instantiated on top of the ones defined in the prototype,

Robust.Shared/GameObjects/Systems/DebugExceptionSystem.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+using System;
+
+namespace Robust.Shared.GameObjects;
+
+public sealed class DebugExceptionSystem : EntitySystem
+{
+    public override void Initialize()
+    {
+        base.Initialize();
+
+        SubscribeLocalEvent<DebugExceptionOnAddComponent, ComponentAdd>((_, _, _) => throw new NotSupportedException());
+        SubscribeLocalEvent<DebugExceptionInitializeComponent, ComponentInit>((_, _, _) => throw new NotSupportedException());
+        SubscribeLocalEvent<DebugExceptionStartupComponent, ComponentStartup>((_, _, _) => throw new NotSupportedException());
+    }
+}

Robust.Shared/GameObjects/Systems/SharedPhysicsSystem.Bodies.cs

@@ -30,16 +30,15 @@ public abstract partial class SharedPhysicsSystem
 
         if (component.CanCollide)
         {
-            if (component.Awake)
-            {
-                EntityManager.EventBus.RaiseEvent(EventSource.Local, new PhysicsWakeMessage(component));
-            }
-
             if (!_containerSystem.IsEntityInContainer(uid))
             {
                 // TODO: Probably a bad idea but ehh future sloth's problem; namely that we have to duplicate code between here and CanCollide.
                 EntityManager.EventBus.RaiseLocalEvent(uid, new CollisionChangeMessage(component, uid, component._canCollide));
             }
+            else
+            {
+                component._canCollide = false;
+            }
         }
         else
         {

Robust.Shared/Localization/LocalizationManager.Entity.cs

@@ -58,8 +58,8 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Localization
 
             while (true)
             {
-                var prototype = _prototype.Index<EntityPrototype>(prototypeId);
-                var locId = prototype.CustomLocalizationID ?? $"ent-{prototypeId}";
+                _prototype.TryIndex<EntityPrototype>(prototypeId, out var prototype);
+                var locId = prototype?.CustomLocalizationID ?? $"ent-{prototypeId}";
 
                 if (TryGetMessage(locId, out var bundle, out var msg))
                 {
@@ -109,11 +109,11 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Localization
                     }
                 }
 
-                name ??= prototype.SetName;
-                desc ??= prototype.SetDesc;
-                suffix ??= prototype.SetSuffix;
+                name ??= prototype?.SetName;
+                desc ??= prototype?.SetDesc;
+                suffix ??= prototype?.SetSuffix;
 
-                if (prototype.LocProperties.Count != 0)
+                if (prototype?.LocProperties != null && prototype.LocProperties.Count != 0)
                 {
                     foreach (var (attrib, value) in prototype.LocProperties)
                     {
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Localization
                     }
                 }
 
-                if (prototype.Parent == null)
+                if (prototype?.Parent == null)
                     break;
 
                 prototypeId = prototype.Parent;

Robust.Shared/Network/Messages/MsgConVars.cs

@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Numerics;
 using Lidgren.Network;
+using Robust.Shared.Configuration;
 using Robust.Shared.Log;
 using Robust.Shared.Timing;
 
@@ -66,6 +68,11 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Network.Messages
                     case CvarType.Double:
                         value = buffer.ReadDouble();
                         break;
+                    case CvarType.Vector2:
+                        var valX = buffer.ReadFloat();
+                        var valY = buffer.ReadFloat();
+                        value = new Vector2(valX, valY);
+                        break;
                     default:
                         throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException();
                 }
@@ -116,6 +123,11 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Network.Messages
                         buffer.Write((byte)CvarType.Double);
                         buffer.Write(val);
                         break;
+                    case Vector2 val:
+                        buffer.Write((byte)CvarType.Vector2);
+                        buffer.Write(val.X);
+                        buffer.Write(val.Y);
+                        break;
                     default:
                         throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException();
                 }
@@ -126,13 +138,13 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Network.Messages
         {
             // ReSharper disable once UnusedMember.Local
             None,
-
             Int,
             Long,
             Bool,
             String,
             Float,
-            Double
+            Double,
+            Vector2,
         }
     }
 }

Robust.Shared/Physics/Dynamics/SharedPhysicsMapComponent.cs

@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 
 using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Linq;
 using Robust.Shared.GameObjects;
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Log;
@@ -98,11 +99,6 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Physics.Dynamics
         /// </summary>
         private HashSet<PhysicsComponent> _islandSet = new();
 
-        private HashSet<PhysicsComponent> _queuedWake = new();
-        private HashSet<PhysicsComponent> _queuedSleep = new();
-
-        private Queue<CollisionChangeMessage> _queuedCollisionMessages = new();
-
         private List<PhysicsComponent> _islandBodies = new(64);
         private List<Contact> _islandContacts = new(32);
         private List<Joint> _islandJoints = new(8);
@@ -127,10 +123,8 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Physics.Dynamics
             if (Bodies.Contains(body)) return;
 
             // TODO: Kinda dodgy with this and wake shit.
-            // Look at my note under ProcessWakeQueue
             if (body.Awake && body.BodyType != BodyType.Static)
             {
-                _queuedWake.Remove(body);
                 AwakeBodies.Add(body);
             }
 
@@ -140,7 +134,20 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Physics.Dynamics
 
         public void AddAwakeBody(PhysicsComponent body)
         {
-            _queuedWake.Add(body);
+            if (body.BodyType == BodyType.Static)
+            {
+                Logger.ErrorS("physics", $"Tried to add static body {_entityManager.ToPrettyString(body.Owner)} as an awake body to map!");
+                return;
+            }
+
+            DebugTools.Assert(Bodies.Contains(body));
+            if (!Bodies.Contains(body))
+            {
+                Logger.ErrorS("physics", $"Tried to add {_entityManager.ToPrettyString(body.Owner)} as an awake body to map when it's not contained on the map!");
+                return;
+            }
+
+            AwakeBodies.Add(body);
         }
 
         public void RemoveBody(PhysicsComponent body)
@@ -153,63 +160,11 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Physics.Dynamics
 
         public void RemoveSleepBody(PhysicsComponent body)
         {
-            _queuedSleep.Add(body);
+            AwakeBodies.Remove(body);
         }
 
         #endregion
 
-        #region Queue
-        private void ProcessChanges()
-        {
-            ProcessBodyChanges();
-            ProcessWakeQueue();
-            ProcessSleepQueue();
-        }
-
-        private void ProcessBodyChanges()
-        {
-            while (_queuedCollisionMessages.Count > 0)
-            {
-                var message = _queuedCollisionMessages.Dequeue();
-
-                if (!message.Body.Deleted && message.Body.CanCollide)
-                {
-                    AddBody(message.Body);
-                }
-                else
-                {
-                    RemoveBody(message.Body);
-                }
-            }
-        }
-
-        private void ProcessWakeQueue()
-        {
-            foreach (var body in _queuedWake)
-            {
-                // Sloth note: So FPE doesn't seem to handle static bodies being woken gracefully as they never sleep
-                // (No static body's an island so can't increase their min sleep time).
-                // AFAIK not adding it to woken bodies shouldn't matter for anything tm...
-                if (!body.Awake || body.BodyType == BodyType.Static || !Bodies.Contains(body)) continue;
-                AwakeBodies.Add(body);
-            }
-
-            _queuedWake.Clear();
-        }
-
-        private void ProcessSleepQueue()
-        {
-            foreach (var body in _queuedSleep)
-            {
-                if (body.Awake) continue;
-
-                AwakeBodies.Remove(body);
-            }
-
-            _queuedSleep.Clear();
-        }
-        #endregion
-
         /// <summary>
         ///     Where the magic happens.
         /// </summary>
@@ -217,10 +172,6 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Physics.Dynamics
         /// <param name="prediction"></param>
         public void Step(float frameTime, bool prediction)
         {
-            // The original doesn't call ProcessChanges quite so much but stuff like collision behaviors
-            // can edit things during the solver so we'll just handle it as it comes up.
-            ProcessChanges();
-
             // Box2D does this at the end of a step and also here when there's a fixture update.
             // Given external stuff can move bodies we'll just do this here.
             // Unfortunately this NEEDS to be predicted to make pushing remotely fucking good.
@@ -237,9 +188,6 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Physics.Dynamics
             if (!prediction)
                 ContactManager.PreSolve(frameTime);
 
-            // Remove all deleted entities etc.
-            ProcessChanges();
-
             // Integrate velocities, solve velocity constraints, and do integration.
             Solve(frameTime, dtRatio, invDt, prediction);
 

Robust.Shared/Player/Filter.cs

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ using Robust.Shared.Configuration;
 using Robust.Shared.GameObjects;
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Map;
+using Robust.Shared.Maths;
 using Robust.Shared.Physics;
 using Robust.Shared.Players;
 
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Player
             if (!cfgMan.GetCVar(CVars.NetPVS))
                 return AddAllPlayers();
 
-            var pvsRange = cfgMan.GetCVar(CVars.NetMaxUpdateRange) * rangeMultiplier;
+            var pvsRange = cfgMan.GetCVar(CVars.NetDefaultUpdateRange) * rangeMultiplier;
 
             return AddInRange(origin, pvsRange, playerMan);
         }
@@ -175,6 +176,13 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Player
                 (xform.WorldPosition - position.Position).Length < range, playerMan);
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        ///     Adds all players in range of a position.
+        /// </summary>
+        public Filter AddInRange(MapCoordinates position, Vector2 range, ISharedPlayerManager? playerMan = null,
+            IEntityManager? entMan = null)
+            => AddInRange(position, range.Length, playerMan, entMan);
+
         /// <summary>
         ///     Removes all players without the specified visibility flag.
         /// </summary>

Robust.Shared/Prototypes/EntityPrototype.cs

@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ using Robust.Shared.Maths;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
+using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Mapping;
+using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Sequence;
+using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Custom.Prototype;
 using Robust.Shared.ViewVariables;
 
@@ -39,7 +42,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Prototypes
         /// The "in code name" of the object. Must be unique.
         /// </summary>
         [ViewVariables]
-        [DataField("id")]
+        [IdDataFieldAttribute]
         public string ID { get; private set; } = default!;
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -98,8 +101,8 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Prototypes
         /// </summary>
         [ViewVariables]
         [NeverPushInheritance]
-        [DataField("abstract")]
-        public bool Abstract { get; private set; }
+        [DataField("noSpawn")]
+        public bool NoSpawn { get; private set; }
 
         [DataField("placement")] private EntityPlacementProperties PlacementProperties = new();
 
@@ -138,9 +141,14 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Prototypes
         /// The prototype we inherit from.
         /// </summary>
         [ViewVariables]
-        [DataField("parent", customTypeSerializer:typeof(PrototypeIdSerializer<EntityPrototype>))]
+        [ParentDataFieldAttribute(typeof(PrototypeIdSerializer<EntityPrototype>))]
         public string? Parent { get; private set; }
 
+        [ViewVariables]
+        [NeverPushInheritance]
+        [AbstractDataField]
+        public bool Abstract { get; }
+
         /// <summary>
         /// A dictionary mapping the component type list to the YAML mapping containing their settings.
         /// </summary>
@@ -233,6 +241,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Prototypes
             EntityPrototype? prototype,
             EntityUid entity,
             IComponentFactory factory,
+            IPrototypeManager prototypeManager,
             IEntityManager entityManager,
             ISerializationManager serManager,
             IEntityLoadContext? context) //yeah officer this method right here
@@ -245,12 +254,22 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Prototypes
 
             if (prototype != null)
             {
-                foreach (var (name, data) in prototype.Components)
+                prototypeManager.TryGetMapping(typeof(EntityPrototype), prototype.ID, out var prototypeData);
+
+                foreach (var (name, _) in prototype.Components)
                 {
-                    var fullData = data;
+                    MappingDataNode? fullData = null;
+                    if (prototypeData != null && prototypeData.TryGet<SequenceDataNode>("components", out var compList))
+                    {
+                        fullData = compList.Cast<MappingDataNode>().FirstOrDefault(x =>
+                            x.TryGet<ValueDataNode>("type", out var typeNode) && typeNode.Value == name);
+                    }
+
+                    fullData ??= new MappingDataNode();
+
                     if (context != null)
                     {
-                        fullData = context.GetComponentData(name, data);
+                        fullData = context.GetComponentData(name, fullData);
                     }
 
                     EnsureCompExistsAndDeserialize(entity, factory, entityManager, serManager, name, fullData, context as ISerializationContext);
@@ -281,7 +300,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Prototypes
             IEntityManager entityManager,
             ISerializationManager serManager,
             string compName,
-            IComponent data, ISerializationContext? context)
+            MappingDataNode data, ISerializationContext? context)
         {
             var compType = factory.GetRegistration(compName).Type;
 
@@ -294,7 +313,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Prototypes
             }
 
             // TODO use this value to support struct components
-            _ = serManager.Copy(data, component, context);
+            serManager.Read(compType, data, context, value: component);
         }
 
         public override string ToString()

Robust.Shared/Prototypes/IPrototype.cs

@@ -1,4 +1,10 @@
-using Robust.Shared.ViewVariables;
+using System;
+using JetBrains.Annotations;
+using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
+using Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Custom.Prototype;
+using Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Interfaces;
+using Robust.Shared.ViewVariables;
+using YamlDotNet.Core.Tokens;
 using YamlDotNet.RepresentationModel;
 
 namespace Robust.Shared.Prototypes
@@ -25,4 +31,31 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Prototypes
 
         bool Abstract { get; }
     }
+
+    public sealed class IdDataFieldAttribute : DataFieldAttribute
+    {
+        public const string Name = "id";
+        public IdDataFieldAttribute(int priority = 1, Type? customTypeSerializer = null) :
+            base(Name, false, priority, true, false, customTypeSerializer)
+        {
+        }
+    }
+
+    public sealed class ParentDataFieldAttribute : DataFieldAttribute
+    {
+        public const string Name = "parent";
+        public ParentDataFieldAttribute(Type prototypeIdSerializer, int priority = 1) :
+            base(Name, false, priority, false, false, prototypeIdSerializer)
+        {
+        }
+    }
+
+    public sealed class AbstractDataFieldAttribute : DataFieldAttribute
+    {
+        public const string Name = "abstract";
+        public AbstractDataFieldAttribute(int priority = 1) :
+            base(Name, false, priority, false, false, null)
+        {
+        }
+    }
 }

Robust.Shared/Prototypes/PrototypeManager.cs

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ using System.Linq;
 using System.Runtime.Serialization;
 using System.Threading;
 using JetBrains.Annotations;
+using Prometheus;
 using Robust.Shared.Asynchronous;
 using Robust.Shared.ContentPack;
 using Robust.Shared.GameObjects;
@@ -15,10 +16,10 @@ using Robust.Shared.Log;
 using Robust.Shared.Reflection;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Mapping;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
+using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
 using Robust.Shared.Utility;
 using YamlDotNet.Core;
 using YamlDotNet.RepresentationModel;
@@ -79,6 +80,9 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Prototypes
         bool TryIndex<T>(string id, [NotNullWhen(true)] out T? prototype) where T : class, IPrototype;
         bool TryIndex(Type type, string id, [NotNullWhen(true)] out IPrototype? prototype);
 
+        bool HasMapping<T>(string id);
+        bool TryGetMapping(Type type, string id, [NotNullWhen(true)] out MappingDataNode? mappings);
+
         /// <summary>
         ///     Returns whether a prototype variant <param name="variant"/> exists.
         /// </summary>
@@ -131,13 +135,13 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Prototypes
         /// <summary>
         /// Load prototypes from files in a directory, recursively.
         /// </summary>
-        List<IPrototype> LoadDirectory(ResourcePath path, bool overwrite = false);
+        void LoadDirectory(ResourcePath path, bool overwrite = false, Dictionary<Type, HashSet<string>>? changed = null);
 
         Dictionary<string, HashSet<ErrorNode>> ValidateDirectory(ResourcePath path);
 
-        List<IPrototype> LoadFromStream(TextReader stream, bool overwrite = false);
+        void LoadFromStream(TextReader stream, bool overwrite = false, Dictionary<Type, HashSet<string>>? changed = null);
 
-        List<IPrototype> LoadString(string str, bool overwrite = false);
+        void LoadString(string str, bool overwrite = false, Dictionary<Type, HashSet<string>>? changed = null);
 
         void RemoveString(string prototypes);
 
@@ -149,7 +153,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Prototypes
         /// <summary>
         /// Syncs all inter-prototype data. Call this when operations adding new prototypes are done.
         /// </summary>
-        void Resync();
+        void ResolveResults();
 
         /// <summary>
         ///     Registers a specific prototype name to be ignored.
@@ -213,7 +217,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Prototypes
         #region IPrototypeManager members
 
         private readonly Dictionary<Type, Dictionary<string, IPrototype>> _prototypes = new();
-        private readonly Dictionary<Type, Dictionary<string, DeserializationResult>> _prototypeResults = new();
+        private readonly Dictionary<Type, Dictionary<string, MappingDataNode>> _prototypeResults = new();
         private readonly Dictionary<Type, PrototypeInheritanceTree> _inheritanceTrees = new();
 
         private readonly HashSet<string> _ignoredPrototypeTypes = new();
@@ -302,63 +306,62 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Prototypes
         protected void ReloadPrototypes(IEnumerable<ResourcePath> filePaths)
         {
 #if !FULL_RELEASE
-            var changed = filePaths.SelectMany(f => LoadFile(f.ToRootedPath(), true)).ToList();
+            var changed = new Dictionary<Type, HashSet<string>>();
+            foreach (var filePath in filePaths)
+            {
+                LoadFile(filePath.ToRootedPath(), true, changed);
+            }
             ReloadPrototypes(changed);
 #endif
         }
 
-        internal void ReloadPrototypes(List<IPrototype> prototypes)
+        internal void ReloadPrototypes(Dictionary<Type, HashSet<string>> prototypes)
         {
 #if !FULL_RELEASE
-            prototypes.Sort((a, b) => SortPrototypesByPriority(a.GetType(), b.GetType()));
+            var prototypeTypeOrder = prototypes.Keys.ToList();
+            prototypeTypeOrder.Sort(SortPrototypesByPriority);
 
             var pushed = new Dictionary<Type, HashSet<string>>();
 
-            foreach (var prototype in prototypes)
+            foreach (var type in prototypeTypeOrder)
             {
-                if (prototype is not IInheritingPrototype inheritingPrototype) continue;
-                var type = prototype.GetType();
-                if (!pushed.ContainsKey(type)) pushed[type] = new HashSet<string>();
-                var baseNode = prototype.ID;
-
-                if (pushed[type].Contains(baseNode))
+                if (!type.IsAssignableTo(typeof(IInheritingPrototype)))
                 {
-                    continue;
-                }
-
-                var tree = _inheritanceTrees[type];
-                var currentNode = inheritingPrototype.Parent;
-
-                if (currentNode == null)
-                {
-                    PushInheritance(type, baseNode, null, pushed[type]);
-                    continue;
-                }
-
-                while (true)
-                {
-                    var parent = tree.GetParent(currentNode);
-
-                    if (parent == null)
+                    foreach (var id in prototypes[type])
                     {
-                        break;
+                        _prototypes[type][id] = (IPrototype) _serializationManager.Read(type, _prototypeResults[type][id])!;
+                    }
+                    continue;
+                }
+
+                foreach (var id in prototypes[type])
+                {
+                    if (!pushed.ContainsKey(type))
+                        pushed[type] = new HashSet<string>();
+                    if (pushed[type].Contains(id))
+                    {
+                        continue;
                     }
 
-                    baseNode = currentNode;
-                    currentNode = parent;
+                    var set = new HashSet<string>();
+                    set.Add(id);
+                    PushInheritance(type, id, _inheritanceTrees[type].GetParent(id), set);
+                    foreach (var changedId in set)
+                    {
+                        TryReadPrototype(type, changedId, _prototypeResults[type][changedId]);
+                    }
+                    pushed[type].UnionWith(set);
                 }
-
-                PushInheritance(type, currentNode, baseNode, null, pushed[type]);
             }
 
+            //todo paul i hate it but i am not opening that can of worms in this refactor
             PrototypesReloaded?.Invoke(
                 new PrototypesReloadedEventArgs(
                     prototypes
-                        .GroupBy(p => p.GetType())
                         .ToDictionary(
                             g => g.Key,
                             g => new PrototypesReloadedEventArgs.PrototypeChangeSet(
-                                g.ToDictionary(a => a.ID, a => a)))));
+                                g.Value.ToDictionary(a => a, a => _prototypes[g.Key][a])))));
 
             // TODO filter by entity prototypes changed
             if (!pushed.ContainsKey(typeof(EntityPrototype))) return;
@@ -379,90 +382,77 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Prototypes
 #endif
         }
 
-        public void Resync()
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Resolves the mappings stored in memory to actual prototypeinstances.
+        /// </summary>
+        public void ResolveResults()
         {
-            var trees = _inheritanceTrees.Keys.ToList();
-            trees.Sort(SortPrototypesByPriority);
-            foreach (var type in trees)
+            var types = _prototypeResults.Keys.ToList();
+            types.Sort(SortPrototypesByPriority);
+            foreach (var type in types)
             {
-                var tree = _inheritanceTrees[type];
-                foreach (var baseNode in tree.BaseNodes)
-                {
-                    PushInheritance(type, baseNode, null, new HashSet<string>());
-                }
-
-                // Go over all prototypes and double check that their parent actually exists.
-                var typePrototypes = _prototypes[type];
-                foreach (var (id, proto) in typePrototypes)
-                {
-                    var iProto = (IInheritingPrototype) proto;
-
-                    var parent = iProto.Parent;
-                    if (parent != null && !typePrototypes.ContainsKey(parent!))
+                if(_inheritanceTrees.TryGetValue(type, out var tree)){
+                    foreach (var baseNode in tree.BaseNodes)
                     {
-                        Logger.ErrorS("Serv3", $"{iProto.GetType().Name} '{id}' has invalid parent: {parent}");
+                        PushInheritance(type, baseNode);
                     }
                 }
+
+                foreach (var (id, mapping) in _prototypeResults[type])
+                {
+                    TryReadPrototype(type, id, mapping);
+                }
             }
         }
 
-        public void PushInheritance(Type type, string id, string child, DeserializationResult? baseResult,
-            HashSet<string> changed)
+        private void TryReadPrototype(Type type, string id, MappingDataNode mapping)
         {
-            changed.Add(id);
-
-            var myRes = _prototypeResults[type][id];
-            var newResult = baseResult != null ? myRes.PushInheritanceFrom(baseResult) : myRes;
-
-            PushInheritance(type, child, newResult, changed);
-
-            newResult.CallAfterDeserializationHook();
-            var populatedRes =
-                _serializationManager.PopulateDataDefinition(_prototypes[type][id], (IDeserializedDefinition) newResult);
-            _prototypes[type][id] = (IPrototype) populatedRes.RawValue!;
-        }
-
-        public void PushInheritance(Type type, string id, DeserializationResult? baseResult, HashSet<string> changed)
-        {
-            changed.Add(id);
-
-            var myRes = _prototypeResults[type][id];
-            var newResult = baseResult != null ? myRes.PushInheritanceFrom(baseResult) : myRes;
-
-            foreach (var childID in _inheritanceTrees[type].Children(id))
-            {
-                PushInheritance(type, childID, newResult, changed);
-            }
-
-            if (newResult.RawValue is not IInheritingPrototype inheritingPrototype)
-            {
-                Logger.ErrorS("Serv3", $"PushInheritance was called on non-inheriting prototype! ({type}, {id})");
+            if(mapping.TryGet<ValueDataNode>(AbstractDataFieldAttribute.Name, out var abstractNode) && abstractNode.AsBool())
                 return;
+            try
+            {
+                _prototypes[type][id] = (IPrototype) _serializationManager.Read(type, mapping)!;
+            }
+            catch (Exception e)
+            {
+                Logger.ErrorS("PROTO", $"Reading {type}({id}) threw the following exception: {e}");
+            }
+        }
+
+        private void PushInheritance(Type type, string id, string? parent = null, HashSet<string>? changed = null)
+        {
+            if (parent != null)
+            {
+                PushInheritanceWithoutRecursion(type, id, parent, changed);
             }
 
-            if (!inheritingPrototype.Abstract)
-                newResult.CallAfterDeserializationHook();
-            var populatedRes =
-                _serializationManager.PopulateDataDefinition(_prototypes[type][id], (IDeserializedDefinition) newResult);
-            _prototypes[type][id] = (IPrototype) populatedRes.RawValue!;
+            if(!_inheritanceTrees[type].HasId(id)) return;
+
+            foreach (var child in _inheritanceTrees[type].Children(id))
+            {
+                PushInheritance(type, child, id, changed);
+            }
+        }
+
+        private void PushInheritanceWithoutRecursion(Type type, string id, string parent,
+            HashSet<string>? changed = null)
+        {
+            _prototypeResults[type][id] = _serializationManager.PushCompositionWithGenericNode(type,
+                new[] { _prototypeResults[type][parent] }, _prototypeResults[type][id]);
+            changed?.Add(id);
         }
 
         /// <inheritdoc />
-        public List<IPrototype> LoadDirectory(ResourcePath path, bool overwrite = false)
+        public void LoadDirectory(ResourcePath path, bool overwrite = false, Dictionary<Type, HashSet<string>>? changed = null)
         {
-            var changedPrototypes = new List<IPrototype>();
-
             _hasEverBeenReloaded = true;
             var streams = Resources.ContentFindFiles(path).ToList().AsParallel()
                 .Where(filePath => filePath.Extension == "yml" && !filePath.Filename.StartsWith("."));
 
             foreach (var resourcePath in streams)
             {
-                var filePrototypes = LoadFile(resourcePath, overwrite);
-                changedPrototypes.AddRange(filePrototypes);
+                LoadFile(resourcePath, overwrite, changed);
             }
-
-            return changedPrototypes;
         }
 
         public Dictionary<string, HashSet<ErrorNode>> ValidateDirectory(ResourcePath path)
@@ -545,17 +535,15 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Prototypes
             }
         }
 
-        public HashSet<IPrototype> LoadFile(ResourcePath file, bool overwrite = false)
+        public void LoadFile(ResourcePath file, bool overwrite = false, Dictionary<Type, HashSet<string>>? changed = null)
         {
-            var changedPrototypes = new HashSet<IPrototype>();
-
             try
             {
                 using var reader = ReadFile(file, !overwrite);
 
                 if (reader == null)
                 {
-                    return changedPrototypes;
+                    return;
                 }
 
                 var yamlStream = new YamlStream();
@@ -567,8 +555,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Prototypes
                 {
                     try
                     {
-                        var documentPrototypes = LoadFromDocument(yamlStream.Documents[i], overwrite);
-                        changedPrototypes.UnionWith(documentPrototypes);
+                        LoadFromDocument(yamlStream.Documents[i], overwrite, changed);
                     }
                     catch (Exception e)
                     {
@@ -581,13 +568,10 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Prototypes
                 var sawmill = Logger.GetSawmill("eng");
                 sawmill.Error("YamlException whilst loading prototypes from {0}: {1}", file, e.Message);
             }
-
-            return changedPrototypes;
         }
 
-        public List<IPrototype> LoadFromStream(TextReader stream, bool overwrite = false)
+        public void LoadFromStream(TextReader stream, bool overwrite = false, Dictionary<Type, HashSet<string>>? changed = null)
         {
-            var changedPrototypes = new List<IPrototype>();
             _hasEverBeenReloaded = true;
             var yaml = new YamlStream();
             yaml.Load(stream);
@@ -596,8 +580,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Prototypes
             {
                 try
                 {
-                    var documentPrototypes = LoadFromDocument(yaml.Documents[i], overwrite);
-                    changedPrototypes.AddRange(documentPrototypes);
+                    LoadFromDocument(yaml.Documents[i], overwrite, changed);
                 }
                 catch (Exception e)
                 {
@@ -606,13 +589,11 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Prototypes
             }
 
             LoadedData?.Invoke(yaml, "anonymous prototypes YAML stream");
-
-            return changedPrototypes;
         }
 
-        public List<IPrototype> LoadString(string str, bool overwrite = false)
+        public void LoadString(string str, bool overwrite = false, Dictionary<Type, HashSet<string>>? changed = null)
         {
-            return LoadFromStream(new StringReader(str), overwrite);
+            LoadFromStream(new StringReader(str), overwrite, changed);
         }
 
         public void RemoveString(string prototypes)
@@ -653,14 +634,14 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Prototypes
             }
         }
 
-        private HashSet<IPrototype> LoadFromDocument(YamlDocument document, bool overwrite = false)
+        private void LoadFromDocument(YamlDocument document, bool overwrite = false, Dictionary<Type, HashSet<string>>? changed = null)
         {
-            var changedPrototypes = new HashSet<IPrototype>();
             var rootNode = (YamlSequenceNode) document.RootNode;
 
-            foreach (YamlMappingNode node in rootNode.Cast<YamlMappingNode>())
+            foreach (var node in rootNode.Cast<YamlMappingNode>())
             {
-                var type = node.GetNode("type").AsString();
+                var datanode = node.ToDataNodeCast<MappingDataNode>();
+                var type = datanode.Get<ValueDataNode>("type").Value;
                 if (!_prototypeTypes.ContainsKey(type))
                 {
                     if (_ignoredPrototypeTypes.Contains(type))
@@ -672,30 +653,28 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Prototypes
                 }
 
                 var prototypeType = _prototypeTypes[type];
-                var res = _serializationManager.Read(prototypeType, node.ToDataNode(), skipHook: true);
-                var prototype = (IPrototype) res.RawValue!;
 
-                if (!overwrite && _prototypes[prototypeType].ContainsKey(prototype.ID))
+                if (!datanode.TryGet<ValueDataNode>(IdDataFieldAttribute.Name, out var idNode))
+                    throw new PrototypeLoadException($"Prototype type {type} is missing an 'id' datafield.");
+
+                if (!overwrite && _prototypes[prototypeType].ContainsKey(idNode.Value))
                 {
-                    throw new PrototypeLoadException($"Duplicate ID: '{prototype.ID}'");
+                    throw new PrototypeLoadException($"Duplicate ID: '{idNode.Value}'");
                 }
 
-                _prototypeResults[prototypeType][prototype.ID] = res;
-                if (prototype is IInheritingPrototype inheritingPrototype)
+                _prototypeResults[prototypeType][idNode.Value] = datanode;
+                if (prototypeType.IsAssignableTo(typeof(IInheritingPrototype)))
                 {
-                    _inheritanceTrees[prototypeType].AddId(prototype.ID, inheritingPrototype.Parent, true);
-                }
-                else
-                {
-                    //we call it here since it wont get called when pushing inheritance
-                    res.CallAfterDeserializationHook();
+                    datanode.TryGet<ValueDataNode>(ParentDataFieldAttribute.Name, out var parentNode);
+                    _inheritanceTrees[prototypeType].AddId(idNode.Value, parentNode?.Value, true);
                 }
 
-                _prototypes[prototypeType][prototype.ID] = prototype;
-                changedPrototypes.Add(prototype);
+                if (changed == null) continue;
+
+                if (!changed.TryGetValue(prototypeType, out var set))
+                    changed[prototypeType] = set = new HashSet<string>();
+                set.Add(idNode.Value);
             }
-
-            return changedPrototypes;
         }
 
         public bool HasIndex<T>(string id) where T : class, IPrototype
@@ -725,6 +704,23 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Prototypes
             return index.TryGetValue(id, out prototype);
         }
 
+        public bool HasMapping<T>(string id)
+        {
+            if (!_prototypeResults.TryGetValue(typeof(T), out var index))
+            {
+                throw new UnknownPrototypeException(id);
+            }
+
+            return index.ContainsKey(id);
+        }
+
+        public bool TryGetMapping(Type type, string id, [NotNullWhen(true)] out MappingDataNode? mappings)
+        {
+            var ret = _prototypeResults[type].TryGetValue(id, out var originalMappings);
+            mappings = originalMappings?.Copy();
+            return ret;
+        }
+
         /// <inheritdoc />
         public bool HasVariant(string variant)
         {
@@ -805,13 +801,66 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Prototypes
                     $"Duplicate prototype type ID: {attribute.Type}. Current: {_prototypeTypes[attribute.Type]}");
             }
 
+            var foundIdAttribute = false;
+            var foundParentAttribute = false;
+            var foundAbstractAttribute = false;
+            foreach (var info in type.GetAllPropertiesAndFields())
+            {
+                var hasId = info.HasAttribute<IdDataFieldAttribute>();
+                var hasParent = info.HasAttribute<ParentDataFieldAttribute>();
+                if (hasId)
+                {
+                    if (foundIdAttribute)
+                        throw new InvalidImplementationException(type,
+                            typeof(IPrototype),
+                            $"Found two {nameof(IdDataFieldAttribute)}");
+
+                    foundIdAttribute = true;
+                }
+
+                if (hasParent)
+                {
+                    if (foundParentAttribute)
+                        throw new InvalidImplementationException(type,
+                            typeof(IInheritingPrototype),
+                            $"Found two {nameof(ParentDataFieldAttribute)}");
+
+                    foundParentAttribute = true;
+                }
+
+                if (hasId && hasParent)
+                    throw new InvalidImplementationException(type,
+                        typeof(IPrototype),
+                        $"Prototype {type} has the Id- & ParentDatafield on single member {info.Name}");
+
+                if (info.HasAttribute<AbstractDataFieldAttribute>())
+                {
+                    if (foundAbstractAttribute)
+                        throw new InvalidImplementationException(type,
+                            typeof(IInheritingPrototype),
+                            $"Found two {nameof(AbstractDataFieldAttribute)}");
+
+                    foundAbstractAttribute = true;
+                }
+            }
+
+            if (!foundIdAttribute)
+                throw new InvalidImplementationException(type,
+                    typeof(IPrototype),
+                    $"Did not find any member annotated with the {nameof(IdDataFieldAttribute)}");
+
+            if (type.IsAssignableTo(typeof(IInheritingPrototype)) && (!foundParentAttribute || !foundAbstractAttribute))
+                throw new InvalidImplementationException(type,
+                    typeof(IInheritingPrototype),
+                    $"Did not find any member annotated with the {nameof(ParentDataFieldAttribute)} and/or {nameof(AbstractDataFieldAttribute)}");
+
             _prototypeTypes[attribute.Type] = type;
             _prototypePriorities[type] = attribute.LoadPriority;
 
             if (typeof(IPrototype).IsAssignableFrom(type))
             {
                 _prototypes[type] = new Dictionary<string, IPrototype>();
-                _prototypeResults[type] = new Dictionary<string, DeserializationResult>();
+                _prototypeResults[type] = new Dictionary<string, MappingDataNode>();
                 if (typeof(IInheritingPrototype).IsAssignableFrom(type))
                     _inheritanceTrees[type] = new PrototypeInheritanceTree();
             }

Robust.Shared/Serialization/Manager/Attributes/DataFieldAttribute.cs

@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes
     [AttributeUsage(AttributeTargets.Field | AttributeTargets.Property)]
     [MeansImplicitAssignment]
     [MeansImplicitUse(ImplicitUseKindFlags.Assign)]
-    public sealed class DataFieldAttribute : Attribute
+    [Virtual]
+    public class DataFieldAttribute : Attribute
     {
         public readonly string Tag;
         public readonly int Priority;

Robust.Shared/Serialization/Manager/Definition/DataDefinition.Delegates.cs

@@ -1,19 +1,15 @@
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Mapping;
+using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Mapping;
 
 namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Definition
 {
     public partial class DataDefinition
     {
-        private delegate DeserializedFieldEntry[] DeserializeDelegate(
+        private delegate object PopulateDelegateSignature(
+            object target,
             MappingDataNode mappingDataNode,
             ISerializationManager serializationManager,
             ISerializationContext? context,
-            bool skipHook);
-
-        private delegate DeserializationResult PopulateDelegateSignature(
-            object target,
-            DeserializedFieldEntry[] deserializationResults,
+            bool skipHook,
             object?[] defaultValues);
 
         private delegate MappingDataNode SerializeDelegateSignature(
@@ -29,10 +25,6 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Definition
             ISerializationManager serializationManager,
             ISerializationContext? context);
 
-        private delegate DeserializationResult CreateDefinitionDelegate(
-            object value,
-            DeserializedFieldEntry[] mappings);
-
         private delegate TValue AccessField<TTarget, TValue>(ref TTarget target);
 
         private delegate void AssignField<TTarget, TValue>(ref TTarget target, TValue? value);

Robust.Shared/Serialization/Manager/Definition/DataDefinition.Emitters.cs

@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ using System.Reflection;
 using System.Reflection.Emit;
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Network;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Mapping;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Interfaces;
@@ -14,20 +13,22 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Definition
 {
     public partial class DataDefinition
     {
-        private DeserializeDelegate EmitDeserializationDelegate()
+        private PopulateDelegateSignature EmitPopulateDelegate()
         {
-            DeserializedFieldEntry[] DeserializationDelegate(MappingDataNode mappingDataNode,
-                ISerializationManager serializationManager, ISerializationContext? serializationContext, bool skipHook)
+            object PopulateDelegate(
+                object target,
+                MappingDataNode mappingDataNode,
+                ISerializationManager serializationManager,
+                ISerializationContext? serializationContext,
+                bool skipHook,
+                object?[] defaultValues)
             {
-                var mappedInfo = new DeserializedFieldEntry[BaseFieldDefinitions.Length];
-
                 for (var i = 0; i < BaseFieldDefinitions.Length; i++)
                 {
                     var fieldDefinition = BaseFieldDefinitions[i];
 
                     if (fieldDefinition.Attribute.ServerOnly && !IoCManager.Resolve<INetManager>().IsServer)
                     {
-                        mappedInfo[i] = new DeserializedFieldEntry(false, fieldDefinition.InheritanceBehavior);
                         continue;
                     }
 
@@ -35,13 +36,14 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Definition
 
                     if (!mapped)
                     {
-                        mappedInfo[i] = new DeserializedFieldEntry(mapped, fieldDefinition.InheritanceBehavior);
+                        if (fieldDefinition.Attribute.Required)
+                            throw new InvalidOperationException($"Required field {fieldDefinition.Attribute.Tag} of type {target.GetType()} wasn't mapped.");
                         continue;
                     }
 
                     var type = fieldDefinition.FieldType;
                     var node = mappingDataNode.Get(fieldDefinition.Attribute.Tag);
-                    DeserializationResult result;
+                    object? result;
                     if (fieldDefinition.Attribute.CustomTypeSerializer != null)
                     {
                         var foundInterface = false;
@@ -68,52 +70,17 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Definition
                         result = serializationManager.Read(type, node, serializationContext, skipHook);
                     }
 
-                    var entry = new DeserializedFieldEntry(mapped, fieldDefinition.InheritanceBehavior, result);
-                    mappedInfo[i] = entry;
-                }
-
-                return mappedInfo;
-            }
-
-            return DeserializationDelegate;
-        }
-
-        private PopulateDelegateSignature EmitPopulateDelegate()
-        {
-            // TODO Serialization: validate mappings array count
-            var constructor =
-                typeof(DeserializedDefinition<>).MakeGenericType(Type).GetConstructor(new[] {Type, typeof(DeserializedFieldEntry[])}) ??
-                throw new NullReferenceException();
-
-            var valueParam = Expression.Parameter(typeof(object), "value");
-            var valueParamCast = Expression.Convert(valueParam, Type);
-
-            var mappingParam = Expression.Parameter(typeof(DeserializedFieldEntry[]), "mapping");
-
-            var newExp = Expression.New(constructor, valueParamCast, mappingParam);
-            var createDefinitionDelegate = Expression.Lambda<CreateDefinitionDelegate>(newExp, valueParam, mappingParam).Compile();
-
-            DeserializationResult PopulateDelegate(
-                object target,
-                DeserializedFieldEntry[] deserializedFields,
-                object?[] defaultValues)
-            {
-                for (var i = 0; i < BaseFieldDefinitions.Length; i++)
-                {
-                    var res = deserializedFields[i];
-                    if (!res.Mapped) continue;
-
                     var defValue = defaultValues[i];
 
-                    if (Equals(res.Result?.RawValue, defValue))
+                    if (Equals(result, defValue))
                     {
                         continue;
                     }
 
-                    FieldAssigners[i](ref target, res.Result?.RawValue);
+                    FieldAssigners[i](ref target, result);
                 }
 
-                return createDefinitionDelegate(target, deserializedFields);
+                return target;
             }
 
             return PopulateDelegate;

Robust.Shared/Serialization/Manager/Definition/DataDefinition.cs

@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ using System.Diagnostics.CodeAnalysis;
 using System.Linq;
 using Robust.Shared.Log;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Mapping;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
@@ -16,7 +15,6 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Definition
 {
     public sealed partial class DataDefinition
     {
-        private readonly DeserializeDelegate _deserialize;
         private readonly PopulateDelegateSignature _populate;
         private readonly SerializeDelegateSignature _serialize;
         private readonly CopyDelegateSignature _copy;
@@ -41,7 +39,6 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Definition
             BaseFieldDefinitions = fields.ToImmutableArray();
             DefaultValues = fieldDefs.Select(f => f.DefaultValue).ToArray();
 
-            _deserialize = EmitDeserializationDelegate();
             _populate = EmitPopulateDelegate();
             _serialize = EmitSerializeDelegate();
             _copy = EmitCopyDelegate();
@@ -71,20 +68,14 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Definition
 
         internal ImmutableArray<FieldDefinition> BaseFieldDefinitions { get; }
 
-        public DeserializationResult Populate(object target, DeserializedFieldEntry[] fields)
-        {
-            return _populate(target, fields, DefaultValues);
-        }
-
-        public DeserializationResult Populate(
+        public object Populate(
             object target,
             MappingDataNode mapping,
             ISerializationManager serialization,
             ISerializationContext? context,
             bool skipHook)
         {
-            var fields = _deserialize(mapping, serialization, context, skipHook);
-            return _populate(target, fields, DefaultValues);
+            return _populate(target, mapping, serialization, context, skipHook, DefaultValues);
         }
 
         public MappingDataNode Serialize(

Robust.Shared/Serialization/Manager/ISerializationManager.cs

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 using System;
 using JetBrains.Annotations;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
+using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Definition;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Interfaces;
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
         /// <param name="type">The type to check for.</param>
         /// <returns>True if it does, false otherwise.</returns>
         bool HasDataDefinition(Type type);
-
+        
         #region Validation
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -59,52 +59,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
 
         #endregion
 
-        /// <summary>
-        ///     Creates a deserialization result from a generic type and its fields,
-        ///     populating the object.
-        /// </summary>
-        /// <param name="fields">The fields to use for deserialization.</param>
-        /// <param name="skipHook">Whether or not to skip running <see cref="ISerializationHooks"/></param>
-        /// <typeparam name="T">The type to populate.</typeparam>
-        /// <returns>A result with the populated type.</returns>
-        DeserializationResult CreateDataDefinition<T>(DeserializedFieldEntry[] fields, bool skipHook = false) where T : notnull, new();
-
-        #region Populate
-
-        /// <summary>
-        ///     Creates a deserialization result from a generic type and its definition,
-        ///     populating the object.
-        /// </summary>
-        /// <param name="obj">The object to populate.</param>
-        /// <param name="definition">The data to use for deserialization.</param>
-        /// <param name="skipHook">Whether or not to skip running <see cref="ISerializationHooks"/></param>
-        /// <typeparam name="T">The type of <see cref="obj"/> to populate.</typeparam>
-        /// <returns>A result with the populated object.</returns>
-        DeserializationResult PopulateDataDefinition<T>(T obj, DeserializedDefinition<T> definition, bool skipHook = false) where T : notnull, new();
-
-        /// <summary>
-        ///     Creates a deserialization result from an object and its definition,
-        ///     populating the object.
-        /// </summary>
-        /// <param name="obj">The object to populate.</param>
-        /// <param name="definition">The data to use for deserialization.</param>
-        /// <param name="skipHook">Whether or not to skip running <see cref="ISerializationHooks"/></param>
-        /// <returns>A result with the populated object.</returns>
-        DeserializationResult PopulateDataDefinition(object obj, IDeserializedDefinition definition, bool skipHook = false);
-
-        #endregion
-
         #region Read
-        /// <summary>
-        ///     Deserializes a node into an object, populating it.
-        /// </summary>
-        /// <param name="type">The type of object to populate.</param>
-        /// <param name="node">The node to deserialize.</param>
-        /// <param name="context">The context to use, if any.</param>
-        /// <param name="skipHook">Whether or not to skip running <see cref="ISerializationHooks"/></param>
-        /// <returns>A result with the deserialized object.</returns>
-        DeserializationResult Read(Type type, DataNode node, ISerializationContext? context = null, bool skipHook = false);
-
         /// <summary>
         ///     Deserializes a node into an object, populating it.
         /// </summary>
@@ -112,20 +67,10 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
         /// <param name="node">The node to deserialize.</param>
         /// <param name="context">The context to use, if any.</param>
         /// <param name="skipHook">Whether or not to skip running <see cref="ISerializationHooks"/></param>
+        /// <param name="value">The value to read into. If none is supplied, a new object will be created.</param>
         /// <returns>The deserialized object or null.</returns>
-        public object? ReadValue(Type type, DataNode node, ISerializationContext? context = null, bool skipHook = false);
-
-        /// <summary>
-        ///     Deserializes a node into an object of the given <see cref="type"/>,
-        ///     directly casting it to the given generic type <see cref="T"/>.
-        /// </summary>
-        /// <param name="type">The type of object to deserialize into.</param>
-        /// <param name="node">The node to deserialize.</param>
-        /// <param name="context">The context to use, if any.</param>
-        /// <param name="skipHook">Whether or not to skip running <see cref="ISerializationHooks"/></param>
-        /// <typeparam name="T">The generic type to cast the resulting object to.</typeparam>
-        /// <returns>The deserialized casted object, or null.</returns>
-        T? ReadValueCast<T>(Type type, DataNode node, ISerializationContext? context = null, bool skipHook = false);
+        public object? Read(Type type, DataNode node, ISerializationContext? context = null, bool skipHook = false,
+            object? value = null);
 
         /// <summary>
         ///     Deserializes a node into a populated object of the given generic type <see cref="T"/>
@@ -133,12 +78,13 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
         /// <param name="node">The node to deserialize.</param>
         /// <param name="context">The context to use, if any.</param>
         /// <param name="skipHook">Whether or not to skip running <see cref="ISerializationHooks"/></param>
+        /// <param name="value">The value to read into. If none is supplied, a new object will be created.</param>
         /// <typeparam name="T">The type of object to create and populate.</typeparam>
         /// <returns>The deserialized object, or null.</returns>
-        T? ReadValue<T>(DataNode node, ISerializationContext? context = null, bool skipHook = false);
+        T Read<T>(DataNode node, ISerializationContext? context = null, bool skipHook = false, T? value = default);
 
-        DeserializationResult ReadWithTypeSerializer(Type value, Type serializer, DataNode node,
-            ISerializationContext? context = null, bool skipHook = false);
+        object? ReadWithTypeSerializer(Type type, Type serializer, DataNode node,
+            ISerializationContext? context = null, bool skipHook = false, object? value = null);
 
         #endregion
 
@@ -253,5 +199,23 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
         Type GetConstantTypeFromTag(Type tagType);
 
         #endregion
+
+        #region Composition
+
+        DataNode PushComposition(Type type, DataNode[] parents, DataNode child, ISerializationContext? context = null);
+
+        public TNode PushComposition<TType, TNode>(TNode[] parents, TNode child, ISerializationContext? context = null) where TNode : DataNode
+        {
+            // ReSharper disable once CoVariantArrayConversion
+            return (TNode)PushComposition(typeof(TType), parents, child, context);
+        }
+
+        public TNode PushCompositionWithGenericNode<TNode>(Type type, TNode[] parents, TNode child, ISerializationContext? context = null) where TNode : DataNode
+        {
+            // ReSharper disable once CoVariantArrayConversion
+            return (TNode) PushComposition(type, parents, child, context);
+        }
+
+        #endregion
     }
 }

Robust.Shared/Serialization/Manager/Result/DeserializationResult.cs

@@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
-namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result
-{
-    public abstract class DeserializationResult
-    {
-        public abstract object? RawValue { get; }
-
-        public abstract DeserializationResult PushInheritanceFrom(DeserializationResult source);
-
-        public abstract DeserializationResult Copy();
-
-        public abstract void CallAfterDeserializationHook();
-
-        public T Cast<T>() where T : DeserializationResult
-        {
-            if (this is T value) return value;
-            throw new InvalidDeserializedResultTypeException<T>(GetType());
-        }
-    }
-
-    public abstract class DeserializationResult<T> : DeserializationResult
-    {
-        public abstract T? Value { get; }
-    }
-}

Robust.Shared/Serialization/Manager/Result/DeserializedArray.cs

@@ -1,71 +0,0 @@
-using System;
-
-namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result
-{
-    public sealed class DeserializedArray : DeserializationResult
-    {
-        public DeserializedArray(Array array, DeserializationResult[] mappings)
-        {
-            Value = array;
-            Mappings = mappings;
-        }
-
-        public Array Value { get; }
-
-        public DeserializationResult[] Mappings { get; }
-
-        public override object RawValue => Value;
-
-        public override DeserializationResult PushInheritanceFrom(DeserializationResult source)
-        {
-            var sourceCollection = source.Cast<DeserializedArray>();
-            var values = (Array) Activator.CreateInstance(Value.GetType(), Value.Length)!;
-            var results = new DeserializationResult[sourceCollection.Mappings.Length];
-
-            for (var i = 0; i < sourceCollection.Mappings.Length; i++)
-            {
-                var oldRes = sourceCollection.Mappings[i];
-                var newRes = oldRes.Copy();
-
-                values.SetValue(newRes.RawValue, i);
-                results[i] = newRes;
-            }
-
-            for (var i = 0; i < Mappings.Length; i++)
-            {
-                var oldRes = Mappings[i];
-                var newRes = oldRes.Copy();
-
-                values.SetValue(newRes.RawValue, i);
-                results[i] = newRes;
-            }
-
-            return new DeserializedArray(values, results);
-        }
-
-        public override DeserializationResult Copy()
-        {
-            var values = (Array) Activator.CreateInstance(Value.GetType(), Value.Length)!;
-            var results = new DeserializationResult[Mappings.Length];
-
-            for (var i = 0; i < Mappings.Length; i++)
-            {
-                var oldRes = Mappings[i];
-                var newRes = oldRes.Copy();
-
-                values.SetValue(newRes.RawValue, i);
-                results[i] = newRes;
-            }
-
-            return new DeserializedArray(values, results);
-        }
-
-        public override void CallAfterDeserializationHook()
-        {
-            foreach (var elem in Mappings)
-            {
-                elem.CallAfterDeserializationHook();
-            }
-        }
-    }
-}

Robust.Shared/Serialization/Manager/Result/DeserializedCollection.cs

@@ -1,73 +0,0 @@
-using System.Collections.Generic;
-
-namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result
-{
-    public sealed class DeserializedCollection<TCollection, TElement> : DeserializationResult<TCollection> where TCollection : IReadOnlyCollection<TElement>
-    {
-        public delegate TCollection Create(List<TElement> elements);
-
-        public DeserializedCollection(
-            TCollection value,
-            IEnumerable<DeserializationResult> mappings,
-            Create createDelegate)
-        {
-            Value = value;
-            Mappings = mappings;
-            CreateDelegate = createDelegate;
-        }
-
-        public override TCollection Value { get; }
-
-        public IEnumerable<DeserializationResult> Mappings { get; }
-
-        public override object RawValue => Value;
-
-        private Create CreateDelegate { get; }
-
-        public override DeserializationResult PushInheritanceFrom(DeserializationResult source)
-        {
-            var sourceCollection = source.Cast<DeserializedCollection<TCollection, TElement>>();
-            var valueList = new List<TElement>();
-            var resList = new List<DeserializationResult>();
-
-            foreach (var oldRes in sourceCollection.Mappings)
-            {
-                var newRes = oldRes.Copy().Cast<DeserializationResult<TElement>>();
-                valueList.Add(newRes.Value!);
-                resList.Add(newRes);
-            }
-
-            foreach (var oldRes in Mappings)
-            {
-                var newRes = oldRes.Copy().Cast<DeserializationResult<TElement>>();
-                valueList.Add(newRes.Value!);
-                resList.Add(newRes);
-            }
-
-            return new DeserializedCollection<TCollection, TElement>(CreateDelegate(valueList), resList, CreateDelegate);
-        }
-
-        public override DeserializationResult Copy()
-        {
-            var valueList = new List<TElement>();
-            var resList = new List<DeserializationResult>();
-
-            foreach (var oldRes in Mappings)
-            {
-                var newRes = oldRes.Copy();
-                valueList.Add((TElement) newRes.RawValue!);
-                resList.Add(newRes);
-            }
-
-            return new DeserializedCollection<TCollection, TElement>(CreateDelegate(valueList), resList, CreateDelegate);
-        }
-
-        public override void CallAfterDeserializationHook()
-        {
-            foreach (var val in Mappings)
-            {
-                val.CallAfterDeserializationHook();
-            }
-        }
-    }
-}

Robust.Shared/Serialization/Manager/Result/DeserializedComponentRegistry.cs

@@ -1,111 +0,0 @@
-using System.Collections.Generic;
-using System.Linq;
-using Robust.Shared.GameObjects;
-using Robust.Shared.IoC;
-using Robust.Shared.Utility;
-using static Robust.Shared.Prototypes.EntityPrototype;
-
-namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result
-{
-    public sealed class DeserializedComponentRegistry : DeserializationResult<ComponentRegistry>
-    {
-        public DeserializedComponentRegistry(
-            ComponentRegistry value,
-            IReadOnlyDictionary<DeserializationResult, DeserializationResult> mappings)
-        {
-            Value = value;
-            Mappings = mappings;
-        }
-
-        public override ComponentRegistry Value { get; }
-
-        public IReadOnlyDictionary<DeserializationResult, DeserializationResult> Mappings { get; }
-
-        public override object RawValue => Value;
-
-        public override DeserializationResult PushInheritanceFrom(DeserializationResult source)
-        {
-            var componentFactory = IoCManager.Resolve<IComponentFactory>();
-            var sourceRes = source.Cast<DeserializedComponentRegistry>();
-            var mappingDict = Mappings.ToDictionary(p => p.Key.Copy(), p => p.Value.Copy());
-
-            foreach (var (keyRes, valRes) in sourceRes.Mappings)
-            {
-                var newKeyRes = keyRes.Copy();
-                var newValueRes = valRes.Copy();
-
-                if (mappingDict.Any(p =>
-                {
-                    var k1 = (string) newKeyRes.RawValue!;
-                    var k2 = (string) p.Key.RawValue!;
-
-                    if (k1 == k2)
-                    {
-                        return false;
-                    }
-
-                    var registration1 = componentFactory.GetRegistration(k1!);
-                    var registration2 = componentFactory.GetRegistration(k2!);
-
-                    foreach (var reference in registration1.References)
-                    {
-                        if (registration2.References.Contains(reference))
-                        {
-                            return true;
-                        }
-                    }
-
-                    return false;
-                }))
-                {
-                    continue;
-                }
-
-                var res = newKeyRes;
-                var oldEntry = mappingDict.FirstOrNull(p => Equals(p.Key.RawValue, res.RawValue));
-
-                if (oldEntry.HasValue)
-                {
-                    newKeyRes = oldEntry.Value.Key.PushInheritanceFrom(newKeyRes);
-                    newValueRes = oldEntry.Value.Value.PushInheritanceFrom(newValueRes);
-                    mappingDict.Remove(oldEntry.Value.Key);
-                }
-
-                mappingDict.Add(newKeyRes, newValueRes);
-            }
-
-            var valueDict = new ComponentRegistry();
-            foreach (var (key, val) in mappingDict)
-            {
-                valueDict.Add((string) key.RawValue!, (IComponent) val.RawValue!);
-            }
-
-            return new DeserializedComponentRegistry(valueDict, mappingDict);
-        }
-
-        public override DeserializationResult Copy()
-        {
-            var registry = new ComponentRegistry();
-            var mappingDict = new Dictionary<DeserializationResult, DeserializationResult>();
-
-            foreach (var (keyRes, valRes) in Mappings)
-            {
-                var newKeyRes = keyRes.Copy();
-                var newValueRes = valRes.Copy();
-
-                registry.Add((string) newKeyRes.RawValue!, (IComponent) newValueRes.RawValue!);
-                mappingDict.Add(newKeyRes, newValueRes);
-            }
-
-            return new DeserializedComponentRegistry(registry, mappingDict);
-        }
-
-        public override void CallAfterDeserializationHook()
-        {
-            foreach (var (_, comp) in Mappings)
-            {
-                comp.CallAfterDeserializationHook();
-            }
-        }
-    }
-}

Robust.Shared/Serialization/Manager/Result/DeserializedDefinition.cs

@@ -1,59 +0,0 @@
-using System;
-using Robust.Shared.IoC;
-
-namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result
-{
-    public sealed class DeserializedDefinition<T> : DeserializationResult<T>, IDeserializedDefinition where T : notnull, new()
-    {
-        public DeserializedDefinition(T value, DeserializedFieldEntry[] mapping)
-        {
-            Value = value;
-            Mapping = mapping;
-        }
-
-        public override T Value { get; }
-
-        public DeserializedFieldEntry[] Mapping { get; }
-
-        public override object RawValue => Value;
-
-        public override DeserializationResult PushInheritanceFrom(DeserializationResult source)
-        {
-            var dataDef = source.Cast<DeserializedDefinition<T>>();
-            if (dataDef.Mapping.Length != Mapping.Length)
-                throw new ArgumentException($"Mapping length mismatch in PushInheritanceFrom ({typeof(T)})");
-
-            var newMapping = new DeserializedFieldEntry[Mapping.Length];
-
-            for (var i = 0; i < dataDef.Mapping.Length; i++)
-            {
-                newMapping[i] = Mapping[i].PushInheritanceFrom(dataDef.Mapping[i]);
-            }
-
-            return IoCManager.Resolve<ISerializationManager>().CreateDataDefinition<T>(newMapping, true);
-        }
-
-        public override DeserializationResult Copy()
-        {
-            var newMapping = new DeserializedFieldEntry[Mapping.Length];
-
-            for (var i = 0; i < Mapping.Length; i++)
-            {
-                newMapping[i] = Mapping[i].Copy();
-            }
-
-            return IoCManager.Resolve<ISerializationManager>().CreateDataDefinition<T>(newMapping, true);
-        }
-
-        public override void CallAfterDeserializationHook()
-        {
-            foreach (var fieldEntry in Mapping)
-            {
-                fieldEntry.Result?.CallAfterDeserializationHook();
-            }
-
-            if (Value is ISerializationHooks hooks)
-                hooks.AfterDeserialization();
-        }
-    }
-}

Robust.Shared/Serialization/Manager/Result/DeserializedDictionary.cs

@@ -1,83 +0,0 @@
-using System.Collections.Generic;
-
-namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result
-{
-    public sealed class DeserializedDictionary<TDict, TKey, TValue> :
-        DeserializationResult<TDict>
-        where TKey : notnull
-        where TDict : IReadOnlyDictionary<TKey, TValue>
-    {
-        public delegate TDict Create(Dictionary<TKey, TValue> elements);
-
-        public DeserializedDictionary(
-            TDict value,
-            IReadOnlyDictionary<DeserializationResult, DeserializationResult> mappings,
-            Create createDelegate)
-        {
-            Value = value;
-            Mappings = mappings;
-            CreateDelegate = createDelegate;
-        }
-
-        public override TDict Value { get; }
-
-        public IReadOnlyDictionary<DeserializationResult, DeserializationResult> Mappings { get; }
-
-        public Create CreateDelegate { get; }
-
-        public override object RawValue => Value;
-
-        public override DeserializationResult PushInheritanceFrom(DeserializationResult source)
-        {
-            var sourceRes = source.Cast<DeserializedDictionary<TDict, TKey, TValue>>();
-            var valueDict = new Dictionary<TKey, TValue>();
-            var mappingDict = new Dictionary<DeserializationResult, DeserializationResult>();
-
-            foreach (var (keyRes, valRes) in sourceRes.Mappings)
-            {
-                var newKeyRes = keyRes.Copy();
-                var newValueRes = valRes.Copy();
-
-                valueDict.Add((TKey)newKeyRes.RawValue!, (TValue)newValueRes.RawValue!);
-                mappingDict.Add(newKeyRes, newValueRes);
-            }
-
-            foreach (var (keyRes, valRes) in Mappings)
-            {
-                var newKeyRes = keyRes.Copy();
-                var newValueRes = valRes.Copy();
-
-                valueDict.Add((TKey) newKeyRes.RawValue!, (TValue)newValueRes.RawValue!);
-                mappingDict.Add(newKeyRes, newValueRes);
-            }
-
-            return new DeserializedDictionary<TDict, TKey, TValue>(CreateDelegate(valueDict), mappingDict, CreateDelegate);
-        }
-
-        public override DeserializationResult Copy()
-        {
-            var valueDict = new Dictionary<TKey, TValue>();
-            var mappingDict = new Dictionary<DeserializationResult, DeserializationResult>();
-
-            foreach (var (keyRes, valRes) in Mappings)
-            {
-                var newKeyRes = keyRes.Copy();
-                var newValueRes = valRes.Copy();
-
-                valueDict.Add((TKey)newKeyRes.RawValue!, (TValue)newValueRes.RawValue!);
-                mappingDict.Add(newKeyRes, newValueRes);
-            }
-
-            return new DeserializedDictionary<TDict, TKey, TValue>(CreateDelegate(valueDict), mappingDict, CreateDelegate);
-        }
-
-        public override void CallAfterDeserializationHook()
-        {
-            foreach (var (key, val) in Mappings)
-            {
-                key.CallAfterDeserializationHook();
-                val.CallAfterDeserializationHook();
-            }
-        }
-    }
-}

Robust.Shared/Serialization/Manager/Result/DeserializedFieldEntry.cs

@@ -1,49 +0,0 @@
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Definition;
-
-namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result
-{
-    public sealed class DeserializedFieldEntry
-    {
-        public DeserializedFieldEntry(bool mapped, InheritanceBehavior inheritanceBehavior, DeserializationResult? result = null)
-        {
-            Mapped = mapped;
-            Result = result;
-            InheritanceBehavior = inheritanceBehavior;
-        }
-
-        public bool Mapped { get; }
-
-        public InheritanceBehavior InheritanceBehavior { get; }
-
-        public DeserializationResult? Result { get; }
-
-        public DeserializedFieldEntry PushInheritanceFrom(DeserializedFieldEntry fieldEntry)
-        {
-            if (Mapped)
-            {
-                if (InheritanceBehavior == InheritanceBehavior.Always)
-                {
-                    if (Result != null)
-                    {
-                        return fieldEntry.Result != null
-                            ? new DeserializedFieldEntry(Mapped, InheritanceBehavior, Result.PushInheritanceFrom(fieldEntry.Result))
-                            : Copy();
-                    }
-                    else
-                    {
-                        return fieldEntry.Copy();
-                    }
-                }
-
-                return Copy();
-            }
-
-            return InheritanceBehavior == InheritanceBehavior.Never ? Copy() : fieldEntry.Copy();
-        }
-
-        public DeserializedFieldEntry Copy()
-        {
-            return new(Mapped, InheritanceBehavior, Result?.Copy());
-        }
-    }
-}

Robust.Shared/Serialization/Manager/Result/DeserializedValue.cs

@@ -1,58 +0,0 @@
-namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result
-{
-    public sealed class DeserializedValue : DeserializationResult
-    {
-        public DeserializedValue(object? value)
-        {
-            RawValue = value;
-        }
-
-        public override object? RawValue { get; }
-
-        public override DeserializationResult PushInheritanceFrom(DeserializationResult source)
-        {
-            return source.Copy().Cast<DeserializedValue>();
-        }
-
-        public override DeserializationResult Copy()
-        {
-            return new DeserializedValue(RawValue);
-        }
-
-        public override void CallAfterDeserializationHook()
-        {
-            if (RawValue is ISerializationHooks hooks)
-                hooks.AfterDeserialization();
-        }
-    }
-
-    public sealed class DeserializedValue<T> : DeserializationResult<T>
-    {
-        public DeserializedValue(T value)
-        {
-            Value = value;
-        }
-
-        public override T Value { get; }
-
-        public override object? RawValue => Value;
-
-        public override DeserializationResult PushInheritanceFrom(DeserializationResult source)
-        {
-            return source.Copy().Cast<DeserializedValue<T>>();
-        }
-
-        public override DeserializationResult Copy()
-        {
-            return new DeserializedValue<T>(Value);
-        }
-
-        public override void CallAfterDeserializationHook()
-        {
-            if (Value is ISerializationHooks hooks)
-            {
-                hooks.AfterDeserialization();
-            }
-        }
-    }
-}

Robust.Shared/Serialization/Manager/Result/IDeserializedDefinition.cs

@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result
-{
-    public interface IDeserializedDefinition
-    {
-        DeserializedFieldEntry[] Mapping { get; }
-    }
-}

Robust.Shared/Serialization/Manager/Result/InvalidDeserializedResultTypeException.cs

@@ -1,34 +0,0 @@
-using System;
-using System.Runtime.Serialization;
-using JetBrains.Annotations;
-
-namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result
-{
-    [Virtual]
-    public class InvalidDeserializedResultTypeException<TExpected> : Exception
-    {
-        public readonly Type ReceivedType;
-
-        public override string Message => $"Invalid Type {ReceivedType} received. Expected {typeof(TExpected)}";
-
-        public InvalidDeserializedResultTypeException(Type receivedType)
-        {
-            ReceivedType = receivedType;
-        }
-
-        protected InvalidDeserializedResultTypeException([NotNull] SerializationInfo info, StreamingContext context, Type receivedType) : base(info, context)
-        {
-            ReceivedType = receivedType;
-        }
-
-        public InvalidDeserializedResultTypeException([CanBeNull] string? message, Type receivedType) : base(message)
-        {
-            ReceivedType = receivedType;
-        }
-
-        public InvalidDeserializedResultTypeException([CanBeNull] string? message, [CanBeNull] Exception? innerException, Type receivedType) : base(message, innerException)
-        {
-            ReceivedType = receivedType;
-        }
-    }
-}

Robust.Shared/Serialization/Manager/SerializationManager.Composition.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Concurrent;
+using System.Linq;
+using System.Linq.Expressions;
+using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Definition;
+using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
+using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Mapping;
+using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Sequence;
+using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
+using Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Interfaces;
+using Robust.Shared.Utility;
+
+namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
+
+public partial class SerializationManager
+{
+    private delegate DataNode PushCompositionDelegate(
+        Type type,
+        DataNode parent,
+        DataNode child,
+        ISerializationContext? context = null);
+
+    private readonly ConcurrentDictionary<(Type value, Type node), PushCompositionDelegate> _compositionPushers = new();
+
+    public DataNode PushComposition(Type type, DataNode[] parents, DataNode child, ISerializationContext? context = null)
+    {
+        DebugTools.Assert(parents.All(x => x.GetType() == child.GetType()));
+
+        var pusher = GetOrCreatePushCompositionDelegate(type, child);
+
+        var node = child;
+        for (int i = 0; i < parents.Length; i++)
+        {
+            node = pusher(type, parents[i], node, context);
+        }
+
+        return node;
+    }
+
+    private PushCompositionDelegate GetOrCreatePushCompositionDelegate(Type type, DataNode node)
+    {
+        return _compositionPushers.GetOrAdd((type, node.GetType()), static (tuple, vfArgument) =>
+        {
+            var (value, nodeType) = tuple;
+            var (node, instance) = vfArgument;
+
+            var instanceConst = Expression.Constant(instance);
+            var dependencyCollectionConst = Expression.Constant(instance.DependencyCollection);
+
+            var typeParam = Expression.Parameter(typeof(Type), "type");
+            var parentParam = Expression.Parameter(typeof(DataNode), "parent");
+            var childParam = Expression.Parameter(typeof(DataNode), "child");
+            //todo paul serializers in the context should also override default serializers for array etc
+            var contextParam = Expression.Parameter(typeof(ISerializationContext), "context");
+
+            Expression expression;
+
+            if (instance.TryGetTypeInheritanceHandler(value, nodeType, out var handler))
+            {
+                var readerType = typeof(ITypeInheritanceHandler<,>).MakeGenericType(value, nodeType);
+                var readerConst = Expression.Constant(handler, readerType);
+
+                expression = Expression.Call(
+                    readerConst,
+                    "PushInheritance",
+                    Type.EmptyTypes,
+                    instanceConst,
+                    Expression.Convert(childParam, nodeType),
+                    Expression.Convert(parentParam, nodeType),
+                    dependencyCollectionConst,
+                    contextParam);
+            }
+            else if (nodeType == typeof(MappingDataNode) && instance.TryGetDefinition(value, out var dataDefinition))
+            {
+                var definitionConst = Expression.Constant(dataDefinition, typeof(DataDefinition));
+
+                expression = Expression.Call(
+                    instanceConst,
+                    nameof(PushInheritanceDefinition),
+                    Type.EmptyTypes,
+                    Expression.Convert(childParam, nodeType),
+                    Expression.Convert(parentParam, nodeType),
+                    definitionConst,
+                    contextParam);
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                expression = node switch
+                {
+                    SequenceDataNode => Expression.Call(
+                        instanceConst,
+                        nameof(PushInheritanceSequence),
+                        Type.EmptyTypes,
+                        Expression.Convert(childParam, nodeType),
+                        Expression.Convert(parentParam, nodeType)),
+                    MappingDataNode => Expression.Call(
+                        instanceConst,
+                        nameof(PushInheritanceMapping),
+                        Type.EmptyTypes,
+                        Expression.Convert(childParam, nodeType),
+                        Expression.Convert(parentParam, nodeType)),
+                    _ => childParam
+                };
+            }
+
+            return Expression.Lambda<PushCompositionDelegate>(
+                expression,
+                typeParam,
+                parentParam,
+                childParam,
+                contextParam).Compile();
+        }, (node, this));
+    }
+
+    private SequenceDataNode PushInheritanceSequence(SequenceDataNode child, SequenceDataNode _)
+    {
+        return child; //todo implement different inheritancebehaviours for yamlfield
+    }
+
+    private MappingDataNode PushInheritanceMapping(MappingDataNode child, MappingDataNode _)
+    {
+        return child; //todo implement different inheritancebehaviours for yamlfield
+    }
+
+    private MappingDataNode PushInheritanceDefinition(MappingDataNode child, MappingDataNode parent,
+        DataDefinition definition, ISerializationContext? context = null)
+    {
+        var newMapping = child.Copy();
+        foreach (var field in definition.BaseFieldDefinitions)
+        {
+            if (field.InheritanceBehavior == InheritanceBehavior.Never) continue;
+
+            var key = new ValueDataNode(field.Attribute.Tag);
+            if (parent.TryGetValue(key, out var parentValue))
+            {
+                if (newMapping.TryGetValue(key, out var childValue))
+                {
+                    if (field.InheritanceBehavior == InheritanceBehavior.Always)
+                    {
+                        newMapping[key] = PushComposition(field.FieldType, new[] { parentValue }, childValue, context);
+                    }
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    newMapping.Add(key, parentValue);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        return newMapping;
+    }
+
+}

Robust.Shared/Serialization/Manager/SerializationManager.CustomSerializers.cs

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 using System.Collections.Concurrent;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Linq.Expressions;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Interfaces;
@@ -12,10 +11,11 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
 {
     public partial class SerializationManager
     {
-        private delegate DeserializationResult ReadSerializerDelegate(
+        private delegate object? ReadSerializerDelegate(
             DataNode node,
             ISerializationContext? context = null,
-            bool skipHook = false);
+            bool skipHook = false,
+            object? value = null);
 
         private delegate DataNode WriteSerializerDelegate(
             object value,
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
                 var nodeParam = Expression.Parameter(typeof(DataNode), "node");
                 var contextParam = Expression.Parameter(typeof(ISerializationContext), "context");
                 var skipHookParam = Expression.Parameter(typeof(bool), "skipHook");
+                var valueParam = Expression.Parameter(typeof(object), "value");
 
                 var call = Expression.Call(
                     instanceParam,
@@ -54,13 +55,15 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
                     new[] {tuple.value, tuple.node, tuple.serializer},
                     Expression.Convert(nodeParam, tuple.node),
                     contextParam,
-                    skipHookParam);
+                    skipHookParam,
+                    valueParam);
 
                 return Expression.Lambda<ReadSerializerDelegate>(
-                    call,
+                    Expression.Convert(call, typeof(object)),
                     nodeParam,
                     contextParam,
-                    skipHookParam).Compile();
+                    skipHookParam,
+                    valueParam).Compile();
             }, this);
         }
 
@@ -126,25 +129,27 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
             }, (common, source, target, serializer));
         }
 
-        private DeserializationResult ReadWithSerializerRaw(
-            Type value,
+        private object? ReadWithSerializerRaw(
+            Type type,
             DataNode node,
             Type serializer,
             ISerializationContext? context = null,
-            bool skipHook = false)
+            bool skipHook = false,
+            object? value = null)
         {
-            return GetOrCreateReadSerializerDelegate(value, node.GetType(), serializer)(node, context, skipHook);
+            return GetOrCreateReadSerializerDelegate(type, node.GetType(), serializer)(node, context, skipHook, value);
         }
 
-        private DeserializationResult ReadWithSerializer<T, TNode, TSerializer>(
+        private T ReadWithSerializer<T, TNode, TSerializer>(
             TNode node,
             ISerializationContext? context = null,
-            bool skipHook = false)
+            bool skipHook = false,
+            object? value = default)
             where TSerializer : ITypeReader<T, TNode>
             where TNode : DataNode
         {
             var serializer = (ITypeReader<T, TNode>) GetTypeSerializer(typeof(TSerializer));
-            return serializer.Read(this, node, DependencyCollection, skipHook, context);
+            return serializer.Read(this, node, DependencyCollection, skipHook, context, value == null ? default : (T)value);
         }
 
         private DataNode WriteWithSerializerRaw(

Robust.Shared/Serialization/Manager/SerializationManager.Reading.cs

@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 using System;
 using System.Collections.Concurrent;
 using System.Linq.Expressions;
+using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Definition;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Mapping;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Sequence;
@@ -14,14 +14,37 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
 {
     public partial class SerializationManager
     {
-        private delegate DeserializationResult ReadDelegate(
+        private delegate object? ReadDelegate(
             Type type,
             DataNode node,
             ISerializationContext? context = null,
-            bool skipHook = false);
+            bool skipHook = false,
+            object? value = null);
 
         private readonly ConcurrentDictionary<(Type value, Type node), ReadDelegate> _readers = new();
 
+        public T Read<T>(DataNode node, ISerializationContext? context = null, bool skipHook = false, T? value = default) //todo paul this default should be null
+        {
+            return (T)Read(typeof(T), node, context, skipHook, value)!;
+        }
+
+        public object? Read(Type type, DataNode node, ISerializationContext? context = null, bool skipHook = false, object? value = null)
+        {
+            var val = GetOrCreateReader(type, node)(type, node, context, skipHook, value);
+            ReadNullCheck(type, val);
+            return val;
+        }
+
+        [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
+        private void ReadNullCheck(Type type, object? val)
+        {
+            if (!type.IsNullable() && val == null)
+            {
+                throw new InvalidOperationException(
+                    $"{nameof(Read)}-Call returned a null value for non-nullable type {type}");
+            }
+        }
+
         private ReadDelegate GetOrCreateReader(Type value, DataNode node)
         {
             if (node.Tag?.StartsWith("!type:") ?? false)
@@ -42,8 +65,10 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
 
                 var typeParam = Expression.Parameter(typeof(Type), "type");
                 var nodeParam = Expression.Parameter(typeof(DataNode), "node");
+                //todo paul serializers in the context should also override default serializers for array etc
                 var contextParam = Expression.Parameter(typeof(ISerializationContext), "context");
                 var skipHookParam = Expression.Parameter(typeof(bool), "skipHook");
+                var valueParam = Expression.Parameter(typeof(object), "value");
 
                 MethodCallExpression call;
 
@@ -53,12 +78,14 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
 
                     switch (node)
                     {
-                        case ValueDataNode when nullable:
+                        case ValueDataNode:
                             call = Expression.Call(
                                 instanceConst,
                                 nameof(ReadArrayValue),
                                 new[] { elementType },
-                                Expression.Convert(nodeParam, typeof(ValueDataNode)));
+                                Expression.Convert(nodeParam, typeof(ValueDataNode)),
+                                contextParam,
+                                skipHookParam);
                             break;
                         case SequenceDataNode seqNode:
                             var isSealed = elementType.IsPrimitive || elementType.IsEnum ||
@@ -140,7 +167,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
                             nameof(ReadSelfSerialize),
                             new[] { value },
                             Expression.Convert(nodeParam, typeof(ValueDataNode)),
-                            instantiatorConst)
+                            instantiatorConst, valueParam)
                     };
                 }
                 else if (instance.TryGetTypeReader(value, nodeType, out var reader))
@@ -160,12 +187,13 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
                             skipHookParam),
                         ValueDataNode when nullable && !value.IsValueType => Expression.Call(
                             instanceConst,
-                            nameof(ReadWithTypeReaderNullable),
+                            nameof(ReadWithTypeReaderNullableClass),
                             new[] { value },
                             Expression.Convert(nodeParam, typeof(ValueDataNode)),
                             readerConst,
                             contextParam,
-                            skipHookParam),
+                            skipHookParam,
+                            valueParam),
                         _ => Expression.Call(
                             instanceConst,
                             nameof(ReadWithTypeReader),
@@ -173,7 +201,8 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
                             Expression.Convert(nodeParam, nodeType),
                             readerConst,
                             contextParam,
-                            skipHookParam)
+                            skipHookParam,
+                            valueParam)
                     };
                 }
                 else if (value.IsInterface || value.IsAbstract)
@@ -203,7 +232,8 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
                             populateConst,
                             hooksConst,
                             contextParam,
-                            skipHookParam),
+                            skipHookParam,
+                            valueParam),
                         ValueDataNode => Expression.Call(
                             instanceConst,
                             nameof(ReadGenericValue),
@@ -214,7 +244,8 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
                             populateConst,
                             hooksConst,
                             contextParam,
-                            skipHookParam),
+                            skipHookParam,
+                            valueParam),
                         MappingDataNode => Expression.Call(
                             instanceConst,
                             nameof(ReadGenericMapping),
@@ -225,53 +256,54 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
                             populateConst,
                             hooksConst,
                             contextParam,
-                            skipHookParam),
+                            skipHookParam,
+                            valueParam),
                         SequenceDataNode => throw new ArgumentException($"No mapping node provided for type {value} at line: {node.Start.Line}"),
                         _ => throw new ArgumentException($"Unknown node type {nodeType} provided. Expected mapping node at line: {node.Start.Line}")
                     };
                 }
 
                 return Expression.Lambda<ReadDelegate>(
-                    call,
+                    Expression.Convert(call, typeof(object)),
                     typeParam,
                     nodeParam,
                     contextParam,
-                    skipHookParam).Compile();
+                    skipHookParam,
+                    valueParam).Compile();
             }, (node, this));
         }
 
-        private DeserializationResult ReadArrayValue<T>(ValueDataNode value)
+        private T[]? ReadArrayValue<T>(
+            ValueDataNode value,
+            ISerializationContext? context = null,
+            bool skipHook = false)
         {
             if (value.Value == "null")
             {
-                return new DeserializedValue<T[]?>(null);
+                return null;
             }
 
-            throw new InvalidNodeTypeException("Cannot read an array from a value data node that is not null.");
+            var array = new T[1];
+            array[0] = Read<T>(value, context, skipHook);
+            return array;
         }
 
-        private DeserializationResult ReadArraySequence<T>(
+        private T[] ReadArraySequence<T>(
             SequenceDataNode node,
             ISerializationContext? context = null,
             bool skipHook = false)
         {
-            var type = typeof(T);
             var array = new T[node.Sequence.Count];
-            var results = new DeserializationResult[node.Sequence.Count];
 
             for (var i = 0; i < node.Sequence.Count; i++)
             {
-                var subNode = node.Sequence[i];
-                var result = Read(type, subNode, context, skipHook);
-
-                results[i] = result;
-                array[i] = (T) result.RawValue!;
+                array[i] = Read<T>(node.Sequence[i], context, skipHook);
             }
 
-            return new DeserializedArray(array, results);
+            return array;
         }
 
-        private DeserializationResult ReadArraySequenceSealed<T>(
+        private T[] ReadArraySequenceSealed<T>(
             SequenceDataNode node,
             ReadDelegate elementReader,
             ISerializationContext? context = null,
@@ -279,90 +311,87 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
         {
             var type = typeof(T);
             var array = new T[node.Sequence.Count];
-            var results = new DeserializationResult[node.Sequence.Count];
 
             for (var i = 0; i < node.Sequence.Count; i++)
             {
                 var subNode = node.Sequence[i];
                 var result = elementReader(type, subNode, context, skipHook);
-
-                results[i] = result;
-                array[i] = (T) result.RawValue!;
+                ReadNullCheck(type, result);
+                array[i] = (T) result!;
             }
 
-            return new DeserializedArray(array, results);
+            return array;
         }
 
-        private DeserializationResult ReadEnumNullable<TEnum>(ValueDataNode node) where TEnum : struct
+        private TEnum? ReadEnumNullable<TEnum>(ValueDataNode node) where TEnum : struct
         {
             if (node.Value == "null")
             {
-                return new DeserializedValue<TEnum?>(null);
+                return null;
             }
 
-            var value = Enum.Parse<TEnum>(node.Value, true);
-            return new DeserializedValue<TEnum?>(value);
+            return ReadEnumValue<TEnum>(node);
         }
 
-        private DeserializationResult ReadEnumValue<TEnum>(ValueDataNode node) where TEnum : struct
+        private TEnum ReadEnumValue<TEnum>(ValueDataNode node) where TEnum : struct
         {
-            var value = Enum.Parse<TEnum>(node.Value, true);
-            return new DeserializedValue<TEnum>(value);
+            return Enum.Parse<TEnum>(node.Value, true);
         }
 
-        private DeserializationResult ReadEnumSequence<TEnum>(SequenceDataNode node) where TEnum : struct
+        private TEnum ReadEnumSequence<TEnum>(SequenceDataNode node) where TEnum : struct
         {
-            var value = Enum.Parse<TEnum>(string.Join(", ", node.Sequence), true);
-            return new DeserializedValue<TEnum>(value);
+            return Enum.Parse<TEnum>(string.Join(", ", node.Sequence), true);
         }
 
-        private DeserializationResult ReadSelfSerialize<TValue>(
+        private TValue? ReadSelfSerialize<TValue>(
             ValueDataNode node,
-            InstantiationDelegate<object> instantiator)
+            InstantiationDelegate<object> instantiator,
+            object? rawValue = null)
             where TValue : ISelfSerialize
         {
             if (node.Value == "null")
             {
-                return new DeserializedValue<TValue?>(default);
+                return default; //todo paul this default should be null
             }
 
-            var value = (TValue) instantiator();
+            var value = (TValue) (rawValue ?? instantiator());
             value.Deserialize(node.Value);
 
-            return new DeserializedValue<TValue?>(value);
+            return value;
         }
 
-        private DeserializationResult ReadSelfSerializeNullableStruct<TValue>(
+        private TValue? ReadSelfSerializeNullableStruct<TValue>(
             ValueDataNode node,
             InstantiationDelegate<object> instantiator)
             where TValue : struct, ISelfSerialize
         {
             if (node.Value == "null")
             {
-                return new DeserializedValue<TValue?>(null);
+                return null;
             }
 
             var value = (TValue) instantiator();
             value.Deserialize(node.Value);
-
-            return new DeserializedValue<TValue?>(value);
+            return value;
         }
 
-        private DeserializationResult ReadWithTypeReaderNullable<TValue>(
+        private TValue? ReadWithTypeReaderNullableClass<TValue>(
             ValueDataNode node,
             ITypeReader<TValue, ValueDataNode> reader,
             ISerializationContext? context = null,
-            bool skipHook = false)
+            bool skipHook = false,
+            object? value = null)
+        where TValue : class
         {
             if (node.Value == "null")
             {
-                return new DeserializedValue<TValue?>(default);
+                return null;
             }
 
-            return ReadWithTypeReader(node, reader, context, skipHook);
+            return ReadWithTypeReader(node, reader, context, skipHook, value);
         }
 
-        private DeserializationResult ReadWithTypeReaderNullableStruct<TValue>(
+        private TValue? ReadWithTypeReaderNullableStruct<TValue>(
             ValueDataNode node,
             ITypeReader<TValue, ValueDataNode> reader,
             ISerializationContext? context = null,
@@ -371,17 +400,18 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
         {
             if (node.Value == "null")
             {
-                return new DeserializedValue<TValue?>(null);
+                return null;
             }
 
             return ReadWithTypeReader(node, reader, context, skipHook);
         }
 
-        private DeserializationResult ReadWithTypeReader<TValue, TNode>(
+        private TValue ReadWithTypeReader<TValue, TNode>(
             TNode node,
             ITypeReader<TValue, TNode> reader,
             ISerializationContext? context = null,
-            bool skipHook = false)
+            bool skipHook = false,
+            object? value = null)
             where TNode : DataNode
         {
             if (context != null &&
@@ -390,34 +420,36 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
                 reader = (ITypeReader<TValue, TNode>) readerUnCast;
             }
 
-            return reader.Read(this, node, DependencyCollection, skipHook, context);
+            return reader.Read(this, node, DependencyCollection, skipHook, context, value == null ? default : (TValue) value);
         }
 
-        private DeserializationResult ReadGenericNullable<TValue>(
+        private TValue? ReadGenericNullable<TValue>(
             ValueDataNode node,
             InstantiationDelegate<object> instantiator,
             DataDefinition? definition,
             bool populate,
             bool hooks,
             ISerializationContext? context = null,
-            bool skipHook = false)
+            bool skipHook = false,
+            object? value = null)
         {
             if (node.Value == "null")
             {
-                return new DeserializedValue<TValue?>(default);
+                return default; //todo paul this default should be null
             }
 
-            return ReadGenericValue<TValue?>(node, instantiator, definition, populate, hooks, context, skipHook);
+            return ReadGenericValue<TValue>(node, instantiator, definition, populate, hooks, context, skipHook, value);
         }
 
-        private DeserializationResult ReadGenericValue<TValue>(
+        private TValue ReadGenericValue<TValue>(
             ValueDataNode node,
             InstantiationDelegate<object> instantiator,
             DataDefinition? definition,
             bool populate,
             bool hooks,
             ISerializationContext? context = null,
-            bool skipHook = false)
+            bool skipHook = false,
+            object? instance = null)
         {
             var type = typeof(TValue);
 
@@ -425,7 +457,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
                 context.TypeReaders.TryGetValue((typeof(TValue), typeof(ValueDataNode)), out var readerUnCast))
             {
                 var reader = (ITypeReader<TValue, ValueDataNode>) readerUnCast;
-                return reader.Read(this, node, DependencyCollection, skipHook, context);
+                return reader.Read(this, node, DependencyCollection, skipHook, context, instance == null ? default : (TValue)instance);
             }
 
             if (definition == null)
@@ -433,7 +465,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
                 throw new ArgumentException($"No data definition found for type {type} with node type {node.GetType()} when reading");
             }
 
-            var instance = instantiator();
+            instance ??= instantiator();
 
             if (populate)
             {
@@ -445,36 +477,32 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
                 throw new ArgumentException($"No mapping node provided for type {type} at line: {node.Start.Line}");
             }
 
-            // If we get an empty ValueDataNode we just use an empty mapping
-            var mapping = new MappingDataNode();
-
-            var result = definition.Populate(instance, mapping, this, context, skipHook);
-
             if (!skipHook && hooks)
             {
-                ((ISerializationHooks) result.RawValue!).AfterDeserialization();
+                ((ISerializationHooks) instance).AfterDeserialization();
             }
 
-            return result;
+            return (TValue) instance;
         }
 
-        private DeserializationResult ReadGenericMapping<TValue>(
+        private TValue ReadGenericMapping<TValue>(
             MappingDataNode node,
             InstantiationDelegate<object> instantiator,
             DataDefinition? definition,
             bool populate,
             bool hooks,
             ISerializationContext? context = null,
-            bool skipHook = false)
+            bool skipHook = false,
+            object? instance = null)
         {
             var type = typeof(TValue);
-            var instance = instantiator();
+            instance ??= instantiator();
 
             if (context != null &&
                 context.TypeReaders.TryGetValue((type, typeof(MappingDataNode)), out var readerUnCast))
             {
                 var reader = (ITypeReader<TValue, MappingDataNode>) readerUnCast;
-                return reader.Read(this, node, DependencyCollection, skipHook, context);
+                return reader.Read(this, node, DependencyCollection, skipHook, context, (TValue?) instance);
             }
 
             if (definition == null)
@@ -487,47 +515,20 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
                 ((IPopulateDefaultValues) instance).PopulateDefaultValues();
             }
 
-            var result = definition.Populate(instance, node, this, context, skipHook);
+            var result = (TValue)definition.Populate(instance, node, this, context, skipHook)!;
 
             if (!skipHook && hooks)
             {
-                ((ISerializationHooks) result.RawValue!).AfterDeserialization();
+                ((ISerializationHooks) result).AfterDeserialization();
             }
 
             return result;
         }
 
-        public DeserializationResult Read(Type type, DataNode node, ISerializationContext? context = null, bool skipHook = false)
+        public object? ReadWithTypeSerializer(Type type, Type serializer, DataNode node, ISerializationContext? context = null,
+            bool skipHook = false, object? value = null)
         {
-            return GetOrCreateReader(type, node)(type, node, context, skipHook);
-        }
-
-        public object? ReadValue(Type type, DataNode node, ISerializationContext? context = null, bool skipHook = false)
-        {
-            return Read(type, node, context, skipHook).RawValue;
-        }
-
-        public T? ReadValueCast<T>(Type type, DataNode node, ISerializationContext? context = null, bool skipHook = false)
-        {
-            var value = Read(type, node, context, skipHook);
-
-            if (value.RawValue == null)
-            {
-                return default;
-            }
-
-            return (T?) value.RawValue;
-        }
-
-        public T? ReadValue<T>(DataNode node, ISerializationContext? context = null, bool skipHook = false)
-        {
-            return ReadValueCast<T>(typeof(T), node, context, skipHook);
-        }
-
-        public DeserializationResult ReadWithTypeSerializer(Type value, Type serializer, DataNode node, ISerializationContext? context = null,
-            bool skipHook = false)
-        {
-            return ReadWithSerializerRaw(value, node, serializer, context, skipHook);
+            return ReadWithSerializerRaw(type, node, serializer, context, skipHook, value);
         }
     }
 }

Robust.Shared/Serialization/Manager/SerializationManager.TypeInheritanceHandlers.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Diagnostics.CodeAnalysis;
+
+namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
+
+public partial class SerializationManager
+{
+    private readonly Dictionary<(Type Type, Type DataNodeType), object> _typeInheritanceHandlers = new();
+
+    private object? GetTypeInheritanceHandler(Type value, Type node)
+    {
+        if (_typeInheritanceHandlers.TryGetValue((value, node), out var handler))
+        {
+            return handler;
+        }
+
+        if (TryGetGenericInheritanceHandler(value, node, out handler))
+        {
+            return handler;
+        }
+
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    private bool TryGetTypeInheritanceHandler(Type value, Type node, [NotNullWhen(true)] out object? handler)
+    {
+        return (handler = GetTypeInheritanceHandler(value, node)) != null;
+    }
+
+
+    private bool TryGetGenericInheritanceHandler(Type type, Type node, [NotNullWhen(true)] out object? handler)
+    {
+        if (type.IsGenericType)
+        {
+            var typeDef = type.GetGenericTypeDefinition();
+
+            Type? serializerTypeDef = null;
+
+            foreach (var (key, val) in _genericInheritanceHandlerTypes)
+            {
+                if (typeDef.HasSameMetadataDefinitionAs(key.Type) && key.DataNodeType.IsAssignableFrom(node))
+                {
+                    serializerTypeDef = val;
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+
+            if (serializerTypeDef == null)
+            {
+                handler = null;
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            var serializerType = serializerTypeDef.MakeGenericType(type.GetGenericArguments());
+
+            handler = RegisterSerializer(serializerType) ?? throw new NullReferenceException();
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        handler = null;
+        return false;
+    }
+}

Robust.Shared/Serialization/Manager/SerializationManager.TypeSerializers.cs

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
     public partial class SerializationManager
     {
         private readonly Dictionary<(Type Type, Type DataNodeType), Type> _genericReaderTypes = new();
+        private readonly Dictionary<(Type Type, Type DataNodeType), Type> _genericInheritanceHandlerTypes = new();
         private readonly Dictionary<Type, Type> _genericWriterTypes = new();
         private readonly Dictionary<Type, Type> _genericCopierTypes = new();
         private readonly Dictionary<(Type Type, Type DataNodeType), Type> _genericValidatorTypes = new();
@@ -44,11 +45,14 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
                 .Where(i => i.IsGenericType && i.GetGenericTypeDefinition() == typeof(ITypeCopier<>)).ToArray();
             var validatorInterfaces = type.GetInterfaces()
                 .Where(i => i.IsGenericType && i.GetGenericTypeDefinition() == typeof(ITypeValidator<,>)).ToArray();
+            var inheritanceHandlerInterfaces = type.GetInterfaces()
+                .Where(i => i.IsGenericType && i.GetGenericTypeDefinition() == typeof(ITypeInheritanceHandler<,>)).ToArray();
 
             if (readerInterfaces.Length == 0 &&
                 writerInterfaces.Length == 0 &&
                 copierInterfaces.Length == 0 &&
-                validatorInterfaces.Length == 0)
+                validatorInterfaces.Length == 0 &&
+                inheritanceHandlerInterfaces.Length == 0)
             {
                 throw new InvalidOperationException(
                     "Tried to register TypeReader/Writer/Copier that had none of the interfaces inherited.");
@@ -84,6 +88,12 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
                         Logger.ErrorS(LogCategory, $"Tried registering generic reader for type {validatorInterface.GetGenericArguments()[0]} and node {validatorInterface.GetGenericArguments()[1]} twice");
                 }
 
+                foreach (var inheritanceHandlerInterface in inheritanceHandlerInterfaces)
+                {
+                    if (!_genericInheritanceHandlerTypes.TryAdd((inheritanceHandlerInterface.GetGenericArguments()[0], inheritanceHandlerInterface.GetGenericArguments()[1]), type))
+                        Logger.ErrorS(LogCategory, $"Tried registering generic reader for type {inheritanceHandlerInterface.GetGenericArguments()[0]} and node {inheritanceHandlerInterface.GetGenericArguments()[1]} twice");
+                }
+
                 return null;
             }
             else
@@ -114,6 +124,12 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
                         Logger.ErrorS(LogCategory, $"Tried registering reader for type {validatorInterface.GetGenericArguments()[0]} and node {validatorInterface.GetGenericArguments()[1]} twice");
                 }
 
+                foreach (var inheritanceHandlerInterface in inheritanceHandlerInterfaces)
+                {
+                    if (!_typeInheritanceHandlers.TryAdd((inheritanceHandlerInterface.GetGenericArguments()[0], inheritanceHandlerInterface.GetGenericArguments()[1]), serializer))
+                        Logger.ErrorS(LogCategory, $"Tried registering reader for type {inheritanceHandlerInterface.GetGenericArguments()[0]} and node {inheritanceHandlerInterface.GetGenericArguments()[1]} twice");
+                }
+
                 return serializer;
             }
         }

Robust.Shared/Serialization/Manager/SerializationManager.cs

@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ using Robust.Shared.Log;
 using Robust.Shared.Reflection;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Definition;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Mapping;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Sequence;
@@ -304,39 +303,6 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
             return ValidateNodeWith(typeof(TType), typeof(TSerializer), node, context);
         }
 
-        public DeserializationResult CreateDataDefinition<T>(DeserializedFieldEntry[] fields, bool skipHook = false)
-            where T : notnull, new()
-        {
-            var obj = new T();
-            return PopulateDataDefinition(obj, new DeserializedDefinition<T>(obj, fields), skipHook);
-        }
-
-        public DeserializationResult PopulateDataDefinition<T>(T obj, DeserializedDefinition<T> definition, bool skipHook = false)
-            where T : notnull, new()
-        {
-            return PopulateDataDefinition(obj, (IDeserializedDefinition) definition, skipHook);
-        }
-
-        public DeserializationResult PopulateDataDefinition(object obj, IDeserializedDefinition definition, bool skipHook = false)
-        {
-            if (!TryGetDefinition(obj.GetType(), out var dataDefinition))
-                throw new ArgumentException($"Provided Type is not a data definition ({obj.GetType()})");
-
-            if (obj is IPopulateDefaultValues populateDefaultValues)
-            {
-                populateDefaultValues.PopulateDefaultValues();
-            }
-
-            var res = dataDefinition.Populate(obj, definition.Mapping);
-
-            if (!skipHook && res.RawValue is ISerializationHooks serializationHooksAfter)
-            {
-                serializationHooksAfter.AfterDeserialization();
-            }
-
-            return res;
-        }
-
         internal DataDefinition? GetDefinition(Type type)
         {
             return DataDefinitions.TryGetValue(type, out var dataDefinition)
@@ -344,7 +310,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
                 : null;
         }
 
-        private bool TryGetDefinition(Type type, [NotNullWhen(true)] out DataDefinition? dataDefinition)
+        internal bool TryGetDefinition(Type type, [NotNullWhen(true)] out DataDefinition? dataDefinition)
         {
             dataDefinition = GetDefinition(type);
             return dataDefinition != null;

Robust.Shared/Serialization/Manager/SerializationManagerReadExtensions.cs

@@ -1,116 +1 @@
-#nullable enable
-using System;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
-
-namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager
-{
-    public static class SerializationManagerReadExtensions
-    {
-        public static T ReadValueOrThrow<T>(
-            this ISerializationManager manager,
-            DataNode node,
-            ISerializationContext? context = null,
-            bool skipHook = false)
-        {
-            return manager.ReadValue<T>(node, context, skipHook) ?? throw new NullReferenceException();
-        }
-
-        public static T ReadValueOrThrow<T>(
-            this ISerializationManager manager,
-            Type type,
-            DataNode node,
-            ISerializationContext? context = null,
-            bool skipHook = false)
-        {
-            return manager.ReadValueCast<T>(type, node, context, skipHook) ?? throw new NullReferenceException();
-        }
-
-        public static object ReadValueOrThrow(
-            this ISerializationManager manager,
-            Type type,
-            DataNode node,
-            ISerializationContext? context = null,
-            bool skipHook = false)
-        {
-            return manager.ReadValue(type, node, context, skipHook) ?? throw new NullReferenceException();
-        }
-
-        public static (DeserializationResult result, object? value) ReadWithValue(
-            this ISerializationManager manager,
-            Type type, DataNode node,
-            ISerializationContext? context = null,
-            bool skipHook = false)
-        {
-            var result = manager.Read(type, node, context, skipHook);
-            return (result, result.RawValue);
-        }
-
-        public static (DeserializationResult result, T? value) ReadWithValue<T>(
-            this ISerializationManager manager,
-            DataNode node,
-            ISerializationContext? context = null,
-            bool skipHook = false)
-        {
-            var result = manager.Read(typeof(T), node, context, skipHook);
-
-            if (result.RawValue == null)
-            {
-                return (result, default);
-            }
-
-            return (result, (T) result.RawValue);
-        }
-
-        public static (DeserializationResult result, T? value) ReadWithValueCast<T>(
-            this ISerializationManager manager,
-            Type type,
-            DataNode node,
-            ISerializationContext? context = null,
-            bool skipHook = false)
-        {
-            var result = manager.Read(type, node, context, skipHook);
-
-            if (result.RawValue == null)
-            {
-                return (result, default);
-            }
-
-            return (result, (T) result.RawValue);
-        }
-
-
-        public static (T value, DeserializationResult result) ReadWithValueOrThrow<T>(
-            this ISerializationManager manager,
-            DataNode node,
-            ISerializationContext? context = null,
-            bool skipHook = false)
-        {
-            var result = manager.Read(typeof(T), node, context, skipHook);
-
-            if (result.RawValue == null)
-            {
-                throw new NullReferenceException();
-            }
-
-            return ((T) result.RawValue, result);
-        }
-
-        public static (T value, DeserializationResult result) ReadWithValueOrThrow<T>(
-            this ISerializationManager manager,
-            Type type,
-            DataNode node,
-            ISerializationContext? context = null,
-            bool skipHook = false)
-        {
-            var result = manager.Read(type, node, context, skipHook);
-
-            if (result.RawValue == null)
-            {
-                throw new NullReferenceException();
-            }
-
-            return ((T) result.RawValue, result);
-        }
-    }
-}
+

Robust.Shared/Serialization/Markdown/DataNode.cs

@@ -15,10 +15,14 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown
             End = end;
         }
 
+        public abstract bool IsEmpty { get; }
+
         public abstract DataNode Copy();
 
         public abstract DataNode? Except(DataNode node);
 
+        public abstract DataNode PushInheritance(DataNode parent);
+
         public override bool Equals(object? obj)
         {
             if (obj is not DataNode other)
@@ -45,9 +49,16 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown
 
         public abstract T? Except(T node);
 
+        public abstract T PushInheritance(T node);
+
         public override DataNode? Except(DataNode node)
         {
             return node is not T tNode ? throw new InvalidNodeTypeException() : Except(tNode);
         }
+
+        public override DataNode PushInheritance(DataNode parent)
+        {
+            return parent is not T tNode ? throw new InvalidNodeTypeException() : PushInheritance(tNode);
+        }
     }
 }

Robust.Shared/Serialization/Markdown/Mapping/MappingDataNode.cs

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 using System;
+using System.Collections;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Diagnostics.CodeAnalysis;
 using System.Linq;
@@ -9,7 +10,7 @@ using YamlDotNet.RepresentationModel;
 
 namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Mapping
 {
-    public sealed class MappingDataNode : DataNode<MappingDataNode>
+    public sealed class MappingDataNode : DataNode<MappingDataNode>, IDictionary<DataNode, DataNode>
     {
         // To fetch nodes by key name with YAML, we NEED a YamlScalarNode.
         // We use a thread local one to avoid allocating one every fetch, since we just replace the inner value.
@@ -51,6 +52,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Mapping
             set => Add(new ValueDataNode(index), value);
         }
 
+        //todo paul i dont think this is thread-safe
         private static ValueDataNode GetFetchNode(string key)
         {
             var node = FetchNode.Value!;
@@ -64,16 +66,41 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Mapping
             return this;
         }
 
+        public bool ContainsKey(DataNode key) => _children.ContainsKey(key);
+
+        bool IDictionary<DataNode, DataNode>.Remove(DataNode key) => _children.Remove(key);
+
+        public bool TryGetValue(DataNode key, [NotNullWhen(true)] out DataNode? value) => TryGet(key, out value);
+
+        public DataNode this[DataNode key]
+        {
+            get => _children[key];
+            set => _children[key] = value;
+        }
+
+        public ICollection<DataNode> Keys => _children.Keys;
+        public ICollection<DataNode> Values => _children.Values;
+
         public DataNode Get(DataNode key)
         {
             return _children[key];
         }
 
+        public T Get<T>(DataNode key) where T : DataNode
+        {
+            return (T) Get(key);
+        }
+
         public DataNode Get(string key)
         {
             return Get(GetFetchNode(key));
         }
 
+        public T Get<T>(string key) where T : DataNode
+        {
+            return Get<T>(GetFetchNode(key));
+        }
+
         public bool TryGet(DataNode key, [NotNullWhen(true)] out DataNode? node)
         {
             if (_children.TryGetValue(key, out node))
@@ -85,11 +112,24 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Mapping
             return false;
         }
 
+        public bool TryGet<T>(DataNode key, [NotNullWhen(true)] out T? node) where T : DataNode
+        {
+            node = null;
+            if (!TryGet(key, out var rawNode)) return false;
+            node = (T) rawNode;
+            return true;
+        }
+
         public bool TryGet(string key, [NotNullWhen(true)] out DataNode? node)
         {
             return TryGet(GetFetchNode(key), out node);
         }
 
+        public bool TryGet<T>(string key, [NotNullWhen(true)] out T? node) where T : DataNode
+        {
+            return TryGet(GetFetchNode(key), out node);
+        }
+
         public bool Has(DataNode key)
         {
             return _children.ContainsKey(key);
@@ -100,6 +140,8 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Mapping
             return Has(GetFetchNode(key));
         }
 
+        void IDictionary<DataNode, DataNode>.Add(DataNode key, DataNode value) => _children.Add(key, value);
+
         public MappingDataNode Remove(DataNode key)
         {
             _children.Remove(key);
@@ -146,6 +188,8 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Mapping
             return newMapping;
         }
 
+        public override bool IsEmpty => _children.Count == 0;
+
         public override MappingDataNode Copy()
         {
             var newMapping = new MappingDataNode()
@@ -192,6 +236,21 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Mapping
             return mappingNode;
         }
 
+        public override MappingDataNode PushInheritance(MappingDataNode node)
+        {
+            var newNode = Copy();
+            foreach (var (key, val) in node)
+            {
+                if(newNode.Has(key)) continue;
+
+                newNode[key.Copy()] = val.Copy();
+            }
+
+            return newNode;
+        }
+
+        public IEnumerator<KeyValuePair<DataNode, DataNode>> GetEnumerator() => _children.GetEnumerator();
+
         public override int GetHashCode()
         {
             var code = new HashCode();
@@ -203,5 +262,26 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Mapping
 
             return code.ToHashCode();
         }
+
+        IEnumerator IEnumerable.GetEnumerator()
+        {
+            return GetEnumerator();
+        }
+
+        public void Add(KeyValuePair<DataNode, DataNode> item) => _children.Add(item.Key, item.Value);
+
+        public void Clear() => _children.Clear();
+
+        public bool Contains(KeyValuePair<DataNode, DataNode> item) =>
+            ((IDictionary<DataNode, DataNode>) _children).Contains(item);
+
+        public void CopyTo(KeyValuePair<DataNode, DataNode>[] array, int arrayIndex) =>
+            ((IDictionary<DataNode, DataNode>) _children).CopyTo(array, arrayIndex);
+
+        public bool Remove(KeyValuePair<DataNode, DataNode> item) =>
+            ((IDictionary<DataNode, DataNode>) _children).Remove(item);
+
+        public int Count => _children.Count;
+        public bool IsReadOnly => false;
     }
 }

Robust.Shared/Serialization/Markdown/Sequence/SequenceDataNode.cs

@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 using System;
+using System.Collections;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
 using YamlDotNet.RepresentationModel;
 
 namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Sequence
 {
-    public sealed class SequenceDataNode : DataNode<SequenceDataNode>
+    public sealed class SequenceDataNode : DataNode<SequenceDataNode>, IList<DataNode>
     {
         private readonly List<DataNode> _nodes = new();
 
@@ -65,23 +66,44 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Sequence
 
         public IReadOnlyList<DataNode> Sequence => _nodes;
 
-        public DataNode this[int index] => _nodes[index];
+        public int IndexOf(DataNode item) => _nodes.IndexOf(item);
+
+        public void Insert(int index, DataNode item) => _nodes.Insert(index, item);
+
+        public void RemoveAt(int index) => _nodes.RemoveAt(index);
+
+        public DataNode this[int index]
+        {
+            get => _nodes[index];
+            set => _nodes[index] = value;
+        }
 
         public void Add(DataNode node)
         {
             _nodes.Add(node);
         }
 
-        public void Remove(DataNode node)
+        public void Clear() => _nodes.Clear();
+
+        public bool Contains(DataNode item) => _nodes.Contains(item);
+
+        public void CopyTo(DataNode[] array, int arrayIndex) => _nodes.CopyTo(array, arrayIndex);
+
+        public bool Remove(DataNode node)
         {
-            _nodes.Remove(node);
+            return _nodes.Remove(node);
         }
 
+        public int Count => _nodes.Count;
+        public bool IsReadOnly => false;
+
         public T Cast<T>(int index) where T : DataNode
         {
             return (T) this[index];
         }
 
+        public override bool IsEmpty => _nodes.Count == 0;
+
         public override SequenceDataNode Copy()
         {
             var newSequence = new SequenceDataNode()
@@ -99,6 +121,8 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Sequence
             return newSequence;
         }
 
+        public IEnumerator<DataNode> GetEnumerator() => _nodes.GetEnumerator();
+
         public override int GetHashCode()
         {
             var code = new HashCode();
@@ -110,6 +134,11 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Sequence
             return code.ToHashCode();
         }
 
+        IEnumerator IEnumerable.GetEnumerator()
+        {
+            return GetEnumerator();
+        }
+
         public override SequenceDataNode? Except(SequenceDataNode node)
         {
             var newList = new List<DataNode>();
@@ -130,5 +159,16 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Sequence
 
             return null;
         }
+
+        public override SequenceDataNode PushInheritance(SequenceDataNode node)
+        {
+            var newNode = Copy();
+            foreach (var val in node)
+            {
+                newNode.Add(val.Copy());
+            }
+
+            return newNode;
+        }
     }
 }

Robust.Shared/Serialization/Markdown/Value/ValueDataNode.cs

@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
+using System.Globalization;
+using JetBrains.Annotations;
 using YamlDotNet.RepresentationModel;
 
 namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value
 {
     public sealed class ValueDataNode : DataNode<ValueDataNode>
     {
+        public ValueDataNode() : this(string.Empty) {}
+
         public ValueDataNode(string value) : base(NodeMark.Invalid, NodeMark.Invalid)
         {
             Value = value;
@@ -17,6 +21,8 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value
 
         public string Value { get; set; }
 
+        public override bool IsEmpty => Value == string.Empty;
+
         public override ValueDataNode Copy()
         {
             return new(Value)
@@ -32,6 +38,11 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value
             return node.Value == Value ? null : Copy();
         }
 
+        public override ValueDataNode PushInheritance(ValueDataNode node)
+        {
+            return Copy();
+        }
+
         public override bool Equals(object? obj)
         {
             return obj is ValueDataNode node && node.Value == Value;
@@ -46,5 +57,23 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value
         {
             return Value;
         }
+
+        [Pure]
+        public int AsInt()
+        {
+            return int.Parse(Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
+        }
+
+        [Pure]
+        public float AsFloat()
+        {
+            return float.Parse(Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
+        }
+
+        [Pure]
+        public bool AsBool()
+        {
+            return bool.Parse(Value);
+        }
     }
 }

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/AngleSerializer.cs

@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Maths;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
@@ -15,10 +14,10 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations
     [TypeSerializer]
     public sealed class AngleSerializer : ITypeSerializer<Angle, ValueDataNode>
     {
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
+        public Angle Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
             IDependencyCollection dependencies,
             bool skipHook,
-            ISerializationContext? context = null)
+            ISerializationContext? context = null, Angle value = default)
         {
             var nodeContents = node.Value;
 
@@ -27,7 +26,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations
                     CultureInfo.InvariantCulture))
                 : Angle.FromDegrees(double.Parse(nodeContents, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
 
-            return new DeserializedValue<Angle>(angle);
+            return angle;
         }
 
         public ValidationNode Validate(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/Box2Serializer.cs

@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Maths;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
@@ -15,10 +14,10 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations
     [TypeSerializer]
     public sealed class Box2Serializer : ITypeSerializer<Box2, ValueDataNode>
     {
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
+        public Box2 Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
             IDependencyCollection dependencies,
             bool skipHook,
-            ISerializationContext? context = null)
+            ISerializationContext? context = null, Box2 value = default)
         {
             var args = node.Value.Split(',');
 
@@ -32,7 +31,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations
             var r = float.Parse(args[2], CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
             var t = float.Parse(args[3], CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
 
-            return new DeserializedValue<Box2>(new Box2(l, b, r, t));
+            return new Box2(l, b, r, t);
         }
 
         public ValidationNode Validate(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/ColorSerializer.cs

@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Maths;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
@@ -14,16 +13,16 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations
     [TypeSerializer]
     public sealed class ColorSerializer : ITypeSerializer<Color, ValueDataNode>
     {
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
+        public Color Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
             IDependencyCollection dependencies,
             bool skipHook,
-            ISerializationContext? context = null)
+            ISerializationContext? context = null, Color value = default)
         {
             var deserializedColor = Color.TryFromName(node.Value, out var color)
                 ? color :
                 Color.FromHex(node.Value);
 
-            return new DeserializedValue<Color>(deserializedColor);
+            return deserializedColor;
         }
 
         public ValidationNode Validate(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/ComponentRegistrySerializer.cs

@@ -7,29 +7,28 @@ using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Log;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Mapping;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Sequence;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Interfaces;
+using Robust.Shared.Utility;
 using static Robust.Shared.Prototypes.EntityPrototype;
 
 namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations
 {
     [TypeSerializer]
-    public sealed class ComponentRegistrySerializer : ITypeSerializer<ComponentRegistry, SequenceDataNode>
+    public sealed class ComponentRegistrySerializer : ITypeSerializer<ComponentRegistry, SequenceDataNode>, ITypeInheritanceHandler<ComponentRegistry, SequenceDataNode>
     {
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager,
+        public ComponentRegistry Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager,
             SequenceDataNode node,
             IDependencyCollection dependencies,
             bool skipHook,
-            ISerializationContext? context = null)
+            ISerializationContext? context = null, ComponentRegistry? components = null)
         {
             var factory = dependencies.Resolve<IComponentFactory>();
-            var components = new ComponentRegistry();
-            var mappings = new Dictionary<DeserializationResult, DeserializationResult>();
+            components ??= new ComponentRegistry();
 
             foreach (var componentMapping in node.Sequence.Cast<MappingDataNode>())
             {
@@ -59,10 +58,9 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations
                 copy.Remove("type");
 
                 var type = factory.GetRegistration(compType).Type;
-                var read = serializationManager.ReadWithValueOrThrow<IComponent>(type, copy, skipHook: skipHook);
+                var read = (IComponent)serializationManager.Read(type, copy, skipHook: skipHook)!;
 
-                components[compType] = read.value;
-                mappings.Add(new DeserializedValue<string>(compType), read.result);
+                components[compType] = read;
             }
 
             var referenceTypes = new List<Type>();
@@ -82,7 +80,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations
                 }
             }
 
-            return new DeserializedComponentRegistry(components, mappings);
+            return components;
         }
 
         public ValidationNode Validate(ISerializationManager serializationManager,
@@ -179,5 +177,46 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations
 
             return target;
         }
+
+        public SequenceDataNode PushInheritance(ISerializationManager serializationManager, SequenceDataNode child,
+            SequenceDataNode parent,
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, ISerializationContext context)
+        {
+            var componentFactory = dependencies.Resolve<IComponentFactory>();
+            var newCompReg = child.Copy();
+            var newCompRegDict = ToTypeIndexedDictionary(newCompReg, componentFactory);
+            var parentDict = ToTypeIndexedDictionary(parent, componentFactory);
+
+            foreach (var (reg, mapping) in parentDict)
+            {
+                if (newCompRegDict.TryFirstOrNull(childReg => reg.References.Any(x => childReg.Key.References.Contains(x)), out var entry))
+                {
+                    newCompReg[entry.Value.Value] = serializationManager.PushCompositionWithGenericNode(reg.Type,
+                        new[] { parent[mapping] }, newCompReg[entry.Value.Value], context);
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    newCompReg.Add(parent[mapping]);
+                    newCompRegDict[reg] = newCompReg.Count-1;
+                }
+            }
+
+            return newCompReg;
+        }
+
+        private Dictionary<IComponentRegistration, int> ToTypeIndexedDictionary(SequenceDataNode node, IComponentFactory componentFactory)
+        {
+            var dict = new Dictionary<IComponentRegistration, int>();
+            for (var i = 0; i < node.Count; i++)
+            {
+                var mapping = (MappingDataNode)node[i];
+                var type = mapping.Get<ValueDataNode>("type").Value;
+                var availability = componentFactory.GetComponentAvailability(type);
+                if(availability == ComponentAvailability.Ignore) continue;
+                dict.Add(componentFactory.GetRegistration(type), i);
+            }
+
+            return dict;
+        }
     }
 }

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/Custom/ConstantSerializer.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 using System;
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
@@ -18,11 +17,11 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Custom
             return Enum.TryParse(constType, node.Value, out _) ? new ValidatedValueNode(node) : new ErrorNode(node, "Failed parsing constant.", false);
         }
 
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
-            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null)
+        public int Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null, int value = default)
         {
             var constType = serializationManager.GetConstantTypeFromTag(typeof(TTag));
-            return new DeserializedValue((int) Enum.Parse(constType, node.Value));
+            return (int) Enum.Parse(constType, node.Value);
         }
 
         public DataNode Write(ISerializationManager serializationManager, int value, bool alwaysWrite = false,

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/Custom/FlagSerializer.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 using System;
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Sequence;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
@@ -19,11 +18,11 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Custom
             return Enum.TryParse(flagType, node.Value, out _) ? new ValidatedValueNode(node) : new ErrorNode(node, "Failed parsing flag.", false);
         }
 
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
-            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null)
+        public int Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null, int value = default)
         {
             var flagType = serializationManager.GetFlagTypeFromTag(typeof(TTag));
-            return new DeserializedValue((int)Enum.Parse(flagType, node.Value));
+            return (int)Enum.Parse(flagType, node.Value);
         }
 
         public DataNode Write(ISerializationManager serializationManager, int value, bool alwaysWrite = false,
@@ -80,8 +79,8 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Custom
             return new ValidatedValueNode(node);
         }
 
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, SequenceDataNode node,
-            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null)
+        public int Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, SequenceDataNode node,
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null, int value = default)
         {
             var flagType = serializationManager.GetFlagTypeFromTag(typeof(TTag));
             var flags = 0;
@@ -92,7 +91,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Custom
                 flags |= (int) Enum.Parse(flagType, valueDataNode.Value);
             }
 
-            return new DeserializedValue(flags);
+            return flags;
         }
     }
 }

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/Custom/Prototype/Dictionary/PrototypeIdDictionarySerializer.cs

@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Prototypes;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Mapping;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
@@ -62,25 +61,28 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Custom.Pro
             return Validate(serializationManager, node, dependencies, context);
         }
 
-        DeserializationResult ITypeReader<Dictionary<string, TValue>, MappingDataNode>.Read(
+        Dictionary<string, TValue> ITypeReader<Dictionary<string, TValue>, MappingDataNode>.Read(
             ISerializationManager serializationManager, MappingDataNode node,
-            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context)
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context,
+            Dictionary<string, TValue>? value)
         {
-            return _dictionarySerializer.Read(serializationManager, node, dependencies, skipHook, context);
+            return _dictionarySerializer.Read(serializationManager, node, dependencies, skipHook, context, value);
         }
 
-        DeserializationResult ITypeReader<SortedDictionary<string, TValue>, MappingDataNode>.Read(
+        SortedDictionary<string, TValue> ITypeReader<SortedDictionary<string, TValue>, MappingDataNode>.Read(
             ISerializationManager serializationManager, MappingDataNode node,
-            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context)
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context,
+            SortedDictionary<string, TValue>? value)
         {
-            return _dictionarySerializer.Read(serializationManager, node, dependencies, skipHook, context);
+            return ((ITypeReader<SortedDictionary<string, TValue>, MappingDataNode>)_dictionarySerializer).Read(serializationManager, node, dependencies, skipHook, context, value);
         }
 
-        DeserializationResult ITypeReader<IReadOnlyDictionary<string, TValue>, MappingDataNode>.Read(
+        IReadOnlyDictionary<string, TValue> ITypeReader<IReadOnlyDictionary<string, TValue>, MappingDataNode>.Read(
             ISerializationManager serializationManager, MappingDataNode node,
-            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context)
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context,
+            IReadOnlyDictionary<string, TValue>? value)
         {
-            return _dictionarySerializer.Read(serializationManager, node, dependencies, skipHook, context);
+            return ((ITypeReader<IReadOnlyDictionary<string, TValue>, MappingDataNode>)_dictionarySerializer).Read(serializationManager, node, dependencies, skipHook, context, value);
         }
 
         public DataNode Write(ISerializationManager serializationManager, Dictionary<string, TValue> value,

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/Custom/Prototype/List/PrototypeIdListSerializer.ImmutableList.cs

@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Collections.Immutable;
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
+using Robust.Shared.Log;
 using Robust.Shared.Prototypes;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Sequence;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
@@ -22,27 +22,26 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Custom.Pro
             return ValidateInternal(serializationManager, node, dependencies, context);
         }
 
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, SequenceDataNode node,
-            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null)
+        public ImmutableList<string> Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, SequenceDataNode node,
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null,
+            ImmutableList<string>? rawValue = null)
         {
+            if(rawValue != null)
+                Logger.Warning($"Provided value to a Read-call for a {nameof(ImmutableList<string>)}. Ignoring...");
+
             var builder = ImmutableList.CreateBuilder<string>();
-            var mappings = new List<DeserializationResult>();
 
             foreach (var dataNode in node.Sequence)
             {
-                var result = _prototypeSerializer.Read(
+                builder.Add(_prototypeSerializer.Read(
                     serializationManager,
                     (ValueDataNode) dataNode,
                     dependencies,
                     skipHook,
-                    context);
-
-                builder.Add((string) result.RawValue!);
-                mappings.Add(result);
+                    context));
             }
 
-            return new DeserializedCollection<ImmutableList<string>, string>(builder.ToImmutable(), mappings,
-                ImmutableList.CreateRange);
+            return builder.ToImmutable();
         }
 
         public DataNode Write(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ImmutableList<string> value, bool alwaysWrite = false,

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/Custom/Prototype/List/PrototypeIdListSerializer.ReadOnlyCollection.cs

@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
+using Robust.Shared.Log;
 using Robust.Shared.Prototypes;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Sequence;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
@@ -24,31 +24,29 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Custom.Pro
             return ValidateInternal(serializationManager, node, dependencies, context);
         }
 
-        DeserializationResult ITypeReader<IReadOnlyCollection<string>, SequenceDataNode>.Read(
+        IReadOnlyCollection<string> ITypeReader<IReadOnlyCollection<string>, SequenceDataNode>.Read(
             ISerializationManager serializationManager,
             SequenceDataNode node,
             IDependencyCollection dependencies,
             bool skipHook,
-            ISerializationContext? context)
+            ISerializationContext? context, IReadOnlyCollection<string>? rawValue)
         {
+            if(rawValue != null)
+                Logger.Warning($"Provided value to a Read-call for a {nameof(IReadOnlyCollection<string>)}. Ignoring...");
+
             var list = new List<string>();
-            var mappings = new List<DeserializationResult>();
 
             foreach (var dataNode in node.Sequence)
             {
-                var result = _prototypeSerializer.Read(
+                list.Add(_prototypeSerializer.Read(
                     serializationManager,
                     (ValueDataNode) dataNode,
                     dependencies,
                     skipHook,
-                    context);
-
-                list.Add((string) result.RawValue!);
-                mappings.Add(result);
+                    context));
             }
 
-            return new DeserializedCollection<List<string>, string>(list, mappings,
-                elements => new List<string>(elements));
+            return list;
         }
 
         DataNode ITypeWriter<IReadOnlyCollection<string>>.Write(

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/Custom/Prototype/List/PrototypeIdListSerializer.ReadOnlyList.cs

@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using JetBrains.Annotations;
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
+using Robust.Shared.Log;
 using Robust.Shared.Prototypes;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Sequence;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
@@ -35,31 +35,29 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Custom.Pro
             return new List<string>(source);
         }
 
-        DeserializationResult ITypeReader<IReadOnlyList<string>, SequenceDataNode>.Read(
+        IReadOnlyList<string> ITypeReader<IReadOnlyList<string>, SequenceDataNode>.Read(
             ISerializationManager serializationManager,
             SequenceDataNode node,
             IDependencyCollection dependencies,
             bool skipHook,
-            ISerializationContext? context)
+            ISerializationContext? context, IReadOnlyList<string>? rawValue)
         {
+            if(rawValue != null)
+                Logger.Warning($"Provided value to a Read-call for a {nameof(IReadOnlyList<string>)}. Ignoring...");
+
             var list = new List<string>();
-            var mappings = new List<DeserializationResult>();
 
             foreach (var dataNode in node.Sequence)
             {
-                var result = _prototypeSerializer.Read(
+                list.Add(_prototypeSerializer.Read(
                     serializationManager,
                     (ValueDataNode) dataNode,
                     dependencies,
                     skipHook,
-                    context);
-
-                list.Add((string) result.RawValue!);
-                mappings.Add(result);
+                    context));
             }
 
-            return new DeserializedCollection<IReadOnlyList<string>, string>(list, mappings,
-                elements => new List<string>(elements));
+            return list;
         }
 
         ValidationNode ITypeValidator<IReadOnlyList<string>, SequenceDataNode>.Validate(

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/Custom/Prototype/List/PrototypeIdListSerializer.cs

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Prototypes;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Sequence;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
@@ -62,31 +61,25 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Custom.Pro
             return ValidateInternal(serializationManager, node, dependencies, context);
         }
 
-        DeserializationResult ITypeReader<List<string>, SequenceDataNode>.Read(
-            ISerializationManager serializationManager,
+        List<string> ITypeReader<List<string>, SequenceDataNode>.Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager,
             SequenceDataNode node,
             IDependencyCollection dependencies,
             bool skipHook,
-            ISerializationContext? context)
+            ISerializationContext? context, List<string>? list)
         {
-            var list = new List<string>();
-            var mappings = new List<DeserializationResult>();
+            list ??= new List<string>();
 
             foreach (var dataNode in node.Sequence)
             {
-                var result = _prototypeSerializer.Read(
+                list.Add(_prototypeSerializer.Read(
                     serializationManager,
                     (ValueDataNode) dataNode,
                     dependencies,
                     skipHook,
-                    context);
-
-                list.Add((string) result.RawValue!);
-                mappings.Add(result);
+                    context));
             }
 
-            return new DeserializedCollection<List<string>, string>(list, mappings,
-                elements => new List<string>(elements));
+            return list;
         }
 
         DataNode ITypeWriter<List<string>>.Write(

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/Custom/Prototype/PrototypeFlagsTypeSerializer.cs

@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Linq;
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
+using Robust.Shared.Log;
 using Robust.Shared.Prototypes;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Sequence;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
@@ -38,9 +38,13 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Custom.Pro
             return new ValidatedSequenceNode(list);
         }
 
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, SequenceDataNode node,
-            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null)
+        public PrototypeFlags<T> Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, SequenceDataNode node,
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null,
+            PrototypeFlags<T>? rawValue = null)
         {
+            if(rawValue != null)
+                Logger.Warning($"Provided value to a Read-call for a {nameof(PrototypeFlags<T>)}. Ignoring...");
+
             var flags = new List<string>(node.Sequence.Count);
 
             foreach (var dataNode in node.Sequence)
@@ -51,7 +55,7 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Custom.Pro
                 flags.Add(value.Value);
             }
 
-            return new DeserializedValue<PrototypeFlags<T>>(new PrototypeFlags<T>(flags));
+            return new PrototypeFlags<T>(flags);
         }
 
         public DataNode Write(ISerializationManager serializationManager, PrototypeFlags<T> value, bool alwaysWrite = false,
@@ -72,10 +76,14 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Custom.Pro
             return serializationManager.ValidateNodeWith<string, PrototypeIdSerializer<T>, ValueDataNode>(node, context);
         }
 
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
-            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null)
+        public PrototypeFlags<T> Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null,
+            PrototypeFlags<T>? rawValue = null)
         {
-            return new DeserializedValue<PrototypeFlags<T>>(new PrototypeFlags<T>(node.Value));
+            if(rawValue != null)
+                Logger.Warning($"Provided value to a Read-call for a {nameof(PrototypeFlags<T>)}. Ignoring...");
+
+            return new PrototypeFlags<T>(node.Value);
         }
     }
 }

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/Custom/Prototype/PrototypeIdSerializer.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Prototypes;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
@@ -14,15 +13,15 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Custom.Pro
         public ValidationNode Validate(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
             IDependencyCollection dependencies, ISerializationContext? context = null)
         {
-            return dependencies.Resolve<IPrototypeManager>().HasIndex<TPrototype>(node.Value)
+            return dependencies.Resolve<IPrototypeManager>().HasMapping<TPrototype>(node.Value)
                 ? new ValidatedValueNode(node)
                 : new ErrorNode(node, $"PrototypeID {node.Value} for type {typeof(TPrototype)} not found");
         }
 
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
-            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null)
+        public string Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null, string? value = default)
         {
-            return new DeserializedValue<string>(node.Value);
+            return node.Value;
         }
 
         public DataNode Write(ISerializationManager serializationManager, string value, bool alwaysWrite = false,

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/Custom/Prototype/Set/PrototypeIdHashSetSerializer.cs

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ using System.Collections.Generic;
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Prototypes;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Sequence;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
@@ -33,26 +32,23 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Custom.Pro
             return new ValidatedSequenceNode(list);
         }
 
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, SequenceDataNode node, IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null)
+        public HashSet<string> Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, SequenceDataNode node,
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null,
+            HashSet<string>? set = null)
         {
-            var set = new HashSet<string>();
-            var mappings = new List<DeserializationResult>();
+            set ??= new HashSet<string>();
 
             foreach (var dataNode in node.Sequence)
             {
-                var result = _prototypeSerializer.Read(
+                set.Add(_prototypeSerializer.Read(
                     serializationManager,
                     (ValueDataNode) dataNode,
                     dependencies,
                     skipHook,
-                    context);
-
-                set.Add((string) result.RawValue!);
-                mappings.Add(result);
+                    context));
             }
 
-            return new DeserializedCollection<HashSet<string>, string>(set, mappings,
-                elements => new HashSet<string>(elements));
+            return set;
         }
 
         public DataNode Write(ISerializationManager serializationManager, HashSet<string> value, bool alwaysWrite = false, ISerializationContext? context = null)

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/FormattedMessageSerializer.cs

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
@@ -14,11 +13,11 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations
     [TypeSerializer]
     public sealed class FormattedMessageSerializer : ITypeSerializer<FormattedMessage, ValueDataNode>
     {
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager,
+        public FormattedMessage Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager,
             ValueDataNode node, IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook,
-            ISerializationContext? context = null)
+            ISerializationContext? context = null, FormattedMessage? value = default)
         {
-            return new DeserializedValue<FormattedMessage>(FormattedMessage.FromMarkup(node.Value));
+            return FormattedMessage.FromMarkup(node.Value);
         }
 
         public ValidationNode Validate(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/Generic/DictionarySerializer.cs

@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@ using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Linq;
 using JetBrains.Annotations;
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
+using Robust.Shared.Log;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Mapping;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
@@ -37,22 +37,19 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Generic
             return mappingNode;
         }
 
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager,
-            MappingDataNode node, IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context)
+        public Dictionary<TKey, TValue> Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager,
+            MappingDataNode node, IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context,
+            Dictionary<TKey, TValue>? dict)
         {
-            var dict = new Dictionary<TKey, TValue>();
-            var mappedFields = new Dictionary<DeserializationResult, DeserializationResult>();
+            dict ??= new Dictionary<TKey, TValue>();
 
             foreach (var (key, value) in node.Children)
             {
-                var (keyVal, keyResult) = serializationManager.ReadWithValueOrThrow<TKey>(key, context, skipHook);
-                var (valueResult, valueVal) = serializationManager.ReadWithValueCast<TValue>(typeof(TValue), value, context, skipHook);
-
-                dict.Add(keyVal, valueVal!);
-                mappedFields.Add(keyResult, valueResult);
+                dict.Add(serializationManager.Read<TKey>(key, context, skipHook),
+                    serializationManager.Read<TValue>(value, context, skipHook));
             }
 
-            return new DeserializedDictionary<Dictionary<TKey, TValue>, TKey, TValue>(dict, mappedFields, dictInstance => dictInstance);
+            return dict;
         }
 
         ValidationNode ITypeValidator<SortedDictionary<TKey, TValue>, MappingDataNode>.Validate(
@@ -108,46 +105,39 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Generic
             return InterfaceWrite(serializationManager, value.ToDictionary(k => k.Key, v => v.Value), alwaysWrite, context);
         }
 
-        DeserializationResult
+        IReadOnlyDictionary<TKey, TValue>
             ITypeReader<IReadOnlyDictionary<TKey, TValue>, MappingDataNode>.Read(
                 ISerializationManager serializationManager, MappingDataNode node,
                 IDependencyCollection dependencies,
-                bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context)
+                bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context, IReadOnlyDictionary<TKey, TValue>? rawValue)
         {
+            if(rawValue != null)
+                Logger.Warning($"Provided value to a Read-call for a {nameof(IReadOnlyDictionary<TKey, TValue>)}. Ignoring...");
+
             var dict = new Dictionary<TKey, TValue>();
-            var mappedFields = new Dictionary<DeserializationResult, DeserializationResult>();
 
             foreach (var (key, value) in node.Children)
             {
-                var (keyVal, keyResult) = serializationManager.ReadWithValueOrThrow<TKey>(key, context, skipHook);
-                var (valueResult, valueVal) = serializationManager.ReadWithValueCast<TValue>(typeof(TValue), value, context, skipHook);
-
-                dict.Add(keyVal, valueVal!);
-                mappedFields.Add(keyResult, valueResult);
+                dict.Add(serializationManager.Read<TKey>(key, context, skipHook), serializationManager.Read<TValue>(value, context, skipHook));
             }
 
-            return new DeserializedDictionary<IReadOnlyDictionary<TKey, TValue>, TKey, TValue>(dict, mappedFields, dictInstance => dictInstance);
+            return dict;
         }
 
-        DeserializationResult
+        SortedDictionary<TKey, TValue>
             ITypeReader<SortedDictionary<TKey, TValue>, MappingDataNode>.Read(
                 ISerializationManager serializationManager, MappingDataNode node,
                 IDependencyCollection dependencies,
-                bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context)
+                bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context, SortedDictionary<TKey, TValue>? dict)
         {
-            var dict = new SortedDictionary<TKey, TValue>();
-            var mappedFields = new Dictionary<DeserializationResult, DeserializationResult>();
+            dict ??= new SortedDictionary<TKey, TValue>();
 
             foreach (var (key, value) in node.Children)
             {
-                var (keyVal, keyResult) = serializationManager.ReadWithValueOrThrow<TKey>(key, context, skipHook);
-                var (valueResult, valueVal) = serializationManager.ReadWithValueCast<TValue>(typeof(TValue), value, context, skipHook);
-
-                dict.Add(keyVal, valueVal!);
-                mappedFields.Add(keyResult, valueResult);
+                dict.Add(serializationManager.Read<TKey>(key, context, skipHook), serializationManager.Read<TValue>(value, context, skipHook));
             }
 
-            return new DeserializedDictionary<SortedDictionary<TKey, TValue>, TKey, TValue>(dict, mappedFields, dictInstance => new SortedDictionary<TKey, TValue>(dictInstance));
+            return dict;
         }
 
         [MustUseReturnValue]

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/Generic/HashSetSerializer.cs

@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@ using System.Collections.Immutable;
 using System.Linq;
 using JetBrains.Annotations;
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
+using Robust.Shared.Log;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Sequence;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
@@ -19,24 +19,20 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Generic
         ITypeSerializer<HashSet<T>, SequenceDataNode>,
         ITypeSerializer<ImmutableHashSet<T>, SequenceDataNode>
     {
-        DeserializationResult ITypeReader<HashSet<T>, SequenceDataNode>.Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager,
+        HashSet<T> ITypeReader<HashSet<T>, SequenceDataNode>.Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager,
             SequenceDataNode node,
             IDependencyCollection dependencies,
             bool skipHook,
-            ISerializationContext? context)
+            ISerializationContext? context, HashSet<T>? set)
         {
-            var set = new HashSet<T>();
-            var mappings = new List<DeserializationResult>();
+            set ??= new HashSet<T>();
 
             foreach (var dataNode in node.Sequence)
             {
-                var (value, result) = serializationManager.ReadWithValueOrThrow<T>(dataNode, context, skipHook);
-
-                set.Add(value);
-                mappings.Add(result);
+                set.Add(serializationManager.Read<T>(dataNode, context, skipHook));
             }
 
-            return new DeserializedCollection<HashSet<T>, T>(set, mappings, elements => new HashSet<T>(elements));
+            return set;
         }
 
         ValidationNode ITypeValidator<ImmutableHashSet<T>, SequenceDataNode>.Validate(
@@ -83,25 +79,23 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Generic
             return sequence;
         }
 
-        DeserializationResult ITypeReader<ImmutableHashSet<T>, SequenceDataNode>.Read(
+        ImmutableHashSet<T> ITypeReader<ImmutableHashSet<T>, SequenceDataNode>.Read(
             ISerializationManager serializationManager,
             SequenceDataNode node,
             IDependencyCollection dependencies,
             bool skipHook,
-            ISerializationContext? context)
+            ISerializationContext? context, ImmutableHashSet<T>? rawValue)
         {
+            if(rawValue != null)
+                Logger.Warning($"Provided value to a Read-call for a {nameof(ImmutableHashSet<T>)}. Ignoring...");
             var set = ImmutableHashSet.CreateBuilder<T>();
-            var mappings = new List<DeserializationResult>();
 
             foreach (var dataNode in node.Sequence)
             {
-                var (value, result) = serializationManager.ReadWithValueOrThrow<T>(dataNode, context, skipHook);
-
-                set.Add(value);
-                mappings.Add(result);
+                set.Add(serializationManager.Read<T>(dataNode, context, skipHook));
             }
 
-            return new DeserializedCollection<ImmutableHashSet<T>, T>(set.ToImmutable(), mappings, elements => ImmutableHashSet.Create(elements.ToArray()));
+            return set.ToImmutable();
         }
 
         [MustUseReturnValue]

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/Generic/ListSerializers.cs

@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@ using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Collections.Immutable;
 using JetBrains.Annotations;
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
+using Robust.Shared.Log;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Sequence;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
@@ -59,23 +59,20 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Generic
             return WriteInternal(serializationManager, value, alwaysWrite, context);
         }
 
-        DeserializationResult ITypeReader<List<T>, SequenceDataNode>.Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager,
+        List<T> ITypeReader<List<T>, SequenceDataNode>.Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager,
             SequenceDataNode node,
             IDependencyCollection dependencies,
             bool skipHook,
-            ISerializationContext? context)
+            ISerializationContext? context, List<T>? list)
         {
-            var list = new List<T>();
-            var results = new List<DeserializationResult>();
+            list ??= new List<T>();
 
             foreach (var dataNode in node.Sequence)
             {
-                var (value, result) = serializationManager.ReadWithValueOrThrow<T>(typeof(T), dataNode, context, skipHook);
-                list.Add(value);
-                results.Add(result);
+                list.Add(serializationManager.Read<T>(dataNode, context, skipHook));
             }
 
-            return new DeserializedCollection<List<T>, T>(list, results, elements => elements);
+            return list;
         }
 
         ValidationNode ITypeValidator<ImmutableList<T>, SequenceDataNode>.Validate(
@@ -116,59 +113,58 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Generic
             return new ValidatedSequenceNode(list);
         }
 
-        DeserializationResult ITypeReader<IReadOnlyList<T>, SequenceDataNode>.Read(
+        IReadOnlyList<T> ITypeReader<IReadOnlyList<T>, SequenceDataNode>.Read(
             ISerializationManager serializationManager, SequenceDataNode node,
             IDependencyCollection dependencies,
-            bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context)
+            bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context, IReadOnlyList<T>? rawValue)
         {
+            if(rawValue != null)
+                Logger.Warning($"Provided value to a Read-call for a {nameof(IReadOnlySet<T>)}. Ignoring...");
+
             var list = new List<T>();
-            var results = new List<DeserializationResult>();
 
             foreach (var dataNode in node.Sequence)
             {
-                var (value, result) = serializationManager.ReadWithValueOrThrow<T>(dataNode, context, skipHook);
-
-                list.Add(value);
-                results.Add(result);
+                list.Add(serializationManager.Read<T>(dataNode, context, skipHook));
             }
 
-            return new DeserializedCollection<IReadOnlyList<T>, T>(list, results, l => l);
+            return list;
         }
 
-        DeserializationResult ITypeReader<IReadOnlyCollection<T>, SequenceDataNode>.Read(
+        IReadOnlyCollection<T> ITypeReader<IReadOnlyCollection<T>, SequenceDataNode>.Read(
             ISerializationManager serializationManager, SequenceDataNode node,
             IDependencyCollection dependencies,
-            bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context)
+            bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context, IReadOnlyCollection<T>? rawValue)
         {
+            if(rawValue != null)
+                Logger.Warning($"Provided value to a Read-call for a {nameof(IReadOnlyCollection<T>)}. Ignoring...");
+
             var list = new List<T>();
-            var results = new List<DeserializationResult>();
 
             foreach (var dataNode in node.Sequence)
             {
-                var (value, result) = serializationManager.ReadWithValueOrThrow<T>(dataNode, context, skipHook);
-                list.Add(value);
-                results.Add(result);
+                list.Add(serializationManager.Read<T>(dataNode, context, skipHook));
             }
 
-            return new DeserializedCollection<IReadOnlyCollection<T>, T>(list, results, l => l);
+            return list;
         }
 
-        DeserializationResult ITypeReader<ImmutableList<T>, SequenceDataNode>.Read(
+        ImmutableList<T> ITypeReader<ImmutableList<T>, SequenceDataNode>.Read(
             ISerializationManager serializationManager, SequenceDataNode node,
             IDependencyCollection dependencies,
-            bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context)
+            bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context, ImmutableList<T>? rawValue)
         {
+            if(rawValue != null)
+                Logger.Warning($"Provided value to a Read-call for a {nameof(ImmutableList<T>)}. Ignoring...");
+
             var list = ImmutableList.CreateBuilder<T>();
-            var results = new List<DeserializationResult>();
 
             foreach (var dataNode in node.Sequence)
             {
-                var (value, result) = serializationManager.ReadWithValueOrThrow<T>(dataNode, context, skipHook);
-                list.Add(value);
-                results.Add(result);
+                list.Add(serializationManager.Read<T>(dataNode, context, skipHook));
             }
 
-            return new DeserializedCollection<ImmutableList<T>,T>(list.ToImmutable(), results, elements => ImmutableList.Create(elements.ToArray()));
+            return list.ToImmutable();
         }
 
         [MustUseReturnValue]

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/Generic/ValueTupleSerializer.cs

@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ using System.Linq;
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Mapping;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
@@ -15,19 +14,19 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Generic
     [TypeSerializer]
     public sealed class ValueTupleSerializer<T1, T2> : ITypeSerializer<ValueTuple<T1, T2>, MappingDataNode>
     {
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, MappingDataNode node,
+        public (T1, T2) Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, MappingDataNode node,
             IDependencyCollection dependencies,
             bool skipHook,
-            ISerializationContext? context = null)
+            ISerializationContext? context = null, (T1, T2) val = default)
         {
             if (node.Children.Count != 1)
                 throw new InvalidMappingException("Less than or more than 1 mappings provided to ValueTupleSerializer");
 
             var entry = node.Children.First();
-            var v1 = serializationManager.ReadValueOrThrow<T1>(entry.Key, context, skipHook);
-            var v2 = serializationManager.ReadValueOrThrow<T2>(entry.Value, context, skipHook);
+            var v1 = serializationManager.Read<T1>(entry.Key, context, skipHook, val.Item1);
+            var v2 = serializationManager.Read<T2>(entry.Value, context, skipHook, val.Item2);
 
-            return new DeserializedValue<ValueTuple<T1, T2>>(new ValueTuple<T1, T2>(v1, v2));
+            return (v1, v2);
         }
 
         public ValidationNode Validate(ISerializationManager serializationManager, MappingDataNode node,

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/MapIdSerializer.cs

@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Map;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
@@ -15,13 +14,13 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations
     [TypeSerializer]
     public sealed class MapIdSerializer : ITypeSerializer<MapId, ValueDataNode>
     {
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
+        public MapId Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
             IDependencyCollection dependencies,
             bool skipHook,
-            ISerializationContext? context = null)
+            ISerializationContext? context = null, MapId value = default)
         {
             var val = int.Parse(node.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
-            return new DeserializedValue<MapId>(new MapId(val));
+            return new MapId(val);
         }
 
         public ValidationNode Validate(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/Primitive/BooleanSerializer.cs

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
@@ -21,10 +20,10 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Primitive
                 : new ErrorNode(node, $"Failed parsing boolean value: {node.Value}");
         }
 
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
-            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null)
+        public bool Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null, bool value = default)
         {
-            return new DeserializedValue<bool>(bool.Parse(node.Value));
+            return bool.Parse(node.Value);
         }
 
         public DataNode Write(ISerializationManager serializationManager, bool value, bool alwaysWrite = false,

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/Primitive/ByteSerializer.cs

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
@@ -21,10 +20,10 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Primitive
                 : new ErrorNode(node, $"Failed parsing byte value: {node.Value}");
         }
 
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
-            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null)
+        public byte Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null, byte value = default)
         {
-            return new DeserializedValue<byte>(byte.Parse(node.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+            return byte.Parse(node.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
         }
 
         public DataNode Write(ISerializationManager serializationManager, byte value, bool alwaysWrite = false,

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/Primitive/CharSerializer.cs

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
@@ -21,10 +20,10 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Primitive
                 : new ErrorNode(node, $"Failed parsing char value: {node.Value}");
         }
 
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
-            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null)
+        public char Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null, char value = default)
         {
-            return new DeserializedValue<char>(char.Parse(node.Value));
+            return char.Parse(node.Value);
         }
 
         public DataNode Write(ISerializationManager serializationManager, char value, bool alwaysWrite = false,

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/Primitive/DecimalSerializer.cs

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
@@ -21,10 +20,10 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Primitive
                 : new ErrorNode(node, $"Failed parsing decimal value: {node.Value}");
         }
 
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
-            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null)
+        public decimal Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null, decimal value = default)
         {
-            return new DeserializedValue<decimal>(decimal.Parse(node.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+            return decimal.Parse(node.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
         }
 
         public DataNode Write(ISerializationManager serializationManager, decimal value, bool alwaysWrite = false,

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/Primitive/DoubleSerializer.cs

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
@@ -21,10 +20,10 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Primitive
                 : new ErrorNode(node, $"Failed parsing double value: {node.Value}");
         }
 
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
-            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null)
+        public double Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null, double value = default)
         {
-            return new DeserializedValue<double>(double.Parse(node.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+            return double.Parse(node.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
         }
 
         public DataNode Write(ISerializationManager serializationManager, double value, bool alwaysWrite = false,

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/Primitive/FloatSerializer.cs

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
@@ -21,10 +20,10 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Primitive
                 : new ErrorNode(node, $"Failed parsing float value: {node.Value}");
         }
 
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
-            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null)
+        public float Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null, float value = default)
         {
-            return new DeserializedValue<float>(float.Parse(node.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+            return float.Parse(node.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
         }
 
         public DataNode Write(ISerializationManager serializationManager, float value, bool alwaysWrite = false,

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/Primitive/IntSerializer.cs

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
@@ -21,10 +20,10 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Primitive
                 : new ErrorNode(node, $"Failed parsing int value: {node.Value}");
         }
 
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
-            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null)
+        public int Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null, int value = default)
         {
-            return new DeserializedValue<int>(int.Parse(node.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+            return int.Parse(node.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
         }
 
         public DataNode Write(ISerializationManager serializationManager, int value, bool alwaysWrite = false,

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/Primitive/LongSerializer.cs

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
@@ -21,10 +20,10 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Primitive
                 : new ErrorNode(node, $"Failed parsing long value: {node.Value}");
         }
 
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
-            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null)
+        public long Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null, long value = default)
         {
-            return new DeserializedValue<long>(long.Parse(node.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+            return long.Parse(node.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
         }
 
         public DataNode Write(ISerializationManager serializationManager, long value, bool alwaysWrite = false,

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/Primitive/SByteSerializer.cs

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
@@ -21,10 +20,10 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Primitive
                 : new ErrorNode(node, $"Failed parsing signed byte value: {node.Value}");
         }
 
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
-            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null)
+        public sbyte Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null, sbyte value = default)
         {
-            return new DeserializedValue<sbyte>(sbyte.Parse(node.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+            return sbyte.Parse(node.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
         }
 
         public DataNode Write(ISerializationManager serializationManager, sbyte value, bool alwaysWrite = false,

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/Primitive/ShortSerializer.cs

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
@@ -21,10 +20,10 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Primitive
                 : new ErrorNode(node, $"Failed parsing short value: {node.Value}");
         }
 
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
-            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null)
+        public short Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null, short value = default)
         {
-            return new DeserializedValue<short>(short.Parse(node.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+            return short.Parse(node.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
         }
 
         public DataNode Write(ISerializationManager serializationManager, short value, bool alwaysWrite = false,

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/Primitive/UIntSerializer.cs

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
@@ -21,10 +20,10 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Primitive
                 : new ErrorNode(node, $"Failed parsing unsigned int value: {node.Value}");
         }
 
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
-            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null)
+        public uint Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null, uint value = default)
         {
-            return new DeserializedValue<uint>(uint.Parse(node.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+            return uint.Parse(node.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
         }
 
         public DataNode Write(ISerializationManager serializationManager, uint value, bool alwaysWrite = false,

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/Primitive/ULongSerializer.cs

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
@@ -21,10 +20,10 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Primitive
                 : new ErrorNode(node, $"Failed parsing unsigned long value: {node.Value}");
         }
 
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
-            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null)
+        public ulong Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null, ulong value = default)
         {
-            return new DeserializedValue<ulong>(ulong.Parse(node.ToString(), CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+            return ulong.Parse(node.ToString(), CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
         }
 
         public DataNode Write(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ulong value, bool alwaysWrite = false,

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/Primitive/UShortSerializer.cs

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
@@ -21,10 +20,10 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations.Primitive
                 : new ErrorNode(node, $"Failed parsing unsigned short value: {node.Value}");
         }
 
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
-            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null)
+        public ushort Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
+            IDependencyCollection dependencies, bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context = null, ushort value = default)
         {
-            return new DeserializedValue<ushort>(ushort.Parse(node.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+            return ushort.Parse(node.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
         }
 
         public DataNode Write(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ushort value, bool alwaysWrite = false,

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/RegexSerializer.cs

@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ using JetBrains.Annotations;
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
@@ -15,12 +14,12 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations
     [TypeSerializer]
     public sealed class RegexSerializer : ITypeSerializer<Regex, ValueDataNode>
     {
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
+        public Regex Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
             IDependencyCollection dependencies,
             bool skipHook,
-            ISerializationContext? context = null)
+            ISerializationContext? context = null, Regex? value = default)
         {
-            return new DeserializedValue<Regex>(new Regex(node.Value, RegexOptions.Compiled));
+            return new Regex(node.Value, RegexOptions.Compiled);
         }
 
         public ValidationNode Validate(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/ResourcePathSerializer.cs

@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ using Robust.Shared.GameObjects;
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
@@ -18,12 +17,12 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations
     [TypeSerializer]
     public sealed class ResourcePathSerializer : ITypeSerializer<ResourcePath, ValueDataNode>
     {
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
+        public ResourcePath Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
             IDependencyCollection dependencies,
             bool skipHook,
-            ISerializationContext? context = null)
+            ISerializationContext? context = null, ResourcePath? value = default)
         {
-            return new DeserializedValue<ResourcePath>(new ResourcePath(node.Value));
+            return new ResourcePath(node.Value);
         }
 
         public ValidationNode Validate(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/SpriteSpecifierSerializer.cs

@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ using Robust.Shared.GameObjects;
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Mapping;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
@@ -22,29 +21,29 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations
         ITypeSerializer<SpriteSpecifier, MappingDataNode>,
         ITypeSerializer<SpriteSpecifier, ValueDataNode>
     {
-        DeserializationResult ITypeReader<Texture, ValueDataNode>.Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager,
+        Texture ITypeReader<Texture, ValueDataNode>.Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager,
             ValueDataNode node,
             IDependencyCollection dependencies,
-            bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context)
+            bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context, Texture? value)
         {
-            var path = serializationManager.ReadValueOrThrow<ResourcePath>(node, context, skipHook);
-            return new DeserializedValue<Texture>(new Texture(path));
+            var path = serializationManager.Read<ResourcePath>(node, context, skipHook);
+            return new Texture(path);
         }
 
-        DeserializationResult ITypeReader<SpriteSpecifier, ValueDataNode>.Read(
-            ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
+        SpriteSpecifier ITypeReader<SpriteSpecifier, ValueDataNode>.Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager,
+            ValueDataNode node,
             IDependencyCollection dependencies,
-            bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context)
+            bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context, SpriteSpecifier? value)
         {
             try
             {
-                return ((ITypeReader<EntityPrototype, ValueDataNode>)this).Read(serializationManager, node, dependencies, skipHook, context);
+                return ((ITypeReader<EntityPrototype, ValueDataNode>)this).Read(serializationManager, node, dependencies, skipHook, context, (EntityPrototype?) value);
             }
             catch { /* ignored */ }
 
             try
             {
-                return ((ITypeReader<Texture, ValueDataNode>) this).Read(serializationManager, node, dependencies, skipHook, context);
+                return ((ITypeReader<Texture, ValueDataNode>) this).Read(serializationManager, node, dependencies, skipHook, context, (Texture?)value);
             }
             catch { /* ignored */ }
 
@@ -52,21 +51,21 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations
                 "SpriteSpecifier was neither a Texture nor an EntityPrototype but got provided a ValueDataNode");
         }
 
-        DeserializationResult ITypeReader<EntityPrototype, ValueDataNode>.Read(
-            ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
+        EntityPrototype ITypeReader<EntityPrototype, ValueDataNode>.Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager,
+            ValueDataNode node,
             IDependencyCollection dependencies,
-            bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context)
+            bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context, EntityPrototype? value)
         {
             if (!IoCManager.Resolve<Prototypes.IPrototypeManager>().HasIndex<Prototypes.EntityPrototype>(node.Value))
                 throw new InvalidMappingException("Invalid Entity Prototype");
 
-            return new DeserializedValue<EntityPrototype>(new EntityPrototype(node.Value));
+            return new EntityPrototype(node.Value);
         }
 
-        DeserializationResult ITypeReader<Rsi, MappingDataNode>.Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager,
+        Rsi ITypeReader<Rsi, MappingDataNode>.Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager,
             MappingDataNode node,
             IDependencyCollection dependencies,
-            bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context)
+            bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context, Rsi? value)
         {
             if (!node.TryGet("sprite", out var pathNode))
             {
@@ -78,17 +77,17 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations
                 throw new InvalidMappingException("Expected state-node as a valuenode");
             }
 
-            var path = serializationManager.ReadValueOrThrow<ResourcePath>(pathNode, context, skipHook);
-            return new DeserializedValue<Rsi>(new Rsi(path, valueDataNode.Value));
+            var path = serializationManager.Read<ResourcePath>(pathNode, context, skipHook);
+            return new Rsi(path, valueDataNode.Value);
         }
 
 
-        DeserializationResult ITypeReader<SpriteSpecifier, MappingDataNode>.Read(
-            ISerializationManager serializationManager, MappingDataNode node,
+        SpriteSpecifier ITypeReader<SpriteSpecifier, MappingDataNode>.Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager,
+            MappingDataNode node,
             IDependencyCollection dependencies,
-            bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context)
+            bool skipHook, ISerializationContext? context, SpriteSpecifier? value)
         {
-            return ((ITypeReader<Rsi, MappingDataNode>) this).Read(serializationManager, node, dependencies, skipHook, context);
+            return ((ITypeReader<Rsi, MappingDataNode>) this).Read(serializationManager, node, dependencies, skipHook, context, (Rsi?) value);
         }
 
         ValidationNode ITypeValidator<SpriteSpecifier, ValueDataNode>.Validate(ISerializationManager serializationManager,

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/StringSerializer.cs

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ using JetBrains.Annotations;
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
@@ -13,12 +12,12 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations
     [TypeSerializer]
     public sealed class StringSerializer : ITypeSerializer<string, ValueDataNode>
     {
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
+        public string Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
             IDependencyCollection dependencies,
             bool skipHook,
-            ISerializationContext? context = null)
+            ISerializationContext? context = null, string? value = default)
         {
-            return new DeserializedValue<string>(node.Value);
+            return node.Value;
         }
 
         public ValidationNode Validate(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,

Robust.Shared/Serialization/TypeSerializers/Implementations/TimespanSerializer.cs

@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ using JetBrains.Annotations;
 using Robust.Shared.IoC;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Attributes;
-using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Manager.Result;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Validation;
 using Robust.Shared.Serialization.Markdown.Value;
@@ -15,13 +14,13 @@ namespace Robust.Shared.Serialization.TypeSerializers.Implementations
     [TypeSerializer]
     public sealed class TimespanSerializer : ITypeSerializer<TimeSpan, ValueDataNode>
     {
-        public DeserializationResult Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
+        public TimeSpan Read(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,
             IDependencyCollection dependencies,
             bool skipHook,
-            ISerializationContext? context = null)
+            ISerializationContext? context = null, TimeSpan value = default)
         {
             var seconds = double.Parse(node.Value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
-            return new DeserializedValue<TimeSpan>(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(seconds));
+            return TimeSpan.FromSeconds(seconds);
         }
 
         public ValidationNode Validate(ISerializationManager serializationManager, ValueDataNode node,