apply_atmosphere
One-call scene mood: composes ambient + directional light, gradient fog, and a camera post-fx stack (tonemap + colour grade + vignette) tuned for the chosen mood. Idempotent — re-runs update the same
This record as markdown: /tools/sbox/apply-atmosphere.md
What apply_atmosphere does on Sbox
AI agents use apply_atmosphere to create or update resources in Sbox, usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Sbox environment.
Why apply_atmosphere is rated Medium
This tool modifies game scene state by adjusting multiple visual and lighting properties. While it creates or updates game objects and settings (Write), it does not execute arbitrary code, trigger external operations, delete data irreversibly, or move financial resources. The changes are reversible and localized to visual/environmental configuration, making it a Write-category risk rather than Execute or Destructive.
From the tool's definition Tool description states it 'composes ambient + directional light, gradient fog, and a camera post-fx stack' and 're-runs update the same', indicating it creates and modifies scene properties (lighting, fog, post-processing effects) within the game engine.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs apply_atmosphere safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Sbox, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For apply_atmosphere, this is the rule to start with:
apply_atmosphere stays usable, but capped: an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Sbox, apply this rule, and every apply_atmosphere call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about apply_atmosphere
One-call scene mood: composes ambient + directional light, gradient fog, and a camera post-fx stack (tonemap + colour grade + vignette) tuned for the chosen mood. Idempotent — re-runs update the same. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Sbox MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.
Register the Sbox MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for apply_atmosphere: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Sbox. Nothing to install.
apply_atmosphere is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the apply_atmosphere rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for apply_atmosphere. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.
apply_atmosphere is provided by the Sbox MCP server (sbox-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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