fix(multiplayer): replicate per-player avatar loadout and preserve original materials

scripts/avatar/avatar_loadout.gd

@@ -65,16 +65,13 @@ func _init() -> void:
 # Serialization
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-## Create a loadout from a JSON string.
-static func from_json(json_string: String) -> AvatarLoadout:
+## Create a loadout from a Dictionary.
+static func from_dict(root: Dictionary) -> AvatarLoadout:
 	var loadout := _Self.new()
-	var data: Variant = JSON.parse_string(json_string)
-	if not (data is Dictionary):
-		loadout.validation_errors.append("Loadout JSON root is not an object")
+	if root == null:
+		loadout.validation_errors.append("Loadout root is null")
 		return loadout
 
-	var root: Dictionary = data as Dictionary
-
 	# Parse base_body.
 	if root.has("base_body"):
 		var bb = root["base_body"]
@@ -111,8 +108,18 @@ static func from_json(json_string: String) -> AvatarLoadout:
 	return loadout
 
 
-## Serialize this loadout to a JSON string.
-func to_json() -> String:
+## Create a loadout from a JSON string.
+static func from_json(json_string: String) -> AvatarLoadout:
+	var data: Variant = JSON.parse_string(json_string)
+	if not (data is Dictionary):
+		var loadout := _Self.new()
+		loadout.validation_errors.append("Loadout JSON root is not an object")
+		return loadout
+	return from_dict(data as Dictionary)
+
+
+## Serialize this loadout to a Dictionary.
+func to_dict() -> Dictionary:
 	var data := {
 		"base_body": base_body,
 		"slots": {},
@@ -133,7 +140,12 @@ func to_json() -> String:
 			"a": skin_tone.a,
 		}
 
-	return JSON.stringify(data, "  ")
+	return data
+
+
+## Serialize this loadout to a JSON string.
+func to_json() -> String:
+	return JSON.stringify(to_dict(), "  ")
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------