Delay import of module-prototypes to avoid init-clash. Resolves #2232.

evennia/__init__.py

@@ -392,8 +392,12 @@ def _init():
     BASE_GUEST_TYPECLASS = class_from_module(settings.BASE_GUEST_TYPECLASS)
     del class_from_module
 
-    # delayed starts
+    # delayed starts - important so as to not back-access evennia before it has
+    # finished initializing
     GLOBAL_SCRIPTS.start()
+    from .prototypes import prototypes
+    prototypes.load_module_prototypes()
+    del prototypes
 
 
 def set_trace(term_size=(140, 80), debugger="auto"):

evennia/prototypes/prototypes.py

@@ -144,7 +144,13 @@ def homogenize_prototype(prototype, custom_keys=None):
 
 # module-based prototypes
 
-for mod in settings.PROTOTYPE_MODULES:
+def load_module_prototypes():
+    """
+    This is called by `evennia.__init__` as Evennia initializes. It's important
+    to do this late so as to not interfere with evennia initialization.
+
+    """
+    for mod in settings.PROTOTYPE_MODULES:
         # to remove a default prototype, override it with an empty dict.
         # internally we store as (key, desc, locks, tags, prototype_dict)
         prots = []