Figgin

Author: Sestze
Source: https://www.insideqc.com/qctut/qctut-84.shtml

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Hi there! By this time, if you have screwed with any AI code by using findradius functions to make the monsters roam, you have noticed that it makes the game unreasonably slow. Any more than 40 or so monsters, and you end up lagged down so much, you leap five feet every time you press the forward key.

This roaming tutorial will make all monsters move towards one common goalentity.

Step 1

Type these prototypes at the very top of world.qc:

void() Arc_Figgin;
void() S_Figgin;
void() T_Figgin;

This is the variable that stores our total experience points. You may wish to change the name but if you do remember to do it in all the steps. Go on to the next step.

Step 2

Type this at the very end of the world.qc QC file.

/*
=================================================================================

FIGGIN

=================================================================================
*/

void() Arc_Figgin =
{
    local entity figgin;                //Make an entity called "figgin"

    figgin = spawn();                   //Spawn the figgin
    figgin.classname = "figgin";            //It's a figgin
    figgin.movetype = MOVETYPE_NONE;        //It doesn't move
    figgin.solid = SOLID_BBOX;          //It can be touched
    setsize(figgin, '-1 -1 -1', '1 1 1');   //It's size is '2 2 2'

    figgin.origin_x = (0.5 - random())* 2 * 5000;   //It's origin is randomized
    figgin.origin_y = (0.5 - random())* 2 * 5000;
    figgin.origin_z = (0.5 - random())* 2 * 5000;

    while((pointcontents(figgin.origin) != CONTENT_EMPTY) && (figgin.aflag < 75))
    {
        //If the pointcontents of the figgin's origin is not empty, reset the figgin
        //To a more suitable space. If no space can be found within 75 loops,
        //Leave it where it last was placed.
        figgin.origin_x = (0.5 - random())* 2 * 5000;
        figgin.origin_y = (0.5 - random())* 2 * 5000;
        figgin.origin_z = (0.5 - random())* 2 * 5000;

        figgin.aflag = figgin.aflag + 1;
    }

    figgin.nextthink = time + 0.1;      //.1 seconds from now
    figgin.think = S_Figgin;            //You will do something else

    figgin.touch = T_Figgin;            //If touched...
};

void() S_Figgin =
{
    local entity flick;             //Declare an entity to be used for the
                                //findradius function

    flick = findradius(self.origin, 10000);

    while(flick)
    {
        if(flick.flags & FL_MONSTER)        //If flick is a monster
        {
            if(flick.health > 0)        //If he has health
            {
                if(flick.search_time < time)    //If he aint looking for the player
                {
                    if((flick.enemy == world) || (flick.enemy == self)) //If he doesn't have an enemy
                    {
                        flick.goalentity = self;    //Your target is a figgin.
                        flick.nextthink = time + 0.1;   //In .1 seconds
                        flick.think = flick.th_walk;    //You will walk
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    flick = flick.chain;        //Next entity in line
    }

    self.aflag = 0; //Reset the loop counter

    self.nextthink = time + 3 + random() * 3;   //In 3-6 seconds
    self.think = T_Figgin;              //Act as if it's been touched
};

void() T_Figgin =
{
    //Random origin
    self.origin_x = (0.5 - random())* 2 * 5000;
    self.origin_y = (0.5 - random())* 2 * 5000;
    self.origin_z = (0.5 - random())* 2 * 5000;

    while((pointcontents(self.origin) != CONTENT_EMPTY) && (self.aflag < 75))
    {
        //Check for where it is
        self.origin_x = (0.5 - random())* 2 * 5000;
        self.origin_y = (0.5 - random())* 2 * 5000;
        self.origin_z = (0.5 - random())* 2 * 5000;

        self.aflag = self.aflag + 1;
    }

    self.nextthink = time + 0.1;    //Wash rinse
    self.think = S_Figgin;      //Repeat
};

This function tallys up the experience and prints the amount the person has.

Step 3

Place at the very end of the worldspawn() function:

Arc_Figgin();

Step 4

Compile and you have roaming monsters. They walk places. Or straight into walls, you never know.

I hope this tutorial works (I used it in smod1, but something may have broken). If not, Knock me one at [email protected]

Lastly: A figgin is a type of fruitcake, for those who gandered as to what the hell it meant.

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Tags: tutorial, quakec, qc, insideqc, monster, ai