Actions

Add a Formation

From Shoot Em Up Kit

Uses of Formations

To set up NPCs in a Formation, first create the Formation. Next, add the NPCs which are to be placed in the Formation and set their AI behaviour to Formation.


Placing a Formation

To add a Formation to the scene click the Formation icon ToolsMenu14.png on the Tools Menu and the cursor will change to a Formation symbol. Move it to the position of the first node of the formation and click to place it. Move to the next position and click to place another node. Repeat until all points are placed then click the Stop Placing button at the top of the Properties window or press the [Esc] key.


Formationimage.png


The Formations window will open when a Formation is added or selected. It will have three tabs:

General - sets general object properties such as node positions

Actions - sets up actions for the formation

AI - sets up the behaviour of the formation


Formation nodes can be moved or rotated by using the Move Gizmo, or by manually editing the position values in the General tab. Clicking on a formation node will make it the current node and the Gizmo and Properties will apply to that node.

Properties Window General Tab

Formationwindow.png

Name Name of the formation.
Active Area Define an Active Area that the formation can move in and the action to take when it reaches an edge.
Current Node The number of the currently selected node. This can be changed either by changing the value in the Spin Control or by clicking on the node in the scene.
Position The position of the current node. This can be altered by either entering values or using the Move Gizmo.
Rotation The rotation angle of the current node. This can be altered by either entering values or using the Move Gizmo.
Insert Before Insert a new node before the current node.
Insert After Insert a new node after the current node.
Add To Start Insert a new node at the start of the formation.
Add To End Insert a new node at the end of the formation.
Delete All Delete all nodes except the starting node.
AI Type Set the AI behaviour of the formation.