In this tutorial we’ll set up the grid move command.

This tutorial is part 4 of a mini-series covering grid battles. You can find the start of this series here.

The grid move command is used by combatants to perform movement on the grid. For the player this involves a move target cell selection – using the highlights we set up earlier the player will see the move range and path during the selection. The actual movement is handled by a schematic, like any action used in battle.

We’ll set up:

• grid move schematic
• move range formula
• move command
• update phase battle action cost
• add grid move command to battle menu
• add battle AI using grid move command (and add to combatants)

This tutorial is based on the ORK 4 Unity Quickstart 3D tutorials and using a phase battle system, but can be used in any project and with any battle system.

Grid Move Schematic #

We’ll start with the schematic.

We’ll create a simple schematic to animate the grid move action. We’ll follow the selected path cell by cell, performing possible grid cell events on the cells we move over/to.

Movement is handled using the Change Position node – the setup described here will use the Auto move component selection. This’ll try to select the appropriate component for movement, but this might not result in the desired outcome for all setups. If movement doesn’t work in your setup, try one of the different move components based on your setup (e.g. Character Controller or Combatant Movement Component).

The user of the action is the Machine Object of the schematic, the path from the user’s current position to the target position can be accessed via nodes.

Check Grid Path Length #

Add Node > Battle > Grid Path > Check Grid Path Length

We’ll first check if there even is a grid path, i.e. if it’s length is greater than 0.

Store Grid Path #

Add Node > Battle > Grid Path > Store Grid Path

This node is used to store a cell from the path into selected data – you can either store the whole path, the next or last cell.

We’ll store the next cell on the path and also remove the cell from the path, so that we can later continue with the next cell after this one.

This node is connected to the Success slot of the previous node.

Change Position #

Add Node > Movement > Movement > Change Position

We’ll now move the user (Machine Object) to the stored cell.

Set Grid Cell Combatant #

Add Node > Battle > Grid Cell > Set Grid Cell Combatant

We’ll register the combatant on the cell we just moved to.

Check Grid Path Length #

Copy the first Check Grid Path Lengt node.

We’re done with our move to the next cell, so we’ll check if we finished the path.

Grid Cell Event #

Add Node > Battle > Grid Cell Event > Grid Cell Event

We don’t use grid cell events in our tutorial, but it’s always good to have them included in your grid move in case you later add them.

Grid cell events perform certain things when a combatant moves over or moves to a cell, or starts/ends their turn on a cell. E.g. you can change status effects, use schematics or an ability on the combatant.

This node is connected to the Success slot of the previous Check Grid Path Length node, i.e. we still have some of the path left to go.

The Next slot of this node is connected back to the Store Grid Path node.

Grid Cell Event #

Copy the previous Grid Cell Event.

This node is connected to the Failed slot of the previous Check Grid Path Length node, i.e. we’re done with our move.

Wait (Optional) #

Add Node > Base > Wait

We’ll wait for a short time, just to slow things down a bit.

And that’s it for the schematic. Click on Save Schematic to save it as GridMove.

Move Range Formula #

Grid movement is based on a move range available to a combatant.

We’ll use a formula to calculate the move range based on the AGI status value. The formula will divide AGI by 5 (i.e. 1 point every 5 AGI) and add a base move range of 3.

Open the ORK editor, navigate to Gameplay > Formulas and add a new formula.

Formula Settings #

We’ll limit the move range t0 20 (cells), we handle this via the maximum value of the formula.

Status Value #

Add Node > Combatant > Status Value

We add the agility of the user.

Value #

Add Node > Value > Value

We now divide by 5.

Value #

Add Node > Value > Value

Add 3 for our base move range.

Math Function #

Add Node > Base > Math Function

This node is used to use a defined math function on the formula’s result.

We’ll use it to round the current value, e.g. 5.4 will become 5, 5.6 will become 6.

That’s it for the formula

Move Command Setup #

With all our needed parts set up, we can now set up the move command.

Navigate to Battles > Battle Grid Settings and change the Move Command settings.

Move Command #

Default Battle Animation #

This is where we set up our grid move schematic – combatants can optionally override the default animation.

Update Phase Battle Action Cost #

If you’re using the phase battle system setup, we’ll also adjust the action cost for grid movement. Instead of the default 2 AP, it should only cost 1 AP.

Navigate to Battles > Battle System and select the Phase battle system.

Action Settings #

Battle Menu #

Next we’ll add the grid move command to the battle menu.

Navigate to Menus > Battle Menus and select the Default battle menu.

Battle AI #

We’ll add a new battle AI that handles grid movement for the enemies. The battle AI will move to the nearest alive enemy of the user.

Navigate to Battles > Battle AIs and add a new battle AI.

Battle AI Settings #

Check Status #

Add Node > Combatant > Check Status

We’ll find an alive enemy before selecting the nearest of them.

Get Nearest #

Add Node > Position > Get Nearest

We’ll now selected the nearest found target (i.e. the nearest alive enemy).

This node is connected to the Success slot of the previous Check Status node.

Grid Move #

Add Node > Action > Grid Move

This node selects a path to a target (cell) and uses the grid move action. We’ll move to the found target (i.e. the nearest enemy).

Target Cell Settings #

These settings define which cells around the target are valid to move to – we’ll use the default setup, i.e. a distance of 1.

Updating Combatants #

We’ll add the grid move battle AI to our combatants.

Navigate to Combatants > Combatants.

We’ll add the new battle AI to the General Settings and the following combatants:

• Spider
• Skeleton
• Slime

These combatants replace the default battle AI instead of adding to it, so we need to add the new battle AI to them individually.

The setup is the same for all, so repeat it for the general settings and 3 combatants.

AI Settings > Battle AI #

We’ll set the grid move battle AI as the first battle AI in the list, i.e. it’ll be used before all other.

Save Changes #

And that’s it for the grid move command setup.

Don’t forget to save your changes by clicking on Save Settings at the bottom of the editor.

The next part of the grid mini-series will finally set up battle grids in our battle arena scenes.