In this tutorial we’ll set up schematics to animate our battle actions.

Battle actions like abilities or items are animated using schematics – and they can use multiple schematics to do so. We’ll split most of our actions into multiple schematics to have them available as modular parts to reuse and combine as needed.

All our actions will perform in a similar way. The combatants will step forward, do their action and step back. Schematics used to animate battle actions will have the user of the action available as Machine Object and the target(s) as Starting Object.

We’ll now set up 3 schematics:

• move forward
• move back
• attack

Afterwards, we’ll set up animations that are used before each ability/item (i.e. stepping forward and back) and the battle animations of our already added abilities.

Let’s get to it.

Move Forward Schematic #

We’ll start with the schematic to move the user of the action forward (in local space of the combatant). In schematics animating actions, the Machine Object is the user of the action.

Open the schematic editor.

Change Position #

Add Node > Movement > Movement > Change Position

This node is used to set or move a game object to another position. We’ll use it to move the user forward.

Target Position #

Movement Settings #

And that’s it for the schematic. Click on Save Schematic to save it, e.g. as MoveForward.

Move Back Schematic #

This schematic will move the combatant back to the battle spot.

Create a new schematic using the +-button in the upper left corner of the editor.

Settings #

We’ll add an actor to this schematic – actors can be used as game objects in object selections of the schematic or e.g. as speaker of a dialogue.

There is a wide range of different types of actors available, we’ll use the action user’s battle spot.

Actors #

Change Position #

Add Node > Movement > Movement > Change Position

We’ll move to the User Base actor’s position.

Target Position #

Movement Settings #

We’ll move just like in the Move Forward schematic.

And that’s it for the schematic. Click on Save Schematic to save it, e.g. as MoveBack.

Attack Schematic #

Next, we’ll set up the schematic to animate our attacks.

It’ll play the attack animation, spawn a prefab on the target and calculate the damage of the action.

Create a new schematic.

Settings #

We’ll add a prefab for the damage effect – some abilities will override the prefab with a custom one (e.g. poison attack).

Prefabs #

Play Sound #

Add Node > Audio > Audio > Play Sound

Play the Attack organizer type on the user.

Combatant Animation #

Add Node > Animation > Combatant > Combatant Animation

We’ll play the Attack organizer type’s animation.

Spawn Prefab #

Add Node > Game Object > Prefab > Spawn Prefab

We’ll spawn the prefab on the target (Starting Object).

Calculate Action #

Add Node > Battle > Action Outcome > Calculate Action

We now calculate the outcome of the action.

No further settings needed.

Wait #

Add Node > Base > Wait

And now we’ll wait for the stored duration.

This node is connected to the Next slot of the Spawn Prefab node and the Miss slot of the Calculate Action node.

And that’s it for the schematic. Click on Save Schematic to save it, e.g. as Attack.

Default Battle Animations #

Now, we’ll use the move forward/back schematics to set up some default battle animations that’ll be used before and after each ability and item. In case an ability or item shouldn’t use them, they can be disabled for that individual ability/item.

Navigate to Battles > Battle Actions.

Ability Settings #

These settings define default times for abilities and the ability start/end animations.

Ability Start Animation #

These battle animations are used before an ability’s battle animations.

Ability End Animation #

These battle animations are used after an ability’s battle animations.

Item Settings #

These settings define default times for items and the item start/end animations.

Item Start Animation #

Item End Animation #

Abilities #

Next, we’ll update our Attack and Poison Attack abilities to use the Attack schematic.

Navigate to Status > Abilities and select the Attack ability first.

0: Attack #

We’ll just use the Attack schematic as it is, so all we need to do is add a battle animation using it.

Animation Settings #

The Use Start Animation and Use End Animation settings manage if the abiltiy start/end animations are used. They are enabled by default, using the start/end animations.

1: Poison Attack #

The poison attack will override the prefab of the schematic.

This is called asset override and allows to reuse schematics for different use cases, replacing the used assets – e.g. spawning other prefabs, playing other audio assets, etc.

Animation Settings #

Save Changes #

And that’s it!

Save the changes using the Save Settings button at the bottom of the editor.

Testing #

Hit play and start a battle outside of town.

Great, the attacks are now animated!

 

Next, we’ll add the battle HUD to know the state of our player.