News | Forum | People | FAQ | Links | Search | Register | Log in
Coding Help
This is a counterpart to the "Mapping Help" thread. If you need help with QuakeC coding, or questions about how to do some engine modification, this is the place for you! We've got a few coders here on the forum and hopefully someone knows the answer.
First | Previous | Next | Last
Resources 
The short version:
https://quakewiki.org/wiki/Compiling_QuakeC
The slightly longer version with an example to try out and check you got it working:
https://www.quaddicted.com/webarchive/minion.planetquake.gamespy.com/tutorial/tutor7.htm

The two differ in which compiler they recommend. I agree with the recommendation in at the first link, FTEQCC is the better of the options. 
I'm So Confused With The Monster Team/faction Code 
this is what I have/did - in monsters.qc (and does this also solve infighting?)


void() AssignFaction =
{
if (self.classname == "monster_ogre" || self.classname == "monster_fiend") {
self.faction = "Goliath";
} else if (self.classname == "monster_knight" || self.classname == "monster_dog" || self.classname == "monster_hell_knight") {
self.faction = "Juggernaut";
} else if (self.classname == "monster_shambler" || self.classname == "monster_wizard" || self.classname == "monster_zombie") {
self.faction = "Atlantean";
} else if (self.classname == "monster_enforcer" || self.classname == "monster_soldier1") {
self.faction = "Goliath"; // Adding Enforcer and Soldier to Goliath
} else if (self.classname == "monster_demon1" || self.classname == "monster_scrag") {
self.faction = "Juggernaut"; // Adding Demon1 and Scrag to Juggernaut
} else if (self.classname == "monster_tarbaby" || self.classname == "monster_shalrath2") {
self.faction = "Atlantean";
}
// If a monster isn't listed, it won't have a faction.

// Default faction if none assigned above (optional)
if (self.faction == "")
self.faction = "Neutral"; // Or choose a default team
};

void () monster_use =
{
// ... (Existing code for health and target checks)

// Team Check
if (activator.classname != "player" && activator.faction != self.faction && activator.faction != "Neutral" && self.faction != "Neutral")
{
self.enemy = activator;
self.nextthink = time + 0.1;
self.think = FoundTarget; // Make sure FoundTarget is defined
return;
}

// ... (Existing code for player attack)
}; 
Also How Does Dynamic Light Work? 
I can't find how the rocket emits light?

(trying to use as a reference to see how to attach dynamic light to objects using qc)

but there's no reference to any "light" in weapons.qc? 
@ranger 
That one is actually hard-coded in the engine, any model file with EF_ROCKET flag will get a rocket smoke trail and have a dynamic light attached to it. The flag can be set in model editors like qME.

But a glow can also be added in QC, for example enforcer lasers are implemented that way. Check out LaunchLaser in enforcer.qc for an example. 
@metlslime 
seems I cannot find the setting in qc for the weapons/r_exp3.wav?

there's only a BecomeExplosion, but I don't see any sound attached..... 
@ranger 
weapons/r_exp3.wav seems to be directly called by some explosions in QC. But for rockets, it's hard-coded in the engine as part of TE_EXPLOSION 
@metlslime 
oh so cannot adjust attn for explosion sound?

wanted explosion sound range to go further 
Dynamically Spawn/replace Items? 
I saw some mods do this IIRC but it seems complex because quake has a "compiler order" it seems?

I can't have health kits spawn nearby enemies because it would say monster_zombie() is unknown but i cann't move monster_zombie.qc higher up in the "compiler order" because it then has multiple errors?

basically I want the game to have a chance of dynamically spawning nearby zombies at health kits - and it should by realtime/so works with any map 
Forward Declaration 
What you need is a forward declaration of void monster_zombie().

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forward_declaration

Then you can keep zombie.qc lower in the compiler order and use it with healthkits.

For your explosion, you could maybe opt into the mission pack features and use TE_EXPLOSION2 which I think is silent so you can pair it with your own sound. Otherwise there's a hack posted by a scoundrel called Preach in the previous pages of this thread
https://www.celephais.net/board/view_thread.php?id=60097&start=1911&end=1935 
@Preach 
is TE_EXPLOSION2 and such values, hardcoded?

got it, I see "Burst Of Particles"

is there a code number guide for palette colors? or I gotta count them manually?

--
also something is up with ATTN_STATIC and such for sounds? I tried setting the attn value for a sound to like 5 or 10 but seems no effect? the sound seems to still travel very far? but if i set it to ATTN_STATIC the range is reduced 
Also This Is A Persistant Bug I'm Getting 
(trying to spawn new items/models dynamically in maps)

host error

pf precache can only be done in spawn functions? 
Palette And More 
https://quakewiki.org/wiki/Quake_palette

Attenuation values wrap around when you hit the limit, so 1 = 5 = 9 etc. Don’t go above 4.

You can only precache at the first frame. You might need to rewrite the spawn function as multiple functions. One function to just precache things, one to actually create the entity without precache. The latter can be run at any time. But you must run the precache function on the initial frame somehow any time you might run the spawn function. 
About Factions Revisted 
my quakec code not working? seems no effect ingame - all monsters still are all teams with each other against the player. (I even added AssignFaction() to every monster and confirmed the monsters are on the correct teams ingame)


in monsters.qc

void () monster_use =
{
if (self.enemy)
return;
if (self.health <= 0)
return;
if (activator.flags & FL_NOTARGET)
return;
//if (activator.classname != "player")
// return;

if (activator.classname != "player" &&
activator.faction != self.faction &&
activator.faction != FACTION_NEUTRAL &&
self.faction != FACTION_NEUTRAL)
{
self.enemy = activator;
self.nextthink = time + 0.1;
self.think = FoundTarget;
return;
}

self.enemy = activator;
self.nextthink = time + 0.1;
self.think = FoundTarget;

};

void() AssignFaction =
{
if (self.classname == "monster_shambler" )
{
self.faction = FACTION_A; //1

}
else if (self.classname == "monster_army" )
{
self.faction = FACTION_B; //2

}
else if (self.classname == "monster_tarbaby")
{
self.faction = FACTION_C; //3

}
else if (self.classname == "monster_dragon")
{
self.faction = FACTION_D; //4

}

// Default faction if none assigned above
if (!self.faction)
self.faction = FACTION_NEUTRAL; //0
}


in ai.qc

float(entity targ) MonsterCheckEnemy =
{
// Invalid or dead targets
if (!targ || targ.health <= 0)
return FALSE;

// Always target players
if (targ.classname == "player")
return TRUE;

// Don't target same faction
if (targ.faction == self.faction)
return FALSE;

// Neutral faction doesn't fight anyone except players
if (targ.faction == FACTION_NEUTRAL || self.faction == FACTION_NEUTRAL)
return FALSE;

// Different factions will fight
return TRUE;
};


float () FindTarget =
{
local entity client;
local float r;

if ((sight_entity_time >= (time - 0.10)) && !(self.spawnflags & 3))
{
client = sight_entity;
if (client.enemy == self.enemy)
return (FALSE);
}
else
{
if ((active_probes != FALSE) && (random () < 0.50))
{
beef = find (world, classname, "hologram");
if ((beef != world) && (beef.holo_owner.flags != (beef.holo_owner.flags | FL_NOTARGET)))
client = beef;
else
client = checkclient ();
}
else
client = checkclient ();
if (!client)
return (FALSE);
}
if (client == self.enemy)
return (FALSE);
if (client.flags & FL_NOTARGET)
return (FALSE);

// Add faction check
//if (client.faction == self.faction || client.faction == FACTION_NEUTRAL || self.faction == FACTION_NEUTRAL)
// return (FALSE);
if (!MonsterCheckEnemy(client))
return FALSE;

r = range (client);
if ((r == RANGE_FAR)) //out of range
return (FALSE);
if (!visible (client))
return (FALSE);
if (r == RANGE_NEAR)
{
if ((client.show_hostile < time) && !infront (client))
return (FALSE);
}
else if (r == RANGE_MID) //combat range max
{
if (!infront (client))
return (FALSE);
}
self.enemy = client;
if ((self.enemy.classname != "player") && (self.enemy.classname != "hologram"))
{
self.enemy = self.enemy.enemy;
if (self.enemy.classname != "player")
{
self.enemy = world;
return (FALSE);
}
}
FoundTarget ();
return (TRUE);
}; 
 
To clarify all that code doesn't seem to work...

ingame monsters on the same side will infight if accidentally hit by teammates,
and will not automatically attack other monsters in other factions 
Application 
Your MonsterCheckEnemy needs to be running in T_Damage to have an effect on infighting. And there’s nothing in your FindTarget that ever makes “client” a monster, because checkclient only yields players. So there’s no chance of fighting breaking out spontaneously. 
@Preach 
"Your MonsterCheckEnemy needs to be running in T_Damage to have an effect on infighting. "

"And there’s nothing in your FindTarget that ever makes “client” a monster, because checkclient only yields players. So there’s no chance of fighting breaking out spontaneously. "

Can you explain these 2 points in more detail? or provide code snippets? I'm still new to this 
T_Damage 
nvm I got the prevent faction infighting in - based on the area that you mentioned before in combat.qc/T_Damage 
FindTarget 
I tried adding this , and different monsters in different factions do fight, but strangely only when they first took damage from the player

//>>> If no player found, look for monsters
if (!client)
{
//client = find(world, flags, FL_MONSTER);
client = find(world, classname, "monster_*");
while (client)
{
if (client != self && MonsterCheckEnemy(client))
{
r = range(client);
if (r != RANGE_FAR && visible(client) &&
(r == RANGE_NEAR || infront(client)))
{
break;
}
}
//client = find(client, flags, FL_MONSTER);
client = find(world, classname, "monster_*");
}
No Wildcards 
I had to wait for a chance to research this. Can now confirm that “find” does NOT support wildcards, so your code is still not ever finding monsters. Unsure how you are ever getting spontaneous fights but it isn’t via the planned route. Here’s a function that will help, it’s a hand-rolled search for a flag that fits your commented out line of code.

entity (entity start) findNextMonster = {
local entity e;
e = start;
while ( (e = nextent(e)) ) {
if( e.flags & FL_MONSTER) {
return e;
}
return world;
}
}

It might be better to build a bit more structure around it if you want something akin to checkclient, like a global that stores the candidate monster, which is rotated once a frame in StartFrame(). And don’t forget that checkclient does a visibility check which is up to you to handle on the monster side. 
Thanks! It Is Working Now! 
But sadly i'm getting a very bizarre unrelated bug?

Host_Error:PR_ExecuteProgram: Null Function

I even restored the original unedited monster code and it's still having the error? 
Nvm I Figured It Out It Was An Properly Coded Animation 
 
Regarding Monster AI 
I was wondering how to improve it?

like even simple pathfinding? (funnily enough the Vore bomb has better cornering than the actual vore/monsters)

or being able to go up and down reasonable heights?

and how to change the angle before the monster can shoot? because seems grunt can shoot the player before his barrel is even pointed straight at the player?

and how to change the max & min "tilt" angles for monsters? because want some monsters to not be able to shoot at enemies at are at too steep angles



(this is what i have so far but honestly i don't really know what i am doing - very new at this)
---
float CheckMonsterJump(entity self)
{
vector start, end;

// Check ground below
start = self.origin;
end = start;
end_z = end_z - 64; // Adjust drop height check

traceline(start, end, TRUE, self);

if (trace_fraction == 1)
return FALSE; // Too high to drop

if (trace_fraction < 1)
{
// Safe to drop - within acceptable height
if ((start_z - trace_endpos_z) <= 64)
{
self.flags = self.flags - (self.flags & FL_ONGROUND);
self.velocity_z = -300; // Adjust drop speed
return TRUE;
}
}

// Check for jumpable height
start = self.origin;
end = start;
end_z = end_z + 32; // Jump check height

traceline(start, end, TRUE, self);

if (trace_fraction == 1)
{
self.velocity_z = 300; // Jump velocity
return TRUE;
}

return FALSE;
}

float TryAlternativePath(entity self)
{
vector dir, right, left, start, end;
float right_clear, left_clear;

// Get perpendicular directions
dir = normalize(self.enemy.origin - self.origin);
right = '0 0 0';
right_x = dir_y;
right_y = -dir_x;
left = -right;

// Check right path
start = self.origin;
end = start + (right * 128); // Adjust side check distance
traceline(start, end, TRUE, self);
right_clear = trace_fraction;

// Check left path
end = start + (left * 128);
traceline(start, end, TRUE, self);
left_clear = trace_fraction;

if (right_clear > left_clear)
{
self.ideal_yaw = vectoyaw(right);
return TRUE;
}
else if (left_clear > right_clear)
{
self.ideal_yaw = vectoyaw(left);
return TRUE;
}

return FALSE;
AI Tutorials 
The gold standard for quake AI tutorials are found at the “AI cafe”.

https://web.archive.org/web/20080603081043/http://minion.planetquake.gamespy.com:80/tutorial/main.htm

There are several tutorials about navigation. But bear in mind there’s no magic wand to switch perfect navigation on. Most modern games get better navigation by tagging their levels with lots of metadata. In Quake levels that don’t have any, you’ll never get the same results.

Also tutorials there about aiming. But bear in mind that the current aiming for grunts is
1 aim exactly at the player
2 “correct” the aim to slightly behind where they are now

The point I’m circling is that fun AI needs to be imperfect. Making them shoot the way they are facing is a simple change. The hard part is making them rotate in such a way that they are still fun to fight when they fire straight. 
Example Of Grunt's Aiming Leeway 
https://imgur.com/a/DMMkpxO

if you sneakup behind grunt and he shoots, seems there's a 60d arc where it's considered "pointing the gun at you"

This also applies to enforcers and such

trying to reduce this to 5d or less 
^It's FacingIdeal In AI.qc 
delta 
First | Previous | Next | Last
You must be logged in to post in this thread.
Website copyright © 2002-2024 John Fitzgibbons. All posts are copyright their respective authors.