How to Make Your AI Unique - Revision history

Springheel: /* Def_Attaching Prop Items */

2009-08-18T15:56:22Z

Def_Attaching Prop Items

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:56, 18 August 2009
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	Finally, AI can be carrying numerous things on their belt to add a little character. Game objects like weapons, purses, keys, or potions are obvious choices, but other objects like a spoon, a coil of rope, or a workman's hammer can also be used.		Finally, AI can be carrying numerous things on their belt to add a little character. Game objects like weapons, purses, keys, or potions are obvious choices, but other objects like a spoon, a coil of rope, or a workman's hammer can also be used.

	''// ~~this~~ information does not take the new attachment positions into account and needs to be updated''		See [[Attaching Props to AI]] for more information.

			''// the information below does not take the new attachment positions into account and needs to be updated''

	In order to be attached to an AI, an object needs to have an entity definition that sets what 'joint' it should be attached to (head, spine, etc. see next section) and how it should be positioned and rotated relative to that joint. The object will move with the joint it is attached to, so if you attach something to the head joint, it will move whenever the AI moves its head.		In order to be attached to an AI, an object needs to have an entity definition that sets what 'joint' it should be attached to (head, spine, etc. see next section) and how it should be positioned and rotated relative to that joint. The object will move with the joint it is attached to, so if you attach something to the head joint, it will move whenever the AI moves its head.

Springheel: /* Changing Voices */

2009-08-11T14:53:20Z

Changing Voices

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:53, 11 August 2009
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	== Changing Voices ==		== Changing Voices ==

	There are various different voices available and you can choose which one an individual AI uses. ~~Changing the~~ voice ~~used~~ easily make ~~an AI~~ stand out. See [[Voices]] for more information and examples.		There are various different voices available and you can choose which one an individual AI uses. Making an AI use a different voice can easily make him stand out. See [[Voices]] for more information and examples.

	== Def_Attaching Prop Items ==		== Def_Attaching Prop Items ==

Springheel: /* Changing Voices */

2009-08-11T14:53:00Z

Changing Voices

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:53, 11 August 2009
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	== Changing Voices ==		== Changing Voices ==

	There are various different voices available and you can choose which one an individual AI uses. See [[Voices]] for more information and examples.		There are various different voices available and you can choose which one an individual AI uses. Changing the voice used easily make an AI stand out. See [[Voices]] for more information and examples.

	== Def_Attaching Prop Items ==		== Def_Attaching Prop Items ==

Springheel at 14:51, 11 August 2009

2009-08-11T14:51:36Z

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 http://www.mindplaces.com/save/citywatch_heads.jpg
 == Def_Attaching Prop Items ==
 Another way to add more variety to your AI is to attach different objects to them.  With a little creativity, you can get some surprising variation by attaching different models.
 What an AI wears can also be modified by attaching armour pieces, (like pauldrons), belt buckles, brooches and other jewellery.
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 Finally, AI can be carrying numerous things on their belt to add a little character.  Game objects like weapons, purses, keys, or potions are obvious choices, but other objects like a spoon, a coil of rope, or a workman's hammer can also be used.
 In order to be attached to an AI, an object needs to have an entity definition that sets what 'joint' it should be attached to (head, spine, etc. see next section) and how it should be positioned and rotated relative to that joint.  The object will move with the joint it is attached to, so if you attach something to the head joint, it will move whenever the AI moves its head.
@@ Line 43: / Line 44: @@
 Prop objects can be 'tweaked' for each AI (the values that position a key perfectly on the belt of one model may be too low for another) but most are currently only set for a single AI.  See [[Adding Offset Values for Specific AI]] for more info.  This will be improved as time goes on.
 === Attaching 'Alternate Animation' Objects===
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 For example, you could attach an entity that has no visual model, but causes the AI to replace the normal walk animation with a 'limp' animation.  Or you could attach an invisible entity that makes an AI shake his fist whenever he senses someone around (replacing 'alert' animation with 'shaking fist' animation), etc.  Or more simply, you could just choose an alternate walk cycle so two similar AI don't walk identically.
 == Making AI move faster or slower ==
 You can tweak the speed of individual animations that are played by an AI; for example, to subtly increase or decrease a particular AI's walk speed, or their attack speed, or the speed at which they turn their head when looking around. See [[Animation playback speed|changing the animation playback speed]] for details.
 Extra note: To make an AI ''run'' on patrol add the property/value : run 1 to a path_corner on the AI's patrol and the AI will run to it (then resume walking after it if the next path_corner does not have that property set.)
 == Conclusion ==

Springheel: /* Attaching A Different Head */

2009-08-11T14:47:06Z

Attaching A Different Head

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:47, 11 August 2009
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	== Attaching A Different Head ==		== Attaching A Different Head ==
	Another option is choosing a different head. ~~Most human AI have at least six alternate~~ heads to choose from. See [[~~Swapping~~ Heads on AI ~~Models~~]] for ~~instructions about how to do this~~.		Another option is choosing a different head. There are well over fifty heads (as of the release of 1.0) to choose from. See [[Heads Available for AI]] for more details and for images of all available heads.

	http://www.mindplaces.com/save/citywatch_heads.jpg		http://www.mindplaces.com/save/citywatch_heads.jpg

	Not every head looks good on every body. Some heads are too large or too small, or have necks that don't match up very well. Even on good heads, the necks can clip into the body in a somewhat displeasing way sometimes. Unfortunately we can't do much about that. Luckily it's usually only a problem when the AI looks up or turns in an odd way.

	Be aware that not all heads have the same animations. The default D3 heads don't have lipsynching and don't close their eyes when they're KO'd, for example. So if you're choosing a head for an AI that is an important NPC or has a scripted conversation, you may want to avoid those heads. Also, some heads come with headgear permanently attached, so be aware--you wouldn't want a townsfolk walking around with a city watch helmet on.

	== Def_Attaching Prop Items ==		== Def_Attaching Prop Items ==

Springheel: /* Attaching A Different Head */

2009-08-11T14:45:21Z

Attaching A Different Head

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:45, 11 August 2009
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	Another option is choosing a different head. Most human AI have at least six alternate heads to choose from. See [[Swapping Heads on AI Models]] for instructions about how to do this.		Another option is choosing a different head. Most human AI have at least six alternate heads to choose from. See [[Swapping Heads on AI Models]] for instructions about how to do this.

	http://www.mindplaces.com/save/~~heads5~~.jpg		http://www.mindplaces.com/save/citywatch_heads.jpg

	Not every head looks good on every body. Some heads are too large or too small, or have necks that don't match up very well. Even on good heads, the necks can clip into the body in a somewhat displeasing way sometimes. Unfortunately we can't do much about that. Luckily it's usually only a problem when the AI looks up or turns in an odd way.		Not every head looks good on every body. Some heads are too large or too small, or have necks that don't match up very well. Even on good heads, the necks can clip into the body in a somewhat displeasing way sometimes. Unfortunately we can't do much about that. Luckily it's usually only a problem when the AI looks up or turns in an odd way.

Springheel: /* Skins */

2009-08-11T14:43:19Z

Skins

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:43, 11 August 2009
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	1. First, type a dummy spawnarg into the AI entity window: "skin" "x" (it doesn't matter what the second variable is. "x" will do.		1. First, type a dummy spawnarg into the AI entity window: "skin" "x" (it doesn't matter what the second variable is. "x" will do.

	2. Then click on the "skin" line in the list of properties.		2. Then click on the "skin" line in the list of properties.

	3. A "choose skin" button will appear. Click it.		3. A "choose skin" button will appear. Click it.

	4. A new window will open. Select "Matching Skins" and then choose the skin you want. You can preview it in the right hand window. If there is no "Matching Skins" option, then the AI does not have skins available (most AI do).		4. A new window will open. Select "Matching Skins" and then choose the skin you want. You can preview it in the right hand window. If there is no "Matching Skins" option, then the AI does not have skins available (most AI do).

Springheel: /* Skins */

2009-08-11T14:42:42Z

Skins

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:42, 11 August 2009
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	http://www.mindplaces.com/save/~~proguardskin~~.jpg		http://www.mindplaces.com/save/generic_guard01.jpg

	It's very easy to swap skins in Dark Radiant.		It's very easy to swap skins in Dark Radiant.

Springheel: /* Skins */

2009-08-11T14:39:51Z

Skins

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:39, 11 August 2009
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	http://www.mindplaces.com/save/proguardskin.jpg		http://www.mindplaces.com/save/proguardskin.jpg

	~~At the moment, not very many of The Dark Mod~~'s ~~AI actually have alternate skins~~ to ~~choose from, but things will improve slowly.~~		It's very easy to swap skins in Dark Radiant.
	~~See [[AI Skins--List of Available Choices]] to see what~~ skins ~~exist for various AI models~~.

			1. First, type a dummy spawnarg into the AI entity window: "skin" "x" (it doesn't matter what the second variable is. "x" will do.
	~~To use~~ a ~~different skin, you need to add~~ the ~~key/var~~ "skin" "~~[skin name]~~" to the ~~AI in the entity window~~. ~~You can browse for skins in D3ed, but existing skins will not show up in the~~ "~~Matching Model~~" ~~section, so you would have to scroll through the existing skins to find them (they should be under "characters") ''(look this up)''~~.		2. Then click on the "skin" line in the list of properties.
			3. A "choose skin" button will appear. Click it.
	~~=== Adding AI Skins in Dark Radiant ===~~		4. A new window will open. Select "Matching Skins" and then choose the skin you want. You can preview it in the right hand window. If there is no "Matching Skins" option, then the AI does not have skins available (most AI do).

	~~In Dark Radiant these character skins are very difficult to find at present~~...

	* To the ~~AI entity add a spawnarg named~~ skin ~~with any temporary value eg, x and click~~ the ~~check button~~.
	* Select the skin ~~spawnarg and a~~ button ~~should~~ appear ~~at the bottom of the entity inspector called skins, click~~ it.
	* The list is mostly out of order so there is a large number of skins out of order mixed with folders out of order.
	* Open All skins and ~~you should~~ then ~~see~~ the ~~list but do NOT then open the skins folder near the top because inside it is a characters folder that is NOT the one~~ you want!
	* Instead, keep the skins folder closed and scroll down about half way in the ~~'all skins'; you are looking for another characters folder, not the one in the skins folder~~.
	* The characters folder you want is (at the time I am looking) between the lights folder and the gen folder (plus there is ~~a host of unordered skins not in any subfolder just there.~~
	* If you can find that characters folder then the ~~tdm ones are inside.~~
	* Select one that is under your particular AI.

	~~Alternatively, instead of using the skin selector in Dark Radiant you can...~~

	* use Windows Explorer or your favourite file manager to look in dark mod's skins ~~folder and open the file characters.skin in any plain text editor or viewer. ''~~(~~or just look on the page [[~~AI ~~Skins--List of Available Choices]] for the name of the skin~~)''
	* Search down for your AI, eg, // Townsfolk skins then below that are the definitions that should fit.
	* Copy and paste the whole definition path after the keyword skin, eg, characters/townsfolk/townsfolk_male1/green_tunic
	* In Dark Radiant, to the AI entity add a spawnarg named skin
	* Paste in the skin definition you copied from the skin file
	* Click the check button.

	== Attaching A Different Head ==		== Attaching A Different Head ==

Fidcal: /* Making AI move faster or slower */

2009-07-26T14:43:01Z

Making AI move faster or slower

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:43, 26 July 2009
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	Extra note: To make an AI ''run'' on patrol add the property/value : run 1 to a path_corner on the AI's patrol and the AI will run to it (then resume walking after it if the next path_corner does not have that property set.)		Extra note: To make an AI ''run'' on patrol add the property/value : run 1 to a path_corner on the AI's patrol and the AI will run to it (then resume walking after it if the next path_corner does not have that property set.)


			== Changing Voices ==

			There are various voices available for different AI types and you can set these on individual AI, see [[Voices]]

	== Conclusion ==		== Conclusion ==