player/enemy distance calc

[arfa]

I am trying to get a little AI into the game and figured that the distance of the player from the enemy would naturally affect enemy behaviour.

How to calculate the distance?
I tried setting a counter pythagoras (assuming for now the player is on the left & higher than enemy):
Sqr((X( "PLAYER" )+X( "ENEMY" )) pow 2+(Y( "PLAYER" )+Y( "ENEMY" )) pow 2)

I was quite amazed that I managed to get this written ;o]

In theory the counter should move to '0' the closer it gets to the enemy. It doo noot.

I may well be completely on the wrong track here and any guidance - both on the distance thing and AI/random enemy activity generally - would be appreciated.

thanks - ak

[nivram]

Hi arfa. I have a distance using a counter example on my website. Should be easy to find with the new site map.

Marv

[arfa]

Yeah, pg 9 - Distance Example
Just downloaded and tested - great.
I will now spend a bit of time analysing the Advanced Direction Object which I have not previously used.

There is also "Angle and Distance Example" on pg 13 which uses pythagoras. [I see I got mine wrong - needs to be the higher minus the lower 'X' & 'Y' values squared]

The site map works well.!
So, many thanks nivram.

[nivram]

Great arfa.

Marv

[arfa]

WOW.!
You must be sitting there waiting - ready. cool
Slipped in while I was adding/editing to praise the site map.

a BIG thanks

[arfa]

I tested both examples with no problem.

Here is the Pythagoras code in a single string:
Sqr(((X( "ENEMY" )-X( "PLAYER" )) pow 2) + ((Y( "PLAYER" )-Y( "ENEMY" )) pow 2))

This works fine but it tracks the last-created enemy.
So, how to deal with multiple enemies (copies/duplicates)?

There was some info in the 'Advanced Dir Obj' help...
"loop through the units (or unit turrets if you're using them), and on loop, you get the enemy unit objects with Get Object... and use the position of the friendly unit. Now you can get the first object's (0) distance to see if it's in range"

but I confess it made little sense to me.

Any leads appreciated.
thanks

[RickyRombo]

Use the ForEach object. I'm fairly certain it comes with an example?

You could also have an event:

* Always
- [Unit]: Set alterable value A to distance

* Alterable value A of [Unit] < Range
- Fire

or something

[nivram]

I also have a tower defense example that the guns only fire at the active when it is in range. That may help also.

Marv

[arfa]

Thanks Marv - I already looked at the tower-defense but not with this in mind. I will look again.

I think the ForEach Object will work but I enjoy resolving things from first principles as a way of learning. The maths/logic is not my strongest point so it is good to challenge the greyM atter hatter natter.

I will get to a high speed connection one day and pull down your whole example set. It is very generous of you to make it available - even more so to accurately reference it here. thanks

[nivram]

Ok, just a thought.

Marv