Difference between revisions of "Basic NPC Creation Tutorial"

This tutorial will cover the basics of creating a new [[NPC]] combatant and placing it in a dungeon.  The following subjects will be covered.

This tutorial will not delve into [[dialogue]] or [[quest]] creation.  Let's begin.

It's often useful to use existing NPCs as templates when creating new ones.  For this example, let's look in our [[Object Window]] under NPCs and select '''"BanditBossFemale1"'''.  Double click the entry to open her properties tab.

'''Important:''' Before doing anything, change her ID to something unique.  This way we avoid accidentally saving our changes to the existing NPC.  When you hit 'OK' after changing the ID, you'll be prompted to either rename the existing object or create a new one. Select 'Yes' to create a new Form. If you select 'No' at this prompt, you will overwrite the existing NPC, rather than create your own unique version - meaning all the changes you apply here will be applied to the original, in-game NPC.

*'''Script''' Scripts can be attached to NPCs here.  Leave it blank for this one.

*'''Essential''' Used for special NPCs and usually controlled via script.  Essential NPCs cannot be killed and are only knocked unconscious.

You may notice that the values in the [[Stats Tab - NPC|Stats Tab]] are locked.  (except for personality)  This is because we have "''PC Level Offset''" checked.

The [[Factions Tab]] is also important.  We'll leave the "''BanditFaction"'' in here, but if we needed to add any, we could do so from Character>Factions... in the toolbar.  Then drag the faction from the list on the left into the list of factions for the NPC.  Additionally, you may set the faction rank simply by clicking once on the faction rank number in the NPC window, and typing in a new value.

[[Image:tut3_img2.jpg|border|center|Basic Facial Editing]]

 

 

Click the [[Face Tab]].  This tab gives us some basic controls in the form of age, complexion, and hair sliders.  Additionally we can change hair style, color, generate random facial features, and change eye color.   

Usually it's enough to randomly generate a unique face and move on, especially for combatants like this boss NPC.  For more delicate tuning, however, we can select the [[Face Advanced Tab]].

This tab opens myriad options and is even more robust than the in-game facial editing features.  We'll go over the basics here, but you'll learn the most by experimenting with the options available on your own.

*'''Mouse Editing'''  You can use the right mouse button in the render window to make manual adjustments to the facial geometry.

Open the [[Inventory Tab]].  You can do this by using the small left/right arrow icons.  You'll notice a lot of items beginning with ''LL'' in this list.  This is the standard prefix for [[Leveled_Item|Leveled lists]] used when we created the game.  Since we used a template NPC we don't need to add anything to this - her inventory contains all the equipment she needs to provide the player with a challenging battle and rewarding spoils.  However; if you wanted this NPC to carry a special item (notes and keys are especially good examples), you would drag the item into this list from the [[Object Window]].

Next, open the [[Spell_List_Tab|SpellList tab]].  This list is empty, but let's give this boss some basic alteration ability, since she's got a little skill in that school of magic (I determined this from the stats tab).

 

Finally, we want to give this NPC a little more than the standard behavior.  Press the [[AI Button]] to open the AI window.

We can leave the default AI Attributes from the original NPC we opened.  [[Aggression]] and [[confidence]] of 100 mean she will engage any enemy and never run away.  You can play with these values to get different behavior, such as lowering confidence to give the NPC a tendency to flee from battle.  Energy level and [[Responsibility]] tie into some other AI behaviors and can be left alone for this NPC.

 

Notice '''aaaCreatureInterior512''' and '''aaaCreatureExterior1500''' [[package]]s already in the package list.  '''aaa''' is a naming convention prefix we use to indicate basic packages which can be used on any NPC or creature.  We'll leave these two in, which will just allow the NPC to wander around and interact with the environment if no other packages are chosen.

 

 

Now you're ready to drag the NPC into her chamber in CreepyCave02 (or any place you prefer).  It's a good idea to keep her near the bed for her sleep package, and you may want to put extra food in the room for her.

 

 

<blockquote>You can also add food to her inventory and set the quantity to -1, meaning she'll never run out of food.  This is helpful when NPCs searching for food in the environment begin to cause bad behavior.</blockquote>