Development Update
Added 2022-10-21 11:47:11 +0000 UTC
I apologies for the absence of updates; I've been working on a problem in UE5 that has necessitated a complete redesign of the AI and NPC systems; this system is currently very near to "completion," and I plan to have the next update ready by the end of the month.
A lot of sleepless hours and late nights went into the redesign because there appears to be no solution to this particular fault in Unreal Engine, which has supposedly been with the engine since version 4.18 and still troubles certain AAA games today. Unfortunately, this is sometimes how development goes and solutions must be found.
I'm pleased to report that, although not flawless, the current state of the AI provides a good foundation upon which to grow and iterate on some complexities.
Here are the highlights; keep in mind that this update includes more than simply AI and NPCs; more on that later.
· NPCs follow a daily schedule.
· Have a bed to sleep in, food to eat, and tasks to perform.
· Can communicate with each other, and the player.
· Can “speak out loud”.
· Follows a faction and helps other faction members.
· Can respond to you committing “crimes” against their faction
· Depending on their characteristics, they will attack enemies or flee and hide.
· If an NPC does not have a weapon, they will look for one nearby.
· NPCs spawn appropriate loot.
· NPS have aggressive, confident, assistive, and moral stats and behave appropriately.
I wish you a happy and safe weekend!
Stark
