ideal npc walking code

[nico]

ahm, just wanna ask on how can i make my npc walk around the stage. the animations of walking are all done, i only need a code on how can i implement it. thanks guys.

[Dauntless]

With that little information, no one can give you a good answer.

IF your game is tilebased, you could use my A* implementation:
www.dauntless.be

[nico]

oooppss sory, my game is art based not tile based.

[Dauntless]

Well then it's even harder to give a good answer... You should store some keypoints and make a network. Like: you can get to point A from point B through 'D-E-C-F'. If your map is small, you can hardcode all the routes. If your map is bigger, you will have to make up an algorithm that find the shortest route from point A to B. It's not really that hard... Just store all the connections of a node inside the node and then start looping.

[nico]

the question is HOW???

[InfestedDemon]

exactly. you need to think hard, tile-based would be easier :P

[Nich]

wait, do you want just random npc walking? Or do you want them to go in a specific path?

[nico]

yup, the npc walks only at random.

[Nich]

Ok. Sec, I'll write up a quick random walking code

Edit:
ActionScript Code:

this.onEnterFrame = function(){

dirpicked = false
dir = "right"
dirnum = 0
movedist = 100
speed = 5
totalmove = 0
if(!dirpicked)
{
dirnum = Math.random()*4
if(dirnum < 1)
{
dir = "right"
}
if(dirnum < 2)
{
dir = "left"
}
if(dirnum < 3)
{
dir = "up"
}
if(dirnum <= 4)
{
dir = "down"
}
dirpicked = true
}
if(dirpicked)
{
if(dir == "right")
{
npc._x += speed
totalmove += speed
}
if(dir == "left")
{
npc._x -= speed
totalmove += speed
}
if(dir == "up")
{
npc._y -= speed
totalmove += speed
}
if(dir == "down")
{
npc._y += speed
totalmove += speed
}
if(totalmove >= movedist)
{
totalmove = 0
// at this point you could set a timer so that the character doesn't constantly walk
dirpicked = false
}
}
}




It might need to be adapted, but it's a start

[nico]

i get it. but another question. what if the npc walked through a wall??? how can the npc know that a wall is near so that it will change direction??? thanks for the code!!!:beam:

[Joppe]

like..
if(_root.wall.hitTest(this._x,this._y,true)){
dirpicked = false;
}
maybe..

[nathan99]

Yell ya what, I will right you a better code.. give me a day or so because I have school now;)

[nico]

im looking forward to that nathan. thanks:)