Dynamic interactions

Example of an dynamic interaction. This one is copied from Alyx and allows citizens to kick zombies.

The dynamic_interactions KeyValues block defines when and how to perform a dynamic interaction. For example; when Alyx kicks a zombie. It is embedded in a model with the $keyvalues QC command.

Once a dynamic interaction is defined in a model, the character(s) with this model can have the interaction with any other character that has the same sequence names or activity names. This only has to be defined in one of the two characters(NPCs)'s model participating in the interaction. For example; Alyx has the dynamic interactions defined in her model using this keyvalue, but the zombie model just has matching activity names.

Warning: Most of the "confirms" are there because I just assumed a lot of those descriptions. My assumptions were based on the names, Valve use in models, and the code that they use.

Example

Found in models/Alyx_animations.mdl

Note: This is only one of the interactions and it has been restructured for easier reading!

 $keyvalues 
 { 
 
	dynamic_interactions 
	{

		"alyx_v_zombie_180deg_64" 
		{ 
		"trigger" "auto_in_combat" 
		"origin_relative" "64 0 0" 
		"angles_relative" "0 180 0" 
		"activity" "ACT_DI_ALYX_ZOMBIE_MELEE"
		"delay" "10.0" 
		"needs_weapon" "ME" 
		"weapon_mine" "weapon_alyxgun" 
		}   
 
	}
 }

Options

Note: The "partner" is the character that this character is interacting with.

trigger <choices>

What triggers this interaction... If this isn't defined, the interaction can be trigged via input forceinteractionwithnpc "<targetname> <interaction name>"

auto_in_combat

Automatically in combat.

loop_break_trigger <choices>

Stop looping the action animation if loop_in_action was set. ^[confirm]

on_damage

Break loop on damage.

on_flashlight_illum

Break loop once illuminated by player's flashlight. ^[confirm]

origin_relative <vector>

Desired relative origin of the other NPC

angles_relative <angles>

Desired relative angles of the other NPC

velocity_relative <vector>

Desired relative velocity of the other NPC

entry_sequence <sequence>

What sequence to play for this interaction before the main sequence/activity. ^[confirm]

entry_activity <activity>

What activity to play for this interaction before the main sequence/activity. ^[confirm]

sequence <sequence>

What sequence to play for this interaction.(The "action")

activity <activity>

What activity to play for this interaction.(The "action")

exit_sequence <sequence>

What sequence to play for this interaction after the main sequence/activity. ^[confirm]

exit_activity <activity>

What activity to play for this interaction after the main sequence/activity. ^[confirm]

delay <float>

Delay before interaction can be used again

origin_max_delta <float>

Max distance sqr from the relative origin the NPC is allowed to be to trigger

loop_in_action <float>

Note: While the value is a float, it's used as a bool in code.

Loop in the "action" animation(the "activity" or "sequence" options.). ^[confirm]

dont_teleport_at_end <choices>

Don't teleport/fix up positions at the end

me

Don't teleport/fix up this character's position

them

Don't teleport/fix up this character's partner's position

both

Don't teleport/fix up this character's or his partner's position

needs_weapon <choices>

Needs a weapon to perform this interaction?

ME

Does this character need a weapon?

THEM

Does this character's partner need a weapon?

BOTH

Does both this character and his partner need a weapon?

weapon_mine <classname>

Classname of the weapon I'm holding, if any

weapon_theirs <classname>

Classname of the weapon my interaction partner is holding, if any

Related or Useful Stuff

Animation Events

These are useful animation events for those wanted to create an activity for a dynamic interaction. READ: Animation_Events

Todo:  Move to dedicated page or animation event page?

Example:

{ event AE_NPC_HURT_INTERACTION_PARTNER 28 "THEM 100" }

AE_NPC_HURT_INTERACTION_PARTNER "<choices> <int>"

Hurt either this character or his partner... and how much(the int).

ME

Hurt this character

THEM

Hurt the partner

AE_NPC_SET_INTERACTION_CANTDIE "<bool>"

Set those participating in the interaction to become invincible

Todo:  Which NPC? The partner or this character

AE_NPC_WEAPON_FIRE "<bool>"

Fire this character's weapon. The bool is whether or not you want him to use the weapon's secondary fire.

Console Variable

Example of ai_debug_dyninteractions debugging information during a dynamic interaction.

Example of ai_debug_dyninteractions debugging information when a NPC is checking for the proper conditions to perform a dynamic interaction

ai_debug_dyninteractions "<bool>"

Debug the NPC dynamic interaction system.

Example(information printed in the console when looking):

DYNINT: (al) testing interaction "alyx_v_zombie_180deg_64"
   al is at: 404.55 -67.75 -115.91
   al distsqr: 0.37 (468.17 -60.77 -115.91), desired: (468.24 -61.37 -115.91)
   Idle_Relaxed_Shotgun_2 Speed: 0.00
   al angle matched: (0.00 186.25 0.00), desired (0.00, 185.72, 0.00)

Example(information printed in the console when starting an interaction):

npc_alyx(al) starting dynamic interaction "alyx_v_zombie_180deg_64" with npc_citizen(dude2).
 - Core sequence: alyx_zombie_fight2

See Also

• $keyvalues
• Animation Events
• sequence
• activity
• qc