WiseNPC03: NPC Act busy with Sequence

This tutorial was originally created by wisemx. It was originally posted on SDKnuts.net.

In this tutorial we are going to transition from a scripted_sequence directly into an ai_goal_actbusy. This project is an extension of WiseNPC01. I started with that vmf and added the ai_goal_actbusy, which will cause Alyx to kneel down. I used info_node entities in this one rather than the more advanced info_node_hint entities so the one info_node_hint in this tutorial will stand out. Both of these are nodes for ground based NPC’s and serve the same basic purpose however info_node_hint has many more features.

There are two series of sequences going on in this project:

1. A sound is heard, Alyx runs across the screen, walks back then kneels down in front of a grave.
2. A Nova Prospect soldier is pacing back-and-forth behind the grave.

I added an ai_relationship so Alyx and the Combine Soldier won’t fight.

• Subject: combine01 (Name of the Combine Soldier)
• Target: walking (Name of Alyx in this project)
• Disposition: Neutral
• Disposition Priority: 100
• Start Active: Yes
• Reciprocal: Yes

So we can get Alyx to kneel an ai_goal_actbusy entity was added.

• Name: actbusy
• Actor to affect: walking
• Start Active: Yes
• Search Type: Entity Name
• Search range: 1200
• Visible Busy Hints Only: No

One info_node_hint was placed under the last scripted_sequence.

• Name: kneelhint
• Hint: World: Act Busy Hint
• Hint Activity: D1_C01a_Mary_kneel
• Node FOV: 360 Degrees
• Start Hint Disabled: No
• Ignore Facing: Yes

When Alyx gets to the last scripted_sequence this Output is fired:

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnEndSequence	actbusy	ForceThisNPCToActBusy	walking	0.00	No

The npc_combine_s pacing back-and-forth is done with two scripted_sequences. These Flags are checked on each of them: Repeatable, No Interruptions, Override AI.

The Target NPC for each of these is our npc_combine_s combine01.

Move to Position is Walk for both.

These are the two Outputs that make it work:

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnEndSequence	combiness02	BeginSequence		0.00	No
	OnEndSequence	combiness01	BeginSequence		0.00	No

On map spawn our logic_auto adds this Output to start the Soldier pacing:

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnMapSpawn	combiness01	BeginSequence		0.00	No

This project was simple to create but has a lot going on now. Compile it and have a look.

See also

• Example VMF
• Example VMF backup