[TUTORIAL]New COG/Locust AI

[quality1000]

This will show you how to have a custom COG or Locust. I think most of you with Gears 2/3 content will need to use this. Here it is:

BEFORE loading your map!

1. open the generic browser and click the 'Actor Classes' Tab.
2. Uncheck the 'Placeable Classes Only' box.
3. Expand the 'Pawn' Category, then the 'GamePawn' one, then the 'WarPawn' one, then the 'Pawn_Infantry' one.

For a new Locust:

1. Right-click one of the category's for the Type of Locust you want and select 'Create New Archtype'.
2. Name it and put it in a package.

For a new COG:

1. Expand the 'Pawn_COGGear' Category and then Right-click one of them for the voice you want and select 'Create New Archtype'.
2. Name it and put it in a package.

Kismet Stuff:

1. Right-click then select the event you want to spawn the new AI.
2. Right-click then select New Action -> Actor -> Actor Factory.
3. In the properties of the Actor Factory there is an ActorFactory field click at the end and a Blue Icon appears and click that and select ActorFactoryAI.
4. Select the AI whose model is being replaced. NOTE: If you are making a new COG then set the AIController to Hoffman and TeamIndex to 0, if not then dont change anything.
5. Next right-click -> New Action -> Actor -> Actor Factory.
6. In the properties of the Actor Factory there is an ActorFactory field click at the end and a Blue Icon appears and click that and select ActorFactoryArchtype.
7. Next click where it says none and click the magnifying glass icon and then it opens the Generic Browser.
8. Find the Archtype you made earlier and right-click -> Copy Reference
9. Back in the Kismet screen on the ActorFactoryArchtype you made, Select all of the word None and press Ctrl+V and press enter.
10. Right-click the spawned connector and select the Make New Variable option.
11. Make a possess pawn action(Location: New Action -> Pawn -> Possess Pawn)
12. Make a player variable.
13. Connect the Possess Pawn's Target Connector to the player variable
14. Connect the Possess Pawn's Pawn Target Connecter to the variable with '???' written in it.
15. Test the map.

[JUGGERNUT]

Ah, so that's what copy reference is all about, usually my editor crashed when I clicked it, hehehe.

[XxXbObXxX]

This tutorial is familiar to something I talked to you about Mr. quality.


Thanks for taking the time for posting this anyhow, maybe someone will use this in the future.

If no editor crash.

[teejg]

works like a charm, thanks for the tut!

I have a little problem though, when editing the HeadSlotMesh, I can set it to either Carmine's helmate from one of Marcus' packages or Redshirts' helmates... but it doesn't work. It never shows up

The character model itself can be replaced with no problem though... is there any way I could apply a helmate to my character w/o making the archetype carmine?

[quality1000]

works like a charm, thanks for the tut!

Thanks for letting me know it works i thought i had missed something out but i didnt

[quality1000]

I have a little problem though, when editing the HeadSlotMesh, I can set it to either Carmine's helmate from one of Marcus' packages or Redshirts' helmates... but it doesn't work. It never shows up

The character model itself can be replaced with no problem though... is there any way I could apply a helmate to my character w/o making the archetype carmine?

you could try a attach to actor action in kismet(New Action -> Actor -> Attach to Actor)

[teejg]

doesn't work... I also tried the Set StaticMesh option

[quality1000]

when you add the helmet in your map make sure it is InterpActor

[teejg]

there we go, it sort of works... the helmate is attached to the actor, but it doesn't actually physically attach to it... it follows me around lol

kind of hard to align it to the head, since my actor spawns from a pathnode and isn't on the map while i'm editing it

oh wow, just got it to align just about right now, but it doesn't move/sway around with the character's head, kind of looks unnatural O__o

[quality1000]

What bone name have you used? Change it to head rather than B_MF_Head

[teejg]

aha! there we go, that's all i was missing, thanks for the help :P

oh wait... is there a way the lighting of the helmate can be dynamic? the helmate looks darker than usual and doesn't adjust to light...

edit: oh, nevermind once more... I had to go to the helmate's properties, and go down to DynamicSMActor and enable LightEnvironmentComponent

[Drone *]

doesn't work... I also tried the Set StaticMesh option

That Headslot thing doesn't function. You have to put two helmets in your map, Make sure you add them as "InterpActors". I will go into more detail later.

[Lambent Veteran]

I've done this in the past, that's how I have Pendulum Wars AI teamates from the UIR, on my team in my level, Pendulum Wars Elite, Cowboy Locust tault me, hehe!

[Lambent Veteran]

Oh yeah, don't attach a COG Gear helmet to Marcus he looks more retarted Minh Kim's bald head.

[teejg]

That Headslot thing doesn't function. You have to put two helmets in your map, Make sure you add them as "InterpActors". I will go into more detail later.

Two? I had one on my map for my character and it works just fine

[quality1000]

Two? I had one on my map for my character and it works just fine

You using it on an AI or the Player?

[teejg]

oh, just the player. i'd imagine if i used AI i would need more helmates, probably

edit: this just happened to me while applying a helmate for Kim... same thing happens with any other character -__-

[quality1000]

thats why you need 2 helmets! There is a tutorial somewhere about attaching a Carmine helmet to the player!

[teejg]

oooh alright... is the tutorial buried somewhere in these forums? :P

edit: found it! http://forums.epicgames.com/showthread.php?t=613768

it works, too! now I just need to get the character to sound like carmine... which is being a real pain atm. I made a new thread explaining the problem but I preferably would want to change the voice/grunting to carmine's in the editor itself