*Note: I created the most of the tutorials using the Roboblitz and Gears of War editors. Based on the engine, and the version, some properties specified may be in slightly different locations than what is displayed in the screenshots.

If you need to learn how to create a basic map I would reccomend:
For UT99, UT2K3 & UT2K4: the Unreal Wiki.
For UT3: Waylon's Tutorials.



Interactive Events - Take Damage

I have set up a simple test map consisting of a slab of BSP, a skylight, a playerstart, a skydome, and a directional light.

I will only be using default editor assets which can be found in the EditorMeshes and EditorMaterials packages.

I added the default mesh cube as a static mesh to the map. Now, in offline, single-player, mode, I have noticed that static meshes can take damage and fire take damage events. However, I have a suspicion that this will not work as well in mulitplayer online - I think the mesh would need to be an interpactor instead. This does also work with physics/KActors, but I would image there might be netowkring problems with these online. Or maybe not - I don't know. For now, I will convert the StaticMesh to an Interpactor and continue from there...

SetUp: Select the Interpactor/Mover in a viewport, and open Kismet. Right-Click anywhere and select 'New Event Using InterpActor -> Take Damage, as in the screenshot below:




Now we have our take damage event that will fire when the interpactor receives damage. Let's look at some of the properties...




• bEnabled allows you to control if the event is active by default, or turned on later using a toggle.

• bPlayerOnly will control if damage is recorded if the damage originates only from the player, or from anyone/thing in the level, for example bots/NPCs.

• Damage Threshold is the total amount of damage the actor can receive before the event will fire off. The node labeled 'Damage Taken' on the bottom of the Kismet Entity (I think) overrides this value and can therefore be set 'on the fly' via set variable commands.

• DamageTypes are the specific types of damage the asset will register as damage. For example, if you want the damage to only register from explosions, but not small arms fire, you would specify the explosive weaponry here - of course these will vary from engine to engine. Click on the grey area, and then on the green button to add a line. Then you'll be able to designate the damage type. Likewise, clicking the double-brackets will delete the lines and clear the field again.

• IgnoreDamageTypes is pretty much the opposite of DamageTypes. This is where you can designate damage that you want the asset to ignore - like in the previous example, small arms fire types would be added here.

• MaxTriggerCount controls the maximum amount of times the event is allowed to fire.

• MinDamageAmount is the minimum amount of damage the asset is allowed to register.

Uses: There could be many uses for the 'take damage' event. For example, as an objective door, you could designate it to take X amount of damage before it is destroyed, thus allowing the player into the next area. Or, in a multiplayer map, you could set a door to open when it takes damage - thus allowing the player to open the door before reaching a trigger, or a button. Or you could set up a button that activates an mover to also activate the mover when the button is shot - not just pressed. There are many uses for this.