[Solved] NPC doesn't inflict damage on attacks (npc_antlion)

[Botolf]

So I've been poking around with this swarm-sdk-template project, with npc_antlion grafted into the mix as a proof-of-concept (on source 2007 atm but eyeing perf improvements, as well as stuff like biohazard's deferred lighting) unit. I've seemingly gotten the important stuff working (model, materials, sounds, hates player, runs around, attacks me) except in two respects:

• Attacks inflict no damage whatsoever, and the associated view punch is also missing. My first guess is that the code is directing those effects at the wrong given player entity (I lifted it wholesale from HL2 2007), though also possible is that somewhere along the line I messed up animation events or something (though the attack anims play just fine). Also possible I suppose is that the damage/viewpunch aren't being felt at the client level? Could use some suggestions as to adjustments.
• Doesn't appear to use the navigation meshes (unsure if this is simply the NPC needing to be set up for use of such [being that it originally used a node graph in the hl2 games], or the nav mesh needing special flags for such)

Naturally the first problem is far more game-breaking at this point, but the second is also something I'd like to address one way or another down the line.

[TechieUK]

Maybe add it to skill.cfg?

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//Antlion
sk_antlion_health         "30"
sk_antlion_swipe_damage      "5"
sk_antlion_jump_damage      "5"

[Botolf]

One of the lower hanging fruits already plucked, m'fraid. No damage with skill.cfg inactive or active (no damage with the values hardcoded as well).

[TechieUK]

Hmm... Can you make two of your antlions hate each other and see if they can kill each other?

[Botolf]

Good idea. I have taught them how to hate, but they can't kill each other. Definitely seems like something I bungled on the animation or client/server end.

[Botolf]

Making some progress with the debugger, turning up some interesting spew in the console:

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Unhandled animation event AE_ANTLION_START_JUMP for npc_antlion

With variants for each and every one of the Antlion's animation events (perhaps a problem with the model?).

[[Steve]]

works okay for me, possibly your skill cfg isn't loading correctly try setting the skill values in game using their corresponding convars.
Also what do you mean about using nav meshes? the antlion uses the node based navigation system.

[Botolf]

Same problem with the newest SFM models, confirmed via the debugger that CNPC_Antlion::MeleeAttack fails to meet its conditions, specifically at:

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if ( pHurt )

The definition for that check being

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CBaseEntity *pHurt = CheckTraceHullAttack( distance, -Vector(16,16,32), Vector(16,16,32), damage, DMG_SLASH, 5.0f );

Kinda just going through an en masse include frenzy now to make sure I've left no unturned stones.


As to the second point, I thought that swarm NPCs used nav meshes, but I guess I'm mistaken.

[Botolf]

Solved! I stupidly inflicted this on myself by initially being hasty and trying to recreate the old animation event system ( animevent_t event ), instead of moving the antlion over to the newer event system employed in Alien Swarm ( animevent_t Event() ). The Antlion's animation events are no longer unhandled and it inflicts damage as it should.