Scan Ability

[nerussentia]

Sorry I didn't post this in the last thread, but how do I make a scanner ability that will let the player view enemy information during battle?

[gangstahfolife]

Hmm...very interesting idea. I would love to use that in my game if you would let me...problem is I have no clue how to pursue it.

Sorry I couldn't help you!

[Dungeon Warden]

You just need to create an ability that loads an enemies stats and displays it on the screen.

Copy one of the abilities that targets an enemy but doesn't do damage (like Attack Down) and replace the target effect with a new system event script.

There is a variable that holds the target's database number so use this to load the enemies info. Check out my FAQ for a list of variables and what info they contain. I'll post more once I test it out if you don't know what I mean.

[KuroShinnen]

Yeah, This doesn't sound like it would be too hard to make. I need to test this out and try to make a scan ability. I'll tell you how to do this if I find out, but I can't right now... I'm busy.

[Deleted]

Okay, since three people said they're interested, I'll write down my scripts/events/direct effect/ability for a Scan ability and post them here and in the common script database topic. I've already made it, understand it, and it works perfectly; but I don't remember it line for line.

[Deleted]

Scan Ability: (an ability that when used displays information about the targeted enemy)

Example:

member 1 uses Scan on 'Soldier'
message displays a brief description of the 'Soldier' enemy and/or his stats.

Step #1. Make a Content script like so:

'View Info' Script_
Text: Clear Message (to remove the 'Blank uses Scan!' message)
Battle: Make Active Character (switch 'active character' over to the target, so that now when we execute load commands we load the target's info instead of the instigator's)
Data: Get Enemy Name (load 'active character' aka. target/enemy's name into Input#1 [Common Name])
**
Input: Buttons: Constant Wait (give player all the time they want to read the info)
Battle: Make Active Character (switch back to 'Instigator' for technical reasons)

**Customizable part goes here

Now you get to customize it how you want.
Option 1 - Show description of enemy
Option 2 - Show enemy's stats

You can choose either option or both. I recommend Option 1. When I did Option 2 in Paladin, it would say STR 80 and I would know that was high, but the player wouldn't. That's why I recommend a brief description more or less summarizing (some or all) of his stats and abilities. Note that the stats you only have to do once, but you will have to make a separate description for every enemy in this script (so you will be coming back and adding to it for a looong time).

For Option 1 (Description) continue this script with these commands:
Sort: Input #1 [Common Name] (sort by enemy's name)
*Apply If: 'Soldier' (if targeted enemy's name is 'Soldier')
*Text Message: 'Description of Soldier enemy.'
*To End
Branch End

*Repeat for every enemy

For Option 2 (Stats) continue this script with these commands:
Battle: Substitute Target Attribute for Variable (load target's stats into preset variables)
*Text: Message 'HP = '
*Text Content: Variable: Display Var #97 [Hit Points] Digits Not Fixed
*Text: Message ' / '
*Text Content: Variable: Display Var #106 [Max Hit Points] Digits Not Fixed
(these four commands will display 'HP = enemy's HP / enemy's Max HP')

*Repeat for every stat

If you're doing both of them, make sure that Option 2 begins after the Script Branch End command of Option 1.

All the Text: Messages should have the 'Close Window' option NOT checked.

Step #2. Make a System Event like so:

Place your script from Step 1 in it.

Step #3. Make a Direct Effect like so:

Copy the preset 'Fireball' Direct Effect, or a Direct Effect you've made and believe functions perfectly.
Under Adv/Result/Success Slot, put your event from Step 2 in it.
To explain: that slot's script is what happens when the Direct Effect is successful, and is therefore where you would put your Steal/SubtractHP/AddHP/whatever (effect on target when successful) script/event.

Step #4. Make an Ability like so:

Copy preset 'Fireball' Ability, or an Ability you've made and believe functions perfectly.
Under Custom/Direct Effect Slot, put your Direct Effect from Step 3.

Last comment: Rodak, Bigfoot, and all you comedians, this has potential to be funny with the descriptions.

[Dungeon Warden]

Just to give another option, here is my script:

Script: Call [Target Name] (this sets up the target and displays the name for you so there is no need to do anything else to find the target (aren't preset scripts wonderful ).

Battle: Make Active Character (this switches the stat pointer to look at the target's stats)

Battle: Substitute Target Attribute for Variable (loads the targets stats into memory so you can use them)

Text: Message "'s description<return>" (go to the next line. Note: Mark the message as non-closing)

*Text: Message 'HP = '
*Text Content: Variable: Display Var #97 [Hit Points] Digits Not Fixed
*Text: Message ' / '
*Text Content: Variable: Display Var #106 [Max Hit Points] Digits Not Fixed

And repeat for the other stats.

Text: Message "" (use this message to close the message box.)

Battle: Change Back Active Character


This is the script I use and it works find. Do everything else as The Solemn Truth suggests.