[Released] BFGames: Simply A* Pathfinding! NOW FREE

Hi there,

Haven't responded for a while as I've been working on other areas of the game. But now that I'm returning to this again, I notice that when the map is created upon start, this "Create2DMap" method is called to initialize the map.

This way, you have the starting and ending positions and make the map based on that.

But is there a way to dynamically update the map in a similar way? I was looking at the UpdateMapOnce() code and I see something about a last position. I'm not sure what that's supposed to represent.

So I'm not sure exactly how to use this. Would I put one of that script on something such as a Game Manager, and just call it whenever I need to update the map dynamically?

Or does the object calling it have to be in a specific position?

Thanks in advance.

 

The dynamic update map is for the 3D grid bassed solution.

 

So is there no way to dynamically update a 2D grid? Would I just call create 2D map again, or would that be too hard on performance?

 

Nope there is only one for the 3D grid (also says so in its description ).
It would not be a good idea to recreate it because of performance. If you still want to play around with it, then you need to do it in LateUpdate().

 

Well, yay, it says it in the description! That makes everything better!

...

Looks like I'll be figuring it out myself.

 

Hi.

When compiling the scripts in MonoDevelop-Unity (ver. 4.0.1) I get the following error message (thrice) when doing a complete rebuild:

c:\xxxxxx\Assets\Pathfinding\Editor\WaypointEditor.cs(5,5): Error CS0246: The type or namespace name 'WaypointNode' could not be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?) (CS0246) (Assembly-CSharp-Editor)

And when I try to add a waypoint in the Editor (Unity Free, ver. 4.3.4f1) I get this error:

NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object
WaypointEditor.OnSceneGUI (UnityEditor.SceneView view) (at Assets/Pathfinding/Editor/WaypointEditor.cs:78)
UnityEditor.SceneView.CallOnSceneGUIAfterGizmos () (at C:/BuildAgent/work/d3d49558e4d408f4/Editor/Mono/SceneView/SceneView.cs:1664)
UnityEditor.SceneView.OnGUI () (at C:/BuildAgent/work/d3d49558e4d408f4/Editor/Mono/SceneView/SceneView.cs:960)
System.Reflection.MonoMethod.Invoke (System.Object obj, BindingFlags invokeAttr, System.Reflection.Binder binder, System.Object[] parameters, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture) (at /Users/builduser/buildslave/monoAndRuntimeClassLibs/build/mcs/class/corlib/System.Reflection/MonoMethod.cs:222)

If it helps at all I've noticed that by default MonoDevelop-Unity chooses .NET-framework v3.5 which does not allow for default parameters. They're used in some of the node-related stuff. Thus I always need to change all the projects to v4.0.

So far I've used the Grid-based pathfinding and it works fine but I need to use the waypoint-based pathfinding as well.

 

For the waypoint system, how do I move a node once I've placed it other than manually typing in the values.

 

Hi BFGames,

Sorry if it has been asked before. In Waypoint-based solution it's possible to add or remove a waypoint in runtime?

 

Hi,

Do you have local avoidance mechanism?

 

In an RTS game are units with different sizes available. One can pass through between two obstacles and the another not. Is it supported in your asset?

 

Dont know how i missed your message sorry, but the answer is no, only the grid system is build to change at runtime.

 

No you will need to add this yourself. Its not build with specific genres in mind. (and there is no local avoidance either)

 

I look for many findpathing solution for my problem.My problem is following:
1,my Gid is not Irregular polygon,it made by points;
2,my Gid is dynamic created every time;
the following pic show:
1,first
2,change to :

I want to the red or green point move in the polygon ,the nails are
obstacles,I slice the polygons to smaller.

Can your solution solve my problem?

 

Hi! I am looking for easy to setup pathfinding solution and I was wondering will this package work for a situation where you need to find a path on the cube (think like rubiks cube)? This would be grid setup or something else?

Thanks!

 

As i answered on mail then it wont work for the rubricks cube case no.

 

Announcement:

Hello every one! As i lack time for supporting and improving the project, it will become FREE from the 15th of September!

Enjoy.

 

F*** it, just submitted it! Will be free as soon as it is accepted!

 

It is now free, removed the old 2D support though.

 

Hello,
I bought you your Asset in July for $20, and I have sometimes a exception with more than 300 units, I tried to understand why, but for moment I did't find.

IndexOutOfRangeException: Array index is out of range.
Pathfinder.FindEndNode (Vector3 pos) (at Assets/Pathfinding/Scripts/Pathfinder.cs:398)
Pathfinder.FindPath (Vector3 startPos, Vector3 endPos, System.Action`1 listMethod) (at Assets/Pathfinding/Scripts/Pathfinder.cs:243)
Pathfinder+<SinglePath>c__IteratorC.MoveNext () (at Assets/Pathfinding/Scripts/Pathfinder.cs:226)
UnityEngine.MonoBehaviour:StartCoroutine(IEnumerator)
<PathHandler>c__IteratorB:MoveNext() (at Assets/Pathfinding/Scripts/Pathfinder.cs:221)
UnityEngine.MonoBehaviour:StartCoroutine(IEnumerator)
Pathfinder:Update() (at Assets/Pathfinding/Scripts/Pathfinder.cs:97)

 

Hello menfou!

I would like to help, but your line number errors do not add-up with the newest version that i have? Did you change anything in Pathfinder.cs?

 

I sent you a example project by email.
I made some modification for Mobile.

 

Im playing with the Waypoint solution, and how can I set a node unwalkable, but still be able to calculate an alternative path? The CheckEndPosition function check for a tag to avoid.

What I need is when I calculate the path, it checks each waypoint node tag (or script variable, or anything) for a blocked node. If a blocked node is found, cancel this calculation and try another route.

Any ideas?

EDIT: Solved!

If anyone interested, look for the following code inside WaypointPathfinder.cs:

Code (csharp):

1. if (wp != null)

And change it to

Code (csharp):

1. if (wp != null && !wp.IsObstacle)

I added a boolean inside WaypointNode.cs.

 

Hey guys im on vacation at the moment so answers will be far in between.

For vincent, thats a fine solution. It would also be possible to ADD weights to the waypoints such that is more likely to take some routes than others.

 

Having weights still enable walks. What I want is a not passable point. If there is no options, the player needs to remove this "blockable" node to open path again.

 

Hi there, great asset!

I just have one question regarding the tower defence scene. When I tried to mimic the behaviour for towers that will block the path, I keep getting an array index is out of range on this line

Code (CSharp):

1. Node n = Map[x, z];

in the FindClosestNode function.

Here is the code I use upon placing a tower:

Code (CSharp):

1. Pathfinder.Instance.InsertInQueue( _StartPosition.position, _EndPosition.position, CheckPath );

_Obj is the tower that has just been placed.

Code (CSharp):

1.     void CheckPath( List<Vector3> list )
2.     {
3.         if( list.Count < 1 || list == null )
4.         {
5.             if( _Obj != null )
6.             {
7.                 // Destroy tower.
8.                 _Obj.SetActive( false );
9.                            return;
10.             }
11.         }
12.     }

Not sure why it's out of range, any ideas?

Thanks.

 

1. How large is your map?
2. Is the map set up properly ? Can you get any paths?
3. Sure your end and start position is within the map?

 

I managed to work it out, thanks. One more question regarding the dynamic TD example.

Is this function:

Code (CSharp):

1.     private void CheckRoute(List<Vector3> list)
2.     {    
3.         //If we get a list that is empty there is no path, and we blocked the road
4.         //Then remove the last added tower!
5.         if (list.Count < 1 || list == null)
6.         {
7.             if (towers.Count > 0)
8.             {
9.                 GameObject g = towers[towers.Count - 1];
10.                 towers.RemoveAt(towers.Count - 1);
11.                 Destroy(g);
12.             }
13.         }
14.     }

The one that decides if the path is blocked? How does it work? Most the first if statement, my list is always empty, what list it it that gets passed in?

Is there another way to check it the path from the start position to the end position is valid? And also, what about checking from each enemy to the end position, especially since you could potentially block an enemy in a group of towers if you only check the start to end position.

Thanks.

 

The first if statement checks if an empty list got returned which means that there is no valid path from A to B.
If there is no valid path we remove the last tower we put down as it is placed at an invalid position.

If your gameplay allows for blocking the AI you should just do the same. Create you own logic in a method just like this.

 

But what is the list? Where does it come from?

I'm assuming this line runs the CheckRoute function, but it passes in no list?

Code (CSharp):

1.             Pathfinder.Instance.InsertInQueue(start.transform.position, end.transform.position, CheckRoute);

 

Hi,

Can i recreate the collision map for a new object with a collider added to the scene ? If i do so once, will that create a big spike or will hardly be noticable ?

Thanks

 

That is not a good idea. Use the dynamic map update

 

The list is the path (Vector3 positions) which is returned. If its empty there is no path.
And yes that is the function. So if you want to check for an enemy for example then just use the enemys position as start position and change CheckRoute to your own custom method

 

Thanks, i will check it out.

 

Check the PDF.

 

Okay thanks.

Now I have it so you cannot block any of the enemies path also.

The problem I'm having now is that when I try to block a path the first time it will not let me because list.Count = 0, however if I try to place a tower in the exact same position as I did before where it was blocked, it allows it and says list.Count = 59, or whatever.

I have no idea why, any ideas at all?

Cheers

Cyp.

 

You have to update the map with a dynamic change. Should be described in the pdf.

 

I've been using your scripts from your dynamic td example, so I believe this is already done.

 

Well the td example is exactly that, an example. And only work for that specfic case. You need to write your own logic around it.

 

Right. I know that, but what I'm trying to achieve works in the example.

 

Well not sure i understand the problem then. Can you provide the code you are using?

 

Hello.

I was looking at the Pathfinder.CreateMap() method, with the hope of being able to add a "margin" value to all items which are tagged/marked as obstacles. In this way i can have a detailed/low value for the TileSize, but have space around the edges of Obstacle blocks. I was unable to figure out an easy way to enable this. Should i simply increase the size of the box-collider for the object, beyond their visible bounds?

Not expecting anything for a free asset, but suggestions or pointers would be great!

Thank you,
Jos

 

Yes that would more or less be the way to go as its created by raycasting.

 

Thank you!
J

 

Hi,

Just saw your plugins and I'm trying to figure it out.

Did you ever implement it with PlayMaker?


Thanks.

 

Nope never got around to do so sadly. But if you can code Actions for PlayerMaker yourself it should be really easy.

 

Hi, first of all, thank you very much for this great script! Other pathfinding solutions, including Unity's built-in NavMesh, cannot constrain an object to move non-diagonally, but your Waypoint solution works very well for this.

I just wanna ask about the waypoint Y Position and the character Y movement (jump) ability. To describe this:

Suppose there are four waypoints with different Y Position (please see the image):
- Waypoint 1 has Y Position with the value of 0.
- Waypoint 2 has Y Position with the value of 0.
- Waypoint 3 has Y Position with the value of 1.
- Waypoint 4 has Y Position with the value of 2.

The waypoints are connected to each other, in both directions, but not diagonally.

For example, a character can only jump +1 unit.

Suppose he wants to go from waypoint 1 to waypoint 4. Because he can only jump +1 unit, he should travel like below:
1 --> 2 --> 3 --> 4

But because waypoint 1 and waypoint 4 are connected, he travels directly from waypoint 1 to waypoint 4:
1 --> 4

How can I set different path for different characters, based on the character's jump ability?
Like the example above, ideally the character should travel from 1 --> 2 --> 3 --> 4, because he only has jump +1 ability.

 

Right now you can only set possible height for the overall game (same rule for all agents). But you could add a float value to the path generation method that will change the possible height for a single agent. Thats more or less the only way.

 

Is the path generation method the WaypointPathfinder.cs' FindPath() ? Or other method in other script?

I notice that in the WaypointScene (the example scene for Waypoint system), if I click on the MeshCollider, the Path property of the WaypointPlayer script will be added with several elements. Is it possible to check the Y Position difference of these elements, before the elements are added into the Path list?

 

Yes FindPath() will call the needed methods to get a path. Follow that path and send a height value through those and use it. Might be a bit work.

Cant remember much of about the waypoint system havent looked at it for a year or so Let me get back to you on that one hehe.

 

I will try to add a height value to the FindPath() method, if I can understand it
Anyway, thanks again for creating this script and for making it free...
If you have time, please add this character jump feature to the Pro version, I'll definitely purchase it