RTS AI FSM, Handling Multiple Enemy Units

Hi,

I am creating an RTS and for my units and enemies I am implementing State Machine design like in this tutorial

http://unity3d.com/learn/tutorials/...rchive/state-machine-interface?playlist=17117

My problem with both player and enemy state machines seems to be around multiple units in range. For one unit I am using trigger colliders to detect an enemy in range and transitioning states accordingly. Is this the best way to do it. I am thinking about holding a List<GameObject> enemies and filling and removing from the list with OnTriggerEnter and OnTriggerExit has anyone used this way? Or found a better way?


Warm regards,

Tony

 

I've just skimmed through this video. The title of this course is "Introduction to State Machines". Maybe it's just me, and watching the video entirely at a normal pace would make more sens ... In my opinion, this is not a good material if you want the learn about the fundamentals of FSM. I found this video rather confusing.

Maybe I simply missed it, but the two import pieces of information about any FSM are:
- What are the states.
- What are the transitions to go from one state to another.

Independently of how your FSM is implemented ( visually or in code ), this information should be clearly available and readable. Otherwise, it does not make sens to use a state machine.

 

Thanks for your reply, Every state implements the same interface which defines all the transitions and calls update on the current state. My transitions are then called according to events/conditions that are checked in the update. The one in the video also calls ontriggerenter for the current state passing the collider but I have removed this and just hold and remove the units in a list at the top level which can be used and check in any state in the update and handle the transitions accordingly. I have resevations about tracking units in this way though!

 

You're mention different things in your post. I don't quiet understand what you are asking exactly. Do you have an issue about using an FSM or something else?

About keeping a list of game objects currently colliding, I think is a good idea to update this list OnTriggerEnter and OnTriggerExit.

 

Yes this is a sensible way of keeping track of how many things are in range. It also allows you to do graphics things such as highlight the enemies in range etc.

An alternative would be to use a overlapshere check at the time when you want to make the decision, but that might limit what you can do with the information.

 

Thanks, yeah just wanted a bit of validation around the approach I'm taking before I implement all my units... this is my third time rewriting it.

 

Thanks yeah I'm a bit of a newbie at unity....not programming! Have not used overlap sphere but I'll have a look before I proceed thanks! Can you get a reference to the gameobjects?

 

Great! Thanks Matt I'll send you a copy of my first beta