Question ScriptableObject holding specific Class reference

Hey guys, i'm a newbie and i might need a little advice here
So i'm starting a quest system game and so far i'm creating "Tasks" as ScriptableObjects and storing them in a TaskManager List<ScriptableTasks>

And a class for the Task logic, So each Task has a ScriptableObject reference and a logic class.

Each Task class derives from ITask interface that stores the task states, and from TaskBase that holds the shared logic between tasks.

How can i reference the "Task logic/class" script in the Task ScriptableObject on the editor

I tried setting the field for the Taskscript type as a gameObject, create a gameObject prefab and slap the Task class/logic on it and then Instantiate it when the task is ready, it does work, but i'm quite sure that's not the right approach.

Setting the ITask type won't show on the ScriptableObject, and when set to TaskBase, won't let me drag and drop the Task class.
I hope i knew how to explain myself, basically the question is, how can i get to reference different specific C# classes under one single field.

Below are the classes

The scriptableObject for the tasks "Scriptable Tasks"
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Code (CSharp):

1.  
2.  
3.     [CreateAssetMenu(fileName = "Tasks", menuName = "ScriptableObjects/NewTask", order = 1)]
4.     public class ScriptableTasks : ScriptableObject
5.     {
6.      
7.         public int taskOrder; // Task index
8.  
9. //PROBLEM HERE BELOW!!
10.         public  GameObject taskScript; //prefab holding the class logic
11.  
12.         public string taskName; // Title for the task
13.  
14.         public string taskDescription; //Task details
15.  
16.         public ScriptableCharacter taskGiver;  //Return the task to who
17.        
18.         public bool isCollectables;// Whether to ask demands collecting stuff
19.  
20.         [ShowIf("isCollectables")]
21.         public int amountToCollect; // amount to collect
22.  
23.         public ScriptableTasks nextTask;// Getting the next task Ready
24.  
25.     }

ITask holding task states
---------------------------------------

Code (CSharp):

1.  
2. public interface ITask
3. {
4.     void SetTaskInitialized();
5.     void SetTaskReady();
6.     void SetTaskActive();
7.     void SetTaskComplete();
8.     void SetTaskFinished();
9.     bool CheckTaskParameters();
10. }

TaskBase contains shared logic
-------------------------------------------

Code (CSharp):

1.  
2. public class TaskBase : MonoBehaviour
3. {
4.    protected  Transform player;
5.    protected Animator playerAnimator;
6.    protected  PlayerInputs inputs;
7.    protected bool canInteract = true;
8.    protected bool interactPressed;
9.    protected IsPlayerInRange playerInRange;
10.     public enum TaskState {Initialized,Ready, Active, Complete}
11.     protected TaskState taskState;
12.  
13.     private void Awake()
14.     {
15.         player = GameObject.FindWithTag("Player").transform;
16.         playerAnimator = player.GetComponentInChildren<Animator>();
17.    
18.         inputs = PlayerController.PlayerInputs;
19.         inputs.Inputs.Interact.started += OnInteract;
20.         inputs.Inputs.Interact.canceled += OnInteract;
21.     }
22.  
23.     //Input action interaction
24.     void OnInteract(InputAction.CallbackContext context) {}
25.    
26.     //Disable the player movements
27.     protected void DisablePlayerMovements(){}
28.  
29.     //Set player active again
30.     protected void EnablePlayerMovements(){}
31.  
32.     //Player can interact again coroutine
33.    protected IEnumerator ResetInteraction(){}
34. }
35.  

Example of a task
---------------------------------------------

Code (CSharp):

1.  
2. public class TalkToNeighbours : TaskBase, ITask
3. {
4.     //Mom Transform
5.     Transform mom;
6.     //Neighbour transform
7.     Transform neighbour;
8.     //Mom Animator
9.     Animator momAnimator;
10.     //Neighbour Animator
11.     Animator neighbourAnimator;
12.     //Mom Check if player in range script
13.     IsPlayerInRange momInRange;
14.     //Neighbour checks if player is in range script
15.     IsPlayerInRange neighbourInRange;
16.  
17.     //mom Cinemachine first animation
18.     [SerializeField] CinemachineVirtualCamera momCamera;
19.     //Mom cinemachine conversation focus
20.     [SerializeField] CinemachineVirtualCamera momFocusCamera;
21.  
22.     //Mom conversation Text
23.      [SerializeField]  TextAsset momConversationText;
24.     //Neighbnrou conversation Text
25.     [SerializeField] TextAsset neighbourConversationText;
26.  
27.     //Player can start interacting with the task characters
28.     bool startInteracting = false;
29.  
30.     bool spokeToNeighbour = false;
31.  
32.     //Immedietly when the task is presented to the player
33.     public void SetTaskInitialized()
34.     {
35.         //Set the task state to initialized
36.         taskState = TaskState.Initialized;
37.  
38.         //Get the mom infos
39.         mom = GameObject.FindGameObjectWithTag("Mom").transform;
40.         momInRange = mom.GetComponent<IsPlayerInRange>();
41.         momInRange.checkForPlayer = true;
42.         //Set mom gameobject visible by size
43.         mom.localScale = new Vector3(1, 1, 1);
44.         momAnimator = mom.GetComponentInChildren<Animator>();
45.  
46.         //Same with the neighbour
47.         neighbour = GameObject.FindGameObjectWithTag("Neighbour").transform;
48.         neighbourInRange = neighbour.GetComponent<IsPlayerInRange>();
49.         neighbourInRange.checkForPlayer = true;
50.  
51.         //Initialize the first animation conversation
52.         DialogueSystem.instance.InitializeConversation(this, momConversationText, 0, taskState);
53.         //Start displaying the conversation
54.         DialogueSystem.instance.StartConversation();
55.     }
56.  
57.  
58.     //Right after telling the player that a task is ready to be presented
59.     public void SetTaskReady()
60.     {
61.         //Set the task to active
62.         taskState = TaskState.Ready;
63.         //Player can start interacting with the characters
64.         startInteracting = true;
65.         //Display the first animation cinemachine Camera
66.         momCamera.enabled = false;
67.  
68.    
69.     }
70.  
71.     //Task active happens right after the player gets to know the details of the task,
72.     //after the conversation with the task giver
73.     public void SetTaskActive()
74.     {
75.         //Set taskstate to active
76.         taskState = TaskState.Active;
77.         //Mom conversation focus camera disable
78.         momFocusCamera.enabled = false;
79.         //Set the animattion for mom conversation to false
80.         momAnimator.SetBool("isArguing", false);
81.         //Set the animatio for the player conversation to false
82.         playerAnimator.SetBool("isSadIdle", false);
83.         //Reenabke the player movements
84.         EnablePlayerMovements();
85.  
86.         StartCoroutine(ResetInteraction());
87.         //Initialize the conversation for during the task text
88.         //  DialogueSystem.instance.InitializeConversation(this, neighbourConversationText, 0, taskState);
89.     }
90.  
91.  
92.     public bool CheckTaskParameters()
93.     {
94.         return spokeToNeighbour;
95.     }
96.  
97.     public void SetTaskComplete()
98.     {
99.         taskState = TaskState.Complete;
100.         EnablePlayerMovements();
101.         StartCoroutine(ResetInteraction());
102.  
103.         momAnimator.SetBool("isArguing", false);
104.         //Set the animatio for the player conversation to false
105.         playerAnimator.SetBool("isSadIdle", false);
106.  
107.         momFocusCamera.enabled = false;
108.     }
109.  
110.     public void SetTaskFinished()
111.     {
112.         EnablePlayerMovements();
113.  
114.         StartCoroutine(ResetInteraction());
115.  
116.         momAnimator.SetBool("isArguing", false);
117.  
118.         playerAnimator.SetBool("isSadIdle", false);
119.  
120.         momFocusCamera.enabled = false;
121.  
122.         TaskManager.instance.EndTask(this.gameObject);
123.        
124.     }
125.  
126.  
127.  
128.     void Update()
129.     {
130.         if (startInteracting)
131.        HandleInteraction();
132.     }
133.  
134.  
135.     void HandleInteraction()
136.     {
137.         //if interact is pressed and the player can interact and the player is in range
138.         if (interactPressed && canInteract && (momInRange.playerInRange || neighbourInRange.playerInRange))
139.         {
140.  
141.  
142.             //Set a delay for interaction
143.             canInteract = false;
144.  
145.             if (momInRange.playerInRange)
146.             {
147.  
148.                 DisablePlayerMovements();
149.                 //Set the player rotation
150.                 HandleRotation(mom);
151.  
152.                 switch (taskState)
153.                 {
154.                     case TaskState.Ready:
155.                         DialogueSystem.instance.InitializeConversation(this, momConversationText, 1, TaskState.Ready);
156.                         break;
157.  
158.                     case TaskState.Active:
159.                         DialogueSystem.instance.InitializeConversation(this, momConversationText, 2, TaskState.Active);
160.                         break;
161.  
162.                     case TaskState.Complete:
163.                         DialogueSystem.instance.InitializeConversation(this, momConversationText, 3, TaskState.Complete);
164.                         break;
165.                 }
166.  
167.  
168.                 DialogueSystem.instance.StartConversation(true);
169.  
170.  
171.                 momAnimator.SetBool("isArguing", true);
172.                 playerAnimator.SetBool("isSadIdle", true);
173.  
174.                 momFocusCamera.enabled = true;
175.  
176.    
177.  
178.             }
179.             else
180.             {
181.                 DisablePlayerMovements();
182.                 HandleRotation(neighbour);
183.  
184.                 switch (taskState)
185.                 {
186.                     case TaskState.Ready:
187.                         DialogueSystem.instance.InitializeConversation(this, neighbourConversationText, 0, TaskState.Ready);
188.                         break;
189.  
190.                     case TaskState.Active:
191.                         DialogueSystem.instance.InitializeConversation(this, neighbourConversationText,1, TaskState.Active);
192.                         spokeToNeighbour = true;
193.                         break;
194.  
195.                     case TaskState.Complete:
196.                         DialogueSystem.instance.InitializeConversation(this, neighbourConversationText, 2, TaskState.Complete);
197.                         break;
198.                 }
199.  
200.                 DialogueSystem.instance.StartConversation();
201.              
202.             }
203.         }
204.  
205.  
206.     }
207.  
208.  
209.  
210.  

Lastly, the Task manager
-----------------------------------------------------------

Code (CSharp):

1. public class TaskManager : MonoBehaviour
2. {
3.     public static TaskManager instance;
4.  
5.     public List<ScriptableTasks> listTasks = new List<ScriptableTasks>();
6.     public List<ScriptableTasks> listActiveTasks = new List<ScriptableTasks>();
7.     public List<ScriptableTasks> listFinishedTasks = new List<ScriptableTasks>();
8.  
9.  
10.     [SerializeField] GameObject canvasNewTaskPrefab;
11.  
12.     public GameObject canvasTaskProgress;
13.  
14.     private void Awake()
15.     {
16.         if (instance != this)
17.         {
18.             instance = this;
19.         }
20.         else { Destroy(gameObject); }
21.  
22.  
23.  
24.         GameObject firstTask = Instantiate(listTasks[0].taskScript);
25.  
26.         firstTask.name = listTasks[0].taskScript.name;
27.         listActiveTasks.Add(listTasks[0]);
28.     }
29.  
30.  
31.     public void SetNextTaskReady(GameObject obj)
32.     {
33.  
34.         ScriptableTasks task = listTasks.Find(x => x.taskScript.name == obj.name);
35.  
36.         ScriptableTasks newTask = task.nextTask;
37.  
38.         GameObject scriptObject = Instantiate(newTask.taskScript);
39.  
40.         scriptObject.GetComponent<ITask>().SetTaskInitialized();
41.  
42.         listActiveTasks.Add(newTask);
43.  
44.     }
45.  
46.     public void StartTask(GameObject obj)
47.     {
48.         //Get the current Task
49.         ScriptableTasks currentTask = listActiveTasks.Find(x => x.taskScript.name == obj.name);
50.  
51.         //Get the next task
52.         ScriptableTasks newTask = currentTask.nextTask;
53.  
54.         //Instantiate the task GameObject script
55.         GameObject newTaskOject = Instantiate(newTask.nextTask.taskScript);
56.  
57.         Instantiate(canvasNewTaskPrefab);
58.  
59.         //Add the task to the list of active tasks
60.         listActiveTasks.Add(newTask.nextTask);
61.  
62.     }
63.  
64.     public void TaskProgress(int taskIndex, int total, int amount)
65.     {
66.  
67.         GameObject progress = Instantiate(canvasTaskProgress);
68.         Transform parent = progress.transform.GetChild(0);
69.         parent.GetChild(0).GetComponent<TMP_Text>().text = listTasks[taskIndex].taskName;
70.  
71.         Slider progressSlider = parent.GetComponentInChildren<Slider>();
72.  
73.         progressSlider.maxValue = total;
74.  
75.         LeanTween.value(progressSlider.gameObject, (amount - 1), amount, .3f)
76.        .setOnUpdate((value) => { progressSlider.value = value; })
77.        .setOnComplete(() =>
78.        {
79.            TMP_Text numericProgressText = progressSlider.GetComponentInChildren<TMP_Text>();
80.            numericProgressText.text = amount + "/" + total;
81.        });
82.  
83.  
84.     }
85.  
86.     public void EndTask(GameObject obj)
87.     {
88.  
89.         ScriptableTasks task = listActiveTasks.Find(x => x.taskScript.name == obj.name.Remove(obj.name.Length));  
90.  
91.         listActiveTasks.Remove(task);
92.  
93.  
94.         // Get Reward
95.  
96.     }
97.  
98. }
99.  

 

What you're asking for is polymorphic serialisation. Unity supports this via the SerializeReference attribute: https://docs.unity3d.com/ScriptReference/SerializeReference.html

What it doesn't support is built in inspector tools to view and select the derived/implementing type you want to serialise into the object. Fortunately there's numerous paid and free addons that let you do this. I use Odin Inspector myself.

 

Oh waw, that sounds great! is there any free Inspector addons you might recommend ?