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I'm trying to re-create Doom 's "Devour" ability from dota 2:
"Consumes an enemy or neutral creep, acquiring any special abilities that it possessed."
I have around 20 creeps in my map, each with their own abilities. To determine which ability I need to add to my hero upon devouring a unit, I would need to run a huge nested if function (if devoured unit = X, add ability X, else if devoured unit = Y, add abilly Y, etc...). But this is not very elegant nor efficient I'd say.
So my question: Is there a more elegant and efficient way to determine which ability I need to add based on which target is chosen to devour?
If it's just one ability per creep, then you could store the 20 unit-types into an array variable and the respective abilities into another array variables on map init.
When you cast your Devour spell, have a condition to check the unit-type of target unit and loop through all 20 unit-types in the array.
Once you get a match, add the corresponding ability (check out the spoiler; will probably make more sense).
Devour Setup
Events
Conditions
Actions
-------- --- --------
-------- Add all the creep unit types here --------
Set DevourCreepType[1] = Footman
Set DevourCreepType[2] = Rifleman
Set DevourCreepType[3] = Priest
-------- --- --------
-------- Add all the creep abilities here --------
Set DevourCreepAbility[1] = Ensnare
Set DevourCreepAbility[2] = Slow
Set DevourCreepAbility[3] = Heal
Devour Cast
Events
Unit - A unit Starts the effect of an ability
Conditions
(Ability being cast) Equal to Devour
Actions
-------- --- --------
-------- Loop through numbers 1 to 3 in this example --------
For each (Integer LoopInteger) from 1 to 3, do (Actions)
Loop - Actions
If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
If - Conditions
(Unit-type of (Target unit of ability being cast)) Equal to DevourCreepType[LoopInteger]
Then - Actions
-------- --- --------
-------- EXAMPLE --------
-------- Let's say you cast Devour on a Rifleman --------
-------- The loop will start at number 1 and check if target is a Footman --------
-------- It will fail (because it's a Rifleman, not a Footman) and do nothing --------
-------- At Number 2, the loop will check to see if target is a Rifleman --------
-------- Since the target is a Rifleman, the loop will add the Slow ability to the caster --------
-------- Because DevourCreepAbility[2] is set to Slow in the Devour Setup trigger --------
-------- --- --------
-------- NOTE: There is nothing to remove existing creep abilities from the caster in this example --------
-------- --- --------
Unit - Add DevourCreepAbility[LoopInteger] to (Triggering unit)
Else - Actions
This is very basic example of how to implement this loop method.
Again, this will only work with one ability per creep.
There would a few other things to consider; namely removing any existing creep ability and what happens when the hero with the Devour spell dies.
Set VariableSet Devour_UnitType[1] = Kobold Taskmaster
Set VariableSet Devour_UnitType[2] = Assassin
Set VariableSet Devour_UnitType[3] = Enforcer
Set VariableSet Devour_UnitType[4] = Mother Bear
Set VariableSet Devour_UnitType[5] = Moss Golem
Set VariableSet Devour_UnitType[6] = Alpha Wolf
Set VariableSet Devour_UnitType[7] = Furbolg Ursa Champion
Set VariableSet Devour_UnitType[8] = Crazed Hermit
Set VariableSet Devour_UnitType[9] = Spitting Spider
Set VariableSet Devour_UnitType[10] = Satyr Hellcaller
Set VariableSet Devour_UnitType[11] = Plague Treant
Set VariableSet Devour_UnitType[12] = Arachnathid Overlord
Set VariableSet Devour_UnitType[13] = Forest Troll Shadow Priest
Set VariableSet Devour_UnitType[14] = Ogre Lord
Set VariableSet Devour_UnitType[15] = Mud Golem
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_A[1] = Speed Aura
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_B[1] = Devour_Ability_B[0]
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_A[2] = Envenomed Weapons (Neutral Hostile)
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_B[2] = Devour_Ability_B[0]
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_A[3] = Evasion (Neutral Hostile)
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_B[3] = Devour_Ability_B[0]
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_A[4] = Bash (Neutral Hostile 1)
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_B[4] = Toughness Aura (Neutral Hostile)
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_A[5] = Hurl Boulder
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_B[5] = Spawn Shard Golem
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_A[6] = Swiftness Aura
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_B[6] = Critical Strike (Neutral Hostile)
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_A[7] = Packleader's Aura
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_B[7] = Thunder Clap (Neutral Hostile)
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_A[8] = Purge (Neutral Hostile)
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_B[8] = Devour_Ability_B[0]
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_A[9] = Web (Neutral Hostile 2)
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_B[9] = Devour_Ability_B[0]
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_A[10] = Mana Burn (Neutral Hostile 1)
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_B[10] = Devour_Ability_B[0]
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_A[11] = Force of Nature (Neutral Hostile 1)
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_B[11] = Spawn Corrupted Treant
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_A[12] = Sand Wave
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_B[12] = Devour_Ability_B[0]
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_A[13] = Heal (Neutral Hostile 1)
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_B[13] = Brilliance Aura (Neutral Hostile)
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_A[14] = Cleaving Attack (Neutral Hostile)
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_B[14] = Devour_Ability_B[0]
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_A[15] = Shockwave (Neutral Hostile)
Set VariableSet Devour_Ability_B[15] = Earthmother Aura (Neutral Hostile)
Devour
Events
Unit - A unit Starts the effect of an ability
Conditions
(Ability being cast) Equal to Devour
Actions
Set VariableSet Devour_Index = (Devour_Index + 1)
Set VariableSet Devour_Caster = (Triggering unit)
Set VariableSet Devour_Target = (Target unit of ability being cast)
Unit - Cause Devour_Caster to damage Devour_Target, dealing 10000000.00 damage of attack type Chaos and damage type Universal
Set VariableSet InfernalBlade_CV = (Custom value of Devour_Caster)
Set VariableSet Devour_UnitType[0] = (Unit-type of (Target unit of ability being cast))
Set VariableSet Devour_Counter[Devour_CV] = 70.00
Set VariableSet Devour_Heal[Devour_CV] = (-3.00 + (4.00 x (Real((Level of Devour for Devour_Caster)))))
Set VariableSet Devour_Gold[Devour_CV] = (50 x (Level of Devour for Devour_Caster))
Unit Group - Add Devour_Caster to Devour_Group
Special Effect - Destroy Devour_Specialeffect[Devour_CV]
Special Effect - Create a special effect attached to the origin of Devour_Caster using Abilities\Spells\Orc\LiquidFire\Liquidfire.mdl
Set VariableSet Devour_Specialeffect[Devour_CV] = (Last created special effect)
If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
If - Conditions
Devour_Boolean_Gold[Devour_CV] Equal to False
Then - Actions
Set VariableSet Devour_Boolean_Gold[Devour_CV] = True
Else - Actions
Player - Set (Owner of Devour_Caster).Current gold to (((Owner of Devour_Caster) Current gold) + Devour_Gold[Devour_CV])
Sound - Play AlchemistTransmuteDeath1 <gen> at 100.00% volume, attached to Devour_Caster
Floating Text - Create floating text that reads (+ + (String(Devour_Gold[Devour_CV]))) above Devour_Caster with Z offset 0.00, using font size 11.00, color (100.00%, 100.00%, 20.00%), and 0.00% transparency
Floating Text - Change (Last created floating text): Disable permanence
Floating Text - Set the velocity of (Last created floating text) to 48.00 towards 90.00 degrees
Floating Text - Change the lifespan of (Last created floating text) to 3.00 seconds
Floating Text - Change the fading age of (Last created floating text) to 2.50 seconds
If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
If - Conditions
Devour_UnitType[0] Not equal to Devour_UnitType_Eaten[Devour_CV]
Then - Actions
-------- DEVOURS DIFFERENT UNIT (LANE CREEP OR NEUTRAL HOSTILE) --------
For each (Integer Devour_Integer) from 1 to 15, do (Actions)
Loop - Actions
If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
If - Conditions
Devour_UnitType[0] Equal to Devour_UnitType[Devour_Integer]
Then - Actions
For each (Integer Devour_Integer) from 1 to 15, do (Actions)
Loop - Actions
Unit - Remove Devour_Ability_A[Devour_Integer] from Devour_Caster
Unit - Remove Devour_Ability_B[Devour_Integer] from Devour_Caster
Else - Actions
-------- NOTHING HAPPENS IF NOT DEFINED CREEP FROM LIST --------
For each (Integer Devour_Integer) from 1 to 15, do (Actions)
Loop - Actions
If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
If - Conditions
Devour_UnitType[0] Equal to Devour_UnitType[Devour_Integer]
Then - Actions
Set VariableSet Devour_UnitType_Eaten[Devour_CV] = (Unit-type of (Target unit of ability being cast))
Unit - Add Devour_Ability_A[Devour_Integer] to Devour_Caster
Unit - Add Devour_Ability_B[Devour_Integer] to Devour_Caster
Else - Actions
-------- NOTHING HAPPENS IF NOT DEFINED CREEP FROM LIST --------
Else - Actions
-------- NOTHING HAPPENS IF SAME UNIT TYPE DEVOURED --------
If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
If - Conditions
Devour_Index Equal to 1
Then - Actions
Countdown Timer - Start Devour_Timer as a Repeating timer that will expire in 1.00 seconds
Trigger - Turn on Devour Loop <gen>
Else - Actions
Devour Loop
Events
Time - Devour_Timer expires
Conditions
Actions
Unit Group - Pick every unit in Devour_Group and do (Actions)
Loop - Actions
Set VariableSet Devour_Caster = (Picked unit)
Set VariableSet InfernalBlade_CV = (Custom value of Devour_Caster)
If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
If - Conditions
(Devour_Caster is alive) Equal to True
Devour_Counter[Devour_CV] Greater than 0.00
Then - Actions
Set VariableSet Devour_Counter[Devour_CV] = (Devour_Counter[Devour_CV] - 1.00)
Unit - Set life of Devour_Caster to ((Life of Devour_Caster) + Devour_Heal[Devour_CV])
Else - Actions
Player - Set (Owner of Devour_Caster).Current gold to (((Owner of Devour_Caster) Current gold) + Devour_Gold[Devour_CV])
Sound - Play AlchemistTransmuteDeath1 <gen> at 100.00% volume, attached to Devour_Caster
Floating Text - Create floating text that reads (+ + (String(Devour_Gold[Devour_CV]))) above Devour_Caster with Z offset 0.00, using font size 11.00, color (100.00%, 100.00%, 0.00%), and 0.00% transparency
Floating Text - Change (Last created floating text): Disable permanence
Floating Text - Set the velocity of (Last created floating text) to 48.00 towards 90.00 degrees
Floating Text - Change the lifespan of (Last created floating text) to 3.00 seconds
Floating Text - Change the fading age of (Last created floating text) to 2.50 seconds
Special Effect - Destroy Devour_Specialeffect[Devour_CV]
Unit Group - Remove Devour_Target from Devour_Group.
Set VariableSet Devour_Index = (Devour_Index - 1)
Set VariableSet Devour_Boolean_Gold[Devour_CV] = False
If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
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