How can I remove the need for nearby hero?

[Rugarus]

How can I remove the need for nearby hero when buying a unit from a merchant?

 

[Wark]

Well, something needs to buy the item.
You could change the ability on the shop to "select unit" for shop purchasing, if you want units with an inventory to buy items too.
Or, if you want to just click the button and make items drop on the ground, make a dummy ability and trigger it: use ability, create an item on the ground.
Hell, you could even make a structure with an inventory that creates items and put it into that structure's inventory.

This really depends on what you want.

 

[Rugarus]

Well, something needs to buy the item.
You could change the ability on the shop to "select unit" for shop purchasing, if you want units with an inventory to buy items too.
Or, if you want to just click the button and make items drop on the ground, make a dummy ability and trigger it: use ability, create an item on the ground.
Hell, you could even make a structure with an inventory that creates items and put it into that structure's inventory.

This really depends on what you want.

This shop sells units, when you click it, it creates a unit. I need to make it so that you can create a unit without having a unit nearby. Otherwise I assume I need a dummy unit, but how can I do that without them seeing the dummy unit?

 

[Josh The Jaunty]

This shop sells units, when you click it, it creates a unit. I need to make it so that you can create a unit without having a unit nearby. Otherwise I assume I need a dummy unit, but how can I do that without them seeing the dummy unit?

when you click the shop it creates a unit?

I'm not sure how this shop works, but you could make the shop change ownership when selected (without changing colors) and revert back to neutral when deselected. I need more context to understand the problem really.

 

[Wark]

Is it a structure or a unit?
If it's a structure you own, then you don't need any special abilities. Just put the unit in the "unit's sold" list.
If it's a unit selling units, that I don't know. I've never tried that. I'll test it out after work.

 

[Rugarus]

Is it a structure or a unit?
If it's a structure you own, then you don't need any special abilities. Just put the unit in the "unit's sold" list.
If it's a unit selling units, that I don't know. I've never tried that. I'll test it out after work.

It's a building owned by neutral passive.

 

[Wark]

owned by neutral passive

That makes it more complicated, since normally you won't see unless a structure/unit/hero is nearby.

Well, you could just place an invisible dummy unit right there next to the shop. Use the doodad model "Invisible Platform" and make it have 0 collision, make it invulnerable, cost no food, can't move, and leave it there. You could also play around with the "locust" ability or "ward" designation to make it unselectable.

Or, like Josh said:

change ownership when selected (without changing colors) and revert back to neutral when deselected

These would be your options.