Ok... now i should probably wait about posting because the truth is i'm operating on so much sleep deprivation that i can not give this topic the clarity it requires.
The more this thread unfolds, the more i long for the bliss of that ignorance wherein when it "looked" like it worked, it worked, and that was good enough for me!
Before we started turning over this topic again on the question of user/player instances, this was the third incarnation of the triggers i had produced based on Avatars advice.
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Aura setup 1
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Events
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Unit - A unit Acquires an item
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Conditions
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(Item carried by (Hero manipulating item) of type Scourge Bone Chimes) Equal to (Item being manipulated)
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Actions
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If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
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If - Conditions
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(Level of Vampiric Aura (Alt, Hero) for (Triggering unit)) Equal to 0
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Then - Actions
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Set AuraHolderItem[(Player number of (Owner of DamageEventSource))] = (Hero manipulating item)
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Game - Display to (All players) the text: An Item with Vampir...
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Else - Actions
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Aura setup 2
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Events
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Unit - A unit enters (Playable map area)
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Conditions
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Or - Any (Conditions) are true
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Conditions
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((Entering unit) is in (Units in (Playable map area) matching ((Level of Vampiric Aura (Alt, Unit) for (Entering unit)) Greater than or equal to 1))) Equal to True
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Actions
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Set AuraHolderUnit[(Player number of (Owner of DamageEventSource))] = (Entering unit)
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Game - Display to (All players) the text: A warrior with Vamp...
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Aura setup 3
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Events
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Unit - A unit Learns a skill
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Conditions
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(Learned Hero Skill) Equal to Vampiric Aura (Alt, Hero)
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Actions
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Set AuraHolderHero[(Player number of (Owner of DamageEventSource))] = (Learning Hero)
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Game - Display to (All players) the text: A hero with the Vam...
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Vampiric Aura Alternative
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Events
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Game - AfterDamageEvent becomes Equal to 1.00
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Conditions
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(DamageEventSource has buff Vampiric Aura) Equal to True
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(DamageEventTarget is A structure) Equal to False
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(DamageEventTarget is Mechanical) Equal to False
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(DamageEventTarget is Ethereal) Equal to False
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(DamageEventTarget is an illusion) Equal to False
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(DamageEventTarget is dead) Equal to False
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(Owner of DamageEventTarget) Not equal to (Random player from (All allies of (Owner of DamageEventSource)))
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(Owner of DamageEventSource) Not equal to (Random player from (All allies of (Owner of DamageEventTarget)))
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Actions
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If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
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If - Conditions
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(AuraHolderHero[(Player number of (Owner of DamageEventSource))] belongs to an ally of (Owner of DamageEventSource)) Equal to True
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((Region centered at (Position of AuraHolderHero[(Player number of (Owner of DamageEventSource))]) with size ((1400.00 + (400.00 x (Real((Level of Vampiric Aura (Alt, Hero) for AuraHolderHero[(Player number of (Owner of DamageEventSource))]))))), 1800.00)) co Equal to True
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Then - Actions
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Unit - Set life of DamageEventSource to ((Life of DamageEventSource) + (DamageEventAmount x (0.05 + (15.00 x (Real((Level of Vampiric Aura (Alt, Hero) for AuraHolderHero[(Player number of (Owner of DamageEventSource))])))))))
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Else - Actions
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If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
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If - Conditions
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(AuraHolderUnit[(Player number of (Owner of DamageEventSource))] belongs to an ally of (Owner of DamageEventSource)) Equal to True
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((Region centered at (Position of AuraHolderUnit[(Player number of (Owner of DamageEventSource))]) with size ((1720.00 + (80.00 x (Real((Level of Vampiric Aura (Alt, Unit) for AuraHolderUnit[(Player number of (Owner of DamageEventSource))]))))), 1800.00)) con Equal to True
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Then - Actions
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Unit - Set life of DamageEventSource to ((Life of DamageEventSource) + (DamageEventAmount x (0.32 + (0.03 x (Real((Level of Vampiric Aura (Alt, Item) for AuraHolderUnit[(Player number of (Owner of DamageEventSource))])))))))
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Else - Actions
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If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
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If - Conditions
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((Region centered at (Position of AuraHolderItem[(Player number of (Owner of DamageEventSource))]) with size ((1800.00 + (0.00 x (Real((Level of Vampiric Aura (Alt, Item) for AuraHolderItem[(Player number of (Owner of DamageEventSource))]))))), 1800.00)) cont Equal to True
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(AuraHolderItem[(Player number of (Owner of DamageEventSource))] belongs to an ally of (Owner of DamageEventSource)) Equal to True
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Then - Actions
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Unit - Set life of DamageEventSource to ((Life of DamageEventSource) + (DamageEventAmount x (0.05 + (0.10 x (Real((Level of Vampiric Aura (Alt, Item) for AuraHolderItem[(Player number of (Owner of DamageEventSource))])))))))
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Else - Actions
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Special Effect - Create a special effect attached to the overhead of DamageEventSource using Abilities\Spells\Undead\VampiricAura\VampiricAuraTarget.mdl
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Special Effect - Set Color of (Last created special effect) to color of (Owner of DamageEventSource)
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Special Effect - Set Time Scale of (Last created special effect) to 1.00
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Special Effect - Destroy (Last created special effect)
Now, for "my" purposes, just testing vs AI in single players, this worked fine. But it is true that while there may be a max of 1 hero per player with VA, there can potentially be multiple units or items per player, which if my understanding is correct, is the complication here. I think my variables accommodated 1 of each per player -which probably isn't enough, since SBC seems to drop a lot on the map, & mercenaries are always another factor.
Is there a way i can retrofit the work i have already done through arrays/hashtables/Unit Groups etc? Is there something i can do, for example adding a mechanism to periodically re-evaluate who the proper Aura Holder should be while the triggers are in effect, destroying & rebuilding variables...
Keep in mind, i still don't really understand the ramifications between MUI & MPI, so try to read between the lines when i have used those terms -there is excellent chance i didn't know what i was saying!
@disruptive_ ok, it took me a while to figure out what you were doing in your map example -& i still probably don't get all of it. One thing i did notice right away is that Dreadlord + SBC = game crash. I was confused for some time by how you had 3 identical VA buffs, that always listed as the same monolithic VA buff. After i added (1),(2),(3) in the suffix fields, & then looked back, it made more sense.
I have not examined your trigger closely yet -i need to take a break from this first.
But here is another option.
I started this whole thread just on the whim of expanding VA apply to ranged as well as melee. In retrospect that is probably not a good idea in terms of how it changes meticulously calculated racial balances. What is likely a better answer, and much easier to implement, is a single hero/item/unit, that has its own "ranged" Vampiric Aura. Just give it a different name, different icons, but it can probably still share the common VA buff.
And as for counting levels... this may be a problem i have to address. My custom heroes level up differently than regular heroes. My heroes start with all their abilities as operational unit abilities that are all advanced simultaneously by one 11 single hero ability with 11 levels. My units work the same way -unit abilities have 11 levels, upgraded through tech.
So... units have higher ability levels than standard heroes -evwen if the abilities themselves are typically weaker.
I had not been aware this had any consequences in how triggers work,
EDIT: What if AuraHolder(Hero/item/unit) arrays were set 1 to 11 to reflect the ability level of the aura source? Would this help anything?
Here is a copy of Disrupti'ves Trigger -with the (#) suffix attached to the buff level for clarity.
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Set Damage Copy
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Events
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Game - AfterDamageEvent becomes Equal to 1.00
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Conditions
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Actions
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If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
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If - Conditions
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(DamageEventSource has buff Vampiric Aura (3)) Equal to True
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Then - Actions
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Set lifesteal = (lifesteal + 0.45)
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Else - Actions
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If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
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If - Conditions
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(DamageEventSource has buff Vampiric Aura (2)) Equal to True
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Then - Actions
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Set lifesteal = (lifesteal + 0.30)
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Else - Actions
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If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
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If - Conditions
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(DamageEventSource has buff Vampiric Aura (1)) Equal to True
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Then - Actions
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Set lifesteal = (lifesteal + 0.15)
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Else - Actions
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If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
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If - Conditions
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lifesteal Not equal to 0.00
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Then - Actions
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If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
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If - Conditions
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(Percentage life of DamageEventSource) Not equal to 100.00
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Then - Actions
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Custom script: call DestroyEffect(AddSpecialEffectTarget("Abilities\\Spells\\Undead\\VampiricAura\\VampiricAuraTarget.mdl", udg_DamageEventSource, "chest"))
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Else - Actions
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Unit - Set life of DamageEventSource to ((Life of DamageEventSource) + (DamageEventAmount x lifesteal))
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Custom script: call DisplayTextToPlayer(Player(0), 0.,0., GetUnitName(udg_DamageEventSource) + " just stole life equal to " + R2S(udg_lifesteal) + " of it's damage.")
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Else - Actions
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Set lifesteal = 0.00
With the structure of this trigger, it appears that i can arrange the Aura hierarchy in descending order of preference. So, i could set for each level "Then:hero; Else:item;Else unit..." or "item, unit, hero..." or whatever order i decided as the first choice for the action to execute off of.
Am i understanding that part correctly?
And come to mind, if i "am" potentially going to set up this trigger for an ability with 11 levels, is there a way i could do it from a hashtable, or an "for each integer A" format instead of stringing that long a sequence of "If/Then/Else" functions together? Or would that ruin the sequence step hierarchy?
EDIT, EDIT! Ok, here is a "something" i made following what Disruptive outlined... but at this point it has no real goal. I am just posting it as a way to communicate the terms i am understanding this in.
AuraHolderHero is a variable representing a unit.
AuraIDnumber is an integer variable preserving the aura ability level of Aura Holder.
Both variables are arrayed to 28, according to player number.
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Aura Search is Active
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Events
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Time - Every 2.00 seconds of game time
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Conditions
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Actions
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Unit Group - Pick every unit in (Units in (Playable map area) matching (((Matching unit) has buff Vampiric Aura (11)) Equal to True)) and do (Actions)
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Loop - Actions
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If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
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If - Conditions
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(Level of Vampiric Aura for (Picked unit)) Equal to 11
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Then - Actions
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Set AuraIDnumber_Hero[(Player number of (Owner of (Picked unit)))] = (Level of Vampiric Aura for (Picked unit))
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Set AuraHolderHero_11[(Player number of (Owner of (Picked unit)))] = (Picked unit)
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Else - Actions
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If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
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If - Conditions
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(Level of Vampiric Aura for (Picked unit)) Equal to 10
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Then - Actions
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Set AuraIDnumber_Hero[(Player number of (Owner of (Picked unit)))] = (Level of Vampiric Aura for (Picked unit))
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Set AuraHolderHero_10[(Player number of (Owner of (Picked unit)))] = (Picked unit)
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Else - Actions
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If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
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If - Conditions
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(Level of Vampiric Aura for (Picked unit)) Equal to 9
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Then - Actions
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Set AuraIDnumber_Hero[(Player number of (Owner of (Picked unit)))] = (Level of Vampiric Aura for (Picked unit))
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Set AuraHolderHero_9[(Player number of (Owner of (Picked unit)))] = (Picked unit)
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Else - Actions
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If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
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If - Conditions
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(Level of Vampiric Aura for (Picked unit)) Equal to 8
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Then - Actions
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Set AuraIDnumber_Hero[(Player number of (Owner of (Picked unit)))] = (Level of Vampiric Aura for (Picked unit))
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Set AuraHolderHero_8[(Player number of (Owner of (Picked unit)))] = (Picked unit)
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Else - Actions
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If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
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If - Conditions
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(Level of Vampiric Aura for (Picked unit)) Equal to 7
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Then - Actions
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Set AuraIDnumber_Hero[(Player number of (Owner of (Picked unit)))] = (Level of Vampiric Aura for (Picked unit))
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Set AuraHolderHero_7[(Player number of (Owner of (Picked unit)))] = (Picked unit)
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Else - Actions
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If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
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If - Conditions
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(Level of Vampiric Aura for (Picked unit)) Equal to 6
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Then - Actions
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Set AuraIDnumber_Hero[(Player number of (Owner of (Picked unit)))] = (Level of Vampiric Aura for (Picked unit))
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Set AuraHolderHero_6[(Player number of (Owner of (Picked unit)))] = (Picked unit)
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Else - Actions
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If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
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If - Conditions
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(Level of Vampiric Aura for (Picked unit)) Equal to 5
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Then - Actions
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Set AuraIDnumber_Hero[(Player number of (Owner of (Picked unit)))] = (Level of Vampiric Aura for (Picked unit))
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Set AuraHolderHero_5[(Player number of (Owner of (Picked unit)))] = (Picked unit)
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Else - Actions
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If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
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If - Conditions
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(Level of Vampiric Aura for (Picked unit)) Equal to 4
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Then - Actions
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Set AuraIDnumber_Hero[(Player number of (Owner of (Picked unit)))] = (Level of Vampiric Aura for (Picked unit))
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Set AuraHolderHero_4[(Player number of (Owner of (Picked unit)))] = (Picked unit)
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Else - Actions
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If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
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If - Conditions
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(Level of Vampiric Aura for (Picked unit)) Equal to 3
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Then - Actions
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Set AuraIDnumber_Hero[(Player number of (Owner of (Picked unit)))] = (Level of Vampiric Aura for (Picked unit))
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Set AuraHolderHero_3[(Player number of (Owner of (Picked unit)))] = (Picked unit)
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Else - Actions
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If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
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If - Conditions
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(Level of Vampiric Aura for (Picked unit)) Equal to 2
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Then - Actions
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Set AuraIDnumber_Hero[(Player number of (Owner of (Picked unit)))] = (Level of Vampiric Aura for (Picked unit))
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Set AuraHolderHero_2[(Player number of (Owner of (Picked unit)))] = (Picked unit)
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Else - Actions
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If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
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If - Conditions
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(Level of Vampiric Aura for (Picked unit)) Equal to 1
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Then - Actions
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Set AuraIDnumber_Hero[(Player number of (Owner of (Picked unit)))] = (Level of Vampiric Aura for (Picked unit))
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Set AuraHolderHero_1[(Player number of (Owner of (Picked unit)))] = (Picked unit)
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Else - Actions
But one problem i still see with this method... it still does not account for multiple units with the same ability at the same level owned by the same player. I don't seem to know how to do that. So, at the end of the day, it adds a lot of bloat & still effectively filters very little.
So i am going to ask this again: is this a situation a hashtable could salvage, or am i missing something a lot simpler?
I am in so far over my head, this is completely hopeless! It is just like everything else in this world i set my hand towards: i just suck at it!!!
No wonder i have to apply for SSI! I suck at everything i do!!! Even the games/hobbies i engage in -i suck. I can never produce anything worthy to share with a community! I SUCK AT EVERYTHING!
EDIT EDIT EDIT: "If" i used separate buffs for each level of the aura, you know what would be super cool? Is to be able to use upgrade buttons to represent the Aura, like the one's that you use to represent weapon/armor/caster upgrade levels -the ones that have the level number in the lower right hand corner? It would be totally appropriate. Do we have such buttons anywhere for Vampiric Aura?
Honestly, i think one of the rules for acceptance of any button bundle, it should be required that it have a button in that format in the event some one wants to use it to represent tech/ability level!
O rats! Would the game even know to fill the slot with a level number it is used as the icon for a buff? I don't think Buffs are measured that way in the game. At least, in the editor, there are no level fields to fill in.
