NPCs

[Slayer]

I can see NPCs are a highly requested feature. I managed to make a mod (not published yet) with pseudo-npcs working in multiplayer. Wondering if I should work on it or wait for b42. NPCs are able to carry various tasks: following player, gardening, gathering wood, removing corpses, cleaning floors, but also accompany player and defend him and fight zombies. This is what I tested, but I see no limits. It takes a lot of effort to develop the mod, I'm thinking about a framework where more ppl can contribute with their modules that describe npc behavior.

[Banzai]

What you are describing already exists in the workshop so maybe check there to see if you are doing anything different since it sounds a bit of a waste of time just to make something thats the same.

The two main ones are called "superior survivors" and "superb survivors". Im pretty sure there are some updated versions of those with slightly different names but you should find those by searching for those mod names.

[Slayer]

thanks, I found that these two mods are either outdated or they do not work in multiplayer.

[Shady Allie]

Originally posted by Slayer:

Wondering if I should work on it or wait for b42.

it is up to you to decide how to spend your time while waiting for build 42.

beta build 42 will break your mod on its release, then every update after will continue to have high probability to break it again. only after 42 is in the stable branch will code changes come to a rolling stop and you have less chance of vanilla breaking it.

do you wish to work on zomboid code and keep learning stuff while you wait? it wont hurt your brain to learn stuff. but it might be wasted effort if the code changes to where you need to start again.

your call.

[Gargoyle's Bite]

There's already some NPC frameworks and mods https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3231442597&searchtext=npc

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3001908830&searchtext=npc

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3088354589&searchtext=npc

None of them work with multiplayer iirc, I've read multiple times it would be difficult to get them working for mp so I'm curious how you've done it. B43 will bring NPC's and that'll probably be a few more years id imagine so once b42 comes out with animal ai I'm sure there will be many more (better than now) npc mods. You could wait until b42 to work on them more perhaps? The 3 I linked are only some of them, there are a lot more as well.

The creator of the second one I linked stated in the comments once b42 releases he is planning on making a whole new npc mod from the ground up. I believe I've heard others say the same as well.

[razab]

Originally posted by Banzai:

What you are describing already exists in the workshop so maybe check there to see if you are doing anything different since it sounds a bit of a waste of time just to make something thats the same.

The two main ones are called "superior survivors" and "superb survivors". Im pretty sure there are some updated versions of those with slightly different names but you should find those by searching for those mod names.

In my opinion, it is totally fine for mod creators to work on their own mods and publish them even if there are already mods with similar content published by other people. There are still so many things which you could do differently like technical realization, balancing, features...

[Goof]

if you can make a survivor mod that doesnt force the game into an unplayable stuttering mess, then release it please

[Slayer]

Ocular, I won't say I accomplished it already, it's too early. Anyway I noticed that zombies can be made harmless and then you can change their outfit, play animations so that they act friendly and with some effort you can kinda cheat they are npcs. Still when they walk they walk as zombies, their faces are zombified and they make zombie sounds. So it's not perfect at all. They are like healed partially zombies. Every action has to be programmed from scratch because of some inconsistencies within the game.

It works in multiplayer without stuttering. Although when you compare what different players see there is slight difference, time shifts etc.

I think I will release it soon. But not sure if I can fight all the bugs.

[Slayer]

here is a demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfMV13OBbfU

[Shady Allie]

Originally posted by Slayer:

here is a demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfMV13OBbfU

lol okay! somebody recently asked for zombies they could make into slaves, i think i remember that recently. looks like you got them covered.

I say keep honing your skills if you want, even if it breaks on build 42. its more stuff in your noggin and won't hurt learning new stuff as you delve into the project.

[Slayer]

Yes that was me posting about zombie slaves. It part of this mod.

[Shady Allie]

Originally posted by Slayer:

Yes that was me posting about zombie slaves. It part of this mod.

Now I feel silly.

I'm happy for you! Make it work.