How to create respawning resource nodes using a single variable and a common event.

Trihan · 2022-01-22T12:37:39+0900

Tutorial Title: How to create respawning resource nodes Brief Description: This tutorial will teach you how to implement a system of harvestable resource nodes which replenish themselves on a timer without the need for many game variables or huge nests of conditional branches. Requirements: None, though a basic familiarity with Javascript would be a bonus for understanding the script we'll be writing. Tutorial Body: We're going to look at how to create mining nodes for stone, but these concepts can be modified to apply to basically anything harvestable; plants, ore, fish, you name it. Due to how the data will be stored, it may not be entirely suitable for a full-on farming system where you'll have a lot of crops growing at once, but for all I know it'll work for that too. Feel free to experiment. IMPORTANT: Any time I refer to "variable" in the tutorial, if it's prefaced with "[JS]" I mean a JavaScript variable (the kind you create in a script command) and it it's prefaced with "[RM]" I mean the built-in RPG Maker game variables (the ones you manipulate with the Control Variables command, which can also be manipulated in code using $gameVariables.value(x) to get a variable's value, and $gameVariables.setValue(x, value) to set it) So first things first, let's create a rock event. The main contents of the event, such as animations, text, item gain etc. can be anything you want; the only important part is the script at the end, and turning on self switch A to activate page 2, which has the graphic of the empty node. My event looks like this: Let's break down that script and look at what it's doing: JavaScript: if ($gameVariables.value(1) === 0) $gameVariables.setValue(1, []); $gameVariables.value(1).push([this._mapId, this._eventId, 500]); If [RM]variable 1 is equal to 0, set it to an empty array. Then push to that array another array consisting of the current map ID, the current event ID, and the value 500. The first line is to ensure that the [RM]variable we're using becomes an array before we try to store multiple values in it, otherwise we'll get an error. The second line is storing an array of data identifying this particular node event and the number of frames it'll take to respawn. So in this case, 500 frames, or just over 8 seconds. this._mapId and this._eventId will already return whatever the current map is, and the ID of the event the code is running inside, so you don't need to change this, it'll work as-is with any event you paste it into. It should hopefully go without saying, but the [RM]variable ID used must be one you're not using elsewhere in the game. And now, let's look at our common event (these are created in the "Common Events" tab of the database): This will be a parallel process event. Parallel process events never just run by themselves with no input; they always require a specified switch to be turned on before they'll start, so you'll need to make sure its activation switch is turned on at some point. Usually for things like this I have an autorun event at the start of the game which does setup like this and then either erases itself or turns on a self switch to move to a non-autorun page, but the exact method of turning on the switch is up to you. Note from this point that any time I refer to the "1" in $gameVariables.value or $gameVariables.setValue, you must ensure that you use the same [RM]variable ID as you used for the event step above. Everything else can be copied as-is. The conditional branch script condition, $gameVariables.value(1) !== 0, is just making sure the [RM]variable's value is not 0. This is to ensure that we don't waste time running the inner code if the player has never interacted with a node. As soon as they do, the line from the event which turns the [RM]variable into an array and then pushes an array into it will cause this condition to be true, and start running the rest of the code: JavaScript: for (const oreData of $gameVariables.value(1)) { oreData[2]--; if (oreData[2] === 0) { $gameSelfSwitches.setValue([oreData[0], oreData[1], 'A'], false); $gameVariables.value(1).remove(oreData); } } So what's happening here is that we're running a loop that goes through each element of [RM]variable 1's value, which as mentioned before is an array of arrays (an array just being a [JS]variable that can hold more than one value inside it). Each time we loop, we'll store the current element in a [JS]variable called oreData. It doesn't have to be oreData, you can call it anything you like as long as it starts with a letter, underscore or dollar sign. The important thing is that every occurrence here of "oreData" must be exactly the same name or the script won't work. First, we reduce the value of oreData's third element (index 2) by 1. Then, if that value is equal to 0, we turn off a self switch, using oreData's first element as the map ID, its second element as the event ID, and 'A' as the self switch letter. Finally, we remove the oreData element from the [RM]variable.…

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Started by Trihan Jan 22, 2022, 03:37 AM 48 posts Page 2 of 3 View original ↗

ATT_Turan

#21 Jul 25, 2022, 11:30 PM Source

Draegon said:
This is all working, but when creating more nodes in other places, more and more must be filled into the Node Re-spawn common event.
So I was hoping to combine this solution in this topic with my current setup.

Maybe not using the array? But still pushing the MapID and EventID to the events in a variable?
So that my Node Re-spawn common event is this checked manually.
I suggest you follow Trihan's tutorial more strictly. That's the entire point of his script in his common event, the for loop does the countdown and check for every ore that you've put into the array to be respawned eventually.

Draegon said:
I do not want ore nodes (or maybe other resources) to re-appear the same day in game.
Then you control how long they take to respawn, by the values you put into the array and how long you make the parallel event wait at the end.

But by changing his tutorial and separating it into specific events like this, you've basically broken the exact thing you want it to do, and made the event much longer and more complicated than it needs to be.
Draegon

#22 Jul 26, 2022, 07:43 AM Source

ATT_Turan said:
I suggest you follow Trihan's tutorial more strictly. That's the entire point of his script in his common event, the for loop does the countdown and check for every ore that you've put into the array to be respawned eventually.

Then you control how long they take to respawn, by the values you put into the array and how long you make the parallel event wait at the end.

But by changing his tutorial and separating it into specific events like this, you've basically broken the exact thing you want it to do, and made the event much longer and more complicated than it needs to be.
Thanks for all the advice and insights.
I'll give the tutorial a try then.
I just mentioned what I already had running ;)

Update:
I've applied the tutorial script. With just a small adjustment it also seems to work the way I wished for. :D

I adjusted the array from 500 to 1

And then I just added my random variable:

This way I have a chance that nodes re-spawn. Instead off re-spawning always. :)
I hope there aren't any flaws in this setup?

If this looks OK, I would like to thank you for this and helping me forward :D
Kurochan

#23 Aug 23, 2022, 10:41 AM Source

Hey there fellow game devs! I figured I'd add this tutorial to my list of RPG Maker tutorials to do my "Plugin-ification" remodeling. My main focus for my plugin-ification projects is to make them for RPG Maker MZ, so if that helps you out with your game dev projects, then my Eventing-Style to Plugin Command Style remodeling of existing Tutorials/Guides will help. I basically recreate the actions of MZ Evented Commands in the form of neat-and-tidy Plugin Commands to reduce the amount of lines of Eventing needed which makes debugging your Events much easier with less lines to scan thru.

Here's the link to the small RPG Maker MZ Demo Project I made of the Plugin-ified remodel of Trihan's Tutorial:
https://kurochan.itch.io/ke-gsysmz-plugin

Hope this helps you guys out! I had fun turning this super epic tutorial by Trihan into a Plugin as well!
(a side note to any other RPG Maker MV/MZ tutorial creators who happen to be reading his, I'd be glad to do a Plugin-ification remodel of your Game System tutorials as well if you want! Just reach out to me with the link to your Tutorials you want remodeled as a plugin and I'll add them to my "To-Do List".)
Trihan

#24 Jan 15, 2023, 10:13 PM Source
LvLUpDesign said:
Hey man, thanks for the tutorial.
I did a video explainer on my YT channel of it and credited you for it, however my MV viewers are having an issue saying that .remove is not a function.
Would you have any idea why this would be?
Oh, beans, how did I miss this when you posted it?

The reason is that .remove is an MZ-specific array function. Its implementation can be recreated in MV though, all it does is this:
JavaScript:
Array.prototype.remove = function(element) { for (;;) { const index = this.indexOf(element); if (index >= 0) { this.splice(index, 1); } else { return this; } } };
fizzly

#25 Mar 9, 2023, 09:49 AM Source

Thank you @Trihan, this is really helpful for me and I couldn't manage this by myself I think. I will use this for a "event timers" in processing stations in my game.
Nectar

#26 Apr 16, 2023, 09:41 PM Source

I've been looking for self respawning nodes for hours. Works perfectly fine.

What has me scratching my head is how to calculate the tics to minutes. Thanks again!

Question, how can I make it so nodes respawn in 500-5000 tics? So it's a little more randomized.
Trihan

#27 Apr 16, 2023, 09:45 PM Source

Nectar said:
I've been looking for self respawning nodes for hours. Works perfectly fine.

What has me scratching my head is how to calculate the tics to minutes. Thanks again!
You'd just have to put in a number of frames corresponding to the number of minutes you want the wait to be. So for, say, 5 minutes, it'd be 18000 frames.
Nectar

#28 Apr 16, 2023, 09:53 PM Source

Trihan said:
You'd just have to put in a number of frames corresponding to the number of minutes you want the wait to be. So for, say, 5 minutes, it'd be 18000 frames.
It just hit me that its calculated by the 60FPS so I had to use a frames to timecode calculator xD

I'm not sure if you saw my edit but how can I make it so nodes respawn in 500-5000 tics? So it's a little more randomized.

Again thanks for your help.
Trihan

#29 Apr 16, 2023, 09:58 PM Source

Okay, so for that in the place where you provide the frames argument you would do

Math.randomInt(max - min + 1) + min

So for 500-5000 frames

Math.randomInt(4501) + 500

The +1 is because randomInt is value-exclusive, so it goes from 0 up to 1 less than the value you specify.
Emperor3D

#30 Oct 14, 2023, 12:11 PM Source

Hello, how would I make it so that the ores respawn on resting at an inn rather than on a timer?
ATT_Turan

#31 Oct 14, 2023, 01:04 PM Source
Emperor3D said:
Hello, how would I make it so that the ores respawn on resting at an inn rather than on a timer?
You'd change the parallel event to a regular common event and take out the counting down.
Code:
for (const oreData of $gameVariables.value(1)) { $gameSelfSwitches.setValue([oreData[0], oreData[1], 'A'], false); $gameVariables.value(1).remove(oreData); }
Have your innkeeper events call that common event.
Emperor3D

#32 Oct 15, 2023, 12:19 AM Source

Unsure if I've done something wrong, the event seems to only respawn some nodes. Let's say I mine 6 nodes, if I rest, it will only respawn the first, third and fifth nodes. If I rest again, it respawn the second and sixth nodes. I rest one more time to respawn the fourth node.
Trihan

#33 Oct 16, 2023, 09:06 PM Source

Emperor3D said:
Unsure if I've done something wrong, the event seems to only respawn some nodes. Let's say I mine 6 nodes, if I rest, it will only respawn the first, third and fifth nodes. If I rest again, it respawn the second and sixth nodes. I rest one more time to respawn the fourth node.
That seems odd. Can you show me your events?
Emperor3D

#34 Oct 19, 2023, 10:11 PM Source

Trihan said:
That seems odd. Can you show me your events?
Sorry for the late reply. Here are the events:

The Ore node. This has been copied 5 times in the same map:

Common event. I assume I messed something up here:

Innkeeper event:
Trihan

#35 Oct 19, 2023, 10:41 PM Source

I can't see why that wouldn't reset all nodes, but looking at your use case I'm not sure this was the way to go for you in the first place. If you don't need *timed* node respawn and they all just reset when you stay at an inn, you can just turn on a self switch for the event and then your respawn event would just turn all those self switches off.
Emperor3D

#36 Oct 20, 2023, 11:51 AM Source

Thanks for your help :)
Candacis

#37 Dec 16, 2023, 10:56 PM Source

Thanks for this tutorial, it really helped me out creating a small gathering system.
I set the timer to 86.400, so it takes 24min to respawn.

I'm wondering if I could do a second variable for a longer respawn time and would this need a second common event, too or could I put it in the same common event?

Also, what would happen, if the player doesn't wait it out, but goes to bed at night?
Is it possible that an innkeeper event could add specific time/frames to the timer?
Let's say a 24 hour day takes 86.400 frames, but one day the player doesn't run around at night, but goes to sleep for 8 hours. Could I somehow add 28.800 frames to the timer?
ATT_Turan

#38 Dec 16, 2023, 11:31 PM Source

Candacis said:
I'm wondering if I could do a second variable for a longer respawn time and would this need a second common event, too or could I put it in the same common event?
I might be confused - why would you need a second variable? Just set it to a higher value.

JavaScript can take integer values up to 9,007,199,254,740,991 so that's probably more than you need.

Alternately, you could in fact use a second variable in the common event so that the number you push into the arrays for your nodes represents seconds or minutes, rather than frames.

e.g.
Control Variables -> +1
Conditional Branch -> that variable == 60
- Control Variables -> 0
- Trihan's script

will make it run every second instead of every frame. You can adjust the math from there. But there's really no need for that.

Candacis said:
Also, what would happen, if the player doesn't wait it out, but goes to bed at night?
They wake up feeling rested.

Candacis said:
Is it possible that an innkeeper event could add specific time/frames to the timer?
Oh, you meant the player makes the character go to bed :stickytongue: Sure.

Just make another common event, copy the script from the parallel one. You'd change two things:
- change the second line from saying -- to saying -=28800
- change the third line from === 0 to <=0

Then make your innkeeper call that common event.
Trihan

#39 Dec 16, 2023, 11:43 PM Source

ATT_Turan said:
I might be confused - why would you need a second variable? Just set it to a higher value.

JavaScript can take integer values up to 9,007,199,254,740,991 so that's probably more than you need.

Alternately, you could in fact use a second variable in the common event so that the number you push into the arrays for your nodes represents seconds or minutes, rather than frames.

e.g.
Control Variables -> +1
Conditional Branch -> that variable == 60
- Control Variables -> 0
- Trihan's script

will make it run every second instead of every frame. You can adjust the math from there. But there's really no need for that.

They wake up feeling rested.

Oh, you meant the player makes the character go to bed :stickytongue: Sure.

Just make another common event, copy the script from the parallel one. You'd change two things:
- change the second line from saying -- to saying -=28800
- change the third line from === 0 to <=0

Then make your innkeeper call that common event.
Hey, answer your own threads! I was just in the middle of responding to this. XD
ATT_Turan

#40 Dec 17, 2023, 12:00 AM Source

Trihan said:
Hey, answer your own threads! I was just in the middle of responding to this. XD
Sorry! Please answer it better, messire! That way education may be doubly bestowed.