Editing Creating a monster

Though not quite as easy as [[creating a simple decoration]], creating a monster is still a relatively basic task. In this tutorial we will define two monsters: one which only uses IWAD assets, and one that uses brand new sprites. We will also start using [[includes]] in order to keep both these monsters in separate EDF lumps.

Much like creating a simple decoration, we will start by creating a text lump named EDFROOT, but for this tutorial we will also make another two text lumps called EZOMBIE and EARACORB. We will include these lumps in EDFROOT so that the monsters defined in the files can be used.

 stdinclude("root.edf") // Includes the file base/root.edf, which in turns includes the other files
                        // that are required for definition of all sprites, sounds, things etc.
 
 // New monsters:
 lumpinclude("EZOMBIE")  // A new monster using already defined assets
 lumpinclude("EARACORB") // A new monster using brand new sprites

Now we will start editing EZOMBIE to define on of our new monsters. For this tutorial we will start using [[DECORATE state syntax]].

 thingtype MutatedZombie
 {
    doomednum   30001    // This is the thing number used to place the object in a map.
 
    basictype   Monster  // This uses a predefined set of flags for this object. basictype Monster is equivalent
                         // to setting cflags as SOLID | SHOOTABLE | COUNTKILL | FOOTCLIP | SPACMONSTER | PASSMOBJ.
 
    spawnhealth 30       // The amount of health the monster spawns with.
    painchance  128      // The likelihood that the monster goes to a pain state if it is hit.
                         // Percentage chance is (painchance/256)*100, so for this monster it would be 50%.
 
    speed       8        // 
 
    radius      20.0     // The radius and height set the physical size
    height      56.0     // of the object, for collision detection.
 
    droptype    AmmoClip // The thingtype dropped by the monster when it dies.
 
    seesound    sawup    // The sounds made when the monster sees, attacks, is put in pain state, dies,
    attacksound sawhit   // and makes ambient noise respectively. These particular sounds are defined by sounds.edf
    painsound   sawful   // and are the DeHackEd names for the chainsaw noises.
    deathsound  sawidl
    activesound sawhit
 
    obituary_normal "was turned to goo by a mutated zombie" // The message displayed when the player is killed by this
                                                            // monster, using a a projectile or other miscellaneous attack.
 
    acs_spawndata        // The identification number used by various parameterised specials, like Thing_Spawn.
    {                    // it also limits the number to a game namespace. Heretic objects use "modes heretic"
       num   255         // instead of "modes doom".
       modes doom
    }
 
    firstdecoratestate S_POSS_STND
    states
    @"
    Spawn:
       POSS AB 10 A_Look
       loop
    See:
       POSS AABBCCDD 4 A_Chase
       loop
    Missile:
       POSS E 10 A_FaceTarget
       POSS F  8 A_MissileAttack(MBFBetaPlasma1)
       POSS E  8 
       goto See
    Pain:
       POSS G 3
       POSS G 3 A_Pain
       goto See
    Death:
       POSS H 5
       POSS I 5 A_Scream
       POSS J 5 A_Fall
       POSS K 5
       POSS L -1
       stop
    XDeath:
       POSS M      5
       POSS N      5 A_XScream
       POSS O      5 A_Fall
       POSS PQRST  5
       POSS U     -1
       stop
    Raise:
       POSS KJIH 5
       goto See
    "@
 }