Making custom enemies

[Doomsday Emissary]

Hi there Doomworld, long time DOOM fan, but recent WAD maker here.

 

I'm confused as to programs I can use to make custom enemies. XWE seems to be obsolete at this point in time, and SLADE seems to need an already existent custom enemy to make more. So, where do I start?

[Gez]

15 minutes ago, Doomsday Emissary said:

SLADE seems to need an already existent custom enemy to make more

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[Doomsday Emissary]

1 hour ago, Gez said:

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Ah, sorry.. checking tutorials, I see that people just seem to import already existing custom enemies and change their attributes in DECORATE. Should've elaborated, my bad.

[Archanhell]

39 minutes ago, Doomsday Emissary said:

Ah, sorry.. checking tutorials, I see that people just seem to import already existing custom enemies and change their attributes in DECORATE. Should've elaborated, my bad.

 

I am not really a connoiseur of the topic of making custom enemies, and thus I can not help you much as I am not a good coder, however I will for sure elaborate a better answer for you.

 

Yes, it is perfect to firstly check tutorials, read the wiki entries on every aspect you need, learn ZScript (Much more advanced than DECORATE, but harder for new people) and then, you can start your custom enemy.

 

I think, you could make something as basic as make an Imp that replaces the DoomImp (Class ImpReplacement : Actor replaces DoomImp) and all that, then for example, you could make this Imp shoot two or three fire balls at once, via the Attack State, If I remember correctly.

 

You can read those entries:

 

https://zdoom.org/wiki/Creating_new_monsters_or_other_complex_items

https://zdoom.org/wiki/ZScript

https://zdoom.org/wiki/Converting_DECORATE_code_to_ZScript

 

Note that, the first link is solely for the purpose of using DECORATE, thus the third link will aid you on how you can, precisely, convert from one language to another.

 

Experiment, and make use of the trial and error - You will not perfectly do it your first time probably, but that will help you to learn.

 

 

-From: A mapper that barely knows how to make a custom item

[Gez]

It's easier to learn how to make new monsters by starting with just modifying existing monsters, because you can focus on one thing at a time while the rest already works and gives you something you can test in-game.

 

But if you want to start by creating new monsters from scratch, it's possible as well. Assuming ZDoom, you'll need four things:

1. Sprites
2. Sounds
3. A SNDINFO entry to map those sounds to logical names
4. Actor code (in DECORATE or ZScript)

Creating new sprites or sounds is outside the scope of SLADE, use graphic and audio software for that. Once you have them, SLADE can import them into a wad file and give the sprites the Doom-specific properties they need (offsets).

 

SNDINFO, DECORATE, and ZSCRIPT are text lumps, you can just create a new entry in SLADE, give it the relevant name, and start editing it as text.