Ultimate Game Design : Building game worlds

FIGURE 6-5
Display message using a trigger
C H A P T E R 6
Now, let’s take a look at a selection of common trigger types. Again, trigger types
can be built or custom-defined for your own gameplay purposes.
Fearthis
A “fearthis” trigger can be used to create “suction spots” where enemies fear to
tread. You might use a “fearthis” trigger next to a large idol on your map—an idol of
a hostile deity that causes fear in the heart of your enemy. This kind of trigger can be
radius-driven so that enemies will not come any closer to the idol than defined by the
“fearthis” radius properties (for example, within a 12-world-unit radius). For
gameplay, these areas can be used as a safe spot or a recharge point for the player’s
character. Fighting might take place in spades outside the vicinity of such an idol with
a “fearthis” trigger.
Players can take cover near the idol and use it as a free zone since some enemies
(those set to respond to “fearthis”) will not enter the “fearthis” radius. You might
use this trigger with a command-line script (like the previous sine wave attack example)
to play a “fear or cower” animation when enemies reach the “fearthis” trigger
boundary or radius. The behavior result is that when these enemies encounter the
trigger while chasing you, they begin to cower (cover their face with their arms,
afraid to even see this idol) and flee (as one possible example).
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Scripting Action Events