Target formation component

The target formation component contains a layout of a formation. It consists of a list of position/direction/scale/birth/groupId/metadata data for multiple agents. The navigation module can use this component on a target actor, getting the agent position/direction data inside the formation, and using it as the target location.

Creating a target formation actor

The component can be attached to any actor and add the agent data manually or by blueprint but it can also be generated automatically from an agent group. Select your agent group actor inside your level, right-click and choose “Create a target formation actor“ from the agent group actions submenu.

This command generates a new target point actor with the formation component. The components contain inside the “Agents” property the layout data of each agent. You can move this actor to any location and then set it as the target point actor/sequence property of a navigation component.

The formation component can read formation data also from an Agent Layout asset. You can generate this asset manually or select an agent group actor in your level, right-click and choose “Create an agent layout asset“ from the agent group actions submenu. You can use this asset with a target formation component.

Create an agent group actor from a formation target

It is possible to generate a new agent group actor from a formation target component. It is useful so you can edit your formation with the layout tool and then copy back the new formation to the formation component.

Select the target formation actor in your level, then inside the context browser select an atoms agent type asset that you want to use on the new agents, then right-click on the formation actor and choose the command “Create an agent group“ from the formation actor sub-menu.

Copy a formation layout to an agent group actor

You can copy a formation from a formation component to an agent group actor that is using a points layout component. Select in your level the formation actor and the agent group actor. Right-click and choose the command “Copy layout from formation actor“ inside the “agent group actions“ submenu.

Copy a formation layout from an agent group actor

You can copy a formation from an agent group actor to a formation component. Select in your level the formation actor and the agent group actor. Right-click and choose the command “Copy layout from agent group actor“ inside the “formation actor actions“ submenu.