Hi, Is there a way to change player walking/running animations depending on walked surface? Like in deep mud, snow where is more difficult to walk. I’m searching for couple of days and can’t find answer.
Changing player animations based on the walked surface is a common technique in games to enhance immersion and realism. Here are a few ways to achieve this in Unreal Engine 4.27:
1. Material-Based Detection:
- Surface Material Tags:
- Define unique tags for different ground materials like “mud”, “snow”, “grass”, etc.
- Apply these tags to your materials in the Material Editor.
- Character Blueprint:
- Access the material the character is standing on using the “GetHitResultUnderFootLocation” node.
- Check the material’s tags and trigger specific animation sequences based on the detected surface.
- Use animation blend nodes to smoothly transition between animations.
2. Collision-Based Detection:
- Overlap Events:
- Create invisible collision boxes around areas with different ground types.
- Set up overlap events for these boxes to trigger when the character enters them.
- Inside the overlap event, play the corresponding walking animation for that surface.
- Trace Events:
- Cast a downward trace from the character’s feet.
- Check the hit result’s material or actor properties to identify the surface type.
- Play the appropriate animation based on the identified surface.
3. Dedicated Movement Components:
- Custom Movement Components:
- Create custom movement components in Blueprint for different surfaces like mud and snow.
- Each component can handle movement physics, animations, and visual effects specific to that surface.
- Switch between movement components based on the detected surface type.
4. Third-Party Plugins:
- Advanced Locomotion Systems:
- Consider using plugins like “Advanced Locomotion System V4” or “Root Motion for UE4” that offer comprehensive surface detection and animation switching features.
- These plugins can save you development time and provide additional customization options.
Additional Tips:
- Visual Cues: Combine animation changes with visual effects like splashing mud or footprints in snow to enhance the effect.
- Sound Effects: Use different footstep sounds for different surfaces to further immerse the player.
- Performance Optimization: Avoid excessive trace events or complex material checks for performance reasons.
- Start Simple: Begin with a basic implementation and gradually add complexity as needed.