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Unreal University

This Course in a Nutshell

Master the art of creating an immersive ARPG combat system in Unreal Engine. Learn to craft fluid melee combat, implement challenging AI, and design responsive player interactions. Develop essential skills to build a complete combat experience, from equipment systems to diverse attack types. This course empowers you to bring your action RPG vision to life with professional-grade techniques.

Course Overview

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This Course in a Nutshell

Master the art of creating an immersive ARPG combat system in Unreal Engine. Learn to craft fluid melee combat, implement challenging AI, and design responsive player interactions. Develop essential skills to build a complete combat experience, from equipment systems to diverse attack types. This course empowers you to bring your action RPG vision to life with professional-grade techniques.

Course Overview

This comprehensive course guides you through the intricate process of building a robust Action RPG combat system using Unreal Engine. You'll dive deep into the core mechanics that make ARPGs engaging and addictive, starting with the foundation of melee combat and expanding to complex AI behaviors for both bosses and mobs.

You'll learn to implement a detailed hit reaction system, adding weight and impact to every blow. The course covers crucial defensive mechanics like blocking and dodging with invincibility frames, ensuring your combat feels fair and strategic. You'll also master the art of creating satisfying offensive options, from stealthy assassinations to a variety of attack types.

Beyond combat basics, you'll explore the RPG elements that add depth to your game. This includes creating flexible equipment and weapon systems, implementing multiple damage types, and balancing player resources through health and stamina mechanics. By the end of the course, you'll have a well-rounded skill set to create a feature-rich ARPG combat system ready for your next game project.

What's Inside

  • Introduction

  • Weapon System

  • Attack System

  • Weapon Collision

  • Targeting System

  • Different Weapon Types (Two-Handed, Dual Wield, Fist, and Sword & Shield)

  • Enemy AI and Player Systems

  • Armor Set System

  • Shield System

  • Dynamic Enemies

  • Potion Drinking System

  • Creating a Boss

  • Combat Polish

  • Backstab and Riposte System

  • Final Touches

What Will You Learn In this Course?

You'll feel confident in your ability to create and customize each aspect of an ARPG combat system, allowing you to bring your unique game ideas to life or contribute valuable skills to existing development teams.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Learn scalable and modular design: acquire techniques to create flexible systems that can be easily expanded and modified for various game projects
  • Develop advanced ai systems: gain the skills to program challenging boss encounters and intelligent mob behaviors
  • Create responsive player interactions: implement precise hit reactions, directional blocking, and dodging mechanics for fluid gameplay
  • Design engaging rpg systems: build intricate equipment, weapon, and damage type systems to add depth to your game.
  • Implement core arpg features: learn to create essential elements like targeting systems, assassinations, and save points
  • Balance player resources: design and implement health and stamina systems that add strategy to combat encounters

Syllabus

Introduction
What You Will Learn In This Course
Course Assets
Creating The Project + Importing The Assets
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Covers core mechanics that make ARPGs engaging, such as melee combat and complex AI behaviors for bosses and mobs
Explores RPG elements that add depth, including flexible equipment and weapon systems, and multiple damage types
Teaches how to implement a detailed hit reaction system, adding weight and impact to every blow within Unreal Engine
Develops skills to program challenging boss encounters and intelligent mob behaviors, which are essential for ARPGs
Requires knowledge of Unreal Engine, which may be a barrier for those new to game development

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Reviews summary

Souls-like combat in unreal engine

According to learners, this course provides a deep dive into creating a complex ARPG combat system in Unreal Engine. Students appreciate the step-by-step approach covering various mechanics like weapon systems, enemy AI, blocking/parrying, and even boss creation. While many find it a comprehensive resource for specific combat features, some reviewers indicate that it requires a solid foundation in Unreal Engine concepts and Blueprint scripting beforehand. The course is seen as a practical guide for building a feature-rich system, but keeping up with Unreal Engine updates may sometimes present challenges.
Instructor's explanations are generally clear.
"The instructor does a good job explaining the steps and the logic behind them."
"Explanations are mostly clear and easy to follow, especially for complex topics."
"I found the teaching style effective for learning the material."
"Instruction quality was good, making complex systems understandable."
Hands-on, building a functional system.
"I appreciated how the course focused on actually building a working system piece by piece."
"It's very practical, showing you how to implement features rather than just explaining theory."
"The project-based approach helped solidify my understanding of the concepts."
"You finish with a solid foundation for a combat system you can build upon."
Covers a wide array of combat mechanics.
"This course takes you through building almost every major part of a Souls-like combat system."
"I learned how to implement different weapon types, blocking, parrying, and even AI behaviors for enemies."
"It's really comprehensive, covering things I didn't expect like armor sets and potion systems."
"The course details many combat elements essential for an ARPG."
May require adaptation for newer UE versions.
"Some parts needed minor adjustments to work with the latest version of Unreal Engine."
"As UE updates, some nodes or workflows shown might change slightly."
"It's a common issue with engine courses, but be prepared to troubleshoot version differences."
"Needed to look up newer ways to do things introduced in recent engine updates."
Best suited for those with some UE experience.
"Definitely not for absolute beginners; you need some basic understanding of Unreal Engine."
"I struggled a bit because I was new to Blueprints. Recommended for intermediate users."
"Having prior experience with Unreal Engine workflows and scripting is highly beneficial."
"Learners should have a grasp of core UE concepts before starting this."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in How To Make A Souls Like Combat System In Unreal Engine with these activities:
Review Unreal Engine Blueprints
Reviewing Blueprints will help you understand the underlying logic of the combat system and allow you to customize it more effectively.
Browse courses on Blueprints
Show steps
  • Watch introductory tutorials on Blueprint scripting.
  • Practice creating simple game mechanics using Blueprints.
  • Examine existing Blueprint scripts in sample projects.
Brush up on C++ Fundamentals
Understanding C++ will allow you to extend the combat system beyond Blueprints and optimize performance.
Show steps
  • Review basic C++ syntax and data structures.
  • Practice writing simple programs in C++.
  • Learn about object-oriented programming concepts.
Implement a Basic Attack Animation
Implementing a basic attack animation will help you understand how animations are integrated into the combat system.
Show steps
  • Find or create a simple attack animation.
  • Import the animation into Unreal Engine.
  • Create a Blueprint to trigger the animation on player input.
  • Test the animation in the game.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Follow Tutorials on AI Behavior Trees
Following tutorials on AI Behavior Trees will help you understand how to create intelligent enemies for your combat system.
Browse courses on Behavior Trees
Show steps
  • Search for tutorials on creating AI Behavior Trees in Unreal Engine.
  • Follow the tutorials step-by-step to create a simple AI enemy.
  • Experiment with different AI behaviors and settings.
Document Your Combat System Design
Documenting your combat system design will help you organize your thoughts and make it easier to maintain and expand the system.
Show steps
  • Create a document outlining the different components of your combat system.
  • Describe the functionality of each component and how they interact with each other.
  • Include diagrams and flowcharts to illustrate the system's architecture.
Expand the Combat System with New Weapons
Expanding the combat system with new weapons will help you solidify your understanding of the system and add variety to your game.
Show steps
  • Design new weapons with unique stats and animations.
  • Implement the new weapons into the combat system.
  • Balance the new weapons to ensure they are fair and fun to use.
Game AI Pro 360: Guide to Architecture
Reviewing this book will provide a deeper understanding of AI principles and techniques applicable to creating challenging enemies.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on behavior trees and state machines.
  • Study the examples of AI implementations in different game genres.
  • Apply the concepts learned to improve the AI in your combat system.

Career center

Learners who complete How To Make A Souls Like Combat System In Unreal Engine will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Unreal Engine Developer
An Unreal Engine Developer specializes in using the Unreal Engine for game development and other software projects. This course, centered around how to create an ARPG system in Unreal Engine, is highly relevant to their career. The course specifically teaches how to use Unreal Engine to implement combat systems, weapon systems, AI behaviors and more. Unreal Engine Developers will gain experience with numerous engine features, including blueprint scripting and the animation system. This course provides an excellent foundation for developers looking to specialize in action games.
Combat Designer
A Combat Designer specializes in creating the player combat experience, including attack mechanics, enemy behaviors, and overall challenge. This course is directly relevant to the work of the Combat Designer by giving them the ability to build a complete combat experience. Learning to implement hit reactions, blocking, dodging, and offensive options means that a Combat Designer will be equipped with a strong understanding of how to make a combat system feel satisfying and fair. Furthermore, the course covers enemy AI patterns, from basic mobs to challenging boss behaviors, crucial for a combat designer. The combat designer will have additional insights about how to balance combat encounters.
Gameplay Programmer
A Gameplay Programmer focuses on implementing the systems and interactions that make games fun and engaging. This course helps a Gameplay Programmer by providing hands-on experience in building complex combat systems similar to those found in action RPGs, an increasingly popular genre. The course covers weapon systems, attack combos, collision detection, and hit reaction systems. A gameplay programmer will find the course's exploration of diverse weapon types and the creation of AI behaviors for both mobs and bosses highly beneficial. Knowledge of stamina and resource management will allow a gameplay programmer to create highly engaging combat.
Indie Game Developer
An Indie Game Developer often works on all areas of game development. This course provides important tools for the Indie Game Developer by teaching them how to create a combat system from the ground up, including systems for weapons, attacks, and hit reactions. It also teaches skills to build enemy AI and to integrate RPG elements like equipment and player resources. The course is a perfect fit for Indie Game Developers who want to create a more engaging and well-rounded core player experience. With a core combat system in hand, Indie Game Developers will be equipped to tackle many projects.
Game Designer
A Game Designer is responsible for the overall vision and mechanics of a game, ensuring it is both engaging and fun. This course is particularly useful as it provides practical skills in building a core combat system, a critical component of many action role playing games. Game Designers who take this course will have a deeper understanding of the technical aspects of combat, from creating different attack types and implementing targeting systems, to balancing player resources and more. The course also covers the creation of AI behaviors, essential for designing engaging enemy encounters. Knowledge of systems design helps a game designer make more informed decisions.
Game Systems Designer
A Game Systems Designer focuses on creating the underlying rules and mechanics which govern a game. Such designers will find this course particularly useful, as it provides an in-depth look at creating a combat system. The course covers the creation of equipment, weapon, and damage systems. It also covers stamina and health mechanics, all crucial to a game's systems. Game Systems Designers will be able to use the course to create flexible, modifiable, and scalable designs. By understanding the technical aspects of implementation, a game systems designer can create more engaging experiences.
AI Programmer
An AI Programmer specializes in creating the artificial intelligence for non-player characters including enemies and bosses. This course may be useful for an AI programmer, as a core focus of the course is programming enemy AI. Specifically, the course covers creating different behaviors for mobs and bosses, including attack patterns, navigation, and reactions to player actions. AI Programmers will learn how to manage the state of different AI characters. An AI programmer will be prepared to tackle AI programming challenges in any game development workflow after taking this course.
Technical Artist
A Technical Artist bridges the gap between artists and programmers, using their technical skills to implement art assets in the game. This course may be useful for a Technical Artist, since it involves creating and implementing weapon systems, armor sets, and visual feedback for combat. Technical Artists will also gain an understanding of how attacks and hit reactions are implemented. This understanding is crucial for working effectively with both programmers and artists. The course's focus on creating visual feedback for combat events helps a technical artist understand how to polish in-game systems.
Animator
An Animator creates the movements of characters and objects in a game. This course may be useful for an Animator, specifically when it comes to designing combat animations. The course's focus on hit reactions, blocking, dodging, and various attack types gives an animator insight into the technical aspects of combat mechanics. This awareness will facilitate better communication with other disciplines. An animator will find the insights offered by this course to be highly valuable. By better understanding animations, animators are empowered to create more impactful animations.
Software Engineer
A Software Engineer may find the course helpful, as it covers a software engineering subject in the context of game development. The course teaches how to build scalable and modular systems, including weapon, attack, and AI systems. Software Engineers will gain experience in project management and in breaking down complex tasks. Software Engineers that take this course will be exposed to the kinds of problems they may encounter on the job, even if they don't plan on working in game development. Exposure to game development tools will also benefit a software engineer.
UX Designer
A User Experience Designer is interested in user behavior. Specifically, UX designers focus on how a user experiences a piece of software. This course may be useful to a UX designer. The course teaches systems related to user input, such as dodges, parries, and attacks. The focus the course has on player feedback will also be useful to a UX designer because they will gain an understanding of what makes a player feel engaged. UX designers will gain a better understanding of how to enhance user experience within combat systems. This perspective helps a User Experience Designer better understand players.
Level Designer
Level Designers build the environments players explore. This course may be useful for a Level Designer, particularly when they create combat spaces. The course's lessons on enemy AI and player interactions can inform the decisions a level designer makes. A level designer will be able to create levels that flow well with the mechanics taught in the course. Understanding the possibilities of AI and player interaction will let a level designer craft a high quality level experience. A level designer may also decide to use the course to prototype levels using the taught systems.
Game Producer
A Game Producer is responsible for overseeing the development of a game, ensuring it stays on track. This course may be useful for a Game Producer, by providing insight into the technical aspects of creating a functioning combat system. By understanding the technical challenges in building an ARPG combat system, producers can better manage the development process. Knowledge of the development involved in creating such a central feature will help a game producer more effectively track progress. Knowledge gained from this course will help the game producer understand how various sub-teams work together.
Project Manager
A Project Manager will find this course useful, since it allows them to gain an understanding of the workflows for a specific game development task. The course teaches how to create an ARPG combat system, including all aspects from design and implementation to debugging and polish. Project Managers will also gain an understanding of the kinds of work required to deliver a complex feature in a game. By understanding the process, project managers will be able to make more informed decisions about schedules and resource allocation. Understanding the kinds of work done will empower a project manager.
Quality Assurance Tester
Quality Assurance Testers play a critical role in finding bugs and verifying the playability of a game. This course may be useful for a quality assurance tester, because it covers the development of a combat system. By understanding how a combat system works, a quality assurance tester can better approach testing and bug reporting. The course may help a quality assurance tester understand what constitutes a bug, and to focus testing around core gameplay mechanics. A quality assurance tester will have improved communication with the developers by gaining an understanding of their methods.

Reading list

We've selected one books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in How To Make A Souls Like Combat System In Unreal Engine.
Provides a comprehensive overview of game AI architecture. It covers topics such as behavior trees, pathfinding, and decision-making. This book is particularly useful for understanding how to design and implement intelligent enemies for your combat system. It is more valuable as additional reading to expand your knowledge of AI.

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