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Need to know how to create Unit Formations in Game Maker Studio 1.4 - Need Help!

I am trying to create a multiplayer RTS game. I have already figured out how to have multiple players move units and have said units avoid other objects, like solid obstacles, yet now I would like to have the units arrange themselves in a formation or grid, once they reach their destination.

I use the variables "tx", and "ty" for the destination, yet I'd like to know how I can have the units automatically arrange themselves, possibly a simple AI of sorts, once they reach a set distance from the target x,y coordinates. If this can be solved with a simple script or AI, I would greatly appreciate it. If anyone can help me, it would be of a great help.
 

FrostyCat

Redemption Seeker
This is easy if you set each unit's destination separately.
  • Calculate the average x and y position of all selected units (i.e. the centroid).
  • For each selected unit:
    • Calculate the position difference between the unit and the centroid.
    • Go towards the target position plus the position difference from the previous step.
 
This is easy if you set each unit's destination separately.
  • Calculate the average x and y position of all selected units (i.e. the centroid).
  • For each selected unit:
    • Calculate the position difference between the unit and the centroid.
    • Go towards the target position plus the position difference from the previous step.
How would I be able to accomplish the above in code? Do I need to make a grid of some sort, or square root the total number of units to create said grid? If anyone can help me with that, I would greatly appreciate it.
 

FrostyCat

Redemption Seeker
Assuming that you have the selected units in a list, and the target is the mouse position:
GML:
// Calculating the centroid
var cx = 0;
var cy = 0;
var nSelectedUnits = ds_list_size(selectedUnits);
for (var i = nSelectedUnits-1; i >= 0; --i) {
    with (selectedUnits[| i]) {
        cx += x;
        cy += y;
    }
}
cx /= nSelectedUnits;
cy /= nSelectedUnits;

// For each selected unit
for (var i = nSelectedUnits-1; i >= 0; --i) {
    // Move to the target position plus the offset from the centroid
    // I am assuming that you already have code in the unit for moving towards (tx, ty)
    with (selectedUnits[| i]) {
        tx = mouse_x+x-cx;
        ty = mouse_y+y-cy;
    }
}
I strongly suggest that you brush up on basic loops and algorithms if you can't independently write the code based on the algorithm I provided. This is on the easy side among algorithms needed for a multiplayer RTS game. If you don't get up to speed, you'll just need to be bailed out over and over again.
 
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