Sample design document:

This outline was used to finalize and explain each of the different special abilities an NPC had available to him during combat, aside from basic moving and shooting. Each specific character type was then assigned a set of tactics to define his combat style. The document was made as a reference for the game’s ‘character sheets’, which listed the tactics an NPC had, but didn’t explain the function or limitations of them in detail

NPC Tactics Breakdown

This short document outlines all of the basic ‘tactics’ of the NPC enemies. Some tactics have a Modifier, which is an action they can perform after or during a tactical move. All tactics have a trigger, which is the stimulus for performing that action. Many tactics share the same triggers, and the NPC’s chance of choosing one action over another (Tactic Weight) is described in the individual character sheets. Some tactics have a Trigger Condition, which indicates that something specific is needed for the tactic to be performed – cover, or a vehicle within range for instance.

Example:

Tactic Name / modifier / modifier / modifier

- Trigger

- Trigger 2

- Trigger 3 (trigger conditions)

Furthermore, the tactics are grouped into 3 ranks. Level 1 is the basic tactics available to all NPC enemies. Level 2 represents some more complex or intelligent actions while level 3 is for highly skilled or dangerous NPCs.

Tactics 1 – available to all combat-capable NPCs (thugs, cops, security guards)

Strafe / and fire / throw a grenade / and reload

- Needs to reload

- Player is within Minimum Range

- Trying to get behind Player

- Player has stopped

Crouch / and fire / and reload / throw a grenade

- Needs to reload

- Player is outside Medium Range

- Player has stopped

- Player is running away

Stand / and fire / and reload / throw a grenade

- Needs to reload

- Player is close to or at Maximum Range

- Player has stopped

- Player is running away

Run backwards / and fire / throw a grenade

- Player is inside Minimum Range and getting closer

- NPC is below 1/2 health

Retreat (turn back and run) / and reload

- Player is inside Minimum Range and moving closer

- NPC is below ½ health

- NPC is last in Group

- NPC’s group has lost ½ of its members

Run forwards / and fire / carry a grenade

- NPC is at or below 1/3 health (Kamikaze)

- Player is visibly near death (1/3 health)

- Player is inside Maximum range and running away

- NPC is last in group

- A fellow NPC dies

Roll / and fire

- Player is within Minimum Range

- Player has stopped

Rookie (Kneels and covers face pleading for mercy)

- NPC is last in group

- NPC is at or below 1/3 health

- Player is within CRITICAL distance

Tactics 2 – available to NPCs with a Tactical Rating of 2 (agents, soldiers, hit men) in addition to above

Hide / throw a grenade / wait for player to be seen, then attack

- Player is inside Minimum Range and moving closer (and obstacle is near)

- NPC is below ½ health (and obstacle is near)

- NPC is last in group (and obstacle is near)

Grenade Kamikaze (runs to Player with a live grenade, if they collide before timer runs out it explodes)

- Player is inside Minimum Range and moving closer (and NPC has a grenade)

- NPC is below ½ health (and NPC has a grenade)

- NPC is last in group (and NPC has a grenade)

- Player is visibly wounded (below 1/3 of health) (and NPC has a grenade)

Use a nearby vehicle (to escape)

- Player is inside Minimum Range and moving closer (and vehicle is near)

- NPC is below ½ health (and vehicle is near)

- NPC is last in group (and vehicle is near)

Berserk (running to player shooting in all directions)

- NPC is last in group (and no hiding place is near)

- NPC is at or below 1/3 health (and no hiding place is near)

- No escape route (and no hiding place is near)

Run forward and try to punch Player

- Player is below ½ health

- Player is below ½ health and stopped

- Player is reloading or switching weapons, within minimum distance

Run forward and pin Player (only if there are other NPCs in area)

- Player is running away

- Player is stopped and facing away from NPC

- Player is moving away from NPC, and has less than ½ health

- Player is within minimum range but has his back to NPC

Tactics 3 – available to Tac 3 NPCs, in addition to all above (bosses, super-agents, special ops)

Run to Player and slide-kick (Player falls and takes a second or two to get up)

- Player is facing away from NPC and stopped

- Player is within minimum distance

- Player is within minimum distance and at ½ health or less

- Player is running away

Run to Player and try to kick his gun out of his hand (Player will take a few seconds to select another gun, or use his fists if he has no other weapon)

- Player is below ½ health

- Player is below ½ health and stopped

- Player is reloading or switching weapons, within minimum distance

- Player is within CRITICAL distance

Sneak Behind player and strangle him (trigger ‘decathlon’ style gameplay)

- Player is running away

- Player is stopped and facing away from NPC

- Player is within minimum range but has his back to NPC

Play dead (fall to ground and wait for Player to pass before shooting him from the ground)

- NPC is under a ¼ health (no escape route, hostage, hiding place or vehicle is near)

Take a hostage / and fire / and reload / throw a grenade

- NPC is below 1/3 health (and hostage character is within minimum range of NPC)

- Player hides (and hostage character is within minimum range of NPC)

- Player is within minimum range and getting closer (and hostage character is within minimum range of NPC)