What is "TSMarker"? What does it do? How does it work? Where is it used? What can we use it for?
If you can answer any of these questions or can shed some light on this elusive thing, post your thoughts here.
For some basic info, TSMarker is classified as a "Target Sort" (found under "Target Sorts" in the Data Editor), a type of entity that allows you to specify how a particular ability or spell targets enemies. There are many other types of target sorts, e.g. TSDistance, which tells the ability to target enemies closest to the caster. TSLife which tells the ability to target enemies with the lowest/highest health in range, etc.
Now, TSMarker seems to have something to do with the Effect Marker fields found on most objects, but I don't know the details on how to make it work. I hypothesize that it has something to do with "target enemies with a marker on them", but then we have to ask, how can we set markers on enemies for TSMarker to use.
N.B. I know there is a way to set markers using triggers, but I would prefer to figure out how to use the whole marker system using just the data editor. Figure out base functionality first, and then we can see if we can do more exotic things using triggers.
Are you familiar with markers in general? You can for exampe make a persistent effect or weapon put markers on all units affected by the sub-effects. Then, you can use a No Markers validator for the effects, to not affect the same unit twice within the same persistent/weapon.
The TSMarker target sort can be used in a similar fashion; you can use it for a search effect with limited targets to prefer units with markers (or without). So you can make, for example, a spell, which periodically hits 1 random unit in an area, but prefers to hit the same target, as long as it is still in the area.
Are you familiar with markers in general? You can for exampe make a persistent effect or weapon put markers on all units affected by the sub-effects. Then, you can use a No Markers validator for the effects, to not affect the same unit twice within the same persistent/weapon.
The TSMarker target sort can be used in a similar fashion; you can use it for a search effect with limited targets to prefer units with markers (or without). So you can make, for example, a spell, which periodically hits 1 random unit in an area, but prefers to hit the same target, as long as it is still in the area.
Good stuff. This is kind of what I'm trying to figure out how to do.
Basically what I am going for is similar to what you described.
In the end, I want to create an autocast ability whose autocast target acquisition is driven by markers (kind of like some of the autocast abilities from Warcraft 3, like the Naga's frost arrows). Ideally, I would have the caster place a marker on a target when it attacks it (either through a dummy weapon or through the first cast of the ability), then the ability picks up on that marker and proceeds to autocast on the target that has the marker, and if no marker is present, the ability just targets a unit randomly (but have it so that the ability itself can place markers on units too).
Any ideas on how to get something like that up and running?
As more precise set of questions:
What field on the weapon object would I use to have a weapon place a marker on a unit?
How can I make an ability itself place markers on a target, so that it can use that same marker for its autocast?
What field on an ability do I have to set up (and how do I set it up) to have the ability target the marker set by the previous question(s)?
What is "TSMarker"? What does it do? How does it work? Where is it used? What can we use it for?
If you can answer any of these questions or can shed some light on this elusive thing, post your thoughts here.
For some basic info, TSMarker is classified as a "Target Sort" (found under "Target Sorts" in the Data Editor), a type of entity that allows you to specify how a particular ability or spell targets enemies. There are many other types of target sorts, e.g. TSDistance, which tells the ability to target enemies closest to the caster. TSLife which tells the ability to target enemies with the lowest/highest health in range, etc.
Now, TSMarker seems to have something to do with the Effect Marker fields found on most objects, but I don't know the details on how to make it work. I hypothesize that it has something to do with "target enemies with a marker on them", but then we have to ask, how can we set markers on enemies for TSMarker to use.
N.B. I know there is a way to set markers using triggers, but I would prefer to figure out how to use the whole marker system using just the data editor. Figure out base functionality first, and then we can see if we can do more exotic things using triggers.
All thoughts, ideas, explanations welcome.
Go!
Are you familiar with markers in general? You can for exampe make a persistent effect or weapon put markers on all units affected by the sub-effects. Then, you can use a No Markers validator for the effects, to not affect the same unit twice within the same persistent/weapon.
The TSMarker target sort can be used in a similar fashion; you can use it for a search effect with limited targets to prefer units with markers (or without). So you can make, for example, a spell, which periodically hits 1 random unit in an area, but prefers to hit the same target, as long as it is still in the area.
Good stuff. This is kind of what I'm trying to figure out how to do.
Basically what I am going for is similar to what you described.
In the end, I want to create an autocast ability whose autocast target acquisition is driven by markers (kind of like some of the autocast abilities from Warcraft 3, like the Naga's frost arrows). Ideally, I would have the caster place a marker on a target when it attacks it (either through a dummy weapon or through the first cast of the ability), then the ability picks up on that marker and proceeds to autocast on the target that has the marker, and if no marker is present, the ability just targets a unit randomly (but have it so that the ability itself can place markers on units too).
Any ideas on how to get something like that up and running?
As more precise set of questions:
What field on the weapon object would I use to have a weapon place a marker on a unit?
How can I make an ability itself place markers on a target, so that it can use that same marker for its autocast?
What field on an ability do I have to set up (and how do I set it up) to have the ability target the marker set by the previous question(s)?
Any help, much appreciated.
Maybe, if you get time Kueken, you can do a short tutorial on markers and the TSMarker target sorts?
I'd bet there are tons of people out there who could use such info :)