SC2Mapster

I'm trying to alter the ability for "charge" that the zealots have. I wanted to do some cool stuff it the editor will allow me; such as: increase the charging distance and speed so that a zealot can zoom a much longer distance and catch up to his enemies, also make it so that charge is not an "auto-cast" ability, and maybe add in some extra effects such as a psi storm when he first initiates charge. Can someone help me with this?

Thank you

To increase the range at which a zealot can begin charging his target, go to Validators in the unit edtior and look for "ChargeMaxDistance" and change the range.

To make the Zealot charge for a longer time, and/or charge faster, go the Behaviors and find "Zealot - Charging." The default duration is 3.5. If you increase the range a lot and don't icnrease the duration, you may find that the zealot's charge wears off before it even reaches its target! Look for "Movement speed multiplier" if you want the charge to be faster.

Turning off auto-cast is easy, just go to the Charge ability flags and remove auto-cast.

Adding an extra effect is also easy. If you look in the charge ability, there is an effects field that says "Zealot - Charge (Apply Buff)." This is the effect that causes the zealot to gain the buff. Just make a new effect, make it a Set. Add the Apply Buff effect, and another effect for Psi Storm persistent, then change the effect of the charge ability to this SET, so it will do both. Doing this will make the psi storm happen on the target. If you want it on the zealot, change the effect's location to Caster Point rather than Target Point.

One other thing, you want to add the ChargeMaxDistance validator to the effect set, otherwise the psi storm may not occur at the same time as the actual charge if you give the order while you are outside the max distance range. One final note is that the ability will go off as often as possible after you use it if you don't give the target a new order. Even if it's not autocast, an "augment" will keep on repeating itself as long as the unit is performing the augmented order (in this case, attack). If you give him a new order, he will stop.

If you don't want him to keep repeating it, don't use an augment. Just use a targeted ability with an effect set, and add an "issue order" to the effect set so that the zealot is automatically ordered to attack the target.

If you are wondering, the "ChargeMinDistance" causes the buff to be removed when the zealot gets within a certain range of the target. Even if you give the buff a very long duration, he won't keep the speed buff after he reaches his target

That was very informative! Thanks!

@MasterDinadan: Go

one problem though, when i tried this, the zealot no long gets the speed buff, nor does he gain the visual effect that charge normally gives (the litlee line behind him showing he's moving faster)

Yeah, I tried converting the zealot - charge to a targetted effect but it is not working at all. Can someone explain that in detail? When i use the ability, my unit simply doesnt react at all.

Edit: I had the transient flag for the ability, unchecked it and now the ability does register, my unit attacks the target but like the previous post, he does not have the buff. Working on that now.

Sorry for double posting. The charge buff applies to the caster but for some reason it is immediately removed. There is a split second where the buff icon shows up and then disappears. I have removed all validators. What could be causing this?

Zealot charge in behavoirs, increase the duration to what you want. Should solve your problem with the buff fading before intended.