questshock/modding/ss-specs/levelObjects/14_Critter/critterProperties.md

Critter Properties

Generic Critter Properties

Generic Critter Propertes (CritterProp struct) (75 bytes)

0000  byte      Intelligence; unused
0001  [21]byte  Primary attack info
0016  [21]byte  Secondary attack info
002B  uint8     Perception
002C  uint8     Defence
002D  sint8     Projectile source height offset
002E  int32     Flags
0032  byte      Mirrored views; unused
0033  [8]uint8  Frame numbers; Amount for each posture
003B  uint8     Animation speed
003C  byte      Attack sound index
003D  byte      Near sound index
003E  byte      Hurt sound index
003F  byte      Death sound index
0040  byte      Notice sound index
0041  int32     Corpse triple - 0x00CCSSTT; zero for "none"
0045  byte      View count; for multi-view postures
0046  byte      Secondary attack probability
0047  byte      Disrupt probability
0048  byte      Treasure type
0049  byte      Hit effect -- 0x00: meat, 0x01: plant, 0x02: robot, 0x03: cyborg, 0x04: generic
004A  byte      Attack key frame

Perception is a probability whether an AI detects hacker when visible during an AI interval.

The projectile source height offset is a vertical offset specifying from where projectiles should be launched.

This is set to some positive values for the Elite Guard and Mutated Cyborg, so that their projectils appear from their heads.

The animation speed specifies the time of a single frame of an animation. A value of 0xFF means a time of approximately 0.9 seconds.

For all sound indices, a value of 0xFF indicates "no sound".

No enemy has a sound set for being hurt in the main game.

View count determines how many frames are available per viewing direction. Cyberspace entities, as well as unused critters, have this set to 0x01, all others have 0x08. Changing these values messes up rendering of the critter, and/or all subsequent critters. The sequence of the corresponding images will have to be adjusted accordingly.

The secondary attack probability determines how likely the critter will use its secondary attack when close to the hacker. 0xFF means always, 0x00 will have the critter use the secondary attack only when farther away.

The disrupt probability determines how likely the critter will be interrupted when being hit. 0xFF means always, 0x00 will have the critter execute its attacks and movement without interruptions.

Treasure type is an enumeration value (ranging from 0x00 to 0x0E), pointing into a hardcoded pool of possible loot. See below for the possible constants. The concrete loot is randomized accordingly.

The attack key frame value is an index into the attack animation, when the corresponding attack should take effect.

Critter Attack Info (CritterAttack struct) (21 bytes)

0000  uint8     Damage type
0001  uint8     Special damage type
0002  [2]byte   Unused
0004  int16     Damage modifier
0006  uint8     Offence value
0007  uint8     Penetration
0008  uint8     Attack mass
0009  int16     Attack velocity
000B  uint8     Accuracy
000C  uint8     Attack range
000D  int32     Reload time, with 0x100 being approximately 0.9 seconds
0011  int32     Projectile triple -- 0x00CCSSTT; zero for "none"

The damage type seems to be compatible with the damage type of generic weapon info. Yet all damage types that affect hacker are handled equally; The two damage types 0x04 and 0x08 have no effect at all.

The main game only uses damage types 0x01 and 0x02 (and some combinations). 0x04 is also set for Diego as well as SHODAN, though this has no further effect.

The offence value is compared to the defence value of the target object. See common properties for details.

An accuracy of 0x00 will still have the critter hit, though not that often and with less damage.

The critter will want to get within the attack range to perform its attack.

Critter Properties Flags (4 bytes)

0x00000001      Flying

There are further constants defined, though not in use by the engine. The properties file has some critters with flag 0x00000004 set, which indicated "small" critters.

Treasure Type Enumeration (1 byte)

0x00            No treasure
0x01            Humanoid
0x02            Drone
0x03            Assassin
0x04            Warrior cyborg
0x05            Flier bot
0x06            Security 1 bot
0x07            Exec bot
0x08            Cyborg enforcer
0x09            Security 2 bot
0x0A            Elite cyborg
0x0B            Standard corpse
0x0C            Loot-oriented corpse
0x0D            Repairbot
0x0E            Serv-bot

Specific 3 Properties

These critters (14/3/x) are for cyberspace.

Cyberspace Critters Specific Properties (CyberCritterProp struct) (6 bytes)

0000  [3]byte   Colour scheme
0000  [3]byte   Alternative colour scheme

The colour schemes contain 3 palette indices from the game palette. The 'alternative' colours are used for critters attacking or being hostile. The index into this list comes from the geometry properties, specifically from the Set Colour and Shade command.