Automaton script

Inspiration

I am not a scripter or coder, so for myself, I prefer scripts that are "Plug-n-Play", requiring very little (if any) scripting knowledge to use. I understand many creators are not coders, and would like to make use of some of these "non-coder" style scripts I have been creating. Automaton is my favorite, so I was inspired to enter it into this contest and share it with the community.

What it does

The script attaches to a 3d model in a creator's world, and makes that model move along a path set by that creator, without the need to alter or edit the scrip in any way. After dropping the script in world, the creator will note that the script comes with a short instruction panel that contains the following info: 1) be sure that the model's front facing is Z+, up as Y+ 2) Attach the script to your model. In the properties menu of the model, note that there are speed values that can be edited, along with (up to) 50 spots to attach checkpoints, and a spot to attach a trigger box. 3) Use empty objects as checkpoints (it is helpful for organization to label them "checkpoint 1", "checkpoint 2", and so on), attach them in the properties. Each one has an optional pause that can be turned on, along with a setting for the pause length in seconds. 4) (optional) attach a "chase trigger" box in the properties. If a player enters this trigger, the model will chase them until they leave the trigger. Attach the trigger to a grabbable object, the model chases a player that picks that object up. Place the trigger in an area, if the player enters that area, the model chases them. Place the trigger as part of the model itself as a "detection range", the model chases any player that gets close to it. examples of the script in published worlds: the Minotaur and Orbs in "Dark Maze", the city traffic in "Neon Drift", the ghosts in "Ghost Chasers". The script is 100% Plug-n-Play, a creator need not even open the code to look at or edit (though the script does contain full comments all throughout).

How we built it

I am not a coder. All of my scripts: I created using my knowledge of Horizon Worlds build system, and the Gen AI assistant.

Challenges we ran into

It took many iterations and a lot of error and bug fixing to get this script to function as it does. I've learned that with AI, tenacity and repetition gets it done.