## Instructions - Architect with Actor/Component graphs: keep logic in Components (HealthComp, InteractComp), Actors orchestrate, avoid monolith Blueprints. - Use Enhanced Input: create IMC_Default mapping context, Input Actions (IA_Move/Jump), bind in PlayerController, tune deadzones. - Drive UI with UMG widgets (WBP_HUD, WBP_Menu): bind via Event Dispatchers, use Anchors + DPI scaling, never tick-cast. - Manage game flow with GameMode (rules/spawn), GameState (replicated state), PlayerState (score), SaveGame for persistence. - Replicate correctly: set Replicates/Replicate Movement, use Server RPC for actions, Multicast for FX, RepNotify for state. - Organize graphs: pure functions for math, macros for repeats, collapsed nodes + reroutes, comment boxes per feature. - Handle collisions via presets (Pawn, WorldStatic), trace channels for interact, overlap events with authority checks. - Save with USaveGame slots: serialize structs (inventory, checkpoints), version with SaveVersion int, async save to avoid hitches. - Package with profiles: Development for testing, Shipping with `Full Rebuild`, set maps to cook, chunk DLC if needed. - Profile with Insights/Unreal Insights, stat fps/unit, reduce tick (use timers/interfaces), pool actors. - Use DataTables/DataAssets for balancing (weapons, enemies) so designers tune without graph edits. - This skill is Blueprint-only; for C++ custom nodes see UE C++ dev — prefer Blueprint interfaces over casts. ## Examples - Example 1 — Third-person move: IMC with WASD + gamepad stick, IA_Move (Vector2D) -> Add Movement Input, IA_Jump -> Character Jump. - Example 2 — Health UMG: HealthComp OnDamaged dispatcher -> WBP_HealthBar Set Percent, damage numbers via Widget Component. - Example 3 — Checkpoint save: Overlap Box -> GameMode SaveCheckpoint (PlayerStart + inventory) to SaveGame slot 0. ## Workflows 1. Setup: blank ThirdPerson template, enable Enhanced Input plugin, create IMC/Actions, GameMode + HUD widget, test PIE. 2. Core loop: player + enemy ActorComponents, interact trace (E key), UMG HUD/menus, SaveGame load/save roundtrip. 3. Multiplayer check (if needed): set replication, test 2-player PIE with dedicated server flag, fix RPC ownership. 4. Polish: Niagara FX, MetaSounds, animation montages, packaging Development build for QA on target hardware. 5. Ship: cook Shipping profile, run Project Launcher packaging, validate on clean PC, upload to Steam/EGS with build notes. ## Templates ### Blueprint Pseudograph — Enhanced Input Move ``` [IMC_Default] IA_Move (Value: Axis2D WASD/Stick) -> [PlayerController BP] Event IA_Move Triggered (ActionValue) -> Get Control Rotation Yaw -> Get Forward/Right Vector -> [Character BP] Add Movement Input (Scale = ActionValue.X/Y) [IA_Jump Started] -> Character.Jump() | [IA_Jump Completed] -> Character.StopJumping() ``` ### Blueprint Pseudograph — Damage + UMG ``` [HealthComp] Var Health 100 | Event TakeDamage(float Amt, AActor* Causer) -> Authority Guard (HasAuthority?) -> Health -= Amt -> RepNotify OnRep_Health -> Call Dispatcher OnHealthChanged.Broadcast(Health/Max) [WBP_HUD] Bind OnHealthChanged -> ProgressBar.SetPercent + Play Hit Flash Anim ``` ### SaveGame Struct (Blueprint vars) ``` [BP_SaveGame : SaveGame] Vars: SaveVersion(int=1), PlayerTransform(Transform), CheckpointName(Name), Inventory(TArray), PlayTime(float) Funcs: SaveToSlot(SlotName, UserIndex) | LoadFromSlot -> Cast To BP_SaveGame ``` ## Tools - Unreal Engine 5.4+, Blueprint Editor, Enhanced Input plugin, UMG Designer, Niagara + MetaSounds. - Unreal Insights, Session Frontend profiler, Project Launcher packaging, Zen Loader for assets. - Quixel Bridge, Fab marketplace, Game Analytics plugin for retention events. ## Advanced - Use Blueprint Interfaces (BPI_Interact, BPI_Damageable) to avoid hard casts; use Async Load Asset for streaming levels. - Optimize replication: relevancy, dormancy, compress transforms; use Predictive FX on client, authoritative damage on server. - Build HLOD + World Partition for open worlds; set packaging chunking to keep base pak <2GB. - Add accessibility: remappable Enhanced Input keys, colorblind-safe UMG, subtitles via CommonUI; test with gamepad only. - Version Blueprints with source control (uasset binary + diff notes); use Blueprint Nativization off, prefer Instanced Structs. ## Documentation - https://docs.unrealengine.com/5.3/en-US/blueprints-visual-scripting-in-unreal-engine/ - https://docs.unrealengine.com/5.3/en-US/enhanced-input-in-unreal-engine/ - https://docs.unrealengine.com/5.3/en-US/umg-ui-designer-in-unreal-engine/ - https://docs.unrealengine.com/5.3/en-US/packaging-unreal-engine-projects/