AC_AutoTurretStats

AC_AutoTurretStats — The Core of Your Turret System

AC_AutoTurretStats is the main actor component attached to every turret. It controls targeting, stat values, firing logic, and filtering. Everything from how a turret locks on to how it picks a target is controlled here.

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🔍 Blueprint Structure

• Well-commented and fully modular.

• Functions are clearly named to be self-explanatory.

• Once you review Create And/Or Modify a Turret, you should understand how everything connects.

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Trace Channel Setup

By default, all Line Traces (used for LOS, visibility, and aiming checks) rely on the Visibility collision channel.

✅ Out of the Box:

• Designed for quick implementation in most UE5 projects.

• Works without needing any special project settings.

🛠️ Advanced Projects:

If you're using custom trace channels for AI, environment, or gameplay visibility:

• You’ll need to update the trace channels in the relevant functions inside AC_AutoTurretStats.

• Look for functions related to:

  • Line of Sight checks

  • Clear Shot conditions

  • Target acquisition logic

🧠 Pro Tip: Centralize the trace channel as a configurable variable if you want to quickly swap between channels for different turrets or enemy types.

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🎯 Target Filtering Logic

Filtering logic goes beyond distance. For more accurate decisions, turrets pull info directly from the target actors using two key requirements:

1. BPI_CombatInterface

2. AC_BasicStats

These provide:

• Health

• Damage

• Level

• Other customizable combat attributes

🛠️ Advanced Custom Filtering

If you want to change how turrets interpret or prioritize targets, here’s what you need to look at:

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🔧 Key Functions to Customize

Function	Purpose
InfoToFilterFunction	Central logic hub for fetching and interpreting data from potential targets. Replace this if using a custom interface.
LowOrHigh	Tells the system whether a filter is optimized for high values (e.g., HP) or low values (e.g., Distance). Make sure to update this to match your custom EN_Targeting enums.
EN_Targeting (Enum)	Expand or modify this enum to include new targeting behaviors (e.g., “Most Aggro”, “Weakest Shield”, etc). Be sure to update associated logic in the other two functions above.

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🛡️ Objective Tracking Support

To help with defensive behavior:

• You can use the BP_MasterObjective actor in your level to mark a structure, area, or point your turret should prioritize protecting.

• If your turret’s targeting priority is set to Distance to Objective, this actor will become the reference point.

• You can modify the type of Actor by adjusting the DefineDefensiveObjective function showed below

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🔦 Targeting Laser Toggle

• Controlled via a simple boolean inside AC_AutoTurretStats.

• Named clearly: LaserSight .

• Default: False.

• Can be enabled/disabled at runtime, giving players or designers a visual aid toggle.

• Example: Shown in action in the Penetration Map Demo.

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🧩 Summary

Feature	Default	Customizable?
Trace Channel	Visibility	✅ Yes
Target Data Source	BPI_CombatInterface + AC_BasicStats	✅ Yes
Targeting Priorities	EN_Targeting Enum	✅ Yes
Filtering Logic	InfoToFilterFunction	✅ Yes
Objective Reference	BP_MasterObjective	✅ Yes
Targeting Laser	Off	✅ Runtime toggle

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If you ever plan to build faction-specific targeting, squad-aware behavior, or non-stat-based priority (like buffs or debuffs), this modular system gives you all the hooks you need.