Tutorial What are dummy units and how they work?

[Ur-Quan]

Tutorial: What are dummy units and how they work?



In this tutorial I will explain everything about dummy units.



1.What is dummy unit?
2.Why and for what should I use dummy unit?
3.How can I make a dummy unit?
4.Explanation of each dummy units change.



1.What is dummy unit?

Dummy unit is special unit in Warcraft.Its made by the editor who needs it for as many as he can think of uses.Dummy unit should be non selectable and non interactive unit used only for helping editor to achieve his goals.

2.Why and for what should I use dummy unit?
Dummy unit has a lot of uses,it can:
-Be target for something
-Cast spells
-Do things out of thin air
-Summon things

-Be target for something
You can make it patrol around and assing other units follow it.
Make it as target for spells.
Make it as target for special effects.(most used)

-Cast spells
This is most used use of dummy unit.
Its used to cast spells which you dont want hero to cast.
Or add a lot of different buffs to 1 target using just 1 spell (and many dummys each using 1 buff or 1 dummy casting all the buffs)

-Do things out of thin air
Much users use dummy unit to create effects.Steps are easy.
1.Create dummy unit
2.Put that unit where you want effect
3.Make a trigger adding the effect to the unit.
Voila you have a effect just appearing out of nowhere.
Cool, isnt it?

-Summon things
You can use more dummy units if you need to summon a lot of different kinds of units.
For example:
You need to make 1 wolf, 1 sheep and 1 eagle
1. You will make 1 dummy unit
2. Add all three summoning abillities to it
3. And get it cast them
You now have hero wich summons 3 different units throught just 1 simple spell.

3.How can I make a dummy unit?
Its very simple to make dummy units.
1.Go to Object Editor
2.Make new unit and base it off footman
3. Edit its specific values

Values:
Abilities - Normal: Locust
Art - Model File: Units - Missiles: Flying Machine
Art - Model File - Extra Versions: None
Scaling Value: 0.10
Combat - Attacks Enabled: None
Sound - Unit Sound Set: None
Stats - Food cost: 0
Stats - Mana Initial Amount: 1000000
Stats - Mana Maximum: 100000

4.Explanation of each dummy units change.

Abilities - Normal: Locust
Makes your unit unselectable,invulnerable and without pathing.

Art - Model File: Units - Missiles: Flying Machine
Makes your unit almost invisible

Art - Model File - Extra Versions: None
Makes the model as scarce as possible.

Scaling Value: 0.10
Reduces size of unit to 10%.
Makes unit very hard to spot.

Combat - Attacks Enabled: None
Disables units ability to attack

Sound - Unit Sound Set: None
Removes every sound from unit including dying.
So you dont get that "Aurgghhhh" sound anymore when using dummys.

Stats - Food cost: 0
Makes unit cost no food so if you make player owned dummy it wont consume his food.

Stats - Mana Initial Amount: 1000000
Stats - Mana Maximum: 100000
Makes your dummy to have enough mana for endless spells.

 

[Ur-Quan]

This is my first tutorial so be easy on me
it is made for those who are new to this
And finally you can just right send someone here instead of explaining it over and over and over and over

 

[bin32]

nice tutorial but can u put an example so newbies can learn better.thx

 

[Sunny_D]

a good basic tutorial, although there are already one or two others around here already

 

[ayumilove]

err to be exact, 3 <3

to those newbies out there who wanna see live dummy in action
click the link below:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VKksbots7g&mode=user&search=

 

[turok255]

Hmm.... nice you seem to know dummies.

I wanna know how i can make a Blue Flamestrike
i.e. Icey version of it.

I was told to give a dummy unit flamestrike model (I did but it dosen't make the fire appear just the blak marks on the floor) change its color to blue then hide my origonal flamestrike spell.

My problem is making the model of flamestrike appear!
got any ideas?

-Turok

 

[chazis_tripp]

Not bad man but i would probley make a map to show how the dummys work and stuff.

_________________________________________________________________


Check Out my Map @ http://www.dotaportal.com/forums/index.php?act=dscript&CODE=showdetails&f_id=258 Leave some suggestions Ples

 

[Sevion]

Model

for the Model couldn't you just change it to .mdx and not have a model in the first place and make it so that you can't see it instead of just making it very hard to see?

 

[Chocobo]

Many errors.

Dummy unit is special unit in Warcraft.Its made by the editor who needs it for as many as he can think of uses.Dummy unit should be non selectable and non interactive unit used only for helping editor to achieve his goals.

I don't agree.

Dummy unit has a lot of uses,it can:
-Be target for something
-Cast spells
-Do things out of thin air
-Summon things

I don't agree again if you follow the rest.

Art - Model File: Units - Missiles: Flying Machine
Scaling Value: 0.10

I don't agree with the 2 fields.
Also missing some fields.

Art - Model File: Units - Missiles: Flying Machine
Makes your unit almost invisible

Still watchable.

Art - Model File - Extra Versions: None
Makes the model as scarce as possible.

Why would it?

Scaling Value: 0.10
Reduces size of unit to 10%.
Makes unit very hard to spot.

It stills able to be spotted by the eyes.


The shortest and the best reference in thehelper about the dummy units is Persen's Dummy Caster Tutorial.

 

[AlExAlExAlEx]

an example trigger would improove the tutorial

 

[Chocobo]

an example trigger would improove the tutorial

Unit - Create 1 <your dummy unit> for <your player> at <your location> facing <your facing> ...

 

[Darthfett]

This tutorial is outdated, graveyarded, and ancient. The last post before Alex revived the thread is over a year old.

 

[AlExAlExAlEx]

@ Dartfeeth

Sorry..

@ Chocobo

"Unit - Create 1 <your dummy unit> for <your player> at <your location> facing <your facing> ..."

That's easy..but how to actually make it cast a spell on a unit ?

 

[Chocobo]

Unit - Order <your unit> to ...