Creating a Clash of Clans-like Game in Unity Pt. 4

In this fourth part of our tutorial series, we will implement special abilities for different troop types in our Clash of Clans-like game. Special abilities add depth and strategy to gameplay, making each troop unique and more engaging.

Defining Troop Types

First, let's define different troop types with their respective abilities. We'll create a base class called Troop and derive specific troop types from it.

using UnityEngine;

public abstract class Troop : MonoBehaviour
{
    public float movementSpeed = 2f;
    public int health = 50;
    public int damage = 10;
    public float attackRange = 1f;

    public abstract void SpecialAbility(); // Abstract method for special ability

    public void TakeDamage(int damage)
    {
        health -= damage;
        Debug.Log(name + " takes " + damage + " damage.");
        
        if (health <= 0)
        {
            Destroy(gameObject);
            Debug.Log(name + " destroyed!");
        }
    }

    // Other existing methods...
}

Creating Specific Troop Types

Now, let’s create specific troop classes that inherit from the Troop class and implement their unique special abilities.

// Warrior Troop
public class Warrior : Troop
{
    public override void SpecialAbility()
    {
        // Example: Increase damage temporarily
        damage *= 2;
        Debug.Log(name + " activates special ability: Double Damage!");
    }
}

// Archer Troop
public class Archer : Troop
{
    public override void SpecialAbility()
    {
        // Example: Long-range attack
        attackRange *= 2;
        Debug.Log(name + " activates special ability: Long Range!");
    }
}

Triggering Special Abilities

We need a way to trigger special abilities during combat. We can add a method in the CombatManager to allow troops to use their abilities.

public class CombatManager : MonoBehaviour
{
    public List playerTroops;
    public List enemyTroops;

    void Update()
    {
        foreach (Troop troop in playerTroops)
        {
            FindTarget(troop, enemyTroops);
            if (Input.GetKeyDown(KeyCode.Space)) // Press Space to use special ability
            {
                troop.SpecialAbility();
            }
        }

        foreach (Troop troop in enemyTroops)
        {
            FindTarget(troop, playerTroops);
            // Optional: Add AI logic to use special abilities
        }
    }

    private void FindTarget(Troop troop, List enemyTroops)
    {
        foreach (Troop enemy in enemyTroops)
        {
            if (Vector2.Distance(troop.transform.position, enemy.transform.position) < troop.attackRange)
            {
                troop.SetTarget(enemy.gameObject);
                return; // Exit after setting the first target
            }
        }

        troop.SetTarget(null); // No target found
    }
}

Adding Cooldowns to Special Abilities

To prevent spamming special abilities, we can add a cooldown mechanism to each troop type.

public abstract class Troop : MonoBehaviour
{
    // Existing properties...
    public float specialAbilityCooldown = 5f;
    private float lastAbilityTime;

    public virtual void SpecialAbility()
    {
        if (Time.time >= lastAbilityTime + specialAbilityCooldown)
        {
            lastAbilityTime = Time.time;
            // Override in derived classes
        }
        else
        {
            Debug.Log(name + " ability on cooldown.");
        }
    }

    // Other existing methods...
}

Creating UI for Special Abilities

It's useful to have a UI element that shows when a troop can use their special ability. You can create a simple UI button for each troop that triggers their ability.

using UnityEngine;
using UnityEngine.UI;

public class UIManager : MonoBehaviour
{
    public Troop troop;
    public Button specialAbilityButton;

    void Start()
    {
        specialAbilityButton.onClick.AddListener(OnSpecialAbilityClicked);
    }

    private void OnSpecialAbilityClicked()
    {
        troop.SpecialAbility();
    }

    void Update()
    {
        // Update button state based on cooldown if needed
    }
}

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we implemented special abilities for different troop types, enhancing the strategic gameplay in our Clash of Clans-like game. By creating unique troop classes, triggering abilities, and managing cooldowns, we can offer players more dynamic combat experiences.