Isometric games and variable depth

Hey there!

Just decided to make the switch from GameMaker to Construct 2 (mainly because of delta time) and have been slowly getting a hang of the event-based system, rather than object based.

I'm making an isometric rpg-like game. One thing I'm completely stuck on is how to make different sprites pass in front/behind each other depending on their y value.

In gamemaker it's just, every tick : depth = -y

I found a tutorial that looks like it sort of works? scirra.com/tutorials/1165/z-ordering-on-a-isometric-grid

but I don't really understand it... You have to check if two things overlap, but then you have to do that for every single pair of sprites? I tried to put it a family but does it check if a specific instance passes in front or behind another?

on collision > compare values - sprite1.y > sprite2.y : sprite1.y pass behind

Is there no way access built in variables for objects? You can set the x and y of something why not the z? And like reset the z every tick. Or is that going to slow the game down?

Actually someone here mentions it scirra.com/forum/isometric-multiple-floors_t121850

"Z-height = y offset" but I have no idea how to apply that to the event system

Anyway, thanks for the help in advance, I really like the engine overall so far!!

olga

(ps. how do I get links to work?)

A lot depends on how you have set things up..

Usually an:

player "on collision" with thing

--player.y < thing.y

thing move to object - in front : player

else

thing move to object - behind : player

does the trick if before executing this triggered event the z-ordering is correct..

Thanks for the quick reply!

Hmm yea I guess I see how that would work, but does this mean I have to set up this check for everything on the screen that is moving? I have a couple characters and enemies, just wondering if there is any shortcut.

Another solution is to use for each and place all the things that you need to sort in a Family.

For each Family1 order by family.Y ascending > Move to top of layer.

This is a shortcut but can get very heavy since it will sort all objects every tick.

Ah sweet, yea that makes sense. Thanks!

I'll use it for now and if it starts to get slow, figure out something else I guess.