lsh4/MONSTER_DETECTION_IMPROVEMENTS.md

Monster Detection & Behavior Improvements

Summary

Applied minimal, targeted fixes to improve monster detection, rotation smoothness, and attack consistency based on analysis of the existing system.

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Changes Made

1. ✅ Added Configurable Rotation Speed (MonsterController.cs)

Location: Lines 15, 83

What Changed:

// NEW: Added public field
public float rotationSpeed = 8f; // Higher = smoother rotation

// UPDATED: FaceTarget() now uses configurable speed
transform.rotation = Quaternion.Slerp(transform.rotation, targetRotation, Time.deltaTime * rotationSpeed);

Why:

• Previous hardcoded value of 5f was okay but not customizable
• New default of 8f provides smoother rotation
• Can be adjusted per-monster in Unity Inspector
• Makes direction changes feel more natural during movement

Impact: 🟢 Low - Improves visual smoothness, no gameplay impact

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2. ✅ Added Per-Monster Distance Check (MonsterFormationGroup.cs)

Location: Lines 397-403

What Changed:

// NEW: Check if each specific monster is close enough before attacking
float distanceToPlayer = Vector3.Distance(monster.transform.position, player.position);
if (distanceToPlayer > effectiveAttackRange)
{
    Debug.Log($"[Combat] {monster.name} too far to attack ({distanceToPlayer:F1}m > {effectiveAttackRange:F1}m)");
    continue;
}

Why:

• Previous system only checked if ANY monster was in range
• Caused distant monsters in formation to attack when they shouldn't
• Now each monster validates their own distance before attacking
• Prevents "teleporting attacks" from back-row monsters

Impact: 🟡 Medium - Fixes major combat issue, improves realism

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3. ✅ Standardized Attack Range Checks (MonsterFormationGroup.cs)

Location: Lines 20-22, 303, 368

What Changed:

// NEW: Consistent attack range calculation
private const float ATTACK_RANGE_BUFFER = 0.5f;
private float effectiveAttackRange => attackRange + ATTACK_RANGE_BUFFER;

// UPDATED: All checks now use effectiveAttackRange
if (monsterToPlayerDist <= effectiveAttackRange)  // Line 303
if (...Distance(...) <= effectiveAttackRange)    // Line 368

Before (Inconsistent): | Location | Range Used | |----------|------------| | Update() | attackRange + 0.5f | | LoopAttack() | attackRange + 0.5f | | ChaseRoutine() | attackRange (no buffer) |

After (Consistent):

• All checks use effectiveAttackRange (6.5f by default)
• Single source of truth for attack range
• Easy to adjust if needed

Why:

• Inconsistent ranges caused confusing behavior
• Monsters would chase/stop/attack at different distances
• Now all combat logic uses same range definition

Impact: 🟢 Low - Fixes consistency issue, makes behavior predictable

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4. ✅ Prevented Update() State Interference (MonsterFormationGroup.cs)

Location: Lines 280-281

What Changed:

// NEW: Early return if already in active state
if (isChasing || attackLoopCoroutine != null) return;

Why:

• Update() runs every frame (60+ times/second)
• Could restart chase/attack while already running
• Created race conditions and duplicate coroutines
• Now guards against interfering with active states

Impact: 🟡 Medium - Prevents potential bugs and duplicate behaviors

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5. ✅ Removed Redundant Facing Check (MonsterFormationGroup.cs)

Location: Line 408 (removed lines 396-400)

What Removed:

// REMOVED: This check was always true after instant rotation
// if (!monster.IsFacingTarget(player.position, 45f))
// {
//     Debug.LogWarning($"[Combat] {monster.name} is not properly facing player, skipping attack");
//     continue;
// }

Why:

• Line 393 does instant rotation: FaceTarget(player.position, instant: true)
• Immediately after, line 396 checked if facing (always true)
• Redundant check that never fails
• Removed unnecessary performance overhead

Impact: 🟢 Low - Cleanup, minor performance improvement

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Testing Checklist

Detection System

• Monsters start chasing when player enters 20f detection radius
• Monsters stop when player exits detection zone
• Detection triggers consistently

Direction/Rotation

• Monsters rotate smoothly toward player during movement
• Rotation feels natural and not jerky
• Instant rotation works in combat (monsters face player before attacking)

Attack System

• Only front-row monsters in range attack
• Distant monsters in formation don't attack
• Attack range is consistent (6.5f)
• Monsters stop attacking when player moves away

Formation

• Formation maintains during combat
• No "teleporting attacks" from distant monsters
• Back-row replacements work correctly

State Management

• No duplicate chase/attack behaviors
• Update() doesn't interfere with active coroutines
• Smooth transitions between idle/chase/attack states

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Configuration Options

You can now adjust in Unity Inspector:

MonsterController

• rotationSpeed (default: 8f) - Higher = smoother turning

MonsterFormationGroup

• attackRange (default: 6f) - Base attack range
• ATTACK_RANGE_BUFFER (hardcoded: 0.5f) - Buffer added to attack range
  • Effective range = 6.5f

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Known Limitations (Not Changed)

These were identified but NOT modified per "don't change much" requirement:

1. No Line-of-Sight: Monsters detect through walls (simple sphere collider)
2. Sequential Attacks: Monsters attack one-by-one with delays (not parallel)
3. Formation Gaps: 2-second delay when replacing dead front-row monsters
4. No Terrain Awareness: Monsters don't check for obstacles during movement

These can be addressed in future updates if needed.

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Summary of Impact

Change	Priority	Impact	Risk
Rotation Speed	Low	Visual	None
Per-Monster Distance	High	Gameplay	None
Standardized Range	High	Consistency	None
Update() Guard	Medium	Stability	None
Remove Redundant Check	Low	Performance	None

Total Changes: 5 targeted fixes Lines Modified: ~15 lines across 2 files Risk Level: 🟢 Low - All changes are conservative and backwards compatible

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Files Modified

1. /Assets/Scripts/Monsters/MonsterController.cs

   • Added rotation speed field
   • Updated FaceTarget() to use configurable speed

2. /Assets/Scripts/Monsters/MonsterFormationGroup.cs

   • Added attack range consistency helpers
   • Added per-monster distance check
   • Added Update() state guards
   • Removed redundant facing check
   • Standardized all range checks

3. /MONSTER_DETECTION_AND_BEHAVIOR_ANALYSIS.md (NEW)

   • Comprehensive analysis document
   • Identified issues and recommendations

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Conclusion

✅ Detection: Now validates individual monster proximity before attacking
✅ Direction: Smoother, configurable rotation
✅ Consistency: Unified attack range across all checks
✅ Stability: Prevented state interference

All changes are minimal, focused, and maintain existing behavior while fixing specific issues.