===== Creating an Entity =====
//The source code for this project can be found [[https://github.com/Draylar/entity-testing/tree/entity|here]].//
Entities are a movable object in a world with logic attached to them. A few examples include:
* Minecarts
* Arrows
* Boats
Living Entities are Entities that have health and can deal damage.
There are various classes that branch off `LivingEntity` for different purposes, including:
* ''HostileEntity'' for Zombies, Creepers and Skeletons
* ''AnimalEntity'' for Sheep, Cows and Pigs
* ''WaterCreatureEntity'' for things that swim
* ''FishEntity'' for fishies (use instead of ''WaterCreatureEntity'' for schooling behavior)
What you extend depends on what your needs and goals are.
As you get further down the chain, the entity logic becomes more specific and curated to certain tasks.
The two generic entity classes that come after ''LivingEntity'' are:
* ''MobEntity''
* ''PathAwareEntity''
''MobEntity'' has AI logic and movement controls. ''PathAwareEntity'' provides extra capabilities
for pathfinding favor, and various AI tasks require this to operate.
In this tutorial, we will look at creating a cube entity that extends ''PathAwareEntity''.
This entity will have a model & texture. Movement and mechanics will be covered in a future tutorial.
===== Creating & Registering an Entity =====
Create a class that extends ''PathAwareEntity''. This class serves as the brains and main hub for our custom entity.
/*
* Our Cube Entity extends PathAwareEntity, which extends MobEntity, which extends LivingEntity.
*
* LivingEntity has health and can deal damage.
* MobEntity has movement controls and AI capabilities.
* PathAwareEntity has pathfinding favor and slightly tweaked leash behavior.
*/
public class CubeEntity extends PathAwareEntity {
public CubeEntity(EntityType entityType, World world) {
super(entityType, world);
}
}
You can register this entity under the ''ENTITY_TYPE'' registry category.
Fabric provides a ''FabricEntityTypeBuilder'' class, which is an extension of the vanilla ''EntityType.Builder'' class.
The Fabric builder class provides extra methods for configuring your entities' tracking values.
public class EntityTesting implements ModInitializer {
/*
* Registers our Cube Entity under the ID "entitytesting:cube".
*
* The entity is registered under the SpawnGroup#CREATURE category, which is what most animals and passive/neutral mobs use.
* It has a hitbox size of .75x.75, or 12 "pixels" wide (3/4ths of a block).
*/
public static final EntityType CUBE = Registry.register(
Registries.ENTITY_TYPE,
new Identifier("entitytesting", "cube"),
FabricEntityTypeBuilder.create(SpawnGroup.CREATURE, CubeEntity::new).dimensions(EntityDimensions.fixed(0.75f, 0.75f)).build()
);
@Override
public void onInitialize() {
}
}
Entities need //Attributes//, and a //Renderer// to function.
===== Registering Entity Attributes =====
**Attributes** define the properties of the mob: how much health does it have? How much damage does it do? Does it have any default armor points?
Most vanilla entities have a static method that returns their attributes (such as ''ZombieEntity#createZombieAttributes'').
Our custom entity doesn't have any unique properties, for now, so we can use ''MobEntity#createMobAttributes''.
Vanilla has a ''DefaultAttributeRegistry'' class for registering these properties.
It isn't publicly exposed or easily available, so Fabric provides a ''FabricDefaultAttributeRegistry'' class.
The registration of default attributes should occur somewhere in your mod's initialization phase:
public class EntityTesting implements ModInitializer {
public static final EntityType CUBE = [...];
@Override
public void onInitialize() {
/*
* Register our Cube Entity's default attributes.
* Attributes are properties or stats of the mobs, including things like attack damage and health.
* The game will crash if the entity doesn't have the proper attributes registered in time.
*
* In 1.15, this was done by a method override inside the entity class.
* Most vanilla entities have a static method (eg. ZombieEntity#createZombieAttributes) for initializing their attributes.
*/
FabricDefaultAttributeRegistry.register(CUBE, CubeEntity.createMobAttributes());
}
}
===== Registering Entity Renderer =====
The last requirement of an entity is a **Renderer**. Renderers define *what* the entity looks like, generally by providing a model.
''MobEntityRenderer'' is the best choice for MobEntities. The class has one required method override for providing a texture,
and wants 3 parameters for the super constructor:
* ''EntityRenderDispatcher'' instance
* ''Model'' of our entity
* shadow size of our entity as a ''float''
The following code showcases a simple entity renderer with a shadow size of 0.5f
and texture at ''resources/assets/entitytesting/textures/entity/cube/cube.png''.
Note that the texture and model class will be created in the next step.
/*
* A renderer is used to provide an entity model, shadow size, and texture.
*/
public class CubeEntityRenderer extends MobEntityRenderer {
public CubeEntityRenderer(EntityRendererFactory.Context context) {
super(context, new CubeEntityModel(context.getPart(EntityTestingClient.MODEL_CUBE_LAYER)), 0.5f);
}
@Override
public Identifier getTexture(CubeEntity entity) {
return new Identifier("entitytesting", "textures/entity/cube/cube.png");
}
}
To register this renderer, use ''EntityRendererRegistry'' in a **client initializer**:
@Environment(EnvType.CLIENT)
public class EntityTestingClient implements ClientModInitializer {
public static final EntityModelLayer MODEL_CUBE_LAYER = new EntityModelLayer(new Identifier("entitytesting", "cube"), "main");
@Override
public void onInitializeClient() {
/*
* Registers our Cube Entity's renderer, which provides a model and texture for the entity.
*
* Entity Renderers can also manipulate the model before it renders based on entity context (EndermanEntityRenderer#render).
*/
EntityRendererRegistry.INSTANCE.register(EntityTesting.CUBE, (context) -> {
return new CubeEntityRenderer(context);
});
// In 1.17, use EntityRendererRegistry.register (seen below) instead of EntityRendererRegistry.INSTANCE.register (seen above)
EntityRendererRegistry.register(EntityTesting.CUBE, (context) -> {
return new CubeEntityRenderer(context);
});
EntityModelLayerRegistry.registerModelLayer(MODEL_CUBE_LAYER, CubeEntityModel::getTexturedModelData);
}
}
===== Creating a Model and Texture =====
The final step to finishing our entity is creating a model and texture.
Models define the //structure// of the entity, while the texture provides the color.
Standard models define "parts", or ''ModelPart'' instances at the top of the class,
initialize them in the constructor, obtain data in the ''getTexturedModelData'' method, and render them in the ''render'' method.
Note that ''setAngles'' and ''render'' are both required overrides of the ''EntityModel'' class.
public class CubeEntityModel extends EntityModel {
private final ModelPart base;
public CubeEntityModel(ModelPart modelPart) {
this.base = modelPart.getChild(EntityModelPartNames.CUBE);
}
[...]
}
After creating a part, we need to add a shape to it.
To do so, we must add a child to the root. The texture location for the new part is located in ''.uv'',
the offset for it is located in the first 3 numbers of ''.cuboid'', and the size is the last 3 numbers in ''.cuboid''.
Note that the origin of a model starts at the corner, so you will need to offset the part to center it:
public class CubeEntityModel extends EntityModel {
private final ModelPart base;
public CubeEntityModel() {
[...]
}
// You can use BlockBench, make your model and export it to get this method for your entity model.
public static TexturedModelData getTexturedModelData() {
ModelData modelData = new ModelData();
ModelPartData modelPartData = modelData.getRoot();
modelPartData.addChild(EntityModelPartNames.CUBE, ModelPartBuilder.create().uv(0, 0).cuboid(-6F, 12F, -6F, 12F, 12F, 12F), ModelTransform.pivot(0F, 0F, 0F));
}
Our entity model now has a single cube that is 12x12x12 wide (75% of a block) centered around 0, 0, 0.
''setAngles'' is used for animating the model, but we will keep it empty for now.
''render'' is where we tell our cube to show up. Note that standard vanilla models appear //higher//
than the entity hitbox, so we translate the model down to account for this.
public class CubeEntityModel extends EntityModel {
private final ModelPart base;
public CubeEntityModel() [...]
public static TexturedModelData getTexturedModelData() [...]
@Override
public void setAngles(CubeEntity entity, float limbAngle, float limbDistance, float animationProgress, float headYaw, float headPitch) {
}
@Override
public void render(MatrixStack matrices, VertexConsumer vertices, int light, int overlay, float red, float green, float blue, float alpha) {
ImmutableList.of(this.base).forEach((modelRenderer) -> {
modelRenderer.render(matrices, vertices, light, overlay, red, green, blue, alpha);
});
}
}
To complete our model, we need to add a texture file. The default texture size is 64 wide and 32 tall;
you can change this by adding a return of your texturedModelData
We will set it to 64x64 for our texture:
{{https://i.imgur.com/JdF9zjf.png}}
public class CubeEntityModel extends EntityModel {
private final ModelPart base;
[...]
public static TexturedModelData getTexturedModelData() {
[...]
return TexturedModelData.of(modelData, 64, 64);
}
[...]
}
===== Spawning your Entity =====
Be sure to add your client entrypoint to fabric.mod.json.
You can do this like so:
"entrypoints": {
"main": [
"mod.fabricmc.entitytesting.EntityTesting"
],
"client": [
"mod.fabricmc.entitytesting.EntityTestingClient"
]
},
You can spawn your entity by typing ''/summon entitytesting:cube'' in-game. Press f3+b to view hitboxes:
{{https://i.imgur.com/MmQvluB.png}}
**NOTE:** If your entity does not extend ''LivingEntity'' you have to create your own spawn packet handler. Either do this through the networking API, or mixin to ''ClientPlayNetworkHandler#onEntitySpawn''
===== Adding tasks & activities =====
To add activities see [[tutorial:villager_activities|here]].