Dev log – Day 5

Summary

Today was focused on pushing core gameplay systems forward: expanding the inventory system with query + unique-item handling, building a working pickup flow, and adding “use item” logic so doors can require (and optionally consume) a key item. On the UI side, I implemented a basic HUD notification widget to replace print strings for look-at and pickup feedback. Finally, I created a place-item “podium” trigger that lets the player place an inventory item into the world (starting with a Fuse use-case), with LookAt feedback that changes based on whether the required item is currently in the inventory.

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What I Worked on Today

Inventory System

Intent

Implement and validate an inventory query function that checks if a given item exists and returns the in-stock quantity.

Accomplished

• Added inputs to the Query Inventory function (Item: DA_Item object reference, Quantity: integer).
• Implemented Map Find lookup (Content as the target map, Item as the key).
• Added a branch to verify whether Find returned a valid result.
• Returned true + in-stock quantity when the item is found.
• Returned false + stock quantity when the item is not found.

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Build Item Pickup system

Intent

Implement a pickup flow that adds items to the inventory (with unique-item rules) and optionally destroys the pickup actor after a successful add.

Accomplished

• Added an IsUnique boolean to DA_Item (default: false) to support unique item behavior.
• Updated AddToInventory to query inventory first and prevent adding duplicates when an item is both in stock and unique.
• Implemented adding pickup items to the inventory via BP_PickUp by retrieving the player’s AC_InventorySystem component and calling AddToInventory with the item DataAsset.
• Promoted pickup Quantity to a variable to improve reuse/clarity of the pickup logic.
• Added an IsDestroyedOnPickup boolean to DA_Item, plus getter access, to control whether the pickup actor should be destroyed after being collected.
• Implemented “destroy after successful pickup” using an AND check: AddToInventory returned true AND IsDestroyedOnPickup == true → then destroy the pickup actor.
• Playtested pickup flow in-level and confirmed pressing E behaves as intended after setting IsDestroyedOnPickup correctly (set to true on Keycard and Fuse, and true by default in DA_Item).

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Add using item functions

Intent

Enable interactables (e.g., doors) to require an inventory item to unlock/open, with optional key consumption.

Accomplished

• Added RequiredKey (DA_Item object reference) to BP_Door and made it instance-editable.
• Switched door interaction from overlap events to Event InteractWith → Open Door; playtest confirmed it opens on interact.
• Added unlock logic for doors when a required key is present (keycard use-case).
• Added functionality to destroy/consume the key when unlocked.

Implementation Notes

• If RequiredKey is NOT valid:
  • After trigger logic: unlock door.
  • On interact: open door.

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Modify BP_Door

Intent

Show appropriate LookAt text when the player looks at a locked door.

Accomplished

• Modified the Return node to say “Locked door” when looking at a locked door.

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Add category feature to the inventory system

Intent

Add an item category field so inventory items can be grouped/handled by type.

Accomplished

• Created an enumeration blueprint for item categories (E_ItemCategory).
• Added category entries: Key, Utility, Notes.
• Added a Category variable to DA_Item (enum-based catalogue type).
• Assigned category values on items (e.g., fuse → Utility, keycard → Key).

Implementation Notes

• Created E_ItemCategory in the InventorySystem/Data folder.
• Added Category var to DA_Item (type: enum catalogue).

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Implementing Basic HUD system

Intent

Display interaction/look-at feedback and inventory pickup notifications through a basic on-screen HUD widget.

Accomplished

• Added a W_Notifications widget in Content/Game/UserInterface.
• Built the widget layout: Canvas Panel → Border (anchored center-right) → Text (TXT_Notice).
• Implemented notice binding:
  • Notice (Text) variable, instance editable + expose on spawn.
  • Pre Construct sets TXT_Notice from Notice.
• Added auto-clear behavior: timer after Construct calls Clear notice, which Remove from parent.
• Hooked inventory → HUD:
  • In AC_InventorySystem “Add to inventory” creates the widget before return.
  • Formats notice text as “ added to inventory”.
  • Adds to viewport.
• Playtested pickup flow: keycard/fuse pickup shows correct HUD notice (performed as expected).

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Add place item trigger function

Intent

Enable placing a specific inventory item onto a world “podium” trigger (e.g. a fuse) so it can drive puzzle/door logic.

Accomplished

• Created the blueprint and implemented basic functionality.
• Implemented LookAt.
• Implemented InteractWith.
• Implemented adding the item static mesh to the podium.
• Playtested.
• Updated LookAt to better reflect absence of the needed item.

Implementation Notes

• Created a child of BP_Trigger named dBP_ItemPodium.
• Added a basic cube mesh for development (podium mesh will be adjusted later).
• Added a static mesh slot that gets filled by the placed item.
• Added Item variable (DA_Item reference), instance-editable.
• Confirmed cube blocks the interact channel; implemented BPI_Interact.
• Implemented LookAt: verb “Place”, noun is the item name.
• Implemented InteractWith:
  • Query inventory for Item (qty 1).
  • If present, remove from inventory (qty 1).
• Adding static mesh to podium:
  • Set podium mesh from the Item’s stored mesh.
  • Call OnTriggered and set triggered true.
• Added inventory query in the “T” function to change LookAt based on availability:
  • If item in stock → “Place item”
  • If not in stock → “Needs Item”
• Playtest setup:
  • Door locked, trigger = Podium, required key empty; Podium item = Fuse
  • Expected: door cannot open until fuse is picked up and placed on podium
  • Result: success

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Technical Notes

• Inventory querying is now a reusable foundation: Query Inventory returns both a boolean (found/not found) and in-stock quantity via Map Find + validation branch.
• Pickup flow depends on DA_Item configuration:
  • IsUnique controls duplicate prevention.
  • IsDestroyedOnPickup controls whether the pickup actor is destroyed after a successful add (and was the root cause of an “E doesn’t pick up” issue until set correctly).
• Door interaction was moved from overlap to explicit interaction (Event InteractWith), improving control over when doors open.
• The HUD notification widget is now the primary feedback path for pickups/look-at messaging, with an auto-clear timer to avoid persistent UI clutter.

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Challenges & Lessons Learned

• Pickup interaction initially failed when pressing E; the likely blocker was IsDestroyedOnPickup not being set. Fixing the data (Keycard/Fuse set true, and defaulting true in DA_Item) resolved the issue and restored expected pickup behavior.
• I attempted to set lock state from a trigger branch false output, but reverted because it would reset lock status when the trigger/button resets. This is something to revisit later for puzzle logic.

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Next Steps

• Revisit door lock-state handling for trigger/button reset scenarios (for future puzzles).
• Replace/adjust the temporary podium cube mesh now that the place-item flow is proven.
• Continue expanding place-item use-cases (Fuse + Fuse Panel puzzle path) using the podium trigger foundation.