Using Playmaker to Create Custom Abilities/Items with UCC (Non-Coder Friendly Setup)

[Fazlozx]

Hello,

I’m looking to create my own items, weapons, and abilities using Playmaker, as I’m not a coder and don’t have experience writing C#. While reading through the documentation, I noticed that many sections rely on scripting or talk about encapsulating functionality in code.
Since I’m very comfortable with Playmaker, I’m wondering:

• Can I control or communicate with Opsive UCC using Playmaker actions?
• Can I hook my FSMs into my UCC character without writing custom scripts?
• I’m aiming for a minimal setup — I just want basic UCC features like jump, slide, movement, and obstacle interaction. Everything else (abilities, pickups, etc.) I’d like to handle entirely through Playmaker.

Any guidance or tips on integrating Playmaker with UCC would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Justin]

Can I control or communicate with Opsive UCC using Playmaker actions?

Yes, after you've downloaded the Playmaker integrations you'll find the actions that allow for various operations on the controller.

Can I hook my FSMs into my UCC character without writing custom scripts?

It really depends on what you are going for in terms of if the integration is extensive enough. More on your next question.

I’m aiming for a minimal setup — I just want basic UCC features like jump, slide, movement, and obstacle interaction. Everything else (abilities, pickups, etc.) I’d like to handle entirely through Playmaker.

This is likely more extensive than the integration provides. Scripting gives you a ton more control over what Playmaker can provide in general so there are going to be restrictions with what you can do.

 

[Fazlozx]

Yes, after you've downloaded the Playmaker integrations you'll find the actions that allow for various operations on the controller.

It really depends on what you are going for in terms of if the integration is extensive enough. More on your next question.


This is likely more extensive than the integration provides. Scripting gives you a ton more control over what Playmaker can provide in general so there are going to be restrictions with what you can do.

is there a page that explains each playmaker action? I find the action description sometimes to be a little vague

It really depends on what you are going for in terms of if the integration is extensive enough.

an example that comes to mind if what If I want my character to do a ground pound whilst his mid air after jumping, can I create this abillity using playmaker and connect it with UCC as I do not know how to code in c#?

 

[Justin]

is there a page that explains each playmaker action? I find the action description sometimes to be a little vague

No, the actions go along with the general UCC codebase so for example the TryStartStopUse action will call the Use ability.

an example that comes to mind if what If I want my character to do a ground pound whilst his mid air after jumping, can I create this abillity using playmaker and connect it with UCC as I do not know how to code in c#?

Creating abilities will require scripting. FSMs are a little too restrictive for how extensive the ability system is.

 

[Fazlozx]

what if I create an abillity that is seperate from the ucc structure? Like for example if connect the onjump event to an fsm that slowly decreases the characters Y axis to make like a glide effect. Would that work?

Also if I bought other assets like behavior design and the ability packs can I maybe make the abilities that I want without coding?

 

[Justin]

The character controller controls the transform location so you cannot directly modify the position. You can however use Playmaker to add a force to the player but you don't have as much control as you do compared to the ability system.

Also if I bought other assets like behavior design and the ability packs can I maybe make the abilities that I want without coding?

Behavior Designer won't help with creating new abilities, and the ability add-ons do contain new abilities but they are specific to the add-on theme so are only useful if you want that functionality.