Engine version: 5.3

Advanced Interaction with Instanced Meshes

The Instance Damage System provides a robust solution for interacting with instanced static meshes (ISMCs) in an open-world environment. Furthermore, this system is ideal for developers creating GTA-style destruction or resource collection games. It manages props efficiently through a proxy system. Specifically, the creator designed it to register static mesh components as proxies, allowing for high-performance interaction with large numbers of objects.

Key Features for Destruction and Respawning

A primary benefit of the Instance Damage System is its ability to swap static instances with destructible actors. When an object takes damage, the system hides the original instance and spawns a destructible version in its place. Additionally, the system supports object pooling to reuse spawned objects efficiently. However, note that pooling is currently disabled for Chaos-based geometry collections in the example project.

To maintain a living world, the system includes logic for respawning props over time. These respawns are calculated based on the distance to the player. Moreover, the system supports World Partition. This allows for visibility management even when proxies are not currently present in the level. Consequently, the world remains consistent and optimized.

Networking and Customization

The Instance Damage System is built with multiplayer functionality in mind. It offers three distinct network replication modes to suit different project needs:

Client Authoritative: Clients spawn destructibles while the server handles damage detection and updates other clients.
Client Replicated: Clients spawn destructibles as a direct result of server replication.
Server: Destructible actors themselves are responsible for the replication process.

Developers can also define custom data for each damage asset, such as experience points or currency rewards. Furthermore, the setup is simplified through data tables and is fully exposed to Blueprints. For advanced users, the C++ subsystem is extendable. This allows for custom virtual functions and new feature overrides to fit specific gameplay requirements.

Practical Examples and Integration

The developer included an example project featuring several minigames built around the system. These include a Chaos minigame inspired by Mayhem activities and a destruction minigame involving random mesh targets. Additionally, there is a Wanted Level example where players earn stars based on the amount of damage caused. These examples demonstrate how easily the system integrates with existing gameplay logic.

In conclusion, the Instance Damage System is a comprehensive tool for handling large-scale prop interaction. It balances performance with deep functionality. Whether you are building a resource gathering system or a chaotic urban sandbox, this tool provides the necessary framework for persistent and reactive environments.