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Blueprints for Beginners

Unreal Mondays #2

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What are Unreal Blueprints

  • A visual scripting system in Unreal Engine
  • Uses a node-based interface to connect gameplay systems
  • Allows for logic creation without coding in C++
  • Useful for designers without a lot of coding experience
  • Useful for rapid prototyping
  • Useful for quick iteration and debugging actors and other systems

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Blueprint Types

  • Actor Blueprints
    • Behavior and properties of actors in the game
  • Level Blueprints
    • Logic that affects the entire level
  • Component Blueprints
    • Reusable components that can be attached to a different actor (e.g. a health component)
  • Function Blueprints
    • Reusable functions to avoid duplicating code in multiple blueprints
  • Event Blueprints
    • Managing specific event-driven actions in your Blueprints (used inside Actor, Level, or Component Blueprints)

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Blueprint Nodes

Node Anatomy

  • Execution Pins (white)
  • Data Wires (colored)

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Common Blueprint Nodes

  • Events (e.g. BeginPlay, Tick)
  • Flow Control (Branch, Sequence)
  • Variables (Get/Set)
  • Functions (Custom functions, Engine functions)

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Variables and Flow Control

  • Variables works like most programming languages
    • Each variable has a DataType and a Value
  • Variables can be placed in the graph as a node
    • Each variable can be placed as a getter or a setter
  • Flow Control works like most programming languages
    • If x is true, do y. Else, do Z
  • Blueprints are able to visually represent if statements, loops, switch statements, etc.

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Let's Make An Actor Blueprint!

  • We will make a simple Actor Blueprint that logs a message to the console