[ZScript] Polymorphism of child actors ?

[vsonnier]

Question:

I have a piece of code I've made that works, involving polymorphism behaviour and I'm actually suprised it works out of the box. So, I would like to know if it is normal behaviour or if I'm very lucky here.

I have a base actor :

Code: Select all

class Z_Headshot : Actor
{
...
} 

And a child class of Z_Headshot :

Code: Select all

class Z_Headshot_Green : Z_Headshot
{
	Default
	{
		BloodType "Green_Blood", "GreenSawBlood", "GreenSawBlood";
		BloodColor "DarkGreen";
	}
}

that only overrides the blood color and type.

Later, I instantiate one or the other depending of some condition:

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Z_Headshot hs;
if (...) {
	hs = Z_Headshot(Spawn("Z_Headshot_Green", Owner.Pos, NO_REPLACE));
} else {
	hs = Z_Headshot(Spawn("Z_Headshot", Owner.Pos, NO_REPLACE));
}

and store hs as Z_Headshot in some other class member:

Code: Select all

self.myHeadshot = hs;

The point is, while self.myHeadshot is of type Z_Headshot it really behave as Z_Headshot or Z_Headshot_Green depending on the stored object:
That polymorphism is just what I wanted but I wonder if it is intended behaviour or just luck.

Thanks !

[m8f]

Yes, this is intended. This behavior is everywhere. For example, inventory items are all stored as Inventory class, yet they have their own behavior, icons, etc.

[vsonnier]

Great ! Thanks for the answer. I asked because although inheritance was described in the various tutorials and documentations out there,
I have not seen polymorphism explicitly mantioned with practical examples.