Lancer

Software Used: Unreal 5, Microsoft Word, Piskel

Genre: FPS

Overview

Solo quest-based first-person shooter.
Player controls Lancer, who infiltrates an evil robot spaceship.
The level builds toward a boss fight at the end.
Expanded an existing FPS framework with new weapons, doors, teleporters, quest logic, and boss behaviour.

Design Focus

Designed a compact FPS level with combat, exploration, key doors, and boss progression.
Used colour-coded keys and doors to communicate progression clearly.
Added teleporters to connect different areas of the level.
Designed weapons with distinct combat roles.
Built the level around reaching and defeating the final boss.

Implementation

Created a bubble shield inspired by Halo.
Implemented key-locked doors with colour-coded access requirements.
Added teleporters for moving between areas.
Created multiple weapon child classes:
- Rapid-fire machine gun.
- Close-range shotgun.
- Homing mini-robot launcher.
- Grenade launcher with multi-explosion behaviour.
Built quest UI updates for completed objectives.
Programmed custom boss movement and damage behaviour.
Created supporting visual assets and diagrams using Piskel and Microsoft Word.

Problem Solved

Fixed projectile issues by creating a new projectile from the existing base projectile Blueprint.
Adjusted collision settings so new projectiles dealt damage correctly.
Solved grenade VFX scaling by using Niagara’s Scale Vector by Curve inside Scale Mesh Size.
Fixed radial damage affecting the player from any range by excluding the player through self-reference checks.
Improved quest update logic by using an endless loop on trigger volume overlap.
Rebuilt boss behaviour from scratch when inherited framework logic caused issues.

Changes & Cut Features

Cut an advanced diagonal-opening door because it did not look right.
Replaced the original single-room spaceship concept with a larger multi-map structure.
Added separate maps for the enemy spaceship and boss arena to improve pacing.
Removed planned quest progress UI updates.
Replaced a planned camera shake warning with a sound cue for the robot invasion.

Reflection

The project improved my confidence with FPS systems, Blueprint inheritance, weapons, and boss logic.
It also taught me when to rebuild a system from scratch instead of fighting inherited framework behaviour.