UE5-Modular-Game-Framework/docs/blueprints/07-narrative/59_BPC_ObjectiveSystem.md

39 — BPC_ObjectiveSystem

Blueprint Spec — UE 5.5–5.7

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Parent Class

ActorComponent

Dependencies

• Gameplay Tag System
• BPC_NarrativeStateSystem
• WBP_ObjectiveDisplay (via dispatcher)
• BPC_JournalSystem

Purpose

Tracks active, completed, and failed objectives. Supports main objectives, sub-objectives, hidden objectives, and optional objectives. Acts as the query layer for UI and journal.

Responsibilities

• Activate objectives by tag
• Complete / fail objectives by tag or narrative flag trigger
• Track objective dependency chains (must complete A before B activates)
• Notify UI and journal on changes
• Support objectives hidden until discovery condition met
• Persist objective state via I_Persistable

Does NOT Handle

• What completing an objective does in the world (that is story content)
• UI display of objectives (that is WBP_ObjectiveDisplay)
• Ending condition evaluation

Variables

Name	Type	Description
AllObjectives	Map (GameplayTag → S_ObjectiveState)	Full objective register
ActiveObjectiveTags	Array of GameplayTag	Currently active objectives
CompletedObjectiveTags	Array of GameplayTag	Completed objectives
FailedObjectiveTags	Array of GameplayTag	Failed objectives
ObjectiveOrderPriority	Array of GameplayTag	Display sort order for UI

Enums

Enum	Values	Description
E_ObjectiveStatus	Inactive, Active, Complete, Failed, Hidden	Objective lifecycle

Structs

Struct	Fields	Description
S_ObjectiveState	ObjectiveTag: GameplayTag, Status: E_ObjectiveStatus, DisplayText: FText, Description: FText, SubObjectives: Array of S_ObjectiveState, Dependencies: Array of GameplayTag, bIsHidden: Bool, bIsOptional: Bool	Runtime objective state
S_ObjectiveDisplayData	ObjectiveTag: GameplayTag, DisplayText: FText, bIsComplete: Bool, bIsOptional: Bool	Lightweight UI snapshot

Functions / Events

Name	Inputs	Outputs	Description
ActivateObjective	ObjectiveTag: GameplayTag	—	Sets objective Active, checks dependencies
CompleteObjective	ObjectiveTag: GameplayTag	—	Marks complete, broadcasts, unlocks dependents
FailObjective	ObjectiveTag: GameplayTag	—	Marks failed
GetActiveObjectives	—	Array of S_ObjectiveDisplayData	For UI consumption
GetCompletedObjectives	—	Array of GameplayTag	Status check
GetFailedObjectives	—	Array of GameplayTag	Status check
IsObjectiveComplete	ObjectiveTag: GameplayTag	Bool	Single check
IsObjectiveActive	ObjectiveTag: GameplayTag	Bool	Single check
RevealHiddenObjective	ObjectiveTag: GameplayTag	—	Shows previously hidden objective
RegisterObjectiveFromDataAsset	ObjectiveTag: GameplayTag, DataAsset	—	Registers an objective definition from a DA_ObjectiveData
CheckDependenciesMet	ObjectiveTag: GameplayTag	Bool	Returns true if all dependency objectives are complete
CollectState (I_Persistable)	—	S_WorldObjectState	Serializes objective state
RestoreState (I_Persistable)	Data: S_WorldObjectState	—	Deserializes objective state

Event Dispatchers

Name	Parameters	Fired When
OnObjectiveActivated	ObjectiveTag: GameplayTag, Data: S_ObjectiveDisplayData	New objective added to active list
OnObjectiveCompleted	ObjectiveTag: GameplayTag	Objective marked complete
OnObjectiveFailed	ObjectiveTag: GameplayTag	Objective marked failed
OnObjectiveRevealed	ObjectiveTag: GameplayTag	Hidden objective revealed
OnAllObjectivesComplete	—	All active objectives complete (chapter milestone)

Blueprint Flow

[ActivateObjective called]
  └─► Look up objective in AllObjectives map
  └─► Check Dependencies:
  │     └─► DependenciesMet? → Set status = Active
  │     └─► Not met? → Set status = Inactive, wait for dependency completion
  └─► If Hidden → bIsHidden check
  └─► Add to ActiveObjectiveTags
  └─► Broadcast OnObjectiveActivated
  └─► Notify UI and JournalSystem

[CompleteObjective called]
  └─► Validate objective is currently Active
  └─► Set status = Complete
  └─► Move from ActiveObjectiveTags to CompletedObjectiveTags
  └─► Broadcast OnObjectiveCompleted
  └─► Check dependent objectives for activation
  └─► Check if AllObjectivesComplete → broadcast milestone
  └─► Set narrative flag via BPC_NarrativeStateSystem

Communications With

Target System	Method	Why
BPC_NarrativeStateSystem	Direct + Dispatcher	Flag-driven objective activation / completion
WBP_ObjectiveDisplay	Dispatcher	UI updates
WBP_HUDController	Dispatcher	Objective display visibility
BPC_JournalSystem	Direct	Journal entries on objective events
SS_SaveManager	I_Persistable	Objective state persistence

Reuse Notes

Define objectives via DA_ObjectiveData data assets (one per objective) that specify display text, dependencies, associated narrative flag, and optional/hidden flags. The objective system reads from these assets at level start. Adding a new objective type (like timed objectives) requires adding an S_TimedObjective struct extension and a timer function — no system redesign needed.

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Manual Implementation Guide

Class Setup

1. Create Blueprint Class: Parent = ActorComponent, Name = BPC_ObjectiveSystem
2. Add to Player Character
3. Define struct S_ObjectiveState: ObjectiveTag, Status (E_ObjectiveStatus), DisplayText (Text), Description (Text), bIsHidden (Boolean), bIsOptional (Boolean), Dependencies (Array)

Variable Init (BeginPlay)

Event BeginPlay
  ├─ Set AllObjectives = empty Map<GameplayTag, S_ObjectiveState>
  ├─ Set ActiveObjectiveTags, CompletedObjectiveTags, FailedObjectiveTags = empty arrays
  └─ Get Owner → Cache BPC_NarrativeStateSystem

Function Node-by-Node

RegisterObjectiveFromDataAsset(ObjTag, DataAsset) → void

Step 1: Read DA_ObjectiveData fields
Step 2: Create S_ObjectiveState struct:
  ObjectiveTag = ObjTag, Status = Inactive
  DisplayText = DataAsset.ObjectiveText
  Dependencies = DataAsset.PrerequisiteFlags
  bIsHidden = (DataAsset.ObjectiveCategory == Hidden)
  bIsOptional = DataAsset.bIsOptional
Step 3: AllObjectives.Add(ObjTag, newState)

ActivateObjective(ObjTag) → void

Step 1: State = AllObjectives.Find(ObjTag) — if not found, return
Step 2: If State.bIsHidden: return (hidden until revealed)
Step 3: Call CheckDependenciesMet(ObjTag) → if not met: set Status=Inactive, return
Step 4: State.Status = Active
Step 5: ActiveObjectiveTags.Add Unique(ObjTag)
Step 6: Fire OnObjectiveActivated(ObjTag, DisplayData)
Step 7: Update GS_CoreGameState.ActiveObjectiveTags

CompleteObjective(ObjTag) → void

Step 1: Validate Status == Active → if not, return
Step 2: State.Status = Complete
Step 3: Move: ActiveObjectiveTags.Remove(ObjTag) → CompletedObjectiveTags.Add(ObjTag)
Step 4: Fire OnObjectiveCompleted(ObjTag)
Step 5: Set narrative flag: BPC_NarrativeStateSystem.SetFlag(ObjTag, true)
Step 6: Check dependent objectives: ForEach AllObjectives → if Deps include ObjTag → ActivateObjective

GetActiveObjectives() → Array<S_ObjectiveDisplayData>

Create results array → ForEach ActiveObjectiveTags:
  State = AllObjectives.Find(tag)
  Create S_ObjectiveDisplayData(Tag, State.DisplayText, false, State.bIsOptional)
  Add to results
Return results

Build Checklist

• Create BPC_ObjectiveSystem, add to Player Character
• Define E_ObjectiveStatus enum and S_ObjectiveState struct
• Implement RegisterObjectiveFromDataAsset
• Implement ActivateObjective with dependency check
• Implement CompleteObjective with cascading activation
• Implement GetActiveObjectives for UI binding
• Sync to GS_CoreGameState.ActiveObjectiveTags
• Test: register objective → activate → complete → dependent activates