Follower Replica

Based on game build 714014 | Last updated: 2026-03-03

Overview

Follower is a network-replicated component that tracks the relationship between an entity and its leader or item owner. It uses net_entity to synchronize leadership or item-ownership state across the network (server to client). This component is typically attached to follower entities (e.g., pets, minions, or items held by followers) to ensure consistent awareness of who they follow or serve on both sides of the network boundary.

Usage example

local inst = CreateEntity()
inst:AddComponent("follower_replica")

-- Set the leader entity
local leader = TheWorld.components.leaderboard:GetLeader()
inst.components.follower_replica:SetLeader(leader)

-- Or set an item owner
inst.components.follower_replica:SetItemOwner(someOwner)

-- Retrieve the effective leader (preferring item owner if set)
local effectiveLeader = inst.components.follower_replica:GetLeader()

Dependencies & tags

Components used: None identified
Tags: None identified

Properties

Property	Type	Default Value	Description
_leader	net_entity	nil	Networked reference to the entity's leader.
_itemowner	net_entity	nil	Networked reference to the entity's item owner (higher priority than leader).

Main functions

SetLeader(leader)

• Description: Sets the networked leader reference for this follower entity. The leader is used when no item owner is set.
• Parameters: leader (entity or nil) — the entity that acts as the leader, or nil to clear the reference.
• Returns: Nothing.

SetItemOwner(owner)

• Description: Sets the networked item owner reference. This takes precedence over _leader when determining the effective leader via GetLeader().
• Parameters: owner (entity or nil) — the entity that owns the item/follower, or nil to clear the reference.
• Returns: Nothing.

GetLeader()

• Description: Returns the effective leader: the item owner if set, otherwise the leader. This is used for logic that needs a single authoritative "follow target".
• Parameters: None.
• Returns: entity? — the effective leader entity, or nil if neither _itemowner nor _leader is set.

Events & listeners

• Listens to: None identified
• Pushes: None identified