Archive Centipede

Based on game build 714014 | Last updated: 2026-03-04

Overview

archive_centipede defines the prefab and logic for the Archive Centipede boss in DST. It integrates multiple components to handle combat behavior (retargeting, target sharing, attacks), sleep/wake states, dynamic lighting (including fading transitions), and health-driven animation state changes. The entity is part of the Grotto biome event system and interacts with the SGcentipede stategraph and centipedebrain. It spawns a husk when killed and supports health regeneration.

Usage example

-- Typical usage occurs internally when the Archive Centipede is spawned as a boss
local centipede = SpawnPrefab("archive_centipede")
-- This automatically initializes all components (health, combat, sleeper, etc.)
-- Modders typically interact via the instance's components after spawning:
centipede.components.health:SetMaxHealth(100)
centipede.components.combat:SetDefaultDamage(25)

Dependencies & tags

Components used: locomotor, drownable, sleeper, health, combat, lootdropper, inspectable, knownlocations, follower, burnable, freezable, workable, hauntable Tags: Adds monster, hostile, soulless, mech, archive_centipede, electricdamageimmune; removes gestalt_possessable at mid/low health; adds gestalt_possessable at full/medium health.

Properties

Property	Type	Default Value	Description
widthscale	number	1	Scales the radius of the centipede's light source.
_endlight	table	light_params.off	Target light parameters for fading animations.
_startlight	table	{}	Source light parameters used during interpolation.
_currentlight	table	{}	Intermediate light parameters during fade transitions.
_lighttask	DoTask	nil	Periodic task driving light interpolation.
recentlycharged	table	{}	Tracks entities recently impacted by collision-based charging to avoid repeated hits.
idle2task	DoTask	nil	Periodic task for secondary idle animation sound.
scrapbook_removedeps	table	{"gears"}	Dependencies removed when this entity is destroyed in scrapbook.
MED_THRESHOLD_DOWN	number	0.66	Health percentage threshold for changing to medium animation state on damage.
LOW_THRESHOLD_DOWN	number	0.33	Health percentage threshold for changing to low animation state on damage.
BOTTOM_THRESHOLD	number	0.2	Health percentage below which combat component is removed.
MED_THRESHOLD_UP	number	0.66	Health percentage threshold for upgrading to medium animation state on healing.
LOW_THRESHOLD_UP	number	0.33	Health percentage threshold for upgrading from low to medium animation state on healing.
p	string	""	Empty placeholder (intended for internal state? Not used meaningfully).
kind	string	""	Placeholder used by some prefabs but unused here.
idle2task	DoTask	nil	Task scheduled to trigger secondary idle sound.
MED_THRESHOLD_DOWN	number	0.66	Threshold for health-damage animation changes.
LOW_THRESHOLD_DOWN	number	0.33	Threshold for health-damage animation changes.
BOTTOM_THRESHOLD	number	0.2	Health threshold below which combat is disabled.

Main functions

fn_common(tag)

• Description: Constructor function that creates and configures a new Archive Centipede entity. Called by both fn() (full centipede) and huskfn() (husk variant). Handles lighting, physics, components, and event listeners.
• Parameters: tag (string) — unused parameter; present to satisfy common prefab patterns but not applied.
• Returns: inst (Entity) — fully initialized entity instance.
• Error states: None — construction is synchronous and safe.

Retarget(inst)

• Description: Calculates and returns a valid new combat target for the centipede based on proximity, follower state, and entity tags. Respects leader following logic and avoids attacking teammates.
• Parameters: inst (Entity) — the centipede instance.
• Returns: target (Entity or nil) — valid target entity or nil if none found.
• Error states: Returns nil if no target satisfies filters, or if centipede is far from its remembered "home" location and lacks a leader.

KeepTarget(inst, target)

• Description: Predicate function that determines whether the centipede should retain its current combat target. Ensures the target remains within acceptable chase distance from the centipede's "home" or if the centipede has an active leader.
• Parameters: inst (Entity), target (Entity) — current target.
• Returns: boolean — true if target should be kept, otherwise false.
• Error states: None — always returns a boolean.

OnHealthDelta(inst, oldpercent, newpercent)

• Description: Event listener handler for health percentage changes. Triggers animation transitions (e.g., low_to_med, med_to_full) and adds/removes the gestalt_possessable tag. Disables the combat component if health falls below BOTTOM_THRESHOLD.
• Parameters: inst (Entity), oldpercent (number), newpercent (number) — current and previous health percentages.
• Returns: Nothing.
• Error states: Ensures combat component is removed below BOTTOM_THRESHOLD; clamps health at BOTTOM_THRESHOLD - 0.05 if it drops further.

OnAttacked(inst, data)

• Description: Handles receiving an attack — sets attacker as the new combat target and shares aggro with nearby allies via ShareTarget.
• Parameters: inst (Entity), data (table or nil) — event payload; expects data.attacker if present.
• Returns: Nothing.
• Error states: Silently returns if the attacker is another archive_centipede to prevent friendly fire.

ShouldWake(inst)

• Description: Predicate for waking up the centipede from sleep. Returns true if centipede is far from home or exposed to threats (combat, burn, freeze, or nearby characters).
• Parameters: inst (Entity).
• Returns: boolean.
• Error states: None.

ShouldSleep(inst)

• Description: Predicate for allowing the centipede to fall asleep. Returns true if centipede is near home, no threats are present, and it's not already awake.
• Parameters: inst (Entity).
• Returns: boolean.
• Error states: None.

RememberKnownLocation(inst)

• Description: Saves the centipede’s current position as the "home" location using the knownlocations component.
• Parameters: inst (Entity).
• Returns: Nothing.

beginfade(inst)

• Description: Initializes a lighting fade transition between current and target light parameters. Starts the periodic _lighttask to interpolate.
• Parameters: inst (Entity).
• Returns: Nothing.

OnUpdateLight(inst, dt)

• Description: Periodic callback for lighting interpolation. Updates light radius, intensity, and color using lerped parameters, and syncs to the animation state's light override.
• Parameters: inst (Entity), dt (number) — delta time since last frame.
• Returns: Nothing.

oncollide(inst, other)

• Description: Physics collision callback. Triggers a camera shake and schedules a delayed call to onothercollide to prevent repeated hits on the same target.
• Parameters: inst (Entity), other (Entity) — the colliding entity.
• Returns: Nothing.

onothercollide(inst, other)

• Description: Handles post-collision effects: kills smashable entities, destroys workable objects (except NET), spawns collapse FX, and deals combat damage to walls/structures.
• Parameters: inst (Entity), other (Entity).
• Returns: Nothing.

playidle2(inst)

• Description: Plays a secondary idle sound and animation (idle2_*) based on current health percentage. Schedules a recursive call for periodic re-triggering.
• Parameters: inst (Entity).
• Returns: Nothing.

Events & listeners

• Listens to: attacked — triggers combat targeting and ally aggro sharing via OnAttacked.
• Listens to: animover — handles spawning archive_centipede_husk on death animation completion.
• Listens to: possess — handles power point possession logic, respawning as a fresh centipede.
• Pushes: None — does not directly push custom events.