Unreal Engine 5 Skill System Architecture using GAS and GameplayTags

#unreal #architecture #ai

1. Overview

When developing the game, the most important thing I considered was implementing a structure that is expandable and reusable.
So, for this project, I designed a common SkillBase structure + GameplayTag based status effect system based on Unreal Engine 5's GAS (Gameplay Ability System).
All skills operate based on a common SkillBase, and each skill receives data through SkillData and GameplayTag.
Status effects are also processed based on GameplayTag, and each effect is managed as an independent Effect Object.

Designed the combat system using Unreal Engine’s Gameplay Ability System(GAS). TurnManager controls turn flow, while GameplayAbilities handle skill execution.
AbilitySystemComponent and AttributeSet manage damage calculations and gameplay states.

Integrated all runtime skill execution data into FCBSkillContext and designed UCBGA_SkillBase to handle common skill execution flow.
Blueprint handles montage, camera, and combo flow control, while core functionality is implemented in C++.

SkillDataAsset → GameplayEvent → SkillContextBuilder → FCBSkillContext → UCBGA_SkillBase → ApplyTagToTarget

Designed a data-driven status effect system using GameplayTags and GameplayEffects.
SkillTagContainer manages active effects, while each effect inherits from UCBTagEffectBase.

OnApplied() → OnTurnTick() → OnRemoved()

I implemented turn-based skill combat using Unreal Engine's GAS.
Learned the importance of object-oriented architecture by separating responsibilities between SkillBase, SkillContext, and TagEffect systems.
Designed a GameplayTag-based status effect framework and understood the strengths of data-driven architecture.
Improved maintainability and collaboration efficiency by refactoring Blueprint-heavy systems into C++.
Used UML diagrams to visualize and share gameplay architecture with teammates.
Gained collaborative workflow experience using Git Fork, including branch strategies and Unreal Asset conflict resolution.