Area3D overlap detection - signals not working for my case

[fschn]

Godot Version

4.2.X

Question

I am currently building a modular level generator, that builds a level out of some submodules (other scenes). Every level module has an Area3D that I want to use for collision checking; Meaning that when I add a new module to the level, I want to check whether it overlaps with previously existing modules.

However, the area_entered and area_exited signal functions only get called after my placement script is run through. I want to avoid something convoluted like: Place the new module, wait for a frame, delete the module if it now overlaps etc. Is there a method to check if two Area3Ds are overlapping instead of working with Signals or is something like this not possible in Godot?

EDIT: Examples would be something like IsOverlappingActor from Unreal Engine or Physics.OverlapBox from Unity3d

[zdrmlpzdrmlp]

instead of area3d, can you try by checking if there’s collision? characterbody3d can detect collision from the physics process code line, if it collide, then just delete/queue_freed itself

[mrcdk]

You have two options:

• Have a generic Area3D, with a BoxShape for example, that checks if the placement is empty before placing the new module. You can use Area3D.has_overlapping_areas() to check.
• Use the PhysicsDirectSpaceState3D directly to check if a Shape is intersecting with PhysicsDirectSpaceState3D.intersect_shape() You can use this tutorial Ray-casting — Godot Engine (stable) documentation in English to know how to access and query the physics direct space

[fschn]

I have no idea why I didn’t find has_overlapping_areas(), that is exactly what I need. Thank you very much!