add mobs:add_mob() function

api.lua

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ local use_cmi = minetest.global_exists("cmi")
 
 mobs = {
 	mod = "redo",
-	version = "20200620",
+	version = "20200622",
 	intllib = S,
 	invis = minetest.global_exists("invisibility") and invisibility or {}
 }
@@ -3464,7 +3464,7 @@ mobs.spawning_mobs = {}
 -- register mob entity
 function mobs:register_mob(name, def)
 
-	mobs.spawning_mobs[name] = true
+	mobs.spawning_mobs[name] = {}
 
 minetest.register_entity(name, setmetatable({
 
@@ -3611,6 +3611,106 @@ end
 
 -- global functions
 
+function mobs:add_mob(pos, def)
+
+	-- is mob actually registered?
+	if not mobs.spawning_mobs[def.name]
+	or not minetest.registered_entities[def.name] then
+--print("--- mob doesn't exist", def.name)
+		return
+	end
+
+	-- are we over active mob limit
+	if active_limit > 0 and active_mobs >= active_limit then
+--print("--- active mob limit reached", active_mobs, active_limit)
+		return
+	end
+
+	-- get total number of this mob in area
+	local num_mob, is_pla = count_mobs(pos, def.name)
+
+	if not is_pla then
+--print("--- no players within active area, will not spawn " .. def.name)
+		return
+	end
+
+	local aoc = mobs.spawning_mobs[def.name]
+			and mobs.spawning_mobs[def.name].aoc or 1
+
+	if def.ignore_count ~= true and num_mob >= aoc then
+--print("--- too many " .. def.name .. " in area", num_mob .. "/" .. aoc)
+		return
+	end
+
+	local mob = minetest.add_entity(pos, def.name)
+
+--print("[mobs] Spawned " .. def.name .. " at " .. minetest.pos_to_string(pos))
+
+	local ent = mob:get_luaentity()
+
+	if not ent then
+--print("[mobs] entity not found " .. def.name)
+		return false
+	end
+
+	if def.child then
+
+		local textures = ent.base_texture
+
+		-- using specific child texture (if found)
+		if ent.child_texture then
+			textures = ent.child_texture[1]
+		end
+
+		-- and resize to half height
+		mob:set_properties({
+			textures = textures,
+			visual_size = {
+				x = ent.base_size.x * .5,
+				y = ent.base_size.y * .5
+			},
+			collisionbox = {
+				ent.base_colbox[1] * .5,
+				ent.base_colbox[2] * .5,
+				ent.base_colbox[3] * .5,
+				ent.base_colbox[4] * .5,
+				ent.base_colbox[5] * .5,
+				ent.base_colbox[6] * .5
+			},
+			selectionbox = {
+				ent.base_selbox[1] * .5,
+				ent.base_selbox[2] * .5,
+				ent.base_selbox[3] * .5,
+				ent.base_selbox[4] * .5,
+				ent.base_selbox[5] * .5,
+				ent.base_selbox[6] * .5
+			},
+		})
+
+		ent.child = true
+	end
+
+	if def.owner then
+		ent.tamed = true
+		ent.owner = def.owner
+	end
+
+	if def.nametag then
+
+		-- limit name entered to 64 characters long
+		if def.nametag:len() > 64 then
+			def.nametag = def.nametag:sub(1, 64)
+		end
+
+		ent.nametag = def.nametag
+
+		ent:update_tag()
+	end
+
+	return true
+end
+
+
 function mobs:spawn_abm_check(pos, node, name)
 	-- global function to add additional spawn checks
 	-- return true to stop spawning mob
@@ -3621,7 +3721,7 @@ function mobs:spawn_specific(name, nodes, neighbors, min_light, max_light,
 		interval, chance, aoc, min_height, max_height, day_toggle, on_spawn)
 
 	-- Do mobs spawn at all?
-	if not mobs_spawn then
+	if not mobs_spawn or not mobs.spawning_mobs[name] then
 		return
 	end
 
@@ -3645,6 +3745,8 @@ function mobs:spawn_specific(name, nodes, neighbors, min_light, max_light,
 
 	end
 
+	mobs.spawning_mobs[name].aoc = aoc
+
 	minetest.register_abm({
 
 		label = name .. " spawning",

api.txt

@@ -328,6 +328,18 @@ for each mob.
    'self.nametag'       contains the name of the mob which it can show above
 
 
+Adding Mobs in World
+--------------------
+
+	mobs:add_mob(pos, {
+		name = "mobs_animal:chicken",
+		child = true,
+		owner = "singleplayer",
+		nametag = "Bessy",
+		ignore_count = true -- ignores mob count per map area
+	})
+
+
 Spawning Mobs in World
 ----------------------