On Weapons FX.. vis_beam _effect or _generic

Thu Jul 01, 2004 10:50 am by Ketaros

Hello all,

Last night I spent few hours making some new weapons for my mod, everything was going ok... testing.. 0% crahes etc...
Them I started to try to make real true nice effects to my highter levels weapons...

Jumping the basics of the weapons creations... I will jump straight to my problems, toughs and questions...

First one;

As we know, on the WEAPON_EQUIP.INI, on the [MUNITION to each weapon we set the 2 variables for effects, for example:

munition_hit_effect = li_laser_01_impact
const_effect = li_laser_01_proj

On the [GUN we set another variable that also relates with effect, for example:

flash_particle_name = li_laser01_flash

By this time Im concluding as on the WEAPON_EQUIP.INI we have 3 valours relates with the effects:

munition_hit_effect = li_laser_01_impact
const_effect = li_laser_01_proj
flash_particle_name = li_laser_01_flash

Now I would like to understand the relations between them and the EFFECTS.INI, please STOP, do not conclude a answer by what you have read around, check your EFFECTS.INI file, you will discover that this 3 variables there has the VERY same values there.

So now, what are the REAL relations between this 3? Between the EFFECTS.INI?

But we are not on my problems yet, for me whatever, because what REALY gives the effect for the weapon is the const_effect =

Sencond thing; About the const_effect

It does relates the valour specicated there with the valour that was give at the EFFECTS.INI. EFFECTS.INI is just a file that specifies WHAT is the type of effect is and WHERE the real effects are located, so its full of values like:

[Effect
nickname = li_laser_01_proj
effect_type = EFT_WEAPON_PROJ
vis_beam = li_laser_01_beam

Ok, now do the easyest thing, and go on your BEAM_EFFECTS.INI and edit the RGB valours and aspects of the BEAM...

BUT...

Besies vis_beam many weapons have their effects baseds on vis_effect and vis_generic, and I think, thats instead relates the effects with the BEAM_EFFECTS.INI it relates ONLY the valour there with WEAPONS_ALE.INI.

But has many weapons on EFFECTS.INI that relates the weapons with BOTH vis_beam and vis_effect, and after MANY tests I realise that ALWAYS no matter on vis_effect, what shows up is only what has on vis_beam.

So, why some weapons are based on vis_beam and vis_effect, if only the vis_beam shows up?

There are some weapons that also has their effects based on vis_effect and vis_generic, on that cases so, ONLY shows up what is specicated on vis_generic..

So, why some weapons are based on vis_effect and vis_generic, if only the vis_generic shows up?

And in the last confusion, weapons tha has only vis_effect shows the vis_effect specificated...

So, can someone give me a clear explanations of how this 3 things relates with the true effect that I will get in game? Like is possible a mix vis_beam and vis_effect IN GAME, how a vis_effect and vis_generic both works? togheter? one is useless?

Sorry, if I made a too long post, but I belive I explained best as I could, I thanks already many of you guys here who always wrote nice tutorials and helped me many times, I belive I may soon will be able to share also many things that I am learning, togheter we for sure will get better and better...

Waiting answers and totaly wiling to provide more informations...

Ketaros

Thu Jul 01, 2004 12:26 pm by parabolix

Before posting a question, look for a tutorial...I've already created one and it is in the tutorial section if you would've looked

Click here for the tutorial

Edited by - parabolix on 7/1/2004 1:27:55 PM

Thu Jul 01, 2004 1:09 pm by Ketaros

Parabolix I did...

Indeed your tutorial helped me alot... but unfortunely you does not explain 90% of my questions here there... you explain amazingly well do the weapon there, Im your student, but if you read carefuly my post you will realize Im asking more specific about create weapons effects, mix weapons effects and its meanings... and not exacly create weapons...

For example, I belive you could help me alot, starting explaing the diference and relations between vis_effect, vis_beam and vis_generic over effects.ini. How and when I can use them? mixing? etc..

Please.. help me?

Ketaros

Fri Jul 02, 2004 6:54 pm by EArTh

Ok your post sort of confused me, so I will just explain about what shows up in weapon graphics.

const_effect is only line that matters in weapon_equip for what the weapon itself looks like when fired.

Anyways.. onto effects.ini

Ill use some simple terms to explain. Here are three terms you need to remember: Base, Beam, and Generic. They are all different types of effects, some are editable.. some are not.

Let's start with a basic 'beam' weapon.

Justice Mk1, we all know it.

[Effect
nickname = li_laser_01_proj ;reference to weapon_equip.ini
effect_type = EFT_WEAPON_PROJ ;the type of projectile
vis_beam = li_laser_01_beam ;reference to beam_effects.ini

To explain some more.. the Justice Mk1 is simply one beam of light, editable in beam_effects.ini

Now ill move onto a Base. Don't know the name of this weapon, too lazy to search around, anyways:

[Effect
nickname = rh_capgun_01_proj ;reference to weapon_equip.ini
effect_type = EFT_WEAPON_PROJ ;type of projectile
vis_effect = rh_capgun_01_proj ;<-- THIS IS THE BASE
vis_beam = rh_capgun_01_beam ;This is the BEAM. It wraps 'around' the base, reference to beam_effects.ini.

In base weapons you have a base and they are editable to have beams around them. An example of this is the Lane hacker gun HellFurry, or the Salamanca series. On the salamanca the fuzzyness is the base, while the actual color of the weapon and its size is its beam, but be careful, the base is only so big and if the beam is bigger than the base then it will cover it completely.

Finally we move onto Generics. These are simple -> unedittable.

[Effect
nickname = li_plasma_03_proj ;reference to weapon_equip.ini
effect_type = EFT_WEAPON_PROJ ;projectile
vis_effect = li_plasma_03_proj ;its 'Base'
vis_generic = min_photon_01_proj ;A generic beam -> unedittable

This type is basically one big base that has no beam and is unedittable.

Hope this helps.

EArTh

Excelcia!
Liberty Rogue General
Western Division
EArTh

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