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FPSC Classic Scripts / shadow remains after character destroyed from script

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Flatlander
FPSC Tool Maker
17
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Joined: 22nd Jan 2007
Location: The Flatlands
Posted: 11th Mar 2007 01:54
It is interesting to note and not sure anything can be done about this. When I use the "destroy" action within a script, the character's shadow remains on the screen. The following code is for the demon zombie and actually I like the fact that the shadow remains because it looks like he definately got "smoked."

However, there is a character that I destroy after the plr reads the hud message when he comes up to him within 60 units. He is destroyed after he then moves out of range (more than 60 units). Of course if the plr decides not to read the message, he's outta schlitz (that dates me). Anyway, I would prefer not to have the shadow remain. Any ideas. There is a property called "castshadow" in the fpe file. However, it is already turned off. At least I think it is as the value is 0. However, this may just mean the angle of the shadow as it is directly below the character. Sorry, I didn't test what would happen if I gave it a value greater than zero. Will do that now.



As opposed to Highlander.
Flatlander
FPSC Tool Maker
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Joined: 22nd Jan 2007
Location: The Flatlands
Posted: 12th Mar 2007 05:00
This actually is kind of annoying. If the player really thinks about it he will conclude that this is the shadow left behind. Anybody have any ideas? I thought perchance that this was not the normal way to destroy a character it was behaving poorly. However, instead of the destroy action in the main script I used used the runfpidefault action and set it to "2" which runs the destroy or end script. Thusly I had a normal way of destroying the entity. Didn't work! Still left the shadow.

As opposed to Highlander.
xplosys
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Playing: FPSC Multiplayer Games
Posted: 12th Mar 2007 17:12 Edited at: 12th Mar 2007 17:13
It would seem that the code that removes the shadow is written into the code that removes the character when it is killed. This is hard coded in the engine and we have no access to it. Bypassing the code with scripting to "destroy" the character obviously bypasses the code to kill the character and remove the shadow as well.

Since "destroy" equates to remove instead of kill, then death animation and code never executes.

That being said, I don't know of any way to remove the shadow after you manually remove the character.

Best.

I'm sorry, my answers are limited. You must ask the right question.

Flatlander
FPSC Tool Maker
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Joined: 22nd Jan 2007
Location: The Flatlands
Posted: 12th Mar 2007 21:53
Thanks for responding xplosys. I appreciate the attention you have given this. I had come up with the same conclusion. That is another unfortunate thing. In the FPE for characters there is this property, castshadow = 0. But that apparently is one of those features that does not work and it remains hardcoded. I noticed that when the character is killed the shadow does dissappear as you had mentioned and I could not see that there is anyway to force a "kill."

However, I did find a way to not have a shadow. I found the decal that is being used. It is in the "files/gamecore/decal/blob" folder. They called it a blob and that is exactly what it looks like. Now, what I had done and it will work for me is replace the blob image with a transparent image. Of course I copied the original image files because I had to name the transparent image to blob.png. That is another interesting note. I was under the impression that only two types of images worked in FPSC, DDS and TGA. Either DDS or PNG can work here. I could have converted the PNG to a DDS but didn't. I was trying to see if the engine used a transparent decal but couldn't find it.

The downside is this. None of the characters will have a shadow at all. This is not totally a bad thing if your game is utilizing the removal of characters and one is bothered by what looks like a burnt spot on the grass or concrete. That is not a bad deal either actually but it was bothersome for me. I won't go into why. It is because of the story line. However, since I am still learning, the way I create the game I have in mind will probably change several more times.

As opposed to Highlander.
xplosys
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Playing: FPSC Multiplayer Games
Posted: 12th Mar 2007 22:17
F l a t l a n d e r,

Good to know about the blob. I think I will make mine transparent as well. I never liked the shadow beneath the characters anyway.

Best.

I'm sorry, my answers are limited. You must ask the right question.

Flatlander
FPSC Tool Maker
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Joined: 22nd Jan 2007
Location: The Flatlands
Posted: 13th Mar 2007 05:39 Edited at: 13th Mar 2007 05:42
Yea, I actually do like it better without the so-called shadow.

If anyone else is interested in having a transparent "shadow" under their characters, here is the one I created. Be sure and make copies of the originals in case you would like to return to a shadowy blob. I gave the folder location in my previous post.

Hey, I just realized I might of helped an old-timer.

As opposed to Highlander.

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Butter fingers
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Joined: 20th Mar 2006
Location: Mecca
Posted: 13th Mar 2007 12:31
good bit of sherlock Holmes-ing there!

I had been trying to find the shadow decal or a while now!

Perhaps you should re-post this in models and media under something like
"removing the shadow"

I'm sure alot of people have tried to remove the crappy shadow, and would appreciate the knowledge (that and the fact they won't find this thread)

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