Questions Regarding Triggers

[TheIdiot]

I have a few questions regarding triggers and what they can do for anyone who might be able to help. Anything which could help is appreciated.

Question one: Is it possible to use a trigger to change a CInstance's AI type (ex.from ignored to carnivore food)? I'm trying to make a working flare that, when activated, works as a distraction for carnivores so they might chase after it instead of the player due to it being an alternate source of "food", but does not work as a distraction if it is inactive.

Question two: I'm trying to use a trigger to swap the mesh for a CInstance, but when the trigger is activated, the game crashes to desktop without an error message. I'm running in Tres CE, if it matters. This occurs with two separate instances, though from what I gather they are set up correctly. Does it have something to do with the models used as substitutes? For example, I have mesh PDXAntidote00-00 with $PDXAntidote01-00 as an A00 value in the former's TScript, and they both have the same coordinates and such, but the game still crashes when I fire a trigger telling the game to swap the meshes. I have a feeling it has something to do with different material IDs between the two models.

Question three: Can I create my own, brand new particle effects and have them used by the ATX Actiontype 117, and if so, could someone please walk me through it? I have an instance prepared, but it doesn't seem to be adding my new effect ("Flare"). If not, how would I go about modifying other in-game particles to suit my needs? In addition, is there a list of default particle effects anywhere? I've looked at the one in the ATX readme, but I've noticed it's lacking one or two (particularly the Cattle Prod effect), so I'm just curious as to whether there are any more.

That's all for now, chances are there will be more in the future. Thanks in advance for help!

[machf]

Question two: I'm trying to use a trigger to swap the mesh for a CInstance, but when the trigger is activated, the game crashes to desktop without an error message. I'm running in Tres CE, if it matters. This occurs with two separate instances, though from what I gather they are set up correctly. Does it have something to do with the models used as substitutes? For example, I have mesh PDXAntidote00-00 with $PDXAntidote01-00 as an A00 value in the former's TScript, and they both have the same coordinates and such, but the game still crashes when I fire a trigger telling the game to swap the meshes. I have a feeling it has something to do with different material IDs between the two models.

IIRC, it only works with "Animates" - things with a skeleton, like the player and the dinosaurs. You can't substitute other types of objects. I've forgotten to mention that.

[TheIdiot]

Question two: I'm trying to use a trigger to swap the mesh for a CInstance, but when the trigger is activated, the game crashes to desktop without an error message. I'm running in Tres CE, if it matters. This occurs with two separate instances, though from what I gather they are set up correctly. Does it have something to do with the models used as substitutes? For example, I have mesh PDXAntidote00-00 with $PDXAntidote01-00 as an A00 value in the former's TScript, and they both have the same coordinates and such, but the game still crashes when I fire a trigger telling the game to swap the meshes. I have a feeling it has something to do with different material IDs between the two models.

IIRC, it only works with "Animates" - things with a skeleton, like the player and the dinosaurs. You can't substitute other types of objects. I've forgotten to mention that.

Hmm. Would I be able to instead attach a CEntityAttached to my mesh and have it set to invisible, and then when I need to swap the meshes turn the original invisible and show the new one?

[Slugger]

Question one: Is it possible to use a trigger to change a CInstance's AI type (ex.from ignored to carnivore food)? I'm trying to make a working flare that, when activated, works as a distraction for carnivores so they might chase after it instead of the player due to it being an alternate source of "food", but does not work as a distraction if it is inactive.

No, but you can deactivate the ActEat or set an ActStayNear near to the flare to draw the dino away from the player.

Question three: Can I create my own, brand new particle effects and have them used by the ATX Actiontype 117, and if so, could someone please walk me through it? I have an instance prepared, but it doesn't seem to be adding my new effect ("Flare"). If not, how would I go about modifying other in-game particles to suit my needs? In addition, is there a list of default particle effects anywhere? I've looked at the one in the ATX readme, but I've noticed it's lacking one or two (particularly the Cattle Prod effect), so I'm just curious as to whether there are any more.

In each level there is an object specifying various particle effects. Just search for "Effect" in TresEd. It's all pretty self-explanatory.

[TheIdiot]

Question one: Is it possible to use a trigger to change a CInstance's AI type (ex.from ignored to carnivore food)? I'm trying to make a working flare that, when activated, works as a distraction for carnivores so they might chase after it instead of the player due to it being an alternate source of "food", but does not work as a distraction if it is inactive.

No, but you can deactivate the ActEat or set an ActStayNear near to the flare to draw the dino away from the player.

I've already thought of that, but it's not going to work considering the flare is intended to distract ALL dinosaurs globally - which will number 200+ - not just one or two instances. I've asked Lee Arbuco if an AIType trigger can be created in Tres CE.

Question three: Can I create my own, brand new particle effects and have them used by the ATX Actiontype 117, and if so, could someone please walk me through it? I have an instance prepared, but it doesn't seem to be adding my new effect ("Flare"). If not, how would I go about modifying other in-game particles to suit my needs? In addition, is there a list of default particle effects anywhere? I've looked at the one in the ATX readme, but I've noticed it's lacking one or two (particularly the Cattle Prod effect), so I'm just curious as to whether there are any more.

In each level there is an object specifying various particle effects. Just search for "Effect" in TresEd. It's all pretty self-explanatory.

Okay, thanks.

[Slugger]

I've already thought of that, but it's not going to work considering the flare is intended to distract ALL dinosaurs globally - which will number 200+ - not just one or two instances. I've asked Lee Arbuco if an AIType trigger can be created in Tres CE.

Your level has 200+ dinos? What?

[Draconisaurus]

Question two: I'm trying to use a trigger to swap the mesh for a CInstance, but when the trigger is activated, the game crashes to desktop without an error message. I'm running in Tres CE, if it matters. This occurs with two separate instances, though from what I gather they are set up correctly. Does it have something to do with the models used as substitutes? For example, I have mesh PDXAntidote00-00 with $PDXAntidote01-00 as an A00 value in the former's TScript, and they both have the same coordinates and such, but the game still crashes when I fire a trigger telling the game to swap the meshes. I have a feeling it has something to do with different material IDs between the two models.

IIRC, it only works with "Animates" - things with a skeleton, like the player and the dinosaurs. You can't substitute other types of objects. I've forgotten to mention that.

Hmm. Would I be able to instead attach a CEntityAttached to my mesh and have it set to invisible, and then when I need to swap the meshes turn the original invisible and show the new one?

I don't see why that wouldn't work - test it!

For the flare gun... I recall that the harpoon gun in the final TC~Isle teleports the harpoon back onto the gun when you go to pick it up, or something like that. I could be mistaken about how it's done - go check it out, might help. But what I'm thinking is that you could teleport an (invisible) obj onto the flare which has the AI value you need.

For the particle effects... Check out "\Trespasser Twilight\Shell Generator\Import_Base\ParticleEffects.values.txt". Also, the Stargate test level features "drones" created out of custom particles (made by Slugger)... The triggers are in there somewhere. Aaaaand, it may help to look at the particle effects for snow (default, and in Winter Contest) and for rain (in East Dock). They are set up at least similarly.

[tatu]

In each level there is an object specifying various particle effects. Just search for "Effect" in TresEd. It's all pretty self-explanatory.

No, as I recall it, maybe only the LAB got those. Not all of them IIRC.

[Draconisaurus]

I think it's more than Lab (obviously IT has the zap one) but I don't think it's all of them, no.

[TheIdiot]

I've already thought of that, but it's not going to work considering the flare is intended to distract ALL dinosaurs globally - which will number 200+ - not just one or two instances. I've asked Lee Arbuco if an AIType trigger can be created in Tres CE.

Your level has 200+ dinos? What?

Yes - I think the number is going to be 292, to be exact. They're all going to be spread out across a huge map, though, so you'll never find more than six in one area.

Hmm. Would I be able to instead attach a CEntityAttached to my mesh and have it set to invisible, and then when I need to swap the meshes turn the original invisible and show the new one?

I don't see why that wouldn't work - test it!

It worked, but I had to make new mesh copies for both the main flare CInstance and its two CEntityAttached objects. Bit of a hassle, but it gets the job done.

For the flare gun... I recall that the harpoon gun in the final TC~Isle teleports the harpoon back onto the gun when you go to pick it up, or something like that. I could be mistaken about how it's done - go check it out, might help. But what I'm thinking is that you could teleport an (invisible) obj onto the flare which has the AI value you need.

Ho ho! Didn't think of that. I think I know exactly how I might do this. Though I'm not making a regular flare gun (yet, there will be one though), instead it's just a standard road flare which you can throw.

For the particle effects... Check out "\Trespasser Twilight\Shell Generator\Import_Base\ParticleEffects.values.txt". Also, the Stargate test level features "drones" created out of custom particles (made by Slugger)... The triggers are in there somewhere. Aaaaand, it may help to look at the particle effects for snow (default, and in Winter Contest) and for rain (in East Dock). They are set up at least similarly.

Thanks for all the references - I'll take a look. Hopefully I can get it up and running. I imported an effect from JR and it didn't seem to work even after I changed it...maybe a brand new effect will work.

In each level there is an object specifying various particle effects. Just search for "Effect" in TresEd. It's all pretty self-explanatory.

No, as I recall it, maybe only the LAB got those. Not all of them IIRC.

JR has them from what I found as well, also I'm fairly certain IT has them for the stun gun.