BZW Map FX: Lightning/Lighting = :?:

[LeGeeko]

I've been toying around with the BZW format recently, and I have 2 great map ideas. The first, Multiple Levels of CHAOS, is in Works In Progress section, currently in "first beta stage".

The second is a HUGE pyramid in the center of the map, surrounded by small(er) ones, with lightning coming from the small ones and hitting the HUGE one. With a lot of climb-able structures, too.

The only problem with the second idea is that I have no clue how one would call up a texture "on cue", like a World Weapon. I could use lasers for the lightning, but that would use a LOT of lasers.

I'm sure it can be done with textures, similar to a dynamic color, but how? How does one create a material that will "flash" on and off? ( like so: - LOL )

In the wiki, there are several unexplained features of the material object, so that's not helping me very much... Even a detailed explanation of the material object and it's parameters would be great.

Thanks a bunch!

[joevano]

Louman did lightning on his The Guantlet map, IIRC

might help to look at the map code here...

[LeGeeko]

Thanks donny, I'll look into it.

[joevano]

Would help if I added the link to the map...
http://my.bzflag.org/bb/viewtopic.php?t=9693

[LeGeeko]

Yes, it might, but I already had the map on my computer. Thanks anyway!

I extracted the Lightning code from the BZW file. Pretty cool stuff. Just one more question: is it possible to rotate an object on the X or Y axes, instead of the default Z axis? Thanks again!

[CannonBallGuy]

look up "spin" - try the bzw manpage

[Legolas_]

The coding for spin is thus:

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spin angle nx ny nz    # (repeatable)

I would assume that angle would be in degrees, and the nx, ny, nz would specify which axes to spin it upon, but I am not sure.

[meeba]

The coding for spin is thus:

Code: Select all

spin angle nx ny nz    # (repeatable)

I would assume that angle would be in degrees, and the nx, ny, nz would specify which axes to spin it upon, but I am not sure.

That is almost correct, although it is important to note that only one of nx, ny, and nz can be 1. The other two must be 0. Also note that it is repeatable, so if you need more than one axis rotated upon, you can repeat it using a different vector for rotation.

[L4m3r]

[That is almost correct, although it is important to note that only one of nx, ny, and nz can be 1. The other two must be 0.

Nope.

nx, ny, and nz are the three components of a unit vector which defines the axis of rotation. While in the vast majority of cases you will have one of these (usually nz) as 1 and the other two as 0, it is by no means necessary.

In fact, you don't really even have to use a unit vector, as bzfs will scale it for you if necessary.

[Legolas_]

So,

Code: Select all

Spin 50 0 1 0

would give me a 50 degree rotation on the y axis?

[meeba]

[That is almost correct, although it is important to note that only one of nx, ny, and nz can be 1. The other two must be 0.

Nope.

nx, ny, and nz are the three components of a unit vector which defines the axis of rotation. While in the vast majority of cases you will have one of these (usually nz) as 1 and the other two as 0, it is by no means necessary.

In fact, you don't really even have to use a unit vector, as bzfs will scale it for you if necessary.

Sorry, just posting what I remember hearing from Jeff at one point when I was having trouble with it. Using two of them wasn't quite working right.

[CannonBallGuy]

Code: Select all

spin 180 1 0.5 0.25

should spin the object by 180° in the x-axis, 90° in the y-axis and 45° in the z-axis.

[LeGeeko]

Thanks a ton, guys! That's exactly the info I need.