Help with trip wires.

[reepblue]

Hi all,

 

I'm pretty much almost done with the basic setup for my trip wires. The only problem I seem to have is that scaling the laser so it does not go beyond it's starting point and it's ending point which is always updating.

 

My Code:

 

function Script:Start()
-- Ignore pickers from picking us!
self.entity:SetPickMode(0)

self.startpoint = self.entity:GetPosition(true)
self.distance = Transform:Point(0,0,20,self.entity,nil)

-- Sprites
self.sprite={}

-- The end sprite
self.sprite[0] = Sprite:Create()
local material = Material:Load("Materials/Effects/VecBall/vecball.mat")
self.sprite[0]:SetMaterial(material)
self.sprite[0]:SetSize(0.25,0.25)
self.sprite[0]:Show()

-- The beam
self.sprite[1] = Sprite:Create()
local material = Material:Load("Materials/Effects/laser1.mat")
self.sprite[1]:SetMaterial(material)
self.sprite[1]:SetViewMode(6)--Rotate around z axis
--self.sprite[1]:SetSize(0.25,10)
self.sprite[1]:Show()
self.positionbetween=Pivot:Create()
end
function Script:UpdateWorld()
self:UpdateLaser()
end
function Script: UpdatePhysics()
end
function Script:UpdateLaser()
local pickInfo=PickInfo()
local p0 = self.startpoint
local p1 = self.distance
self.endpoint = pickInfo.position
if self.entity.world:Pick(p0,p1, pickInfo, 0, true, Collision.Prop) then
self.sprite[0]:SetPosition(self.endpoint)
--if(pickInfo.entity:GetClass() == Object.ModelClass) then
if pickInfo.entity.script ~= nil then
if type(pickInfo.entity.script.TakeDamage)=="function" then
 pickInfo.entity.script:TakeDamage(1)
end
end
--end
end

self.positionbetween:SetPosition((p0+self.endpoint)/2)
self.sprite[1]:SetPosition(self.positionbetween:GetPosition())
self.allignvector=p0-self.endpoint
self.sprite[1]:AlignToVector(self.allignvector:Normalize(),2)
self.sprite[1]:SetSize(0.25,self.endpoint.z/2)
end
function Script:PostRender(context)
if DEBUG then
local player = GameRules:GetPlayer()
local p1 = player.script.camera:Project(self.startpoint);
local p2 = player.script.camera:Project(self.endpoint);
context:DrawLine(p1.x, p1.y, p2.x, p2.y);
end
end
function Script:Release()
if self.emitter~=nil then
self.emitter[0]:Release()
self.emitter=nil
end
end

 

What I have now is OK for now, but I'd like to have this fixed eventually. When the model is pretty far from the starting point, it looks fine EDIT: Tried it with a longer trail, still messed up., but as the box gets closer to the source of the laser, the laser is drawn through the box.

 

It's also axis based/dependent too, so that's not good ether! I need to get the distance from the midpoint and some how implement it to the laser's scale. I also having a hard time of it registering player collision. But I assume my main problem with that right now is that the player is a pivot. Also would like to mention that I'm using code from this topic.

 

Any help would be appreciated.

[Jazz]

I played with it and came up with this. Set up for the workshop turret with standard materials for the laser. Can now select constant rotate CW and rotate CCW and set turret at any angle. Laser center pivot removed(not needed). Create a child pivot for the muzzle called muzzle. Fun stuff!

 

edit: Josh' effects from the following post added and tweaked a bit. No default spark material but default tracer works pretty well. Adjusted flare's position so it comes out a bit.

laser.lua

[reepblue]

Works like a charm! Thank you a whole bunch, and I'm sure your work will help others!

[Josh]

Added smoke cool particle effects at the terminus:

--place a child pivot for the muzzle called muzzle
Script.laserdistance = 200 --float "Laser Distance"
Script.startpoint = Vec3()
Script.distance = nil
Script.endpoint = Vec3()
Script.box = nil
Script.beamwidth = .01 --float "Beam Width"
Script.rotateCW = false --bool "Rotate Clockwise"
Script.rotateCCW = false --bool "Rotate CClockwise"
Script.muzzle = nil
Script.muzzlepos = nil

function Script:Start()
   -- Ignore pickers from picking us!
   self.entity:SetPickMode(0)

   self.box = Model:Box(.1,.1,.1)
   self.box:SetPosition(0,-100,0)

   -- Sprites
   self.sprite={}

   -- The end sprite
   self.sprite[0] = Sprite:Create()
   local material = Material:Load("Materials/Effects/lensflare.mat")
   self.sprite[0]:SetColor(0,1,1)
   self.sprite[0]:SetMaterial(material)
   self.sprite[0]:SetSize(0.25,0.25)
   self.sprite[0]:Show()

   -- The beam
   self.sprite[1] = Sprite:Create()
   local material = Material:Load("Materials/Common/NavMesh.mat")
   self.sprite[1]:SetMaterial(material)
   self.sprite[1]:SetViewMode(6)--Rotate around z axis
   self.sprite[1]:Show()
   self.positionbetween=Pivot:Create()

   --Let's add some effects!
   self.emitter = {}

   self.emitter.smoke = Emitter:Create(5)
   self.emitter.smoke:SetDuration(500)
   self.emitter.smoke:SetEmissionVolume(0,0,0)
   self.emitter.smoke:SetVelocity(0,0,1,0)
   self.emitter.smoke:SetVelocity(0.25,0.25,0.25,1)
   self.emitter.smoke:ClearAlphaControlPoints()
   self.emitter.smoke:AddAlphaControlPoint(0.5,0.3)
   self.emitter.smoke:AddAlphaControlPoint(1.0,0.0)
   self.emitter.smoke:SetParticleColor(0.25,0.25,0.25,1,0)
   self.emitter.smoke:SetParticleColor(0.25,0.25,0.25,1,1)
   self.emitter.smoke:ClearScaleControlPoints()
   self.emitter.smoke:AddScaleControlPoint(0,1)
   self.emitter.smoke:AddScaleControlPoint(1,1)
   self.emitter.smoke:SetMaxScale(4)

   self.emitter.sparks = Emitter:Create(4,self.emitter.smoke)
   self.emitter.sparks:SetMaterial("Materials/Effects/spark.mat")
   self.emitter.sparks:SetDuration(200)
   self.emitter.sparks:SetEmissionVolume(0,0,0)
   self.emitter.sparks:SetVelocity(0,0,2,0)    
   self.emitter.sparks:SetVelocity(4,4,4,1)
   self.emitter.sparks:SetAcceleration(0,-10,0)
   self.emitter.sparks:SetRotationByVelocityMode(true)
   self.emitter.sparks:ClearAlphaControlPoints()
   self.emitter.sparks:AddAlphaControlPoint(0.5,1.0)
   self.emitter.sparks:AddAlphaControlPoint(1.0,0.0)
   self.emitter.sparks:SetParticleColor(0,1,1,1,0)
   self.emitter.sparks:SetParticleColor(0,1,1,1,1)
   self.emitter.sparks:ClearScaleControlPoints()
   self.emitter.sparks:AddScaleControlPoint(0,1)
   self.emitter.sparks:AddScaleControlPoint(1,1)
   self.emitter.sparks:SetMaxScale(0.5)
   self.emitter.sparks:SetReleaseQuantity(1)
   self.emitter.sparks:SetRotation(0,0,0)

   self.muzzle = self.entity:FindChild("muzzle")
   if self.muzzle == nil then System:Debug("muzzle not found") end
   self.muzzlepos = self.muzzle:GetPosition(true)
end

function Script:UpdateWorld()
   self:UpdateLaser()
end

function Script: UpdatePhysics()
end

function Script:UpdateLaser()
   local rotation0
   self.startpoint = self.muzzle:GetPosition(true)
   self.distance = Transform:Point(0, 0, self.laserdistance, self.entity, nil)
   --in case laser hits nothing create a box to hit or it throws beam off center
   --not needed if in enclosed space
   self.distancenohit = Transform:Point(0, 0, self.laserdistance - .3, self.entity, nil)
   local pickInfo=PickInfo()
   local p0 = self.startpoint
   local p1 = self.distance
   local picked = self.entity.world:Pick(p0,p1, pickInfo, 0, true, Collision.Prop)
   if picked then
       self.endpoint = pickInfo.position

       local speed = 0.1
       self.emitter.smoke:AlignToVector(pickInfo.normal.x,pickInfo.normal.y,pickInfo.normal.z,2)
       self.emitter.sparks:AlignToVector(pickInfo.normal.x,pickInfo.normal.y,pickInfo.normal.z,2)

       --if(pickInfo.entity:GetClass() == Object.ModelClass) then
       if pickInfo.entity.script ~= nil then
           if type(pickInfo.entity.script.TakeDamage)=="function" then
           --         pickInfo.entity.script:TakeDamage(1)
           end
       end
   --following else is not needed if in enclosed space
   else
       self.box:SetPosition(self.distancenohit,true)
       picked = self.entity.world:Pick(p0,self.distancenohit, pickInfo, 0, true, Collision.Prop)
       self.endpoint = self.distance
   end

   self.allignvector = self.startpoint - self.endpoint

   self.sprite[0]:SetPosition(self.endpoint,true)
   self.sprite[0]:AlignToVector(self.allignvector:Normalize(),2)

   self.sprite[1]:SetPosition((p0+self.endpoint)/2)
   self.sprite[1]:AlignToVector(self.allignvector:Normalize(),2)

   self.emitter.smoke:SetPosition(self.sprite[0]:GetPosition(true))

   --find distance between 2 points
   local distanceX = math.pow(self.startpoint.x - self.endpoint.x, 2)
   local distanceY = math.pow(self.startpoint.y - self.endpoint.y, 2)
   local distanceZ = math.pow(self.startpoint.z - self.endpoint.z, 2)
   local total_distance = math.sqrt(distanceX + distanceY + distanceZ) 

   if self.rotateCW then
       rotation = self.entity:GetRotation(true)
       rotation.y = rotation.y + Time:GetSpeed()*0.1
       self.entity:SetRotation(rotation)
   elseif self.rotateCCW then
       rotation = self.entity:GetRotation(true)
       rotation.y = rotation.y - Time:GetSpeed()*0.1
       self.entity:SetRotation(rotation)
   end

   self.sprite[1]:SetSize(self.beamwidth, math.abs(total_distance))

end

[Slastraf]

function Script:CastRay(other)
	local sprite = Sprite:Create()
	sprite:SetViewMode(6)
	local p0 = self.entity:GetPosition(true)
	local p1 = other:GetPosition(true)

	self.allignvector = p0 - p1
	sprite:SetPosition((p0+p1)/2)
	sprite:AlignToVector(self.allignvector:Normalize(),2)
	
	-- Find distance between the two points.
	local total_distance = p0:DistanceToPoint(p1)
	
	-- Modify the size of the beam based on the 2 points.
	-- Argument #1 is beamwidth, default .25
	sprite:SetSize(.25, total_distance)
end

Here the script again , inside a function where other (in the parameter) is an entity. Also used LE Math functions to make it run much faster.