How does the shield work?

Donator · 29th Jun 2003, 09:31 AM

Sounds simple enough. I am trying to code up a modifiction of the standard shield that briefly spawns a sphere like mesh around the target when hit to give the illusion of an actually invisible shielding field surrounding the player that only becomes visible when absorbing damage. You all know star trek, you know the clichee. I'm just not satisfied with that orange shader. Problem is, I'm at a complete loss where to start. Where is the function that actually generates that damage overlay and from where is it called?

EvilDrWong · 29th Jun 2003, 09:57 AM

xPawn.ShieldAbsorb(), but to change that youll need to make a gametype... which probably isnt what youre going for. What you could do as a cheap alternative is make a new GameRules class and in its NetDamage function spawn your translucent sphere effect if xPawn(Injured).ShieldStrength > 0

Donator · 29th Jun 2003, 11:11 AM

The 'cheap alternative' was very helpful, thanks a lot.

I still don't understand where the damage overlay is generated, since ShieldAbsorb() only does 'return damage' as I see it, no actual texture change. I'm able to generate the sphere now, so my second question would be, how do I get rid of the orange damage overlay shader?

EvilDrWong · 29th Jun 2003, 11:49 AM

Code:

(in xPawn.ShieldAbsorb)
if (ShieldStrength > damage)
{
    ShieldStrength -= damage;
    SetOverlayMaterial( ShieldHitMat, ShieldHitMatTime, false );
    PlaySound(sound'WeaponSounds.ArmorHit',SLOT_Pain,2*TransientSoundVolume,,400); 
    return 0;
}

the bold part might be the culprit behind that. SO, what you could try doing is something of this sort in your NetDamage() to get rid of it after the fact

Code:

injured.SetOverlayMaterial(none, 0.0, false);

Donator · 29th Jun 2003, 01:41 PM

Going to try that now. Oddly enough, I've no idea where to find those lines you mention. The ShieldAbsorb() function in the xPawn class when viewed in UnrealED only contains the line 'return damage;' for me. And even odder, when trying to export xPawn, WOTGreal crashes, period, no questions asked. Anyway, thanks, you've been a big help. Off to experimenting now...

EvilDrWong · 29th Jun 2003, 08:15 PM

oh! here, try downloading the source straight from epic:
http://unreal.epicgames.com/Files/UT...225-Source.zip

Donator · 30th Jun 2003, 02:18 AM

Great. Now I can also see it. I really wonder why the xPawn from the sourcecode zip differs from the one I see in UEd (?!).

Donator · 30th Jun 2003, 02:49 AM

injured.SetOverlayMaterial(none, 0.0, false);

does not work, by the way. Maybe the overlay's drawn before NetDamage is called.

Donator · 30th Jun 2003, 04:15 AM

But it doesn't matter much as I see now, because the shield effect blocks your view anyway. Cool. Some more fiddling with materials and it's ready to rock...

29th Jun 2003, 09:31 AM	#1
Donator Registered User Join Date: Jun. 26th, 2003 Location: Vienna Posts: 146	How does the shield work? Sounds simple enough. I am trying to code up a modifiction of the standard shield that briefly spawns a sphere like mesh around the target when hit to give the illusion of an actually invisible shielding field surrounding the player that only becomes visible when absorbing damage. You all know star trek, you know the clichee. I'm just not satisfied with that orange shader. Problem is, I'm at a complete loss where to start. Where is the function that actually generates that damage overlay and from where is it called?

29th Jun 2003, 09:57 AM	#2
EvilDrWong Every line of code elevates you Join Date: Jun. 16th, 2001 Location: Inside the machine Posts: 932	xPawn.ShieldAbsorb(), but to change that youll need to make a gametype... which probably isnt what youre going for. What you could do as a cheap alternative is make a new GameRules class and in its NetDamage function spawn your translucent sphere effect if xPawn(Injured).ShieldStrength > 0 __________________ How can you challenge a perfect immortal machine?

29th Jun 2003, 11:49 AM	#4
EvilDrWong Every line of code elevates you Join Date: Jun. 16th, 2001 Location: Inside the machine Posts: 932	Code: (in xPawn.ShieldAbsorb) if (ShieldStrength > damage) { ShieldStrength -= damage; SetOverlayMaterial( ShieldHitMat, ShieldHitMatTime, false ); PlaySound(sound'WeaponSounds.ArmorHit',SLOT_Pain,2TransientSoundVolume,,400); return 0; } the bold part might be the culprit behind that. SO, what you could try doing is something of this sort in your NetDamage() to get rid of it after the fact Code: injured.SetOverlayMaterial(none, 0.0, false); __________________ How can you challenge a perfect immortal machine? Last edited by EvilDrWong; 29th Jun 2003 at 11:51 AM.*

29th Jun 2003, 08:15 PM	#6
EvilDrWong Every line of code elevates you Join Date: Jun. 16th, 2001 Location: Inside the machine Posts: 932	oh! here, try downloading the source straight from epic: http://unreal.epicgames.com/Files/UT...225-Source.zip __________________ How can you challenge a perfect immortal machine?

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29th Jun 2003, 11:11 AM	#3
Donator Registered User Join Date: Jun. 26th, 2003 Location: Vienna Posts: 146	The 'cheap alternative' was very helpful, thanks a lot. I still don't understand where the damage overlay is generated, since ShieldAbsorb() only does 'return damage' as I see it, no actual texture change. I'm able to generate the sphere now, so my second question would be, how do I get rid of the orange damage overlay shader?

29th Jun 2003, 01:41 PM	#5
Donator Registered User Join Date: Jun. 26th, 2003 Location: Vienna Posts: 146	Going to try that now. Oddly enough, I've no idea where to find those lines you mention. The ShieldAbsorb() function in the xPawn class when viewed in UnrealED only contains the line 'return damage;' for me. And even odder, when trying to export xPawn, WOTGreal crashes, period, no questions asked. Anyway, thanks, you've been a big help. Off to experimenting now...

30th Jun 2003, 02:18 AM	#7
Donator Registered User Join Date: Jun. 26th, 2003 Location: Vienna Posts: 146	Great. Now I can also see it. I really wonder why the xPawn from the sourcecode zip differs from the one I see in UEd (?!).

30th Jun 2003, 02:49 AM	#8
Donator Registered User Join Date: Jun. 26th, 2003 Location: Vienna Posts: 146	injured.SetOverlayMaterial(none, 0.0, false); does not work, by the way. Maybe the overlay's drawn before NetDamage is called.