lightNing

Zell · Post by **Zell** » Tue Aug 19, 2003 3:58 pm

is it possible to create ligthing in zdoom? ie like in HL with the env_beam entity?

Biff · Post by **Biff** » Tue Aug 19, 2003 4:46 pm

There should be a mapinfo entry which causes random weak flashes in outside areas IIRC. Just try the word "lightning".

Zell · Post by **Zell** » Tue Aug 19, 2003 4:48 pm

ok..is there any way to concentrate it in one area? i have a little citry with rain, anyway it shoots back to the player who is in side...=p the roof isnt open in the building =p

heh this quick reply thing is cool =p

Eevee · Post by **Eevee** » Tue Aug 19, 2003 5:16 pm

umm, use a script? change the light level to 255 and then fade it back to whatever it was at random intervals o.o

Zell · Post by **Zell** » Tue Aug 19, 2003 5:25 pm

right..but is there a way to add the actuall beam of lgithing?

Eevee · Post by **Eevee** » Tue Aug 19, 2003 5:30 pm

oh you want an actual bolt of lightning... erm o.x best I can think of is have a tall texture in the form of lightning, stick it on a line as the light flares, then fade it away with repeated TranslucentLines as the light dims again...

Hirogen2 · Post by **Hirogen2** » Wed Aug 20, 2003 12:18 am

Here is what I have done in my ROTT P/T conversion:
(A skybox that is!)

Code: Select all

script 1 OPEN {
  delay(35 * random(9, 15));
  Light_ChangeToValue(id, 255);
  delay(4);
  Light_ChangeToValue(id, 144); // previous light setting
  delay(4);
  AmbientSound("world/thunder");
  restart;
}

It's cool.

Post by **Enjay** » Wed Aug 20, 2003 1:27 pm

Info:

A slight problem with skyboxes that Randy fixed was that they (usually) do not have F_SKY on the floor or ceiling - so do not flash when the lighning special is used in mapinfo. So, he invented the "outdoor lighning" sector special (type 197). That will flash the sector as if it had F_SKY on it's floor ceiling.

There are also 198 (indoor lightning) and 199 (indoor lightning - brighter) to simulate areas next to windows etc.

It is also possible to use a "lightning" script. This is a script that gets executed everytime the lightning flashes. Use the word lightning instead of open, enter, (void) etc. I have used this to briefly flash lightning bolts across the sky in a skybox using a very simple script. No need to worry about changing light levels or anything, because sector type 197 has it covered.

Possibly easier to do than Hirogen2's suggestion, but somtimes a fully scripted version is desirable (eg if you change the weather mid level).

Also,

If you do not want to use a skybox to show lightning across the sky, you can use 2 skies - defined in MAPINFO. The regular sky gets shown most of the time, but when the lightning flashes, a second sky gets shown briefly. For an example, see http://members.lycos.co.uk/Enjay001/ . Scroll about half way down the page and DL "redsky.wad" However, there is something screwy going on with that site. When I check it from work, I can DL files no problem. When I check it from home, I get told the file is being linked to from an external site, then get redirected back to the site to try again - with the same result. So, it may or may not work for you. I have told Lycos about the problem, but no response so far.

Zell · Post by **Zell** » Wed Aug 20, 2003 1:38 pm

...well...lol..i dont exactly want in the skybox, rather the ligthing bolt to come down from the sky, (in the room with the opening scnene) and light up the whole area...im gonna draw lighting later, i have to get to work =p.

Post by **Enjay** » Sat Aug 23, 2003 3:31 am

Well, I've worked out what the download problem I was having with my site is - Norton Internet Security. If I disable that, I can get the files no problem. So if anyone is trying to get the files (and failing) and has NIS or similar running, you may want to disable it temporarily.