Is the ALE as simple as it is?????

TheDvDMan

[d]Lets take for example the li_laser_04,ale’s ANL:

; ALE Scripter By DB Software
; Original filename is "li_laser_04.ale"
;******************************************************************************************************

[ALE]
Version = 1.1
; Number of sections = 4

; ****************************************************************************

[Section]
; ==> 1
FX_Type = FxBasicAppearance

Node_Name = li_laser_04_flash.app ; 0x1DDB8202 500924930

Node_LifeSpan = 2.0000000000000000

Node_Transform = {}

Appearance_LODCurve = {
Entry = 0.0000000000000000
EFlag = 4
SubEntry = 0.0000000000000000, 2.0000000000000000, 1.0000000000000000, 1.0000000000000000
SubFlag = 3
}

BasicApp_TriTexture = True

BasicApp_QuadTexture = False

BasicApp_MotionBlur = True

BasicApp_Color = {
Flag = 4
Entry = 0.0000000000000000
SubFlag = 4
SubEntry = 0.0000000000000000, 0.5921568870544434, 0.5921568870544434, 0.9490196704864502
}

BasicApp_Alpha = {
Entry = 0.0000000000000000
EFlag = 4
SubEntry = 0.0000000000000000, 1.0000000000000000, 1.0000000000000000, 0.0000000000000000
SubFlag = 4
}

BasicApp_Size = {
Entry = 0.0000000000000000
EFlag = 4
SubEntry = 0.0000000000000000, 1.9982620477676392, 0.1992010027170181, 0.0000000000000000
SubFlag = 4
}

BasicApp_HToVAspect = {
Entry = 0.0000000000000000
SubEntry = 0.0000000000000000, 1.0000000000000000
}

BasicApp_Rotate = {
Entry = 0.0000000000000000
EFlag = 4
SubEntry = 0.0000000000000000, 0.0000000000000000
SubFlag = 4
}

BasicApp_TexName = small-flare ; 0x119EE9C6 295627206

BasicApp_BlendInfo = 5, 2

BasicApp_UseCommonTexFrame = True

BasicApp_TexFrame = {
Flag = 4
Entry = 0.0000000000000000
SubFlag = 4
SubEntry = 0.0000000000000000, 0.0000000000000000
}

BasicApp_CommonTexFrame = {
Entry = 0.0000000000000000, 0.0000000000000000
}

BasicApp_FlipTexU = True

BasicApp_FlipTexV = True

; ****************************************************************************

[Section]
; ==> 2
FX_Type = FxBasicAppearance

Node_Name = li_laser_04_impact.app ; 0x1D859DBA 495295930

Node_LifeSpan = 2.0000000000000000

Node_Transform = {}

Appearance_LODCurve = {
Entry = 0.0000000000000000
EFlag = 4
SubEntry = 0.0000000000000000, 2.0000000000000000, 1.0000000000000000, 1.0000000000000000
SubFlag = 3
}

BasicApp_TriTexture = True

BasicApp_QuadTexture = False

BasicApp_MotionBlur = True

BasicApp_Color = {
Flag = 4
Entry = 0.0000000000000000
SubFlag = 4
SubEntry = 0.0000000000000000, 1.0000000000000000, 1.0000000000000000, 1.0000000000000000
SubEntry = 0.2758620679378510, 0.1176470667123795, 0.4784314036369324, 0.8823530077934265
}

BasicApp_Alpha = {
Entry = 0.0000000000000000
EFlag = 4
SubEntry = 0.0000000000000000, 1.0000000000000000, 1.0000000000000000, 0.0000000000000000
SubFlag = 4
}

BasicApp_Size = {
Entry = 0.0000000000000000
EFlag = 4
SubEntry = 0.0000000000000000, 3.0000000000000000, 0.1992010027170181, 0.4995589852333069
SubFlag = 4
}

BasicApp_HToVAspect = {
Entry = 0.0000000000000000
SubEntry = 0.0000000000000000, 1.0000000000000000
}

BasicApp_Rotate = {
Entry = 0.0000000000000000
EFlag = 4
SubEntry = 0.0000000000000000, 0.0000000000000000
SubFlag = 4
}

BasicApp_TexName = small-flare ; 0x119EE9C6 295627206

BasicApp_BlendInfo = 5, 2

BasicApp_UseCommonTexFrame = True

BasicApp_TexFrame = {
Flag = 4
Entry = 0.0000000000000000
SubFlag = 4
SubEntry = 0.0000000000000000, 0.0000000000000000
}

BasicApp_CommonTexFrame = {
Entry = 0.0000000000000000, 0.0000000000000000
}

BasicApp_FlipTexU = True

BasicApp_FlipTexV = True

; ****************************************************************************

[Section]
; ==> 3
FX_Type = FxSphereEmitter

Node_Name = li_laser_04_flash_Sphere.emt ; 0xEDB49D4F 3988036943

Node_LifeSpan = 2.0000000000000000

Node_Transform = {}

Emitter_LODCurve = {
Entry = 0.0000000000000000
EFlag = 4
SubEntry = 0.0000000000000000, 0.0197300221771002, 1.0000000000000000, 1.0000000000000000
SubFlag = 1
}

Emitter_InitialParticles = 0

Emitter_Frequency = {
Flag = 4
Entry = 0.0000000000000000, 100.0000000000000000
EFlag = 0
SubFlag = 2
SubEntry = 0.0032170000486076, 100.7065353393554700, 0.0000000000000000, 0.0000000000000000
SubEntry = 0.2056300044059753, 0.0000000000000000, 0.0000000000000000, 0.0000000000000000
}

Emitter_MaxParticles = {
Flag = 4
Entry = 0.0000000000000000, 10000.0000000000000000
EFlag = 0
}

Emitter_EmitCount = {
Entry = 0.0000000000000000, 0.0000000000000000
}

Emitter_InitLifeSpan = {
Flag = 4
Entry = 0.0000000000000000, 2.0000000000000000
EFlag = 0
SubFlag = 1
SubEntry = 0.0029490001033992, 0.9910669922828674, 0.0000000000000000, 0.0000000000000000
}

Emitter_Pressure = {
Flag = 4
Entry = 0.0000000000000000, 10.0000000000000000
EFlag = 0
SubFlag = 1
SubEntry = -0.0034849999938160, 4.9851121902465820, 0.0000000000000000, 0.0000000000000000
}

Emitter_VelocityApproach = {
Entry = 0.0000000000000000, 0.0000000000000000
}

SphereEmitter_MinRadius = {
Entry = 0.0000000000000000, 0.0000000000000000
}

SphereEmitter_MaxRadius = {
Entry = 0.0000000000000000, 1.0000000000000000
SubEntry = 0.0029490001033992, 0.4032259881496429, 0.0000000000000000, 0.0000000000000000
}

; ****************************************************************************

[Section]
; ==> 4
FX_Type = FxSphereEmitter

Node_Name = li_laser_04_impact_Sphere.emt ; 0x0ACBC504 181126404

Node_LifeSpan = 2.0000000000000000

Node_Transform = {}

Emitter_LODCurve = {
Entry = 0.0000000000000000
EFlag = 4
SubEntry = 0.0000000000000000, 0.0177105087786913, 1.0000000000000000, 1.0000000000000000
SubFlag = 1
}

Emitter_InitialParticles = 0

Emitter_Frequency = {
Flag = 4
Entry = 0.0000000000000000, 100.0000000000000000
EFlag = 0
SubFlag = 2
SubEntry = 0.0000000000000000, 100.0000000000000000, 0.0000000000000000, 0.0000000000000000
SubEntry = 0.2056300044059753, 0.0000000000000000, 0.0000000000000000, 0.0000000000000000
}

Emitter_MaxParticles = {
Flag = 4
Entry = 0.0000000000000000, 10000.0000000000000000
EFlag = 0
}

Emitter_EmitCount = {
Entry = 0.0000000000000000, 0.0000000000000000
}

Emitter_InitLifeSpan = {
Flag = 4
Entry = 0.0000000000000000, 2.0000000000000000
EFlag = 0
SubFlag = 1
SubEntry = 0.0000000000000000, 1.1292730569839478, 0.0000000000000000, 0.0000000000000000
}

Emitter_Pressure = {
Flag = 4
Entry = 0.0000000000000000, 10.0000000000000000
EFlag = 0
SubFlag = 1
SubEntry = -0.0034849999938160, 4.9851121902465820, 0.0000000000000000, 0.0000000000000000
}

Emitter_VelocityApproach = {
Entry = 0.0000000000000000, 0.0000000000000000
}

SphereEmitter_MinRadius = {
Entry = 0.0000000000000000, 0.0000000000000000
}

SphereEmitter_MaxRadius = {
Entry = 0.0000000000000000, 1.0000000000000000
SubEntry = 0.0029490001033992, 0.4032259881496429, 0.0000000000000000, 0.0000000000000000
}

;0000059E **** EOF ****

Now, all I need to know is: Where is the shape? Where are the layers? And where is the size?
From the things I found, I only understood the command types (not meanings) and the aim of the file.

Can some specialist explain me please?[/d]

EDIT: Oh wait, this is Nova’s “look at me” thread now! Ignore whatever is above this line.

FriendlyFire

You can’t exactly know what something will look like just from the code. Only adoxa seems able to do anything of the sort

Your definitions are very vague, you know. The size of the particle can be determined by many factors, so can the “shape”. As for “layers”, I’m not even sure what you mean.

Nova

Size may be scale and a size, also pressure can make effect larger sometimes.

Btw, there is no projectile in ALE you took for example; only flash and impact.

Layers… what is it?
If you want to mix several effects in one, look start of this topic.

TheDvDMan

@Nova: Its like what you did with your “Ray” effect: 2 flat texture stripes crossed in + shape. By “layer” I mean one of those stripes.

Gisteron

all beam appearances create two stripes. there is no way around it. you can only set up that one of the two has a width of 0, then it’d be invisible. and ofc therefore make a second beam, where the other one has a width of 0 and get an effect with two different stripes O.O

but don’t ask me how, i don’t even get any simple beam appearance to look like it is supposed to xD

TheDvDMan

DAMN!!! I really understand nothing!!!
From now on, ALE became my nightmare… I’ll get up at midnight screaming “BEAM EFFECTS!!!” L L

Nova

ALE is the hardest modding thing

Nova

THIS IS SPARTA!!1111
http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/460/83114704.jpg
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/3927/screen237.jpg
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/2623/screen239p.jpg

Timmy51m

I can appreciate that the odd capship casting these beams must look snazzy, but 10 fighters with 6 beams each must be an 80’s disco. Glad to see you cracked it all the same.

Gisteron

i rather like the capships with beams… especially why’s effect reminds me of “War of The Worlds” with custom coloring xD.
anyway, beautiful work, nova.

TheDvDMan

Again he takes me over… Forget it ok? If the subject is gonna be Nova again, I officially kill this thread.

Wolfie

TheDvDMan wrote:
Now, all I need to know is: Where is the shape? Where are the layers? And where is the size?
From the things I found, I only understood the command types (not meanings) and the aim of the file.

Can some specialist explain me please?

FX_Type = FxSphereEmitter is the shape. Its a sphere.

A rectangle would be FxRectEmitter for example.

I’ve seen BasicApp_Size and SphereEmitter_MinRadius and SphereEmitter_MaxRadius define the size.

What layers?

TheDvDMan

Read up a bit, you’ll see what I mean. BTW I think I solved it, and added the solution to the Wiki.

FriendlyFire

The emitter type has little to do with the shape. It manages how the particles are spawned, but good luck seeing the difference between a cube and a sphere under most circumstances.

Timmy51m

TheDvDMan wrote:
Again he takes me over… Forget it ok? If the subject is gonna be Nova again, I officially kill this thread.

Did you officially just throw your toys out of the pram?

TheDvDMan

Nope, my toys are still in the bucket!

StarTrader

Good, glad to hear it, these forums are for everyone to learn from each other.