Flak Turrets implementation

Freelancer is very, very picky with anything effects related. As such, when I code effects I try to keep the structure, formatting, and placement as similar to the vanilla files as possible. One such example is the way my flak effect is coded into the game.

The way you have the effect setup is something akin to a muzzle flash or bullet effect. This was not what the effect was based on, and I believe something hard-coded in Freelancer is causing this difference to shut down the effect. My effect was based on the Patriot’s explosion effect, and as such it is setup exactly the same way as the Patriot explosion, except for the names and crc being different.

This is all the code that I used in order to get my flak explosions to work in the FX folder.

\DATA\FX\effects_explosion.ini

[Effect]
nickname = explosion_super_flak
effect_type = EFT_EXPLOSION_SHIP
vis_effect = gf_explosion_super_flak
;snd_effect = med_explosion1
snd_effect = flak_explosion_sound
lgt_effect = elite_flash_to_red
lgt_range_scale = 30
lgt_radius = 30

\DATA\FX\EXPLOSIONS\explosions_ale.ini

[VisEffect]
nickname = gf_explosion_super_flak
alchemy = fx\explosions\gf_explosion_super_flak.ale
effect_crc = 290209852
textures = fx\sarma.txm
textures = fx\lightbeam.txm
textures = fx\standardeffects.txm
textures = fx\kioncannon.txm

I’ll give that a try. Thanks.

Also, I notice the Munition still used the explosion_arch = li_battleship_flak_turret01_explosion. This has no bearing on the actual effect I presume?

R

Oh by the way, have you tried implementing these as CM’s instead? -so they only go off during incoming missile / torp fire

Question: is it possible to make the explosion in the sky more closer to each other?

The dispersion_angle controls the cone of fire for the shells. If you want a tighter spread, just lower the dispersion angle.

@Why485:

The dispersion_angle controls the cone of fire for the shells. If you want a tighter spread, just lower the dispersion angle.

thx dude…i think this weapon will mark as a FL Revolutionary Weapon

Well, it’s working. Mostly…

Occasionally I see the projectiles leave the barrels and then just hover right next to the barrel before exploding. This of course does damage to my own ship/guns.

I’ve been using w0dk4s settings for the most part. I’m going to try Why’s settings next.

Also, from time to time, the turrets lock in forward firing mode regardless of which way the point of aim is facing. I can be in turret mode and see the guns pointing in an alternate direction, but the projectiles all fire forward. This is with no target selected as well.

With turn_rate = 270, I even had an experience a couple of times where the turrets would auto-rotate 180 degrees opposite of the way I was aiming. Currently I’m using turn_rate = 120 and that seems to be working ok.

Any input appreciated.

R

@w0dk4:

Oh and I re-checked my code on the server, the lifetime actually is 0.9. One of the main problems is also tuning the explosion radius and the refire delay so that there is no chain reaction.

Are you speaking of the lifetime of the [Motor], or that of the [Munition]?
Either way, I get occasional ‘hiccups’ where the projectile stays right outside the barrel for a second or so before it explodes right on top of me. I’d say it happens about once every 6 shots or so. Then there will be times where it will be every shot.

I originally had that exact same issue you are describing robocop. But after much tweaking and unexpected side effects, the flak code that I posted works flawlessly for me. I have not had a single stuck flak bullet in a very, very long time.

Yeah, I’m using your code and finding the problems fixed. Thanks much.

Do you remember the formula offhand on how to figure out range of missiles? I know the muzzle velocity, lifetime of the motor, and the lifetime of the munition all factor in, but I don’t remember the details.

R

Well, classical physics should work fine normally

RANGE = MUZZLE_VELOCITY * LIFETIME + (ACCELERATION * MOTOR_LIFETIME ^ 2) / 2 + (MUZZLE_VELOCITY + ACCELERATION * MOTOR_LIFETIME) * (LIFETIME - MOTOR_LIFETIME)

That should work, although it may be possible to simplify it a bit ;D

I don’t know why, but i don’t get this effect to work. I wanted to modify the Battleship Flaks already implemented in the discovery mod, because they aren’t realy flakguns in my eyes. So i placed the gf_explosion_super_flak.ale in the fx/explosions folder and modified the entry in weapon_equip:

[Motor]
nickname = li_battleship_flak_turret01_motor
lifetime = 1
accel = 500
delay = 0

[Explosion]
nickname = li_battleship_flak_turret01_explosion
effect = li_flakcannon01_impact
lifetime = 0.000000, 0.000000
process = disappear
strength = 0
radius = 250
hull_damage = 750
energy_damage = 0
impulse = 50

[Munition]
nickname = li_battleship_flak_turret01_ammo
ids_name = 263383
explosion_arch = li_battleship_flak_turret01_explosion
hp_type = hp_gun
requires_ammo = false
hit_pts = 1000000
one_shot_sound = null
detonation_dist = 75
lifetime = 1
Motor = li_battleship_flak_turret01_motor
force_gun_ori = false
const_effect = li_flakcannon01_proj
HP_trail_parent = HPExhaust
seeker = DUMB
time_to_lock = 0
DA_archetype = equipment\models\torpedoes\ge_torpedo.3db
material_library = equipment\models\ge_equip.mat
mass = 200
volume = 0.000100

[Gun]
nickname = li_battleship_flak_turret01
ids_name = 263383
ids_info = 264383
DA_archetype = equipment\models\turret\li_turret04.cmp
material_library = equipment\models\li_turret.mat
HP_child = HPConnect
hit_pts = 25000
explosion_resistance = 0.1
debris_type = debris_turret_small
parent_impulse = 0
child_impulse = 0
volume = 16.000000
mass = 10
hp_gun_type = hp_turret_special_10
damage_per_fire = 0
power_usage = 170
refire_delay = 0.5
muzzle_velocity = 500
toughness = 10
light_anim = l_gun01_flash
projectile_archetype = li_battleship_flak_turret01_ammo
separation_explosion = sever_debris
auto_turret = true
turn_rate = 1000
lootable = true
dispersion_angle = 18

the effects_explosion:

[Effect]
nickname = li_flakcannon01_impact
effect_type = EFT_EXPLOSION_SHIP
vis_effect = gf_explosion_super_flak
;snd_effect = med_explosion1
snd_effect = flak_explosion_sound
lgt_effect = elite_flash_to_red
lgt_range_scale = 30
lgt_radius = 30

and the explosions_ale

[VisEffect]
nickname = gf_explosion_super_flak
alchemy = fx\explosions\gf_explosion_super_flak.ale
effect_crc = 290209852
textures = fx\sarma.txm
textures = fx\lightbeam.txm
textures = fx\standardeffects.txm
textures = fx\kioncannon.txm

The weapon has the new values, but the effect is just one small explosion, like it was before.

Might want to try

dispersion_angle = ……

and maybe

DA_archetype = equipment\models\weapons\br_auto_shotgun.cmp
material_library = equipment\models\br_equip.mat

which will give you a gun with 5 HpFire.

I have used dispersion_angel (last line in weapon_equip). But i can’t use another archetyp, because it is a optional modification. Or am i wrong, that the archetyp have to be the same for the people without the mod and those, which have the mod?

…… i suppose both (archetype + dispersion) have 2 be on the client
and should be on the server 2.

Hit detection is usually done on the client (w0dk4 is the man 2 ask )
and dispersion effects that.

It’s a funny thing 4 ‘2nd hand weapons’ ;D
and 2.5 make it hard 2 hit anything.

The mod will be on the server, but it must be an optional mod for the client, so i can’t use different archetyps. Robocop said on the last page, that he got it to work with Why485’s code, so i used it, too.

hit detection is done on client AND on the server side

it simply depends on which kind of hit detection you mean coz there are different kinds

I don’t mean any hit detection. I am wondering, why i see just one explosion, while i used the same code as Why485. This is, what i asked for.

@Aeril:

I don’t mean any hit detection ……

… so dispersion and the numbers of HpFire effect that,
that was just an argument,
if you might need those changes client and/or server side.