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Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:42 am
by Commander McLane
Generally spoken:

The visibility of the lasers depends on the combination of view_position_direction and weapons_position_direction. So probably a change of the weapons_position alone won't do the trick.

There are for instance some ships where the hull may obscure parts of your view from a certain view_position. So you also won't see the laser.

And of course it's a bad idea to set both weapons_position and view_position to the same values.

When I was overhauling the external views for the trunk, I also worked on weapons_positions and view_positions of the original set. It is basically a work of trial and error. Set a certain position, fire up the game, check the positions by using internal and external views to make sure the laser is not only visible from inside, but also leaves the ship at a reasonable point. If it doesn't fit, re-adjust, fire up again and re-try.

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 10:25 am
by TGHC
Just as a matter of interest, my laser doesn't show from inside my supercobra in 1.70, is that normal?

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:30 pm
by Cmdr James
I think that normally the view and weapon positions, if not set, are both dead centre, and so the laser is a very small point, rather than a beam.

I am certain this was the problem with the hamadryad, and I suspect the problem with supercobra (but have not check the oxp)

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:50 pm
by JensAyton
Yep, the default camera and laser positions are the same. Since the laser is drawn as two rectangles, and these have zero thickness, you can’t see it when looking along it. (This is on my to-fix list, but not very far up it.)

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 6:25 am
by Commander McLane
@TGHC: Very odd. I've flown a Supercobra myself for a while, and I don't seem to remember the absence of a laser beam. Or was it perhaps the very reason to look for another ship? :roll:

Anyway, a short investigation reveals that the Supercobra simply lacks definition of view- and weapons-positions. So your laser is always dead center to your screen, and you don't see it. Or, to be precise: On my system, if I move while shooting, I do see it as a cross in the center of the screen. Not very helpful, though. :?

I am working on some positions right now. Will post them here later.

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:56 am
by TGHC
Commander McLane wrote:
if I move while shooting, I do see it as a cross in the center of the screen. Not very helpful, though. :?

I am working on some positions right now. Will post them here later.
That's exactly what I get, plus the appearance of laser hits on a "target"

It would be great to get external views too, thankyou.

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 8:15 am
by Commander McLane
External views are coming here:

Code: Select all

		<key>custom_views</key>
		<array>
			<dict>
				<key>view_description</key>
				<string>Rear View</string>
				<key>view_orientation</key>
				<string>1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0</string>
				<key>view_position</key>
				<string>0.0 30.0 -200.0</string>
				<key>weapon_facing</key>
				<string>FORWARD</string>
			</dict>
			<dict>
				<key>view_description</key>
				<string>Rear Right View</string>
				<key>view_orientation</key>
				<string>0.9239 0.0 0.3827 0.0</string>
				<key>view_position</key>
				<string>141.42 30.0 -141.42</string>
				<key>weapon_facing</key>
				<string>FORWARD</string>
			</dict>
			<dict>
				<key>view_description</key>
				<string>Right View</string>
				<key>view_orientation</key>
				<string>0.7071 0.0 0.7071 0.0</string>
				<key>view_position</key>
				<string>200.0 30.0 0.0</string>
				<key>weapon_facing</key>
				<string>FORWARD</string>
			</dict>
			<dict>
				<key>view_description</key>
				<string>Front Right View</string>
				<key>view_orientation</key>
				<string>0.3827 0.0 0.9239 0.0</string>
				<key>view_position</key>
				<string>141.42 30.0 141.42</string>
				<key>weapon_facing</key>
				<string>FORWARD</string>
			</dict>
			<dict>
				<key>view_description</key>
				<string>Front View</string>
				<key>view_orientation</key>
				<string>0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0</string>
				<key>view_position</key>
				<string>0.0 30.0 200.0</string>
				<key>weapon_facing</key>
				<string>FORWARD</string>
			</dict>
			<dict>
				<key>view_description</key>
				<string>Front Left View</string>
				<key>view_orientation</key>
				<string>0.3827 0.0 -0.9239 0.0</string>
				<key>view_position</key>
				<string>-141.42 30.0 141.42</string>
				<key>weapon_facing</key>
				<string>FORWARD</string>
			</dict>
			<dict>
				<key>view_description</key>
				<string>Left View</string>
				<key>view_orientation</key>
				<string>0.7071 0.0 -0.7071 0.0</string>
				<key>view_position</key>
				<string>-200.0 30.0 0.0</string>
				<key>weapon_facing</key>
				<string>FORWARD</string>
			</dict>
			<dict>
				<key>view_description</key>
				<string>Rear Left View</string>
				<key>view_orientation</key>
				<string>0.9239 0.0 -0.3827 0.0</string>
				<key>view_position</key>
				<string>-141.42 30.0 -141.42</string>
				<key>weapon_facing</key>
				<string>FORWARD</string>
			</dict>
			<dict>
				<key>view_description</key>
				<string>Top View</string>
				<key>view_orientation</key>
				<string>-0.7071 0.7071 0.0 0.0</string>
				<key>view_position</key>
				<string>0.0 200.0 -15.0</string>
				<key>weapon_facing</key>
				<string>FORWARD</string>
			</dict>
			<dict>
				<key>view_description</key>
				<string>Bottom View</string>
				<key>view_orientation</key>
				<string>0.0 0.0 0.7071 0.7071</string>
				<key>view_position</key>
				<string>0.0 -200.0 -15.0</string>
				<key>weapon_facing</key>
				<string>FORWARD</string>
			</dict>
		</array>
Just insert it somewhere in the supercobra-player entry in the shipdata.plist.

Sensible view- and weapons-positions are these:

Code: Select all

		<key>view_position_aft</key>
		<string>0.0 7.5 -32.5</string>
		<key>view_position_forward</key>
		<string>0.0 7.25 16.25</string>
		<key>view_position_port</key>
		<string>-30.0 4.75 0.0</string>
		<key>view_position_starboard</key>
		<string>30.0 4.75 0.0</string>
		<key>weapon_position_aft</key>
		<string>0.0 0.0 -22.5</string>
		<key>weapon_position_forward</key>
		<string>0.0 0.0 27.5</string>
		<key>weapon_position_port</key>
		<string>-41.4203186 -1.6573437 -6.2816429</string>
		<key>weapon_position_starboard</key>
		<string>41.4203186 -1.6573437 -6.2816429</string>
Also to insert somewhere in the supercobra-player entry.

*****

BUT: Cmdr James' original observation is right! weapon_position_foo is broken in 1.70. Therefore they won't work as intended. The laser beams are still on the 0 coordinates, they don't leave the ship at reasonable positions. And this seems to be true for all ships. Anyway, you will see your laser, as the view_position_foo do work and lift your viewpoint above the plane.

Anyway, request to the codemonkeys: Something is broken with weapon_position_foo in 1.70. Please have a look into it. (It works in 1.69.1.1.)

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 6:22 pm
by JensAyton
Commander McLane wrote:
Anyway, request to the codemonkeys: Something is broken with weapon_position_foo in 1.70. Please have a look into it. (It works in 1.69.1.1.)
Bug report, please.

Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 10:33 am
by Commander McLane
Ahruman wrote:
Commander McLane wrote:
Anyway, request to the codemonkeys: Something is broken with weapon_position_foo in 1.70. Please have a look into it. (It works in 1.69.1.1.)
Bug report, please.
Okay, okay. (Damn laziness :oops: .)

Anyway, Cmdr James already did it. :)