Backwards Beam?

UnkoMan · November 03, 2008, 11:08:29 PM

Is there any way to make a beam that goes... backwards? That is, one that starts at the target and ends at the projector? Or is that impossible?

I am thinking the latter, but if it is I would love to know about it. Thanks!

Previsionary · November 04, 2008, 08:37:09 AM

I'm 90% sure you can't do that. I'd need to look over some nifs just to be 100% sure, but the game has a pretty specific setup as far as that goes.

AfghanAnt · November 04, 2008, 08:43:14 AM

Couldn't you just change the direction of the nif with nifskope?

Previsionary · November 04, 2008, 08:48:21 AM

Doesn't really work that way. The beam would appear away from the originator and still expand forward. I don't think even reversing the animations would accomplish much because the beam system hasn't been fully figured out by anyone here yet and I never got anyone from IG to send out a beam max file. :P

emperous · November 04, 2008, 09:48:02 AM

Damn them!

AfghanAnt · November 04, 2008, 10:05:25 AM

Yes! Damn them to hell!

UnkoMan · November 04, 2008, 10:40:05 AM

Yeah, I had assumed impossibility. It's alright though. Just a thought.

GogglesPizanno · November 04, 2008, 02:41:31 PM

QuoteYeah, I had assumed impossibility.

You know what happens when you assume...
You make Prev look like an arse...

*Runs away like the coward I am*

Conduit · November 06, 2008, 07:10:49 AM

What you describe, making a beam start at the target, would require reprogramming the game. Since we don't have the source code, yes, that is impossible.

You could probably make a beam that flows backward. It would move towards the target, but the beam texture would move back towards the projector, rather than towards the target. That probably wouldn't be hard to make in NifSkope, assuming I understand how beam animation works.

Epimethee · November 07, 2008, 04:24:27 PM

It could be done through scripting, if the beam were set on a specific (and small enough) target; targeting the ground or a large building wouldn't work, because we can't get the hit position (an annoying limitation of the game engine).

Basically, you'd use an invisible beam attack on your target; once hit (currently supporting only successful state attacks, as my code for the other cases is in serious need of debugging), spawn an invisible character who'd launch a normal beam at the attacker.