Mod Weather...

[cmdrkoenig67]

Hi guys,

I'd like to have lightning in one of the mods I'm working on.  I don't mean as a power fx, but something more on the lines of a change of map lighting.  

Example: The map would be set to night and said lighting would occasionally flash to day (maybe only in certain parts of the map), in random intervals on a loop. Map-based sound effects would complete the setting.  

Are lighting changes like this even possible via coding, EZScript, etc...?  Or would a specialized fx or very bright map light work (if it were set up a certain way)?

I don't know if this is possible, but I thought I'd ask.

Dana

[BentonGrey]

Very interesting idea, Dana.  To put it briefly, yes, that should be possible via EZScripting, at least in terms of the whole map.  I imagine something fancier is possible via regular scripting.  I'm just spitballing here, and I haven't tested this, but something along these lines might work:

#-------------------------------------------------

Encounter: Flash1
Type: Cutscene
Next: Thunder1

Start Cutscene:
Set Lighting to day
Play sound sound_thundercrack
Set Lighting to night

#-------------------------------------------------

Encounter: Thunder1
Type: Wait
Minimum Time: 30
Maximum Time: 130
Next: Flash1

#-------------------------------------------------

Obviously, that sound effect doesn't exist, so you'd have to come up with something for that.  You'd just set this as one of your starting encounters, and it would recycle throughout the rest of the mission.  Ohh, if you try this, make sure NOT to include a "Camera on" command, as that will give you a letterboxed CS.  This will just play in the background, so it won't stop your gameplay.

[cmdrkoenig67]

Very interesting idea, Dana.  To put it briefly, yes, that should be possible via EZScripting, at least in terms of the whole map.  I imagine something fancier is possible via regular scripting.  I'm just spitballing here, and I haven't tested this, but something along these lines might work:

#-------------------------------------------------

Encounter: Flash1
Type: Cutscene
Next: Thunder1

Start Cutscene:
Set Lighting to day
Play sound sound_thundercrack
Set Lighting to night

#-------------------------------------------------

Encounter: Thunder1
Type: Wait
Minimum Time: 30
Maximum Time: 130
Next: Flash1

#-------------------------------------------------

Obviously, that sound effect doesn't exist, so you'd have to come up with something for that.  You'd just set this as one of your starting encounters, and it would recycle throughout the rest of the mission.  Ohh, if you try this, make sure NOT to include a "Camera on" command, as that will give you a letterboxed CS.  This will just play in the background, so it won't stop your gameplay.

You. Are. The. Greatest!  Thank you, Benton.  I will give this a try...Would this work in a rumble room EZScripted mission too?  Thankfully,   comes with thunder sound effects, so sound won't be a problem.  

Dana

[BentonGrey]

Ha, it is my great pleasure to be able to help, my friend!  I don't see any reason it wouldn't work in a RR mission.  Like I said, though, I haven't tested it.  I have done relatively similar stuff, though.

[cmdrkoenig67]

IT WORKS!  You sir, are a hero!  Thank you, BG.  I think I'm going to tweak the time that the lightning flashes, though...It seems a bit too long between flashes.  The thunder sound didn't work, but perhaps I just wrote it incorrectly.

Dana

[BentonGrey]

I'm glad to hear it Dana!  The time is given in seconds, and it always seems longer than you'd think.  You can definitely tweak that.  The sound takes the format of "Play sound BLANK," and the file itself is found in your FFEdit Resources tab.  You have to write the name EXACTLY as it appears there, and it is quite picky.  They usually say music_1tm1, sound_blahblah1, or something along those lines.

[cmdrkoenig67]

I'm glad to hear it Dana!  The time is given in seconds, and it always seems longer than you'd think.  You can definitely tweak that.  The sound takes the format of "Play sound BLANK," and the file itself is found in your FFEdit Resources tab.  You have to write the name EXACTLY as it appears there, and it is quite picky.  They usually say music_1tm1, sound_blahblah1, or something along those lines.

Ah...The problem lies then in where I got the sound.  I tried to get the ambient_thunder sound effect from my Sounds tab to play.

Thanks, B.

Dana

[BentonGrey]

Ahh, yeah, that won't do it.  Now, you can create a resource entry for that sound if you want to use it.  I'm not entirely sure how it works for sounds, but I believe it is relatively straight forward.

[cmdrkoenig67]

Ahh, yeah, that won't do it.  Now, you can create a resource entry for that sound if you want to use it.  I'm not entirely sure how it works for sounds, but I believe it is relatively straight forward.

I've been able to get custom music to work before via the Resources tab, so I'll give it a go.  Thanks again.

Dana