Effect_set modified

**Argantonio** · July 06, 2009, 04:34 AM

In MTW game are hundred of effects, all take the term Effect_Set.
(Effect_set tower_crumble_large_set, effect_set engine_fire_large_night_set, effect_set burning_oil_steam_set ..)

are effects of impact, sounds, fire, smoke, water...

Example: Effect_set wall_impact_monster_set
Effect that produces the impact of the moster cannon on the wall, his characteristics are the following :
{
play_time 20
lod 1000
{
explosive_cloud_monster_01
explosive_cloud_monster_02
shockwave
}
}

and are in the following files:
in descr_effect_impacts.txt

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

in descr_event_effects , Effect of quake of camera ...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

I manage to identify them, and I can interchange effects in files world modified , for example change effect water_fountain for an effect window_fire_small.

Solved problem
Really someone has obtained to change or to create an effect?
Someone has to incorporate a new engine, funcionating to MTWII?
In this thread the solution.

**Augustus Lucifer** · July 06, 2009, 06:41 AM

It's entirely possible they're hardcoded, though I wouldn't hasten to assume that until more research has been done.

I'm seeing the same explosive_cloud name in descr_artillery_effects.txt which you didn't mention, but I'm not sure how the entries in there correlate to the entries in the descr_effects_impacts.txt as they both seem to serve a similar function rather than one defining and one deriving. If one were to derive from the other though, it looks like the descr_artillery_effects.txt file has more of a base and the file you mentioned expounds on what happens when it hits certain objects.

For reference what have you tried changing?

**Eothese** · July 07, 2009, 06:59 AM

It's a complicated jumble of hunting your way through one file after another.
For example, starting with descr_projectile; the first projectile 'arrow' has 7 effect sets associated with it. None of these are referenced in descr_arrow_trail_effects, but another projectile 'catapult' has 1 reference in descr_arrow_trail_effects, namley boulder_medium_set. The rest of the effect sets are scattered across the files listed in descr_effects.

These files can be modified with caution, and some new effects can be made but all associated files have to be referenced. Too much tweaking outside parameters can also easily cause a CTD, too much velocity, too great an angle, too long an anim play time etc.

Some of the references are to animations, eg from descr_tower_crumble_effects;
effect_set tower_crumble_small_set
{
play_time 1.5
lod 10000
{
tower_crumble_small
}
}
Now, I can't say for sure where this is located, but my guess would be one of the blockset/south_european/animations/subfolders. But as I can't find it, I assume it is packed somewhere.

**Argantonio** · July 07, 2009, 05:46 PM

The knowledges acquired with KE world editor , allow us, to incorporate any effect into a any structure.
This association structure-effect can be constant (day - night) or discontinuous, the effect appears when a structure changes (damaged).
Attachment 47442
City night effect smoke, light and torches
With the KE world editor we can to place any effect in the time , space, and to associate with the structures that we want.
This possibility opens a door for the comprehension of the effects that appear in the game. Essentially are particles-generators , we have the opportunity to understand them.
By means of KE world editor I have a perfect track of tests, it allows to me prove all the effects, look at the examples.
Attachment 47443
Ne_city_watch with his effects ( effect_sets)
Associating the effects with a structure, we choose the chimneys of the roof near to the tower. Normally the chimneys have associating effect chimney_small_set , but we can to change it.
Attachment 47444 Attachment 47445 Attachment 47446
For a camp_fire_medium_set
For arrows_fire_new_set
Attachment 47447 Attachment 47448 Attachment 47449 Attachment 47450
For burning_bulding_new_extra_large_set
For burninig_oil_set ( we are in MTWII

)
Attachment 47451
Or for tower_crumble_small_set

**Argantonio** · July 07, 2009, 06:00 PM

We study the effect tower_crumble_small_set, go to descr_tower_crumble_effects.txt file, have 3 tower crumble effects , small_set:
effect_set tower_crumble_small_set
{
play_time 1.5
lod 10000
{
tower_crumble_small
}
}
Attachment 47452 Attachment 47453 Attachment 47454
The effect is a expansive ring dust cloud , time approximately 15 seconds and repeats again and again. The set consists of an one effect, tower_crumble_small, described in the decsr_tower_crumble_effects.txt file, informs us of sprites, origin, texture color, size, speed..., it is a particles generator.
And here is the problem , to modify it, I begin for something simple, to replace an effect with other one, the effect tower_crumble_small for the effect burning_oil, a generator of particles in descending cone.
original text

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

Modified text

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

Attachment 47455
The only way of understand these generators of particles is by means of the owner modification.
When in MTW II is not possible to to modify anything is due to one reason:
Game not read the files unpacked , always read pack files

Solved problem
Really someone has obtained to change or to create an effect?
Someone has obtained to incorporate a new engine, funcionating to MTWII?
In this thread the solution.

Attachment 47456
Chimney with water fountain

water generator...

**Argantonio** · July 09, 2009, 04:31 AM

I did it!
Solution , change with WinHex in file pack0 , directly...

Attachment 47719
battlefield/fire/smoke4_chimney.tga
for
battlefield/fire/smoke5_chimney.tga ( New file)
forget modified text files
Attachment 47657

Smoke with different texture, its only the beguining

Attachment 47716
Smoke blue
Attachment 47717 Attachment 47718
Smoke Rainbow...

**Argantonio** · July 12, 2009, 06:06 AM

It seems to be that multicolored smoke has not been amazing.

Attachment 47989
I like it , is very nice like Christmas in ne_city.world

Attachment 47976 Attachment 47977 Attachment 47978
Here you have a little more interesting , a known engine (warwagon) that works like a catapult.
Attachment 47979
Only modifying this text lines , in descr_engines.txt ( and a little trick)

Attachment 47980
range catapult modified in descr_projectile.txt only 40 meters , insuficience velocity 20m/s , dangerous for catapult crew

area_effect ae_mortar_shot
damage 30
damage_to_troops 30
radius 0.3
mass 2.4
area 2.0
accuracy_vs_units 0.0625
accuracy_vs_buildings 0.0500
accuracy_vs_towers 0.0325
min_angle -15
max_angle 70
velocity 20 ;61
ground_shatter
body_piercing
;bounce 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.4
display aimed
this is only the beginning...

**Devils_Advocate** · July 20, 2009, 04:54 AM

Concerning the catapult 'effect', seemingly only soldier units are affected, the catapults itself and the buildings are still intact.
Any chance for affecting everything (what is destroyable) within the adjusted radius?

**Argantonio** · July 20, 2009, 05:51 AM

kill Radius affect only units ( human-animals)
damage Radius must to affect units buildings and engines.
You can prove , a high damage radius and a low kill radius and to verify the affectation to buildings and engines.

**Argantonio** · July 26, 2009, 07:41 AM

Field of shot practices:
Attachment 49585 Attachment 49586
10 catapults shoot at the same objetive .
The beach_balls go to the objetive.
Depending on the precision level ( accuracy ), the missiles impacts in different places.
We study a precision level (accuracy) modified desc_projectile.txt

We use a modified missile, a beach ball.

It does not have effect of collision with the ground ( It does not bounce either)

It does not produce damage to the units
Effect does not have perforation body
There is no effect of area
Ball serves us to know the position of the impact
We modify the file .cas originally, to obtain an object more big and visible.

In desc_projectile.txt write
projectile catapult
damage 50
radius 0.3
mass 0.8
area 2.5
accuracy_vs_units ( .......)
accuracy_vs_buildings 0.0001
accuracy_vs_towers 0.0001
fiery
min_angle -15
max_angle 70
velocity 60
display aimed
model data/models_missile/beach_ball.CAS, max

All these effects are suppressed

effect
end_effect
end_man_effect
end_package_effect
end_shatter_effect
end_shatter_man_effect
end_shatter_package_effect

;area_effect ( descr_area.xml)
damage_to_troops
ground_shatter
body_piercing
bounce
effect_only

Attachment 49591 Attachment 49592
Accuracy 0.0001 all impacts in the same place , fantastic precision.

Attachment 49587 Attachment 49588 Attachment 49589 Attachment 49590
accuracy , 0.001 , 0.01 , 0.02 , 0.06
we place the grid, and measure the dispersion of the impacts .
begins the dispersion , we measure the dispersion radius.
Attachment 49593
Maximum dispersion, 0.999 the projectles go out in any direction.
I have tried with numbers bigger than 1 and the missiles, go out towards the engine...

The catapult that throws the missile, also is modified , in damage 1 to units, without additional charge damage , and we change the range
export_descr_unit.txt

type NE Catapult
stat_sec 1, 0, catapult, 600, 30, siege_missile, artillery_mechanical, blunt, none, 25, 1

After many tests , "magic formula is simple ".. ( Occam,s knife)

accuracy x range = radius ( dispersion area)

With a range of 200 meters and accuracy of 0.0625 ( normal accuracy catapult projectile) , the radius of dispersion is 12,5 meters,
The projectiles shot at the same objetive , impacts in a circular maximum area of 25 meters.
If only is one missile, with this range and accuracy , his impact is in a maximum circle of 25 meters.
Attachment 49594
I have created different Field of shot practices , for different projectils and targets ( shot dummies) , for to calculate damage mechanics.
I think that is very interesting...
Some kind of proposition or projectil test...