How to make arrows stay in the ground longer (very easy)

[AleksiMizaro]

How to make arrows stick in the ground for longer/ for the entire battle.

This is a VERY simple change but I haven't seen any tutorials so here we go:


1. Open desr_projectile.txt and look at the entry you want to do this for (I have chosen vanilla arrows here):

projectile arrow


effect            arrows_new_set
end_effect                arrow_impact_ground_set
end_man_effect            man_impact_tiny_set
end_package_effect        arrow_impact_wall_set
end_shatter_effect        arrow_impact_ground_set
end_shatter_man_effect        man_impact_tiny_set
end_shatter_package_effect    arrow_broken_impact_wall_set


effect_offset    -1.5
damage        0
radius        0.1
mass        0.05
accuracy_vs_units        0.05
affected_by_rain
min_angle    -75
max_angle    65
velocity    20 48
display        aimed
effect_only

The line in red is the one you want.


2. Open descr_effect_impacts.txt and search (ctrl+f) for the effect set - in this case I searched for arrow_impact_ground_set.

You will find something like this:

effect_set arrow_impact_ground_set


{
    play_time 5
    lod 1000
    {
        arrow_ground_impact
        bullet_impact_ground_small    
        
    }
}

The line in blue is the one you want.


3. Simply change the play_time value. This controls how long the arrows stay in the ground (I think this is in seconds). You can set this very high to make arrows not disappear at all.


4. (optional) You can change how quickly it fades in and out to stop arrows suddenly disappearing and instead fading out over a longer time. A long fade time can result in ghostly arrows though.

Note the effect listed in the effect_set (highlighted in green above) - this is the effect for the arrow model. You can search for this or scroll up a bit. Here is its entry:

effect arrow_ground_impact
{
    type projectile
    {
        model        models_effects/arrow_projectile_ground_impact.CAS
        sort_for_speed
        clr_adjust_by_ambient_intensity


        fade_time    3
    }
}

The line in orange is the one you want. A higher value is a longer fade time.




That's it.






Note: Depending on how powerful your pc is, this can lower the framerate quite a bit. On a relatively good pc I started to get bad framerate (10 or less) with 5000 horse archers using all their ammo and infinite duration for the arrows staying in the ground. If you are struggling with framerate just lower the play_time value of the projectile.

[UBBERDORC]

Nice - +1 rep

[Frunk]

Nice - +1 rep

Seconded.

[Gigantus]

There are a few mods that use 'permanent arrows' - but so far no one explained how to do it, thanks for closing the gap. Please add a caution to your OP: this can massively affect your frame rate.

The usual way is to simply set the fade_time to a ridiculous number, but the more correct way would be the play_time.

[AleksiMizaro]

There are a few mods that use 'permanent arrows' - but so far no one explained how to do it, thanks for closing the gap. Please add a caution to your OP: this can massively affect your frame rate.

The usual way is to simply set the fade_time to a ridiculous number, but the more correct way would be the play_time.

Thanks, will do

[Valiant Champion]

so what do i do if a mod im playing the arrow impact models are invisible. i cant see any arrows stuck in the ground. my graphics is set to highest when it comes to effects. i checked all my other mods and the arrows are in the ground. i tried switching out some arrow models with ones from another mod but that didnt work.

are the arrow impact models invisible because there are no textures?

and where would I find these.

if there are no arrow impact textures in the mod folder wouldnt the file parsing default to vanilla ?

[Gigantus]

The model needs a texture - the best that can happen without a texture is 'silver surfers' the worst a crash. Which means the texture is complete alpha channel.

Look for this model: models_effects/arrow_projectile_ground_impact.CAS
Open it with Notepad and check at the bottom for the texture entry, should be this one: textures\siege_rocket_launcher.tga
Replace\edit the texture

[Valiant Champion]

so do i need to to replace the seige_rocket_launcher.texture from mtw2 vanilla? over the seige_rocket_launcher.texture in the mod im using? I have looked for the seige_rocket_launcher.tga even in the mtw2 vanilla model effects / texture and cant find it.

or are you saying to replace the entry model_effects/arrow_ground_impact.cas entry seige_rocket_launcher.tga path with seige_rocket_launcher.texture ?

[Gigantus]

If the texture isn't present then the default one will be used. Which raises two questions:

1. Is that CAS model being used?
2. Has the 'stay' time been reduced to zero?

The following train will make sure:
A. Identify a unit whose arrows do not show.
B. Lookup the unit in the EDU and check it's stat_pri entry for the projectile being used, example: stat_pri 5, 1, arrow, 120, 30, missile
C. Find the projectile in descr_projectiles (eg projectile arrow), then searxh for it's 'end_shatter_effect' entry (eg arrow_impact_ground_set)
D. Open descr_projectile_impact and look for that effect, it will state 'arrow_ground_impact' - look for that
E. Which eventually will lead to this, showing you the CAS model used and the fade time value the arrow is supposed to show:

effect arrow_ground_impact
{
    type projectile
    {
        model        models_effects/arrow_projectile_ground_impact.CAS
        sort_for_speed
        clr_adjust_by_ambient_intensity

        fade_time    3
    }
}

Now follow up as described earlier. If the model and\or texture cannot be found in your mod then the default will be used.

[Valiant Champion]

what i did that i think fixed it was to delete the seige rocket texture and replace it with the seige rocket texture from vanilla total war.

i just realized it was working now when i saw my orc crossbows arrows sticking in the ground. (all the crossbow and arrow projectiles use the arrow ground impact cas)

the texture file existed in the BOTET model effects/texture but it was apparently missing something in the texture file.

[Gigantus]

Glad you got it sorted - possibly some format issue or wrongly applied alpha. Simply deleting that file would have already reverted to the default file, but better be sure, I guess.