[redsniper]

I've been messing around with table editing trying to make a grappling hook-type weapon. I've got a primary with a negative mass, which does a pretty good job of sucking enemy ships towards the player, and I've given it a trail that looks sort of like a metal cable. The only problem is that even at full alpha, stars and such are visible through the trail. Do you fellows know any way to render a trail opaque? Or perhaps a better way to simulate a grappling hook?

While I'm at it, how customizable are countermeasures? I want to replace the default with flares or something a little more low tech, can countermeasures be given flags like fof or not?

[DaBrain]

Did you try using an alpha channel for the trail? (Compress as DXT5, or for testing, 32-Bit TGA)

[redsniper]

Well, no, but I think this has to do with how all trails are rendered. I know for some effects, black is the transparent color, but the stars are showing through all parts of the trail. The effect is already a tga for now, I'll check the alpha channel, but I'm pretty sure it's fully opaque.

EDIT: added an alpha channel, no effect.

[Gregster2k]

I totally want to see a video of this...

[redsniper]

I mean, I've considered modeling the whole harpoon and cable, but then it would disappear as soon as it hit the target, right? I want it to at least sort of look like the cable is retracting and pulling the fighter towards you. Perhaps something in the scripting system could help, but I haven't even begun to learn how to use that, so I wouldn't know.

[DaBrain]

Well, no, but I think this has to do with how all trails are rendered. I know for some effects, black is the transparent color, but the stars are showing through all parts of the trail. The effect is already a tga for now, I'll check the alpha channel, but I'm pretty sure it's fully opaque.

EDIT: added an alpha channel, no effect.

Well, glowpoints for example can be rendered additive or alpha blended. The method is defined by the map. (24-Bit -> Additive 32-Bit Alpha).

If adding an alpha channel didn't work, this might be yet another issue which could be solved with the material system...

[redsniper]

Could someone please move this to Freespace Modding? I think it's a little more suited to that board and will get more views there. Thanks.

[redsniper]

WRYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!

[PL_Harpoon]

While I'm at it, how customizable are countermeasures? I want to replace the default with flares or something a little more low tech, can countermeasures be given flags like fof or not?

Well... create a flare model, texture it and replace the current one.

[redsniper]