[Fineus]

I know I know, lots of topics. Sue me.

Anyway, more uses for particles! In nebula missions, would it be possible to have a certain particle spawn in a spherical shape around 40m out from all craft in the nebula, then head steadily towards the craft as it moves (or indeed doesnt). Lets take the example of a fighter.

It flies through the nebula and the particles spawn around it (sufficiently hidden at first by the nebula POFs). They head slowly towards the fighter (at all times) but when within 1m of the craft they have a life cycle of around 1 second left and stop moving towards the fighter. This way they:

A) Do not surround the fighter in a rather odd and alien manner. It's smoke/dust/etc, not an affectionate particle.

B) As the fighter moves, the particles appear to swirl around behind it, then disappear in the nebula (so to speak).

Overall the effect is of gas/particles/dust/whatever being displaced by the fighters movement and then settling again as they are no longer being displaced.

Obviously a suitable particle would have to be created, but I think it could be a pretty cool way to jazz up the nebulas some.

[kasperl]

oh yes, sounds great.

but, it does seem hard to code, and a resource hog too. but as i said before, and will keep saying for some time, i am not a real coder, and i never touched anything but QBasic or TI-Basic.

[Fineus]

Good point about the resources - perhaps limiting it to ships within view of the player.... say 2KM or something. Any further and you wouldn't be able to see the displacement much anyway.

[kasperl]

Originally posted by Kalfireth
Good point about the resources - perhaps limiting it to ships within view of the player.... say 2KM or something. Any further and you wouldn't be able to see the displacement much anyway.

2clicks is waaay too much, in the neb you don't have more then 800m visability anyway, i'd say just LOD 1 or perhaps LOD2 in the ultra high detail option.

[LAW ENFORCER]

the answer is to have it but have it OFF be default... then I could turn it on!!! (NOT A COMMAND LINE!!!! make options in the options menus! man I hate command lines)


btw that would be INCREDIBLY cool.... I dont think I an remember a game that DOES that..... at least not a space one

[Fineus]

Originally posted by LAW ENFORCER
the answer is to have it but have it OFF be default... then I could turn it on!!! (NOT A COMMAND LINE!!!! make options in the options menus! man I hate command lines)


btw that would be INCREDIBLY cool.... I dont think I an remember a game that DOES that..... at least not a space one

You just spawned another idea in my head. Nice one! I think you'll really like it....