Darkplaces pointparticles() velocity issue.

[Qrv]

Hello All,

I assume this is the better place to post about my issue, but the "Mapping" forum might have been applicable also.

What I'm trying to do, is quite simple really, I'm attempting to add decorative sparks to a map. I've had no trouble creating the entity for my BSP editor,
or the QC required to drive it in-game.
The problem I'm having is making the particles use the velocity paramater of DP pointparticles.

Here's the QC I created (on the quick, I must admit) to drive the sparks in a map:

Code: Select all

void() spark_tick =
{   
   local float fxnum;
   
   // Get particle effect number
   fxnum = particleeffectnum("map_sparks");
   
   // Spawn particle effect
   pointparticles( fxnum, self.origin, '300 0 0', 5 );
   
   self.nextthink = time + 0.7 + random();
};

void () misc_sparks =
{
   self.nextthink = time + 0.7 + random();
   self.think = spark_tick;
};


Heres the EffectInfo for 'map_sparks':

Code: Select all

effect map_sparks
count 15
type spark
color 0x8f4333 0xfff31b
size 0.4 0.4
alpha 0 256 768
gravity 1
bounce 1
velocityoffset 0 0 80
velocityjitter 32 32 32


Now, if you notice, the velocity paramater of pointparticles() is set as '300 0 0', so in the map, I would expect the particles to fly off to one side.
However, what actually happens, is that the particles spawn as expected, but just travel on the Z axis. What I dont get, is why they dont travel on the X or Y axis?

Here's a very dodgy screenshot, the bright yellow blob is meant to be the sparks.


So, I'm looking for a little help understanding why the velocity paramater doesnt appear to be working correctly, maybe it's my QC/EffectInfo, or is it really an issue with DarkPlaces?

[Spike]

could be a precision issue with them bouncing inside the wall

[Qrv]

Although you cant see it very well in that screenie, the emitter entity is a good 64 units clear of the wall/floor/ceiling.
The EffectInfo is a clone of TE_GUNSHOT sparks, as that spark poof was what I was looking to start with, the reason I want to use velocity is
so it looks a bit better when actually pushed up to a wall panel, to simulate a sparking electric panel, for example, coming 'out' the wall panel.

[andrewj]

My guess is that velocitymultiplier defaults to zero, hence your velocity parameter is effectly ignored. It moves in the Z direction due to velocityoffset which has 80 in the Z component.

Try adding the following line to the EffectInfo

Code: Select all

velocitymultiplier 1

[Qrv]

/facepalm

Thanks Andrewj, that solved it very nicely.

The effect I was looking to achieve, although very rough at this time till I'm done tweaking:



The ability to use dlights with the particle system is truely genius!