DarkPlaces Wiki =============== Effectinfo Scripting Reference ============================== EffectInfo is built-in scripting language to describe particle effects in DarkPlaces, it's pretty simple and contains basic scripting functions. Each effect can have several emitters which is defined in `effectinfo.txt` or `maps/mapname_effectinfo.txt` General syntax -------------- // emitter 1 effect EFFECT_NAME parm value parm2 value ... // emitter 2 effect EFFECT_NAME parm value parm2 value ... // emitter for another effect effect ANOTHER_EFFECT parm value parm2 value ... Console variables ----------------- `r_drawparticles`: toggle drawing of all particles `r_drawparticles_drawdistance`: set a maximal distance to draw particles at `cl_particles_size`: this will scale a size of all particles `cl_particles_quality`: multiplier of particles count spawned by emitters, better quality = more particles (1 - min, 4 - max. quality) `cl_particles_reloadeffects`: reloads effectinfo.txt while in the game; that eliminates a need to quit and restart DP to see updated effects Particle parameters ------------------- effect Defines a new emitter with effectname is belongs to, all parms after that will be applied to that emitter. effect Defines a new emitter with effectname is belongs to, all parms after that will be applied to that emitter. count How many particles to spawn at this emitter, this setting is affected by cl_particles_quality cvar countabsolute Defines a count of particles spawned regardless of cl_particles_quality setting Total particles count = countabsolute + count * cl_particles_quality type Sets a generic particle type, affect appearance, blending, physics. List of particle types: - alphastatic : alpha-blended billboard - static : additive-blended billboard - spark : additive blended, stretched (based on velocity) - beam : a beam particle, drawn from origin to origin + velocity - rain : a rain particle, alpha-blended spart that will cause splash effect on impact - raindecal: oriented rain decal, additive-blended - snow: alpha blended, velocity jitters in realtime - bubble: alpha-blended - blood: inverse-modulated, leaves decal - smoke: alpha-blended billboard - decal: makes a decal on nearest surface - entityparticle: alpha-blended, this particle gets removed after being drawn (used on EF_BRIGHTFIELD) blend Generic blend is set by type, but with this parm it cound be changed after type is defined. List of blend types: - alpha : alpha blended - add: additive blended - invmod: inverse modulation (used on blood and blood decals) orientation Same as for blend, generic orientation is set by type, could be altered by this parm. List of orientation types: - billboard : always turned to viewer - oriented : ignores viewwer, turned to velocity - beam : facing viewer on 2 axises, stretched from origin to origin + velocity - spark : facing viewer on 2 axises, stretched (based on velocity) color Sets a color for particles. On each particle spawn, it's color is linearly randomized betwen two given colors. Color should be defined as HEX 0xRRGGBB, like 0xFFFFFF is white, and 0xFF0000 is red. tex Sets a index of particle from particlefont. Indexes are counted from left to right, from up to down, last index is 63, first is 0. Randomized linearly on each particle spawn. size Size of particle in game units, typical value is 4, randomized. sizeincrease This will make particle grow or diminish over time. is to how much utits to add or subtract per second. Note that while diminishing particle, engine will not check if particle will go to negative size, it will just invert it. alpha Opacity of particles, 256 is opaque, 0 is transparent. Randomized. Could be more that 256 (to simulate fade delay). Fade rate is how huch alpha to throw away per second, once particle gets alpha 0 (full transparence), it gets removed. time Particle time-to-live in seconds, randomized. gravity Particle gravity modifier, 1 is full gravity, 0.5 is half etc., negative values are supported (particle go up). bounce Particle bounce-of-walls factor, 1 - bounce with full speed, 0.5 bounce with half speed. A value of -1 means particle will be removed on impact. Not that particle physics considered slow and spawning lots of bouncing particles is not recommended. airfriction Particle friction while moving in air, good option for smoke emitters. A value of 0 means no friction, negative values will do acceleration. liquidfriction Particle friction while moving in liquids. originoffset Offset particle spawning origin by this values. Coordspace are world, x - forward, y - right, z - up. velocityoffset Add this amount of constant velocity to particle on spawn. originjitter Like originoffset but each axis is jittered between -value/+value. Hence it is defining spherical shape of particle random spawning. velocityjitter Same as originjitter but for velocity. velocitymultiplier Multiply particle starting velocity (one that set by QC or engine, whatever calls effect) by this value. Useful with trails. Negative values are supported. underwater Sets underwater flag for particles. Particles that are underwater will be removed in air. Useful for water bubbles. notunderwater Sets notunderwater flag for particles. Particles that are notunderwater will be removed in liquid. Useful for fire particles. trailspacing This parm is only useful when effect is spawned as trail, defines a game units gap between effect invocations. stretchfactor A custom stretch factor that is used on sparks. rotate Used to rotate particle, first 2 parms is start angle, other two are spin velocity. Particles leaving decals ------------------------ Particles can leave decals once hit something. For this behavior a special set of parms should be used. This section is unfinished, futher explanation is required. staincolor A randomized color for decal particle. stainalpha A randomized alpha. stainsize A randomized size. staintex A randomized index into particlefont. stainless Disables decal spawning and returns all parms to it's default values. Dynamic lights -------------- Dynamic realtime lights could be placed in particle effects (useful for explosions) with this range of parms. These params apply just like standard ones. lightradius Radius of light in game units. Typical value is 200. lightradiusfade Radius fade rate, how many units to add/subtract per second. Once light reaches radius of 0 it gets removed. lighttime