[Help] Rotating Turrets?

[Dan1025]

I'm working on a full race mod that I'd like to create some rotating turrets for (turrets that rotate to face their target). Before I make the models I'd like to know if it's actually possible to code them so they rotate properly when they fire, since I'd be designing them around that function.

If it it possible, could someone tell me what coding I'd need to get that to function ingame? Would I have to code the turrets as ships or something?

Any help with how I'd accomplish this would be appreciated, IIRC there was a rotating turret in B5A2 wasn't there?

 

[Starfox1701]

I dont think that you can do an animation for a gun turret that will do that. I have tinkered with the idea of giving the station engines and in the physics file setting the forward speed to somethng super low and the turing values up super high but I've never tried ingame implamentation so I don't know if it would work or not.

 

[Dominus_Noctis]

Sounds like a really nice idea . Hm, I imagine that if you coded them as ships it would work ok (though the turret might want to slowly move across the map...), but I can't recall anybody making a working 'real-moving' and not just animated turret. . I really hope I'm wrong.

 

[Adm_Z]

Yeah, actually, make the part of the turret you want to fire from the front of the object and give it physics without forward movement. It will turn to fire on its enemy, but since it has no no forward movement, it just doesn't move.

 

[Borg_Queen]

(though the turret might want to slowly move across the map...),

"Hey, turret! Who told you to move to the enemy base? Even though you are doing nice against the enemy I need you right here to defend my base." Sorry, couldn't resist.

Anyway, it sounds like a good and interesting idea to have animated turrets. If you find out how I would download them then they are available.

 

[Dominus_Noctis]

Indeed! Yeah, if Adm. Zaxxon's method works (wasn't aware that you could make it have zero forward movement and still rotate), that would be really sweet

 

[Adm_Z]

A working example is the superbl(Ranger Cannon) from the antithesis mod by Interstellar Machine. i think its available at both STG and FF if you are interested.

 

[Undying_Nephalim]

It is possible, you just need to give them a classlabel of a ship I think and a physics file with everything set to zero. In Sigma the Jessmisic Turrets rotate like that.

 

[CABAL]

Here's the way that I can think of to do it.

Make a mining station with the cost and appearance of the turret. Make sure that the mining station has at least 150% of the turret's intended shielding. Add "hidden = 1" and "avoidMe = 0" to the new mining station odf and set the docking speed factor to 0. Make sure that the miner dock hardpoint is set to the model root.

Program the real turret as a ship that can turn but not move and set it as the mining station's freighter. It needs its own physics file with "dockingSpeedFactor = 0.0". Give it a tiny shockwave, with a radius of about 1, that will deal enough damage to destroy the mining station at full health.

Add the new mining station to a construction ship and you should have a working system that the AI will also use. The only problem is that it's possible that freighters may try to dock with the turret. I don't think there's a way around that.

 

[Dan1025]

Thanks for the replies guys, nice to know it can be done.

I'll get working on those models then, there'll be an annoucement about what race I'm working on sometime in the (hopefully near) future

 

[Ryderstorm]

Yeah what Zaxxon said. It works. I have had COWPs in my custom installs that tracked targets as well as some custom EA turrents as well. I have played with trying to put turrents on stations as pods but I couldnt get things to work out. Just remember the AI name in the odf needs to be craft usually. Unfortunately it is a lil buggy or at least it was for me. Dont forget to put restricted firearcs on your equiped weapons that way the turrent works good.

combatspeed = 0.01
impulsespeed = 0.01
physics = "smooth"
warpspeed = -1
combatphysicsfile = "basic_smooth_combat.odf"
tooclosetoturn = 100;
pathleaddistance = 400;
forwardaccel = 0.2;
backwardaccel = 4;
turnomega = 400;
turnalpha = 400;
pitchomega = 400;
pitchalpha = 400;
rollcoupling = 0;
turnomegafractionatrest = 2;
turnalphafractionatrest = 2;
pitchomegafractionatrest = 2;
pitchalphafractionatrest = 2;
pitchdefault = 0;
pitchdefaultspeed = 0.5;
turncontrolsquared = 0;
turncontrolangle = 20;
forwardcontroldistance = 70;

Thats typicly what I use for physics.

 

[Dan1025]

Thanks, that should definitely be useful when I get to the coding stage

 

[Majestic]

I have a working version in COE. If you want them just ask.

Also out of curiosity what full race endeavour are you doing?

 

[Dan1025]

I have a working version in COE. If you want them just ask.

That would be a brilliant help, thanks mate.

Could you email me the files at your earliest convenience please?

Also out of curiosity what full race endeavour are you doing?

I'll be posting a thread to accounce the race & show progress soon, stay tuned

 

[Majestic]

I don't know your email off the top of my head, you can however email me at (myusername) at msfc.com.au.

 

[Dan1025]

I don't know your email off the top of my head, you can however email me at (myusername) at msfc.com.au.

Done, thanks again

 

[Majestic]

It's on it's way.