So, what are you working on right now?

[Goldwell]

Feeling inspired by all these WIP pictures I wanted to post a little sneak peak of a scene i'm working on from The Accountant Part 2... Now keep in mind it is still work in progress so please don't be too critical here.

 

Without further ado here is an ingame screenshot from my new FM! (feeling nervous now)

 

[Vae]

Can't wait, Goldwell...

 

But do you think you could brighten the image a little?...

[Goldwell]

But do you think you could brighten the image a little?...

 

Done!

 

[Vae]

Perfect!

[Tr00pertj]

HAHAHA.

 

Perfect.

Looking forward to your release Goldwell.

I'm working on my second mission titled Solarescape2 and I think......No, I know I've bitten off more than I can chew.

 

I have placed a func_fracture as a piece of a breakable ice shelf and I thought it would be OK as I just converted a worldspawn piece but....

When it is destroyed by the player hitting it with the sword it shatters into a heap of pieces and sounds like glass shattering which is OK but the frame rate drops to like 2 or 3 FPS.

 

Any Kind heart out there like to help me with this?

Edited April 17, 2014 by Tr00pertj

[Sotha]

Maybe check what spawnargs are available for func_fracture. Maybe there is one that controls the amount of flinders the object produces when it breaks?

[Obsttorte]

Yes, there is. You can also manipulate the size me thinks.

[Goldwell]

Ok so on a more serious note, I'm very close to finishing the basic layout of The Accountant part 2 & so I have started to do detail passes. Here's the first detail pass I have done!

 

[Melan]

I'd suggest more lights in the scene. Even ambient light makes things flat. Occasional lit areas make things three-dimensional, and create interesting gameplay challenges.

[Sotha]

Yep. Making an interesting lighting before posting screenies would be nice. I've noticed that if you know how you are gonna place the lights, you can save geometry/detail building time: if it is a dark spot, you don't need much detail in that area.

[Melan]

Even putting in one large spherical light that illuminates the centre and leaves the edges in gloom would be good. But then I'd decrease the ambient level a bit to compensate.

[Goldwell]

Ugh well i'm obviously not as good as you guys but i'm happy with the scene.

[Sotha]

Ugh well i'm obviously not as good as you guys but i'm happy with the scene.

 

I'm, sorry. I did not mean to undermine your work or imply it is not a good scene. Just sayin' that using a bit more interesting lighting helps a long way.

 

Here:

Without industry...Where would you be now? Without iiiinduuustry!

 

Analysis:

Lights illuminate objects so that they bounce out from the ambient darkness. There are multiple shadows. There is a lot of variation between darkness and illuminated areas. I admit that the central smoke is a bit overkill, but it grimes up the scene without requiring me to add much decals (same thing for using dark textures.)

[Goldwell]

Well I was thinking long and hard about the lighting and the only real lighting source I saw in actual pictures of medieval libraries was either ones attached to the walls (which in this situation aren't possible because the books would catch on fire) or using a standing light which I tried but that also looked a bit silly.. The only other option which my girlfriend recommended would be to place a chandlier type thing in the middle which at first I thought would be a bit odd but i'm going to give it a try and see how it turns out.

 

The inspiration picture for the chandelier i'm creating is this:

 

 

I see what your saying with the light creates darkness sort of thing though

[Airship Ballet]

Interesting, because I've done the exact opposite and made the ambient light non-existent. Instead there's this tangible darkness floating just ahead of your lantern's reach. Once I started adding in-world light sources, it go both prettier to look at and a lot more interesting in terms of gameplay.

 

A room can go from this (don't mind the floating paintings, I just added them before reading this thread):

 

 

To this or anywhere in between, but good luck not crashing into people or getting caught when they turn it all back on:

 

 

 

Since it's night time in a windowless room, I've always figured there should be no ambient light. Granted your eyes would grow used to it, but I've always thought it's a bit much. Instead I went for absolutely no ambient and realistically placed lighting to keep it all well-lit. In essence the light is brought into play for real, rather than just extinguishing a torch or two to access a door. A player will have to find hidden light boxes, not hidden from the player in a meta sense but wallpapered over so as not to ruin the aesthetic of the house. I've always wondered whether or not this would work when playing other's missions, and so far it's proven really good fun on a gameplay level. It started out as a way to add atmosphere in the basement but I'm testing it on the first floor as I build it. So far there are plenty of places to hide but also some areas in which you need to turn the lights off. Once you turn them off, however, you can't see anything, so you can't just go about spamming them. A bit of player agency with the lighting beyond switching everything off and dousing everything that moves, could it work? Who knoooooows~

 

I definitely think that lighting makes a scene what it is. While I'm in no position to commandeer your map, I would definitely recommend lights dotted around the place. It just adds atmosphere and gives depth while making it all prettier. How much prettier depends on the work you put into what it shines on, and in this case yours would look glorious.

[Sotha]

Well I was thinking long and hard about the lighting and the only real lighting source I saw in actual pictures of medieval libraries was either ones attached to the walls (which in this situation aren't possible because the books would catch on fire) or using a standing light which I tried but that also looked a bit silly.. The only other option which my girlfriend recommended would be to place a chandlier type thing in the middle which at first I thought would be a bit odd but i'm going to give it a try and see how it turns out.

 

Just don't think what would be too realistic and unrealistic. It is a game. Use what looks good.

 

Looking at your scene, I agree with your GF that the chandelier would work. Although, putting it to the center would make the scene washed out in the sense that it provides basic similar brightening for all areas. A chandelier would work as a weak background light.

 

Note that you have the support pylons. You could attach candle holders or gas lights on those. You could put multiple hanging cage lights hanging from the ceiling above (or on the balcony level above.)

Hell, this is steampunk, so you could even have electric spot lights in the ceiling.

 

I would probably use the spotlights. Long beams of light, illuminating the bookshelves. The light sources could be put in the ceiling, or the pylons. You could even have a spotlight changelier hanging in the middle, a spherical construction with spotlights beaming at the shelves.

 

It is all about imagination in the end. Performance limitations come second, usually.

[Airship Ballet]

I would probably use the spotlights. Long beams of light, illuminating the bookshelves.

 

If it were me I'd use lights looking down on every other bookcase or so directly from above, like the wine rack in my screenshot, and then the weaker chandelier in the middle to make sure none of them are completely neglected.

[Sotha]

Here is a crude proposal for the spot lights:

 

There is a chandelier producing basic background lighting. The spotlight comes from the brass colored cone object (it is a lanterbot part.)

[Goldwell]

Ok so i've added some lights and wow it makes a huge difference. Bikerdude taught me the ways of bling and you Sotha have taught me the ways of light.

 

This makes a huge freakin' difference!

 

[RJFerret]

Lovely, lighting provides depth and contrast.

 

There's a reason photographers can take beautiful pictures of ugly things, they aren't photographing items, it doesn't matter what "stuff" is there, but they are capturing light.

 

PS: In TDM, it also allows duplicate items to have a slightly different appearance in game, so everything doesn't look exactly identical/copied.

Edited April 18, 2014 by RJFerret

[Goldwell]

Lovely, lighting provides depth and contrast.

 

Thank you!

 

PS: In TDM, it also allows duplicate items to have a slightly different appearance in game, so everything doesn't look exactly identical/copied.

 

Could you please explain how to use that? it sounds like a very useful feature

[Sotha]

Bikerdude taught me the ways of bling and you Sotha have taught me the ways of light.

 

Thanks. Just glad to help. Indeed, the scene first looked rather bland, but now it really starts to come into life. Next maybe some beautiful handrails and maybe a carpet on the floor and avot!

 

Here is a handrail that might suit you. I made it for my WIP. It can be used as repeating hand rail piece, making the parts rising from the floor AND the pieces making the horizontal handrail parts.

 

 

 

Version 2
// entity 0
{
"classname" "func_static"
"name" "func_static_237"
"model" "func_static_237"
"noshadows" "1"
"origin" "0 0 0"
// primitive 0
{
patchDef2
{
"textures/darkmod/wood/panels/redbrown"
( 9 3 0 0 0 )
(
( ( 0 2 -24 0 0 ) ( 0 4 -22 0 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( 0 2 -20 0 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( -2 2 -24 0.0520833320915699 0 ) ( -4 4 -22 0.0520833320915699 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( -2 2 -20 0.0520833320915699 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( -2 0 -24 0.1041666641831398 0 ) ( -4 0 -22 0.1041666641831398 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( -2 0 -20 0.1041666641831398 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( -2 -2 -24 0.15625 0 ) ( -4 -4 -22 0.15625 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( -2 -2 -20 0.15625 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( 0 -2 -24 0.2083333283662796 0 ) ( 0 -4 -22 0.2083333283662796 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( 0 -2 -20 0.2083333283662796 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( 2 -2 -24 0.2604166567325592 0 ) ( 4 -4 -22 0.2604166567325592 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( 2 -2 -20 0.2604166567325592 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( 2 0 -24 0.3125 0 ) ( 4 0 -22 0.3125 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( 2 0 -20 0.3125 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( 2 2 -24 0.3645833134651184 0 ) ( 4 4 -22 0.3645833134651184 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( 2 2 -20 0.3645833134651184 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( 0 2 -24 0.4166666567325592 0 ) ( 0 4 -22 0.4166666567325592 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( 0 2 -20 0.4166666567325592 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
)
}
}
// primitive 1
{
patchDef2
{
"textures/darkmod/wood/panels/redbrown"
( 9 3 0 0 0 )
(
( ( 0 2 20 0 0 ) ( 0 4 22 0 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( 0 2 24 0 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( -2 2 20 0.0520833320915699 0 ) ( -4 4 22 0.0520833320915699 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( -2 2 24 0.0520833320915699 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( -2 0 20 0.1041666641831398 0 ) ( -4 0 22 0.1041666641831398 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( -2 0 24 0.1041666641831398 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( -2 -2 20 0.15625 0 ) ( -4 -4 22 0.15625 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( -2 -2 24 0.15625 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( 0 -2 20 0.2083333283662796 0 ) ( 0 -4 22 0.2083333283662796 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( 0 -2 24 0.2083333283662796 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( 2 -2 20 0.2604166567325592 0 ) ( 4 -4 22 0.2604166567325592 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( 2 -2 24 0.2604166567325592 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( 2 0 20 0.3125 0 ) ( 4 0 22 0.3125 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( 2 0 24 0.3125 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( 2 2 20 0.3645833134651184 0 ) ( 4 4 22 0.3645833134651184 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( 2 2 24 0.3645833134651184 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( 0 2 20 0.4166666567325592 0 ) ( 0 4 22 0.4166666567325592 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( 0 2 24 0.4166666567325592 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
)
}
}
// primitive 2
{
patchDef2
{
"textures/darkmod/wood/panels/redbrown"
( 9 3 0 0 0 )
(
( ( 0 2 -20 0 0 ) ( 0 4 0 0 -0.2617155015468597 ) ( 0 2 20 0 -0.5234310030937195 ) )
( ( -2 2 -20 0.0520833320915699 0 ) ( -4 4 0 0.0520833320915699 -0.2617155015468597 ) ( -2 2 20 0.0520833320915699 -0.5234310030937195 ) )
( ( -2 0 -20 0.1041666641831398 0 ) ( -4 0 0 0.1041666641831398 -0.2617155015468597 ) ( -2 0 20 0.1041666641831398 -0.5234310030937195 ) )
( ( -2 -2 -20 0.15625 0 ) ( -4 -4 0 0.15625 -0.2617155015468597 ) ( -2 -2 20 0.15625 -0.5234310030937195 ) )
( ( 0 -2 -20 0.2083333283662796 0 ) ( 0 -4 0 0.2083333283662796 -0.2617155015468597 ) ( 0 -2 20 0.2083333283662796 -0.5234310030937195 ) )
( ( 2 -2 -20 0.2604166567325592 0 ) ( 4 -4 0 0.2604166567325592 -0.2617155015468597 ) ( 2 -2 20 0.2604166567325592 -0.5234310030937195 ) )
( ( 2 0 -20 0.3125 0 ) ( 4 0 0 0.3125 -0.2617155015468597 ) ( 2 0 20 0.3125 -0.5234310030937195 ) )
( ( 2 2 -20 0.3645833134651184 0 ) ( 4 4 0 0.3645833134651184 -0.2617155015468597 ) ( 2 2 20 0.3645833134651184 -0.5234310030937195 ) )
( ( 0 2 -20 0.4166666567325592 0 ) ( 0 4 0 0.4166666567325592 -0.2617155015468597 ) ( 0 2 20 0.4166666567325592 -0.5234310030937195 ) )
)
}
}
// primitive 3
{
patchDef3
{
"textures/darkmod/wood/panels/redbrown"
( 3 5 1 2 0 0 0 )
(
( ( -2 0 24 14.79166603088379 13.671875 ) ( -2 2 24 14.8177080154419 13.671875 ) ( 0 2 24 14.8177080154419 13.69791603088379 ) ( 2 2 24 14.8177080154419 13.7239580154419 ) ( 2 0 24 14.79166603088379 13.7239580154419 ) )
( ( -2 0 24 14.79166603088379 13.671875 ) ( -2 0 24 14.79166603088379 13.671875 ) ( 0 0 24 14.79166603088379 13.69791603088379 ) ( 2 0 24 14.79166603088379 13.7239580154419 ) ( 2 0 24 14.79166603088379 13.7239580154419 ) )
( ( -2 0 24 14.79166603088379 13.671875 ) ( -2 -2 24 14.765625 13.671875 ) ( 0 -2 24 14.765625 13.69791603088379 ) ( 2 -2 24 14.765625 13.7239580154419 ) ( 2 0 24 14.79166603088379 13.7239580154419 ) )
)
}
}
}

 

 

 

 

EDIT: you might need to add a cap patch to the bottom of the object.

[Goldwell]

Thanks. Just glad to help. Indeed, the scene first looked rather bland, but now it really starts to come into life. Next maybe some beautiful handrails and maybe a carpet on the floor and avot!

 

Here is a handrail that might suit you. I made it for my WIP. It can be used as repeating hand rail piece, making the parts rising from the floor AND the pieces making the horizontal handrail parts.

 

 

 

Version 2
// entity 0
{
"classname" "func_static"
"name" "func_static_237"
"model" "func_static_237"
"noshadows" "1"
"origin" "0 0 0"
// primitive 0
{
patchDef2
{
"textures/darkmod/wood/panels/redbrown"
( 9 3 0 0 0 )
(
( ( 0 2 -24 0 0 ) ( 0 4 -22 0 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( 0 2 -20 0 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( -2 2 -24 0.0520833320915699 0 ) ( -4 4 -22 0.0520833320915699 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( -2 2 -20 0.0520833320915699 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( -2 0 -24 0.1041666641831398 0 ) ( -4 0 -22 0.1041666641831398 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( -2 0 -20 0.1041666641831398 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( -2 -2 -24 0.15625 0 ) ( -4 -4 -22 0.15625 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( -2 -2 -20 0.15625 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( 0 -2 -24 0.2083333283662796 0 ) ( 0 -4 -22 0.2083333283662796 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( 0 -2 -20 0.2083333283662796 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( 2 -2 -24 0.2604166567325592 0 ) ( 4 -4 -22 0.2604166567325592 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( 2 -2 -20 0.2604166567325592 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( 2 0 -24 0.3125 0 ) ( 4 0 -22 0.3125 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( 2 0 -20 0.3125 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( 2 2 -24 0.3645833134651184 0 ) ( 4 4 -22 0.3645833134651184 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( 2 2 -20 0.3645833134651184 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( 0 2 -24 0.4166666567325592 0 ) ( 0 4 -22 0.4166666567325592 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( 0 2 -20 0.4166666567325592 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
)
}
}
// primitive 1
{
patchDef2
{
"textures/darkmod/wood/panels/redbrown"
( 9 3 0 0 0 )
(
( ( 0 2 20 0 0 ) ( 0 4 22 0 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( 0 2 24 0 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( -2 2 20 0.0520833320915699 0 ) ( -4 4 22 0.0520833320915699 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( -2 2 24 0.0520833320915699 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( -2 0 20 0.1041666641831398 0 ) ( -4 0 22 0.1041666641831398 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( -2 0 24 0.1041666641831398 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( -2 -2 20 0.15625 0 ) ( -4 -4 22 0.15625 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( -2 -2 24 0.15625 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( 0 -2 20 0.2083333283662796 0 ) ( 0 -4 22 0.2083333283662796 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( 0 -2 24 0.2083333283662796 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( 2 -2 20 0.2604166567325592 0 ) ( 4 -4 22 0.2604166567325592 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( 2 -2 24 0.2604166567325592 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( 2 0 20 0.3125 0 ) ( 4 0 22 0.3125 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( 2 0 24 0.3125 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( 2 2 20 0.3645833134651184 0 ) ( 4 4 22 0.3645833134651184 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( 2 2 24 0.3645833134651184 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
( ( 0 2 20 0.4166666567325592 0 ) ( 0 4 22 0.4166666567325592 -0.03682847693562508 ) ( 0 2 24 0.4166666567325592 -0.07365695387125015 ) )
)
}
}
// primitive 2
{
patchDef2
{
"textures/darkmod/wood/panels/redbrown"
( 9 3 0 0 0 )
(
( ( 0 2 -20 0 0 ) ( 0 4 0 0 -0.2617155015468597 ) ( 0 2 20 0 -0.5234310030937195 ) )
( ( -2 2 -20 0.0520833320915699 0 ) ( -4 4 0 0.0520833320915699 -0.2617155015468597 ) ( -2 2 20 0.0520833320915699 -0.5234310030937195 ) )
( ( -2 0 -20 0.1041666641831398 0 ) ( -4 0 0 0.1041666641831398 -0.2617155015468597 ) ( -2 0 20 0.1041666641831398 -0.5234310030937195 ) )
( ( -2 -2 -20 0.15625 0 ) ( -4 -4 0 0.15625 -0.2617155015468597 ) ( -2 -2 20 0.15625 -0.5234310030937195 ) )
( ( 0 -2 -20 0.2083333283662796 0 ) ( 0 -4 0 0.2083333283662796 -0.2617155015468597 ) ( 0 -2 20 0.2083333283662796 -0.5234310030937195 ) )
( ( 2 -2 -20 0.2604166567325592 0 ) ( 4 -4 0 0.2604166567325592 -0.2617155015468597 ) ( 2 -2 20 0.2604166567325592 -0.5234310030937195 ) )
( ( 2 0 -20 0.3125 0 ) ( 4 0 0 0.3125 -0.2617155015468597 ) ( 2 0 20 0.3125 -0.5234310030937195 ) )
( ( 2 2 -20 0.3645833134651184 0 ) ( 4 4 0 0.3645833134651184 -0.2617155015468597 ) ( 2 2 20 0.3645833134651184 -0.5234310030937195 ) )
( ( 0 2 -20 0.4166666567325592 0 ) ( 0 4 0 0.4166666567325592 -0.2617155015468597 ) ( 0 2 20 0.4166666567325592 -0.5234310030937195 ) )
)
}
}
// primitive 3
{
patchDef3
{
"textures/darkmod/wood/panels/redbrown"
( 3 5 1 2 0 0 0 )
(
( ( -2 0 24 14.79166603088379 13.671875 ) ( -2 2 24 14.8177080154419 13.671875 ) ( 0 2 24 14.8177080154419 13.69791603088379 ) ( 2 2 24 14.8177080154419 13.7239580154419 ) ( 2 0 24 14.79166603088379 13.7239580154419 ) )
( ( -2 0 24 14.79166603088379 13.671875 ) ( -2 0 24 14.79166603088379 13.671875 ) ( 0 0 24 14.79166603088379 13.69791603088379 ) ( 2 0 24 14.79166603088379 13.7239580154419 ) ( 2 0 24 14.79166603088379 13.7239580154419 ) )
( ( -2 0 24 14.79166603088379 13.671875 ) ( -2 -2 24 14.765625 13.671875 ) ( 0 -2 24 14.765625 13.69791603088379 ) ( 2 -2 24 14.765625 13.7239580154419 ) ( 2 0 24 14.79166603088379 13.7239580154419 ) )
)
}
}
}

 

 

 

 

Excellent, I will save this for my second detail pass! Thank you

[RJFerret]

Could you please explain how to use that? it sounds like a very useful feature

 

It's just inherent to lighting, as various texture maps respond to light angle/magnitude (specular and bump maps in particular), so having two identical items, one prominently lit, and one not, won't appear identical, the lit one will have a rougher texture according to the angle of light falling on it, as well as highlights. The more shadowy one will appear smoother, and if the angle of light is different, appear highlights and lowlights will all be different on it. It's subtle, more a subconscious thing your mind picks up on than conscious thing, since overt details will still be apparent.

 

You tend to not have to design specifically for it, simply having light radii be a different sizes than item repetition, IE, so things aren't all lit the same amount at the same angle in every instance, which tends to happen naturally.

 

We generally size lights for game-play and performance, but you can be sure the falloff capitalizes on this aspect of things.

 

PS: You'll note Sotha's spotlight hitting between bookshelves, only illuminating part of them, makes it so you can't readily tell if the neighboring bookshelves are clones or not.

[Sotha]

Whew. Took me fricking forever, but I figured out how to have dripping water showing splashes on the floor so that the synchronication with the splashes works.

 

 

In this particular scene, I made a dripping water droplet that falls 171 units and generates a splash 171 units below the func_emitter origin. The synchronization had to be done manually through trial and error, because the particles behave differently in TDM than in the particle editor.

 

Basically, the droplets duration is 2 seconds. The splash effect is spawned after a delay of 1.5 seconds. It looks wrong in particle editor, but looks good in TDM. In the scene, the particles are otherwise identical, but the one closer is a variant with more deadtime (delay after finishing the particle effect).