Jump to content
The Dark Mod Forums

Looking and listening through a keyhole


grayman

Recommended Posts

Would have to be other keys, as RMB is attach and rmb is walk forward, I use w to frob things so for example W frobs door as normal and Alt-W does keyhole view but only when crouched etc.

 

Seems like a weird configuration, far from typical WASD-based control scheme. I suggest not to introduce any more weird or complicated setups than absolutely necessary, as people simply won't use them. E.g. lean forward requires a separate key, and you can't use key combos (Alt+W). Not sure if we can use key press & hold, but that might be useful IMO.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What's wrong with the same idea Thief had?

I have an eclectic YouTube channel making videos on a variety of games. Come and have look here:

https://www.youtube.com/c/NeonsStyleHD

 

Dark Mod Missions: Briarwood Manor - available here or in game

http://forums.thedarkmod.com/topic/18980-fan-mission-briarwood-manor-by-neonsstyle-first-mission-6082017-update-16/

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wahnsinn. :)

FM's: Builder Roads, Old Habits, Old Habits Rebuild

Mapping and Scripting: Apples and Peaches

Sculptris Models and Tutorials: Obsttortes Models

My wiki articles: Obstipedia

Texture Blending in DR: DR ASE Blend Exporter

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Looks nice, but...

 

1. Appearing as you approach requires a sense of player presence. Stim or thinking or trigger.

 

2. Dim light on far side might not be enough to create a light cone on the near side. Requires a sense of available light.

 

3. Player will be lit up while peeking.

 

4. Cone needs to bind to the door as it opens, which requires a sense of how available light is generating the cone. Lots of work. Cones on both sides will need to fade in and out with door movement.

 

 

 

Folks should discuss.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So something similar to the light shaft materials used for rays from windows, etc? It might be possible to use LOD to handle player proximity, in which case the effect could be faded in/out via shaderParm3. But then you'd want to override LOD with whatever mechanism hides the cone when the door is open.

 

I agree that it would look odd to have a light shaft coming from a darker room.

Some things I'm repeatedly thinking about...

 

- louder scream when you're dying

Link to comment
Share on other sites

May I suggest two different kinds of keyhole-based reconnaissance?

The naked-eye-peeking-through version seems already established and is nicely quaint - a keyhole-shaped shroud - and useful enough.

 

But there could easily be a more advanced version for a more professional thief based on an advanced tool, something like a periscope - after all, DM's steam punk elements already have a lot of tech, including a looking glass/scope;

the more advanced tool would be a short thin tube with a mirror shard on its one end, and a lens on the other. The tube would be used on the door, put through the keyhole, and then a more or less freely rotatable camera view

could simulate the looking through the tube and perceiving the situation on the other side of the door from the perspective of the tube's end.

 

This method would have the advantage of making able to see not only what is straightly behind the door, but also (by rotating the "tube/mirror") what is right next to and even above and under the door.

 

 

If my description is not clear enough, I mean a steam-punk version of something like this:

45%20degree_enl.jpg

 

 

voltcraft-bs-30-sd-hand-endoskop-mit-sd-

 

Technically like a Thief 2 scouting orb a bit behind the door on elevation of the key hole.

Edited by Outlooker
  • Like 1

"Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly while bad people will find a way around the laws." - Plato

"When outmatched... cheat."— Batman

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Besides the possible culprits it looks a bit artificial to me. Mappers are free to add it if they think it suits the visual style of their missions, but as a standard feature it might not be worth the effort. That beeing said some mappers may even dislike it and want to turn it off and others may argue that it would be inconsistent if some missions uses a light cone and others not. Better to not have it by default imho.

FM's: Builder Roads, Old Habits, Old Habits Rebuild

Mapping and Scripting: Apples and Peaches

Sculptris Models and Tutorials: Obsttortes Models

My wiki articles: Obstipedia

Texture Blending in DR: DR ASE Blend Exporter

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The light shaft from the keyhole seems like a step in the right direction. To me I see it like frobbing. Sure the frob isn't realistic but it's a necessary gameplay indicator we've all accepted to denote an interactive surface. Modern games do fine with an on screen prompt to convey options and since we will not be perusing that design philosophy, we need to consider the options available.

 

I would suggest a flat highlight of some kind (2D effect). We could tie in a keyhole icon/outline that would act as a frob enabled decal below the door handle.

 

Otherwise the alternative to no visual indicator is that if new players don't read the update log, it wont even be apparent that this feature exists. It would then be all together missed if we don't point it out somehow. That being said, is it possible to target a specific additional texture in the frob feature? Because then FM authors could replace the material resource if they so desired. My vote is to keep it inline with the existing frob feature so that it only shows itself when the player investigates that door. It would remain apparent that it's purely gameplay specific if the highlight only reveals itself when the handle is frobbed and would be the least visually intrusive method of getting the point across.

Does the keyhole icon appear in the frob? Then we know it's peekable and if not, there's no fuss; it's just a plain old regular door. ;)

Modeler galore & co-authors literally everything

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • Recent Status Updates

    • Petike the Taffer  »  DeTeEff

      I've updated the articles for your FMs and your author category at the wiki. Your newer nickname (DeTeEff) now comes first, and the one in parentheses is your older nickname (Fieldmedic). Just to avoid confusing people who played your FMs years ago and remember your older nickname. I've added a wiki article for your latest FM, Who Watches the Watcher?, as part of my current updating efforts. Unless I overlooked something, you have five different FMs so far.
      · 0 replies
    • Petike the Taffer

      I've finally managed to log in to The Dark Mod Wiki. I'm back in the saddle and before the holidays start in full, I'll be adding a few new FM articles and doing other updates. Written in Stone is already done.
      · 4 replies
    • nbohr1more

      TDM 15th Anniversary Contest is now active! Please declare your participation: https://forums.thedarkmod.com/index.php?/topic/22413-the-dark-mod-15th-anniversary-contest-entry-thread/
       
      · 0 replies
    • JackFarmer

      @TheUnbeholden
      You cannot receive PMs. Could you please be so kind and check your mailbox if it is full (or maybe you switched off the function)?
      · 1 reply
    • OrbWeaver

      I like the new frob highlight but it would nice if it was less "flickery" while moving over objects (especially barred metal doors).
      · 4 replies
×
×
  • Create New...