Emp grenade special ability issue

Madin · Plasma Trooper **Joined**: 05 Apr 2009

So, a while ago I tried coding an 'Emp grenade' special ability, similar to the one seen in Kane's Wrath. It kind of worked, but there are still a couple of outstanding issues.
1: When the ability is used, a single grenade is thrown, and then after a small delay, the 4 grenadiers throw there grenades. So I get 5 grenades because of this unwanted 'pre-attack'.

2: The horde behaviour gets disrupted after using the ability. For example, after using the ability, one grenadier will break ranks and stand in the position of another squad member (so it looks like there are only 3 squad members). Sometimes it can seem has if you are down to 2 squad members because of this.

I know that some modders have got similar squad abilities working, I was wondering if you can share you methods.
I tried a similar special ability with a rocket squad and the results were the same!

Some code:
Special power

Code:

Weapon Template

Code:

Grenade Squad

Code:

Grenade soldier

Code:

<AnimationState ParseCondStateType="PARSE_NORMAL" ConditionsYes="SUPPRESSED SPECIAL_WEAPON_ONE" FrameForPristineBonePositions="24" StateName="STATE_Suppressed">
<Animation AnimationName="GUGrendr_SATA" AnimationMode="ONCE" />
</AnimationState>
<AnimationState ParseCondStateType="PARSE_NORMAL" ConditionsYes="COVER SPECIAL_WEAPON_ONE" FrameForPristineBonePositions="22" StateName="STATE_Cover">
<Animation AnimationName="GUGrendr_KAKA" AnimationMode="ONCE" />
</AnimationState>
<AnimationState ParseCondStateType="PARSE_NORMAL" ConditionsYes="MOVING SPECIAL_WEAPON_ONE" FrameForPristineBonePositions="31">
<Animation AnimationName="GUGrendr_RUNA" AnimationMode="LOOP" />
<Script>
CurDrawableSetTransitionAnimState("TRANS_AttackingRunning")
</Script>
</AnimationState>
<AnimationState ParseCondStateType="PARSE_NORMAL" ConditionsYes="SPECIAL_WEAPON_ONE" FrameForPristineBonePositions="31">
<Animation AnimationName="GUGrendr_ATKA" AnimationMode="ONCE" />
<SpecialPower id="ModuleTag_TargetedEMPGrenade" SpecialPowerTemplate="SpecialPowerEMPGrenade_Targeted" UpdateModuleStartsAttack="true" />
<WeaponFireSpecialAbilityUpdate id="ModuleTag_TargetedEMPGrenadeUpdate" SpecialPowerTemplate="SpecialPowerEMPGrenade_Targeted" SpecialWeapon="GDIGrenadeSoldierEMPGrenadeTargeted" WhichSpecialWeapon="1" StartAbilityRange="250.0" UnpackTime="1.5s" PackTime="1.0s" />

Stygs · Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2010 10:11 pm Post subject:

The only thing that comes to mind now: Dont use GDIGrenadeSoldierEMPGrenadeTargeted as a weapon for the squad dummy because it will fire it like a normal weapon (hence the 5. grenade).

I made some similiar weapons for TWA and they all are based on the Zone Trooper jump jets (works pretty sweet) but you need a couple of specialpowers for it to work:

1. Rangefinder - this specialpower wont do much, its whole purpose is to get the squad into range.
2. Dispatch - this SP triggers 2 other SPs, one for the squad dummy and one for the members (pretty sure you could combine that with the Rangefinder, but I never bothered testing it).
3. Squad Members - the real SP that makes each soldier fire their grenades.
4. Squad Dummy - this SP should have the same settings as 3., but it should have no Weapon in the WeaponFireSpecialAbilityUpdate. Its used to make sure that the squad dummy is busy and wont try to target enemys while the soldiers are busy using their EMPs.

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Madin · Plasma Trooper **Joined**: 05 Apr 2009

I tried to follow what you said, but I now have a red cursor which means that I cannot get the special ability to fire at all.

Special Power

Code:

Grenade soldier

Code:

Grenade Squad

Code:

Logic Command

Code:

<LogicCommand Options="NEED_TARGET_POS" Type="SPECIAL_POWER" id="Command_TargetedEMPGrenade">
<SpecialPower>SpecialPowerEMPGrenadeDispatch</SpecialPower>
</LogicCommand>
<LogicCommand Options="NEED_TARGET_POS" Type="SPECIAL_POWER" id="Command_EMPGrenadeGetToRange">
<SpecialPower>SpecialPowerEMPGrenade_RangeFinder</SpecialPower>
</LogicCommand>

LogicCommandSet

Code:

<LogicCommandSet id="GDIEMPGrenadeSoldierSquadCommandSet">
<Cmd>Command_StanceDrillDown</Cmd>
<Cmd>Command_GDICallForTransportInfantry</Cmd>
<Cmd>Command_EMPGrenadeGetToRange</Cmd>
<Cmd>Command_TargetedEMPGrenade</Cmd>
<Cmd>Command_AttackMove</Cmd>
</LogicCommandSet>

UnitAbilityButtons

Code:

Madin · Plasma Trooper **Joined**: 05 Apr 2009

Stygs wrote:

The only thing that comes to mind now: Dont use GDIGrenadeSoldierEMPGrenadeTargeted as a weapon for the squad dummy because it will fire it like a normal weapon (hence the 5. grenade).

I made some similiar weapons for TWA and they all are based on the Zone Trooper jump jets (works pretty sweet) but you need a couple of specialpowers for it to work:

1. Rangefinder - this specialpower wont do much, its whole purpose is to get the squad into range.
2. Dispatch - this SP triggers 2 other SPs, one for the squad dummy and one for the members (pretty sure you could combine that with the Rangefinder, but I never bothered testing it).
3. Squad Members - the real SP that makes each soldier fire their grenades.
4. Squad Dummy - this SP should have the same settings as 3., but it should have no Weapon in the WeaponFireSpecialAbilityUpdate. Its used to make sure that the squad dummy is busy and wont try to target enemys while the soldiers are busy using their EMPs.

Would it be possible to see some sample code please?
I've never been able to get this blasted thing to work! Confused

Stygs · Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 8:17 pm Post subject:

just use the zone trooper - its exactly the same, just that the squad SP needs no weapon (the SP is only used to keep the squad object busy) and a grenade weapon for the soldiers instead of a jumpjet.

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Madin · Plasma Trooper **Joined**: 05 Apr 2009

Finally sorted it, thanks!

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