how does one customize spells?

[Shloogorgh]

I've got a few questions related to spells. Also this is my first time scripting...

First off, I tried to create a clone of the weapon of power that shoots spectral blobs instead of lightning, as a portable puzzle solving tool. I switched the spell that the clone casts from "powerbolt" to "blob" (because I saw that blob was on the list of spells in the asset pack). When I tried using the weapon in the preview window, it gave me the error "spell 'blob' not found." I tried it again with fireball and that worked. How do I make a weapon that successfully shoots a blob?

I also tried making a clone of the powerbolt spell that used the blob particle system, but the dungeon editor wouldn't even load that. Is it possible to make custom spells?

Also, is there a way to make new rune combinations to essentially create new spells? Like an unlock door spell that you cast in front of a door to make it open.

A "speak language" spell would be interesting too. Have some text on the wall that if you don't cast "speak language" then it just shows up as gobblygook, but if you cast the spell then it becomes readable. On a similar note, it would be great to have text that you could only read if you have a certain race in your party. The wall text is written in lizardman speak, so if you have a lizardman, you don't have to cast speak language to read it. I think I could figure out racial language based on party, but using runes to grant this ability is where I have no idea.

Also, I had some issues cloning objects with unique effects. I cloned the Orb of Radiance, but the new orb didn't illuminate anything. This made me question how you would create objects with unique effects, like the staff that increases poison damage. It'd easy to make items that increase elemental resistance or modify stats, but items like the shaman staff that grant you the specific ability "Improved Poison Bolt" seems trickier. How would you let an item grant something like that? (and radiate light like the orb should?)

If anyone could give me a few pointers as to how to get started on these issues, I'd appreciate it.

[Neikun]

I want to help, but I'm to tired. I'll look at this in the morning.
Mind posting your custom sword scripts
and your custom spell scripts.

I'mma read into the definition of the Ord of Radiance and likely fall asleep on my keyboard.

[SpacialKatana]

1: Add this line to your init.lua file in mod_assets\scripts
import "mod_assets/scripts/spells.lua"

2.Create a file in mod_assets called spells.lua

3.Without giving away too much, paste in a spell from the asset pack (the one shown was "fireball") and rename the name field to say "fireball_mega" eg:-

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defineObject{
	name = "fireball_mega",
	class = "ProjectileSpell",
	particleSystem = "fireball",
	hitParticleEffect = "fireball_hit",
	lightColor = vec(1, 0.5, 0.25),
	lightBrightness = 15,
	lightRange = 7,
	lightHitBrightness = 40,
	lightHitRange = 10,
	castShadow = true,
	launchSound = "fireball_launch",
	projectileSound = "fireball",
	hitSound = "fireball_hit",
	screenEffect = "fireball_screen",
	projectileSpeed = 7.5,
	attackPower = 300,
	damageType = "fire",
	--cameraShake = true,
	tags = { "spell" },
}

I also changed the attackPower field from 30 to 300.....you get the idea. You can change it's speed,colour etc.
(By adding a new particle file as well, you can also change its look completely btw, but it's a bit advanced for what you need).

4. In a cloned wyvern replace rangedAttack = "lightning_bolt", with rangedAttack = "fireball_mega",

5. Stay clear of the angry wyvern

Hope this helps.

[Shloogorgh]

That's pretty much what I tried to do. I tried with your script and wyvern example but when the wyvern attempts to breath I get the error "warning! unknown spell: fireball_mega"

I also attempted to do this with the weapon of power:

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cloneObject{
	name = "blob_shooter",
	baseObject = "power_weapon",
	uiName = "The Light Blaster",
	description = "Shoot out concentrated globs of light",
	spell = "blobshot",
}

To shoot this spell:

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defineObject{
	name = "blobshot",
	class = "ProjectileSpell",
	particleSystem = "blob",
	hitParticleEffect = "blob_hit",
	lightColor = vec(0.25, 0.5, 1),
	lightBrightness = 15,
	lightRange = 7,
	lightHitBrightness = 40,
	lightHitRange = 10,
	castShadow = true,
	launchSound = "blob_launch",
	projectileSound = "blob",
	hitSound = "blob_hit",
	projectileSpeed = 15,
	attackPower = 0,
	--cameraShake = true,
	tags = { "spell" },
}

With the same result: "warning! unknown spell: blobshot"

I also tried making the spell a clone of powerbolt:

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cloneObject{
	name = "blob_shot",
	baseObject = "powerbolt",
	particleSystem = "blob",
	hitParticleEffect = "blob_hit",
	lightColor = vec(0.25, 0.5, 1),
	lightBrightness = 15,
	lightRange = 7,
	lightHitBrightness = 40,
	lightHitRange = 10,
	castShadow = true,
	launchSound = "blob_launch",
	projectileSound = "blob",
	hitSound = "blob_hit",
	projectileSpeed = 15,
	attackPower = 0,
	--cameraShake = true,
	tags = { "spell" },
}

With the same result, "warning! unknown spell: blob_shot"

So how do I make it recognize these unknown spells?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Also, this was my clone of the Orb of Radiance. I basically just made it look like the Zhandul Orb and took away the spellcraft requirement, but it doesn't illuminate the area like the original does. Looking at the script for the original orb, I don't see anything in it that would make it glow, so I'm wondering where the scripting that makes that happen exists in the base game.

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cloneObject{
	name = "super_magic_orb",
	baseObject = "magic_orb",
	uiName = "The Ultimate Orb",
	requiredLevel = 0,
	description = "You cannot comprehend its power",
	gfxIndex = 157,
	model = "assets/models/items/zhandul_orb.fbx",
	willpower = 10
}

[Neikun]

Code: Select all

cloneObject{
   name = "blobshot",
   baseObject = "blob",
   particleSystem = "blob",
   hitParticleEffect = "blob_hit",
   lightColor = vec(0.25, 0.5, 1),
   lightBrightness = 15,
   lightRange = 7,
   lightHitBrightness = 40,
   lightHitRange = 10,
   castShadow = true,
   launchSound = "blob_launch",
   projectileSound = "blob",

Does cloning the object and placing it in the spells.lua help?

[Shloogorgh]

Tried with a cloned object, that didn't work.

And let me reiterate: having my weapon of power shoot the spell "blob" doesn't even work. Yet blob is on the asset list for spells. Maybe because it's not classified as a projectile spell? In any case, I get the same error: "warning! unknown spell: blob"

I can change the spell the weapon launches to other projectile spells from the asset list, but so far I haven't successfully gotten it to accept a custom spell

[SpacialKatana]

It maybe hard coded what spells monsters can fire....I've cloned powerbolt and it fires from spawners okay, so the new spell is being read from the file correctly

I also have crowerns firing fireballs, but that was done by cloning a wyvern(it has a ranged attack) and then swapping its model out.

You need to be devious to get stuff working....

[Shloogorgh]

Has anyone successfully gotten a monster or weapon to use a custom spell?

[SpacialKatana]

Their monster def list states:-

rangedAttack: the ranged attack to perform when “ranged_attack” animation event is triggered. Must be one of the following: “lightning_bolt”, “lightning_bolt_greater”, “ice_shards”, “fireball”, “fireball_greater”, “poison_bolt”, “frost_arrow”.

I take it from this that monster spells are hard-coded, so it looks like making new spells, at least for monsters cannot currently be done.

Guys, change this please !!!

[Shloogorgh]

An unrelated question regarding textures.

I wanted to make variations on the orbs, a green orb and a white orb, but I screwed up somewhere along the way.

First, I edited the dds files and put the custom ones in the mod_assets texture folder. Then I copied the model files for the zhendal orb and the orb of radiance and put the copies in the mod_assets models folder, renamed as "air_orb.model" and "earth_orb.model."

Then I created clones as the items:

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cloneObject{
	name = "air_orb",
	baseObject = "magic_orb",
	uiName = "Air Element Orb",
	model = "mod_assets/models/air_orb.fbx",
	requiredLevel = 0,
	description = "You cannot comprehend its power",
	gfxIndex = 69,
	willpower = 10
}

cloneObject{
	name = "earth_orb",
	baseObject = "magic_orb",
	uiName = "Earth Element Orb",
	model = "mod_assets/models/earth_orb.fbx",
	requiredLevel = 0,
	description = "You cannot comprehend its power",
	gfxIndex = 69,
	willpower = 10
}

And finally I used this script in the materials.LUA:

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defineMaterial{
	name = "air_orb",
	diffuseMap = "mod_assets/textures/air_orb_dif.tga",
	specularMap = "mod_assets/textures/air_orb_spec.tga",
	doubleSided = false,
	lighting = true,
	alphaTest = false,
	blendMode = "Opaque",
	textureAddressMode = "Wrap",
	glossiness = 20,
	depthBias = 0,
}

defineMaterial{
	name = "earth_orb",
	diffuseMap = "mod_assets/textures/earth_orb_dif.tga",
	specularMap = "mod_assets/textures/earth_orb_spec.tga",
	doubleSided = false,
	lighting = true,
	alphaTest = false,
	blendMode = "Opaque",
	textureAddressMode = "Wrap",
	glossiness = 20,
	depthBias = 0,
}

But in the game the orbs still have the textures of the Zhendal orb and the orb of radiance, so where did I go wrong?