Qrack Setup Questions/Answers

[Mezmorki]

Okay ... more Qrack stuff.

The newest Qrack build I can find is 4679 (12/09/2014) from here: Index of /qrack/beta

However, the pak0 file is not complete. Namely it is missing the GFX folder that includes the updated console background, menu fonts, and a few other things.

That said, the 4679 .exe fixes the water alpha bug I mentioned in the previous post. I also noticed that if I have celshading turned on, I can't have partially transparent weapon models (e.g. r_drawviewmodel 0.5). Disabling celshading let's my weapon models go partially transparent again.

It might be nice to update the main download for Qrack with the new file and a complete pak0 file ... but it's not my engine

[Mezmorki]

Actually - scratch that. The water alpha effects on 4679 are all wonky. In some maps it works as normal, in other maps it causes all sorts of wierd ghosting/smeering effects and rendering problems when trying to look at the water.

All in all, the 'official' version v2.011.3467 still works the best, even though a few maps have some FPS issues with transparent water. Plus I like the 3467 lightning gun effect WAY better than the new one.

[R00k]

maps that are vis'ed (they were precompiled with transparent water) can use solely the r_wateralpha cvar. But, maps like the original ID maps were not compiled for transparent water, so you must use r_novis cvar to bypass the ghosting, "hall of mirrors" effect. Also, you may use r_novis 2 and it will show items thru the water as well. But r_novis is SLOW on older machines because the renderer is drawing the entire map without culling.

I do need to update everything; I built a new machine, updated to windows 10 and all my stuff is in limbo atm. Private message me your email and i can compile/zip up my current version for you to test!

[Mezmorki]

PM sent - I'd be happy to help test.

Also, FWIW, I've been playing some DM with a friend (both using Qrack). I had a hard time getting ProQuake to work as a dedicated server, and randomly tried using Qrack as a dedicated server - it's been working just perfectly for that

[Mezmorki]

One more thing ...

So far I've found two custom DM maps that crash with Qrack (but work with other engines).

jrdm2
https://www.quaddicted.com/files/map...ayer/jrdm2.zip

ac4
https://www.quaddicted.com/files/map...player/ac4.zip

Maybe you can see why the engine is crashing in these maps?

[Mezmorki]

R00k - small personal request if you are working on some additional Qrack tweaks.

I LOVE the enhanced lightning gun effect from build 3467, but really don't like the one it changed to (circa 4679). The effect is now a thinner, more zig-zaggy look that I don't find terribly appealing. I tried adding back the old gfx files, but it the results were not correct. Can you add an enhanced 1 and enhanced 2 effect for the LG so people can have it either way?

[R00k]

sure ill look back, i do have a 1 and 2 value currently i can add a 3 also

I'm looking into the ED_LoadfromFile bug on those maps; weird as my debug build gives no error but the release build does. :/

[Mindf!3ldzX]

maps that are vis'ed (they were precompiled with transparent water) can use solely the r_wateralpha cvar. But, maps like the original ID maps were not compiled for transparent water, so you must use r_novis cvar to bypass the ghosting, "hall of mirrors" effect. Also, you may use r_novis 2 and it will show items thru the water as well. But r_novis is SLOW on older machines because the renderer is drawing the entire map without culling.

I do need to update everything; I built a new machine, updated to windows 10 and all my stuff is in limbo atm. Private message me your email and i can compile/zip up my current version for you to test!

What! Are people able to tell whether LG is spawned in water from bridges in DMTG?

[Spike]

clientside novis displays walls through unvised water.
serverside novis displays items/ents through said unvised water (I assume that's what 2 means, despite being an r_ cvar...).

[R00k]

Ya r_novis 2 is only available in local games, as your client runs as the server also so it knows where entities are.

[Mindf!3ldzX]

ah okay. haha!

[R00k]

it is good though for practice; you know where to shoot in water at the LG (dm3)
but can piss off mapperzs as it was not intended for clear water and they might have a secret/challenge.

[Mezmorki]

Another Qrack suggestion ...

The older versions disabled the demo from running at the start of the game. Can you bring that back or add a command line option for -nodemo or something?

How's it all coming along? Let me know if you need me to test anything - I believe I PM'd you my e-mail address. Cheers,

[bluntz]

You can add +playdemo foo.dem to your shortcut to stop demos playing,unless of course you are wierd enough to have actually recorded a demo named foo

[R00k]

the quake.rc file was modified; the "demos demo1 demo2 demo3" line was commented out.