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**Baker** · 07-10-2010, 03:20 PM

Nice before and after pics. Should really help someone looking to modify the effectsinfo file to get an idea of what to do.

Very nice

**Seven** · 07-11-2010, 06:41 AM

ADDON:

I think its worth to mention it, because it would be too sad if you missed this info:

Lord Havoc released a new final version of DarkPlaces on 2010-04-08.
From this build on, there is a new (better) way to calculate / display shadows.
He calls it High-Quality-Shadowmapping (and that�s exactly what it is !)

It is not turned on by default, so please use this command:
r_shadow_shadowmapping 1

I tried to take pictures of it. You will see, that the shadows edges are no longer cutting sharp.
Now they are kind of "washed out", what makes the visual much better.

normal shadows: , High Quality shadows:

Have fun.
Seven

**seanstar** · 07-12-2010, 10:49 AM

good job seven...the text file worked with nice results ingame, i still havent been able to extract the tga file though.

thanks as well for the r_shadow_shadowmapping 1 comment...this setting added like ten fps and makes the shadows look far more natural.

EDIT
thanks Jorix/seven...nice job on the effects.
i love the explosion and all the other tweaked out settings like shell hits.

these look so good havoc should include it with dp.

got me playing again but the problem is the monster models look bad.

look at the head...i tend to turn off the game when i see this kind of thing.

**Jorix** · 07-12-2010, 12:08 PM

I like your wizard magic changes most, it improves them a lot.
I have been playing with this file too a while ago. The most significant change is that after every explosion dust clouds float around for a while.
I also played around with some other things like the teleport flash. Included in the file (but disabled by renaming it) is an other more star trek like beam.

Attached Files

effectinfo.txt (6.5 KB, 93 views)

**jakub1** · 07-12-2010, 01:35 PM

hi seven,
-
thanks for these enhanced effects. blood decals look definitely better with this new brighter particlefont. as for the rest of the changes of yours - i like it and i only have two questions:
-
1. darkplaces has this "shell" around explosions. is there a way to turn it on while using effectinfo.txt? i quite like that old explosion efect and now it is off, no matter if i turn it on/off in the option menu.
-
2. this in not a question... maybe just suggestion - qrack has really good particle effects, especially enforcer's laser shots and fire (torches etc..) are much better compared to the standard darkplaces. so if you don't know what to do next, you can try to "emulate" some of these eyecandy effect :-).

EDIT

to Jorix: i've just tested your version of particleinfo.txt and the explosions look great. with hdr on... darkplaces in its full glory.

**Seven** · 07-12-2010, 01:38 PM

@ seanstar

I am glad you like it.
Just tested the new download Link for particles.tga. Extracting works fine with winrar and winzip.
Maybe you still use my old link (with splitted volume ?)
Please try downloading it again.
And a special warm hug goes out to you for this little PN + mail, I received !

@ Jorix

This is what I am talking about.
The more people share their work on this little beauty, the more usage others have.
Thank you for your version. I will check and compare it, to find out whats new/different.
Because you didnt comment your lines, I will try to figure out whats behind it.

@ jakub1

You mean, you had an effect, which was determined after you put effectinfo.txt in your id1 folder ?
And you didnt change anything in options ?
Thats strange...
Does it appear again, when you delete effectinfo.txt ?
Please try it with the "original" effectinfo.txt from the DPmod.
I didnt see any changes after using the original /unchanged effectinfo.txt from DPmod.
And my modifications to it only handles the trails (as described in first post)
Your second suggestion: I never used qrack, cause of lack of time (also described above, why).

Best wishes,
Seven

**jakub1** · 07-12-2010, 02:46 PM

explosion shell - in standard quake run via darkplaces /not with dpmod/ there is this transparent explosion shell as a part of the explosion effect. you can can turn it on/off in menu. it's different with dpmod - the shell is part of the explosion only while wearing quaddamage - probably to add a feeling of the bigger explosion. when i copy particlesinfo.txt into id1 directory and lunch standard quake, that shell is gone in all cases regardless of the menu setting or quaddamage and there is only this new explosion effect based on yours txt file. that's all ... my mistake .. i can't mix the old and new effect.

**Seven** · 07-12-2010, 04:03 PM

@ Jorix

as I worked on your effectinfo.txt to understand exactly what you did, i noticed this:
Your file seems to be from an older DPmod build, as all the quaddamage, blood and nexuiz values are missing.

Exactly like jakub1: I LOVE your new explosion / smoke behavior !!

I didnt even try to make screenshots, because this effect is too dynamic and must be seen live.

For the interested peoples out there:
I commented Jorix modified lines and implemented them into my "effectinfo.txt"
(please find it attached below)
So that you have the chance to have all effects together (comented to separate it) in one file.
For those, who are not able to merge the 2 files by themselves.

Jorix,
I hope you dont mind.
Of course I added special credits to you.

Have Fun.
Seven

EDITED:

Updated effectinfo.txt in post #1

**Jorix** · 07-13-2010, 12:30 PM

I'm glad you like it, of course you can use it in your file.
I must have removed some dpmod specific thing from my version, don't know why really.
It seems you didn't notice the tarbaby explosion specific smoke, because it has a blueish color smoke that makes the air look a bit toxic/polluted with tarbaby dust after a tarbaby explodes.
The other changes are some minor changes to things like gunshot effects, the wizard and knight magic, the teleport effect (2 versions) and blood. But I don't remember exactly what I changed, it's a while ago that I changed it.

**Seven** · 07-13-2010, 03:23 PM

Thank you for your permission Jorix.

While studying your effectinfo.txt I noticed, that you have a deep understanding of how the values work.
I had to struggle a lot in modifiying mine in the beginning and had to reload Quake maybe 100 times to understand what
all the values are for. In the end I was kind of lucky to get my modification done.

I use a Comparism program: Beyond Compare to see your edits.
But I am sorry, there is no change in Blood or gunshot values (which you mentioned above).
I sure found the Wizard and Hellknight Magic changes, but as you said yourself, they are not so spectacular.
Thank you for your hint with the Tarbaby (Because all the values are identical to Explosion I didnt
notice the slight change in color-code)
I will correct it at once and add it to post #1 (beginning of this thread).
I also left your teleport changes out, because in single player (it his hardly visible).

Best wishes and thank you again,
Seven

**jakub1** · 07-14-2010, 01:09 AM

manual for scripting?

hallo, i'm trying to create my own version of effectinfo.txt and i have the same problem as seven - to understand what all that variables do i had to lunch quake again and again and again... the worst part is that in some cases it didn't help at all. is there anywhere some manual for particle scripting or at least list of te_* entities? i'm using effextinfo from nexuiz - there are a lot of effects, a lot of data tu study. most of the effects work in dp even without any change.

**Jorix** · 07-14-2010, 03:40 AM

To understand which values are possible and what they do I looked at the source of darkplaces. In cl_particles.c of the darkplaces source you can see some lists of values and what they should do.
Of course I also tested a lot of options to see how things would work out in the end.

The teleport effect is visible in single player, if you turn around after teleporting in, or if the teleporter is in sight of the end location. And also when looking at demo files from others that are multiplayer or recammed. Monsters can also teleport in and out.

**Seven** · 07-15-2010, 05:33 AM

UPDATE:

I added the following:
- Hellknight Magic attack colored lightning
- Wizards magic attack colored lightning
- Vore homing missile trail modification

You will find new amazing screenshots in my first post, as well as the updated effectinfo.txt.

I even tried to catch Jorix wonderful explosion / smoke in screenshots.
Check them in Post #1

@ jakub1

I also updated my comments in the effectinfo.txt
They now explain all the stuff I edited and what these variables mean.
This maybe help you as a first step.

Best regards,
Seven

**Chip** · 07-15-2010, 10:21 AM

I did some new effects for effectinfo.txt like fire, torches, smoke, sparks and other effects for a custom mod, I'm doing. I'm not posting them here as there is QuakeC code behind it, but the new effects are awesome!

Thanks for this file, I'll study it these days, and see if I can add something new to it.

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