New FXs.

[Ze_PilOt]

The balance patch is available to everyone, you don't need picture, just a double click on an icon.

[Cuddles]

In the balance patch? It's not in the change log

I don't consider myself a good enough player to make use of or even know what I'm testing. So I haven't checked it, I just take it on faith that you guys that have played this the longest knows what you are doing.

[Ze_PilOt]

If someone wants to tweak it, they first should know how to launch the balance mod in command line (with the /init flag).

Then, you can edit the faforever.prw file in gamedata. It's a zip file.

You actually need to alter :

- lua/EffectTemplates.lua

It's currently splitted in two : after line 4313, these are the new template effects that override some original ones. That's the main thing.
Each unit use his own FX, and you can add/remove effects to the list.
ie:

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DefaultWreckageEffectsSml01 = TableCat( SmokePlumeLightDensityMed01, SmokePlumeMedDensitySml01, SmokePlumeMedDensitySml02, SmokePlumeMedDensitySml03 )


DefaultWreckageEffectsSml01 is used for small units wreckage.
SmokePlumeLightDensityMed01, SmokePlumeMedDensitySml01, SmokePlumeMedDensitySml02, SmokePlumeMedDensitySml03 are four layers of smoke.

Second file is lua/sim/unit.lua.
In this big file, you can alter some functions :

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CreateDestructionEffects = function( self, overKillRatio )

That's the function called to create the effects.
as you can read into it, it use a random calls to select randomly between several effects.

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DeathThread = function( self, overkillRatio, instigator)

This is the calls to CreateDestructionEffects, then CreateUnitDestructionDebris for the debris.


then lua/defaultexplosions.lua.
This file is the script that create all the explosions, create the debris, shake the camera,...

Finally, the effects themselves :
effects\emitters\ These files are overriding or adding effects blueprint. (the swirl files are for the SCU teleport).
effects\Entities\ the DebrisMisc folders are for the debris.
\projectiles\FireSparks and \projectiles\ShellRiotTerran01 are two new effects for projectiles.

[Golol]

oh so they are already implemented.
i was wondering why in the last replay with balancemod i watched a sccout exploded like it was killed by a t3 mobile arty (5thminute)
they look indeed cool and inthink they are better than nothing imo.

[pip]

Thanks for the explanation. I'll try to see how all this works and if it's easy to tune down / remove the craziest explosions (like a scout exploding with the fx of a t3 mobile artillery, as Golol wrote).

[ZaphodX]

I think it's fine if small units blow up in a more extreme way than you would think. It looks ace.

[Ze_PilOt]

I like the spark/smoke/debris effects (actually, I wouldn't mind bigger debris & more sparkles).

But the flame effects are IMHO too much and it's what is giving that over the top feeling.
I would start tuning down the flame effect before trying anything else.

[pip]

I think it looks ridiculous for some units, and nice for some others, but the scale of the flame fx can be tuned down, and the improved fx / animation can remain, so it should not be a problem.

Another thing I really don't like and which makes the game very messy is that all units explode two times (or even more). It's ok when there is one unit, but when there are dozens, it becomes very hard to understand what's going on, which unit is dead already or not, etc. There is no need for 2 explosions, a big one is enough.
I will try to figure out how to disable the second explosion.

Also, i'm pretty sure this will slow down some computers.

[Golol]

could it theoretically be possible to make an additional bar in the settings called "coolness" or "explosions" ?
not asking if anyone wants to code it but if it atleast possible. then you could have 3-4 stages from usal explosions to a bit pimped explosions up to exaggerated explosions.

[ColonelSheppard]

if we are talking about grafics i maybe just ask here: should i sumbmitt the rocking for this patch?
(with fixes UEF t1 frigate)