ParticleSystem (Beam) - change location, set beam in straight line?

[Swarles87]

Hi guys,

I have some problems with a particle system and I hope you can help me.
First off a little video to show you my problem:



1. I want the tower to shoot in a straight line at the enemy. I'm currently using the 'WP_LinkGun.Effects.P_WP_Linkgun_Altbeam' for this effect. How can I do this? All the FiringComponent.Set[...] functions don't seem to work.

2. I would like to change the location of the emitter after spawning. So that I can correct the location, when the Tower has turned its direction. I also didn't figure out how to do this yet.

3. I tried to reuse the same ParticleEmitter with "DeactivateSystem" and activating it again by "ActivateSystem", but it didn't work. So I guess the Emitter is killed automatically, when I'm using "DeactivateSystem". Am I right?

Here is my code:

var ParticleSystemComponent FiringComponent;
var ParticleSystem FiringSystem;
var Vector FiringLocation;
[...]
state Attacking
{
	simulated event BeginState(name PreviousStateName)
	{
		[...]
		FiringLocation = OwnerTower.Location + Vector(OwnerTower.Rotation)*30;
		FiringLocation.Z+=50;
		FiringComponent = WorldInfo.MyEmitterPool.SpawnEmitter(FiringSystem, FiringLocation);
		FiringComponent.SetVectorParameter('LinkBeamEnd', Target.Location);
		FiringComponent.SetDepthPriorityGroup(SDPG_World);
	}

	simulated event EndState(name NextStateName)
	{
		WorldInfo.Game.Broadcast(self,"Laser leaving State Attacking");
		FiringComponent.DeactivateSystem();
	}

	event Tick(float DeltaTime)
	{
		[...]
		FiringLocation = OwnerTower.Location + Vector(OwnerTower.Rotation)*30;
		FiringLocation.Z+=50;
		FiringComponent.SetVectorParameter('LinkBeamEnd', Target.Location);
		FiringComponent.SetBeamDistance(-1, VSize(FiringLocation-Target.Location));
		[...]
	}
}

[VendorX]

This happen because of GetAdjustedAim in Weapon...

...or if this is not a weapon class, responsible is your Tick: FiringComponent.SetVectorParameter('LinkBeamEnd', Target.Location);

[Swarles87]

This happen because of GetAdjustedAim in Weapon...

...or if this is not a weapon class, responsible is your Tick: FiringComponent.SetVectorParameter('LinkBeamEnd', Target.Location);

Its not a Weapon Class. The logic of the tower which enemy is hit is independent of the visual representation. So I have the start and the end coordinates of the beam.
But it seems to me, that the ParticleSystem is "too long" for this given distance, so the udk is drawing a curve to display it.

The second problem is the start location. It is set once, when spawning the Emitter "WorldInfo.MyEmitterPool.SpawnEmitter(FiringSystem , FiringLocation);" but I don't know how to change it after this.
So what I look for is a method like: FiringComponent.SetLocation(FiringLocation), but I can't find something like this. I could spawn a new Emitter every tick, but I don't think this would be the best option. ^^

[VendorX]

But it seems to me, that the ParticleSystem is "too long" for this given distance, so the udk is drawing a curve to display it.

They're not attached and can't rotate... Attach your FiringComponent to bone/socked and set:
FiringComponent.bUpdateComponentInTick = true;

The second problem is the start location. It is set once, when spawning the Emitter "WorldInfo.MyEmitterPool.SpawnEmitter(FiringSystem , FiringLocation);" but I don't know how to change it after this.
So what I look for is a method like: FiringComponent.SetLocation(FiringLocation), but I can't find something like this. I could spawn a new Emitter every tick, but I don't think this would be the best option. ^^

When attached, you not need to worry about... Use new instead of MyEmitterPool...

[TheAgent]

Did you try making your own particle system beam and trying that instead? The Link beam always had curves to it when firing it may just be the particle system.

[Swarles87]

Thanks guys! I now got it to work.



Here the solution, if other people have the same problem.

simulated event PostBeginPlay()
{
	FiringComponent.DeactivateSystem();
}
state Attacking
{
	simulated event BeginState(name PreviousStateName)
	{
                [...]
		if(bEmitterIsAttached==false)
		{
			OwnerTower.TurretMesh.AttachComponentToSocket(FiringComponent, 'FireLocation');
			FiringComponent.bUpdateComponentInTick = true;
			FiringComponent.SetDepthPriorityGroup(SDPG_World);
			bEmitterIsAttached=true;
		}
                [...]
		FiringComponent.SetVectorParameter('LinkBeamEnd', Target.Location);
		FiringComponent.ActivateSystem();
	}

	simulated event EndState(name NextStateName)
	{
		FiringComponent.DeactivateSystem();
	}

	event Tick(float DeltaTime)
	{
		FiringComponent.SetVectorParameter('LinkBeamEnd', Target.Location);
	}
}
DefaultProperties
{
	bEmitterIsAttached=false
	Begin Object Class=ParticleSystemComponent Name=ParticleSystemComponent1
            Template=ParticleSystem'TDParticleEffects.Beam'
        End Object

        FiringComponent=ParticleSystemComponent1
        Components.Add(ParticleSystemComponent1)
}

[HadHa]

As far as i know this is due to the "Target" node in the particle system.
Try playing around with lock radius, lock strength, target strength, target tangent and "lock absolute".

edit: oh way slow there