Camera System

KILLCIDE · Aug 4, 2015

Looking to get some constructive criticism on my camera system for my project map. The way it works is if either of the two players type "-cam" followed by a number, it sets the camera height to that number. Typing "-cam default" will set it back to... well default height! I have it in a loop so that using the scroll wheel doesn't reset the camera height.

Camera Init
- Events
  - Player - Player 2 (Blue) types a chat message containing -cam as A substring
  - Player - Player 10 (Light Blue) types a chat message containing -cam as A substring
- Conditions
  - (Substring((Entered chat string), 6, (Length of (Entered chat string)))) Not equal to <Empty String>
- Actions
  - Set CameraSystem_Group = (Player group((Triggering player)))
  - Set CameraSystem_Height = (Real((Substring((Entered chat string), 6, 9))))
  - Trigger - Turn on Camera Loop <gen>
  - If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
    - If - Conditions
      - (Substring((Entered chat string), 6, 12)) Equal to default
    - Then - Actions
      - Camera - Set (Triggering player)'s camera Distance to target to 1650.00 over 1.00 seconds
      - Custom script: call DestroyForce (udg_CameraSystem_Group)
      - If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
        
        If - Conditions
        
        (Number of players in CameraSystem_Group) Equal to 0
        
        Then - Actions
        
        Trigger - Turn off Camera Loop <gen>
        
        Else - Actions
    - Else - Actions

Camera Loop
- Events
  - Time - Every 0.03 seconds of game time
- Conditions
- Actions
  - Player Group - Pick every player in CameraSystem_Group and do (Actions)
    - Loop - Actions
      - If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
        
        If - Conditions
        
        CameraSystem_Height Less than or equal to 3000.00
        
        CameraSystem_Height Greater than or equal to 500.00
        
        Then - Actions
        
        Camera - Set (Picked player)'s camera Distance to target to CameraSystem_Height over 1.00 seconds
        
        Else - Actions
        
        Game - Display to CameraSystem_Group for 5.00 seconds the text: |cffff0000Camera Er...
        
        If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
        
        If - Conditions
        
        CameraSystem_Height Greater than or equal to 3001.00
        
        Then - Actions
        
        Set CameraSystem_Height = 3000.00
        
        Camera - Set (Picked player)'s camera Distance to target to CameraSystem_Height over 1.00 seconds
        
        Game - Display to CameraSystem_Group for 5.00 seconds the text: Camera height has b...
        
        Else - Actions
        
        Set CameraSystem_Height = 500.00
        
        Camera - Set (Picked player)'s camera Distance to target to CameraSystem_Height over 1.00 seconds
        
        Game - Display to CameraSystem_Group for 5.00 seconds the text: Camera has been set...

EDIT: This is for the updated trigger.

Camera Init
- Events
  - Player - Player 2 (Blue) types a chat message containing -cam as A substring
  - Player - Player 10 (Light Blue) types a chat message containing -cam as A substring
- Conditions
  - (Substring((Entered chat string), 6, (Length of (Entered chat string)))) Not equal to <Empty String>
- Actions
  - Set CameraSystem_Group = (Player group((Triggering player)))
  - Set CameraSystem_Player = (Player number of (Triggering player))
  - Set CameraSystem_EnteredString = (Substring((Entered chat string), 6, 9))
  - Set CameraSystem_MinHeight = 500.00
  - Set CameraSystem_MaxHeight = 3000.00
  - If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
    - If - Conditions
      - (Substring((Entered chat string), 6, 12)) Equal to default
    - Then - Actions
      - Camera - Reset camera for (Triggering player) to standard game-view over 1.00 seconds
    - Else - Actions
      - If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
        
        If - Conditions
        
        Or - Any (Conditions) are true
        
        Conditions
        
        (Real(CameraSystem_EnteredString)) Less than CameraSystem_MinHeight
        
        (Real(CameraSystem_EnteredString)) Greater than CameraSystem_MaxHeight
        
        Then - Actions
        
        Game - Display to CameraSystem_Group for 2.00 seconds the text: |cffff0000Camera Er...
        
        If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
        
        If - Conditions
        
        (Real(CameraSystem_EnteredString)) Greater than CameraSystem_MaxHeight
        
        Then - Actions
        
        Game - Display to CameraSystem_Group for 2.00 seconds the text: Setting camera heig...
        
        Set CameraSystem_Height[CameraSystem_Player] = CameraSystem_MaxHeight
        
        Else - Actions
        
        If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
        
        If - Conditions
        
        (Real(CameraSystem_EnteredString)) Less than CameraSystem_MinHeight
        
        Then - Actions
        
        Game - Display to CameraSystem_Group for 2.00 seconds the text: Setting camera heig...
        
        Set CameraSystem_Height[CameraSystem_Player] = CameraSystem_MinHeight
        
        Else - Actions
        
        Else - Actions
      - Set CameraSystem_Height[CameraSystem_Player] = (Real(CameraSystem_EnteredString))
      - Camera - Set (Picked player)'s camera Distance to target to CameraSystem_Height[CameraSystem_Player] over 1.00 seconds

Camera Loop
- Events
  - Time - Every 0.03 seconds of game time
- Conditions
- Actions
  - Player Group - Pick every player in CameraSystem_Group and do (Actions)
    - Loop - Actions
      - Set CameraSystem_Player = (Player number of (Triggering player))
      - Camera - Set (Picked player)'s camera Distance to target to CameraSystem_Height[CameraSystem_Player] over 1.00 seconds

Zwiebelchen · Aug 4, 2015

So, what's your question?

rulerofiron99 · Aug 4, 2015

Apply the min/max height within the first trigger. Second trigger should just be setting the values, no need for if/then/else just set the cameras.

Also do the other camera values: pitch, height, field of view, etc

KILLCIDE · Aug 5, 2015

Zwiebelchen said:
So, what's your question?

I was asking for constructive criticism on the camera system I made. I'm trying to get better at GUI, so I want to find out if there is a better approach on what I want the system to do versus what I executed.

rulerofiron99 said:
Apply the min/max height within the first trigger. Second trigger should just be setting the values, no need for if/then/else just set the cameras.

Also do the other camera values: pitch, height, field of view, etc

Is this better? I just need height for my project

I don't think there is no need to add other camera values.

Camera Init
- Events
  - Player - Player 2 (Blue) types a chat message containing -cam as A substring
  - Player - Player 10 (Light Blue) types a chat message containing -cam as A substring
- Conditions
  - (Substring((Entered chat string), 6, (Length of (Entered chat string)))) Not equal to <Empty String>
- Actions
  - Set CameraSystem_Group = (Player group((Triggering player)))
  - Set CameraSystem_Height = (Real((Substring((Entered chat string), 6, 9))))
  - Set CameraSystem_MinHeight = 500.00
  - Set CameraSystem_MaxHeight = 3000.00
  - If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
    - If - Conditions
      - CameraSystem_Height Greater than or equal to CameraSystem_MinHeight
      - CameraSystem_Height Less than or equal to CameraSystem_MaxHeight
    - Then - Actions
      - Trigger - Turn on Camera Loop <gen>
    - Else - Actions
      - Game - Display to CameraSystem_Group for 2.00 seconds the text: |cffff0000Camera Er...
      - If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
        
        If - Conditions
        
        CameraSystem_Height Greater than CameraSystem_MaxHeight
        
        Then - Actions
        
        Game - Display to CameraSystem_Group for 2.00 seconds the text: Setting camera heig...
        
        Set CameraSystem_Height = CameraSystem_MaxHeight
        
        Else - Actions
      - If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
        
        If - Conditions
        
        CameraSystem_Height Less than CameraSystem_MinHeight
        
        Then - Actions
        
        Game - Display to CameraSystem_Group for 2.00 seconds the text: Setting camera heig...
        
        Set CameraSystem_Height = CameraSystem_MinHeight
        
        Else - Actions
      - Trigger - Turn on Camera Loop <gen>
  - If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
    - If - Conditions
      - (Substring((Entered chat string), 6, 12)) Equal to default
    - Then - Actions
      - Camera - Set (Triggering player)'s camera Distance to target to 1650.00 over 1.00 seconds
      - Custom script: call DestroyForce (udg_CameraSystem_Group)
      - If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
        
        If - Conditions
        
        (Number of players in CameraSystem_Group) Equal to 0
        
        Then - Actions
        
        Trigger - Turn off Camera Loop <gen>
        
        Else - Actions
    - Else - Actions

Camera Loop
- Events
  - Time - Every 0.03 seconds of game time
- Conditions
- Actions
  - Player Group - Pick every player in CameraSystem_Group and do (Actions)
    - Loop - Actions
      - Camera - Set (Picked player)'s camera Distance to target to CameraSystem_Height over 1.00 seconds

rulerofiron99 · Aug 6, 2015

You're using the same camera height variable for all players, so if any player sets the height everyone will get that same height.

You need to change CameraSystem_Height to an array variable, and for array index use player number of picked player (triggering player in the first trigger)

KILLCIDE · Aug 6, 2015

rulerofiron99 said:
You're using the same camera height variable for all players, so if any player sets the height everyone will get that same height.

You need to change CameraSystem_Height to an array variable, and for array index use player number of picked player (triggering player in the first trigger)

I actually never encountered that problem when I tested with a friend of mine. However, it does make sense that if another player were to type a different value, it would apply to both of them. Regardless, I now made CameraSystem_Height an array! I updated the original post to include the new triggers.

rulerofiron99 · Aug 6, 2015

In the loop trigger, you need to set CameraSystem_Player to the player number of picked player.

In the first trigger, move this line:

Custom script: call DestroyForce (udg_CameraSystem_Group)

to the very end of the trigger.

You can remove the trigger turn off/turn on stuff and just leave it permanently looping. It will have no impact on performance (you'd need a few thousand of these going to get noticeable lag)

KILLCIDE · Aug 6, 2015

rulerofiron99 said:
In the loop trigger, you need to set CameraSystem_Player to the player number of picked player.

I need to have two variables declaring the player number? One in init and another loop?

rulerofiron99 said:
In the first trigger, move this line:

Custom script: call DestroyForce (udg_CameraSystem_Group)

to the very end of the trigger.

Putting this at the very end of the trigger will destroy the feature of "not losing camera height by scrolling." The reason I have it in the default if nest is because the only reason a player would be leaving the group is if they want to go back to normal camera height.

rulerofiron99 said:
You can remove the trigger turn off/turn on stuff and just leave it permanently looping. It will have no impact on performance (you'd need a few thousand of these going to get noticeable lag)

Done

rulerofiron99 · Aug 6, 2015

KILLCIDE said:
I need to have two variables declaring the player number? One in init and another loop?

Do this in the loop:

Camera - Set (Picked player)'s camera Distance to target to CameraSystem_Height[(Player number of (Picked player))] over 1.00 seconds

My previous message was a little unclear.

KILLCIDE said:
Putting this at the very end of the trigger will destroy the feature of "not losing camera height by scrolling." The reason I have it in the default if nest is because the only reason a player would be leaving the group is if they want to go back to normal camera height.

Your loop is always on for all players anyway, all you're doing is setting the height for that player. There should be no removing from groups.

Here's what mine in one of my maps looks like:

Auto Camera
- Events
  - Time - Every 0.10 seconds of game time
- Conditions
- Actions
  - Player Group - Pick every player in (All players) and do (Actions)
    - Loop - Actions
      - Set pid = (Player number of (Picked player))
      - Camera - Set (Picked player)'s camera Distance to target to PlayerZoom[pid] over 0.20 seconds

Player Commands
- Events
  - Player - Player 1 (Red) types a chat message containing - as A substring
- Conditions
- Actions
  - Set pid = (Player number of (Triggering player))
  - Set InputString = (Entered chat string)
  - If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)
    - If - Conditions
      - (Substring(InputString, 1, 5)) Equal to -zoom
    - Then - Actions
      - Set PlayerZoom[pid] = (Real((Substring(InputString, 7, (Length of InputString)))))
      - Camera - Set (Triggering player)'s camera Distance to target to PlayerZoom[pid] over 1.00 seconds
    - Else - Actions

KILLCIDE · Aug 7, 2015

rulerofiron99 said:
Do this in the loop:

Camera - Set (Picked player)'s camera Distance to target to CameraSystem_Height[(Player number of (Picked player))] over 1.00 seconds

My previous message was a little unclear.

Done!

If I may ask, what is the reason we have to set the player number in the loop as well?

rulerofiron99 said:
Your loop is always on for all players anyway, all you're doing is setting the height for that player. There should be no removing from groups.

Here's what mine in one of my maps looks like:

Auto Camera

Events

Time - Every 0.10 seconds of game time

Conditions

Actions

Player Group - Pick every player in (All players) and do (Actions)

Loop - Actions

Set pid = (Player number of (Picked player))

Camera - Set (Picked player)'s camera Distance to target to PlayerZoom[pid] over 0.20 seconds

Player Commands

Events

Player - Player 1 (Red) types a chat message containing - as A substring

Conditions

Actions

Set pid = (Player number of (Triggering player))

Set InputString = (Entered chat string)

If (All Conditions are True) then do (Then Actions) else do (Else Actions)

If - Conditions

(Substring(InputString, 1, 5)) Equal to -zoom

Then - Actions

Set PlayerZoom[pid] = (Real((Substring(InputString, 7, (Length of InputString)))))

Camera - Set (Triggering player)'s camera Distance to target to PlayerZoom[pid] over 1.00 seconds

Else - Actions

Ahh I get you

unfortunately, I can't take that approach since I have 3 conditions that check the entered chat string before setting the camera height.

rulerofiron99 · Aug 7, 2015

Done! If I may ask, what is the reason we have to set the player number in the loop as well?

Not sure if I understand you correctly or if you don't understand arrays fully; you need to use the correct array index to fetch that specific player's value.

Ahh I get you unfortunately, I can't take that approach since I have 3 conditions that check the entered chat string before setting the camera height.

No reason why you can't fit your conditions in there.

KILLCIDE · Aug 7, 2015

rulerofiron99 said:
Not sure if I understand you correctly or if you don't understand arrays fully; you need to use the correct array index to fetch that specific player's value.

I ask because I already have this in the init trigger.

Set CameraSystem_Player = (Player number of (Triggering player))

What's the reasoning behind doing that again in the loop?

rulerofiron99 said:
No reason why you can't fit your conditions in there.

Ahh got it! Updated trigger. Sorry I had to really think about it

so there shouldn't be a need to destroy the group then since the loop is always on, right?

rulerofiron99 · Aug 7, 2015

To find the player number of the player you're picking.

Example:

Player 1 sets the camera height, so you set CameraSystem_Player to 1.
The loop runs, and CameraSystem_Player is still equal to 1 so when the players are picked, both of their cameras are set to player 1's height value, since it's setting it to CameraSystem_Height[1]
Do you see the problem there?

It becomes a problem further when player 2 now sets his camera height, now both player 1 and 2 will have their heights set to the new value.

But remember you don't need to use a variable, simply using (Player number of (Picked player)) is completely fine.

KILLCIDE · Aug 7, 2015

rulerofiron99 said:
To find the player number of the player you're picking.

Example:

Player 1 sets the camera height, so you set CameraSystem_Player to 1.
The loop runs, and CameraSystem_Player is still equal to 1 so when the players are picked, both of their cameras are set to player 1's height value, since it's setting it to CameraSystem_Height[1]
Do you see the problem there?

It becomes a problem further when player 2 now sets his camera height, now both player 1 and 2 will have their heights set to the new value

Ahh okay! That makes a lot more sense

rulerofiron99 said:
But remember you don't need to use a variable, simply using (Player number of (Picked player)) is completely fine.

I know

I just didn't feel like always trying to look for (Player number of (Picked player)) everytime I changed it.

Camera System

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