Cold Mage (Unit animation problem SOLVED)

[iserp]

I am not sure if this should go on the WML Workshop forum

I was toying with the idea of making a campaign; and i tried to make new units to see if i am capable of it. But i am too bad as artist (totally unable to make a 3D impression on pixels, hehe). But i think i am able to modify existing units and/or frankenpack a little bit.

Well, i was doing a Dark Sorcerer variation called Cold Mage (more hitpoints, better melee attack that freezes (slows), doesn't level up). And i have made all the animations for it, but i have a problem with it.

When the Cold Mage hits the enemy with its melee attack, i want to show a magical twister coming from his staff. The problem is that then, the Mage moves very little towards the enemy (i guess it is due to the extra frames). Is there any way to solve this?

The unit attack WML looks like this right now:

Code: Select all

[attack_anim]
        [filter_attack]
            range=melee
        [/filter_attack]
        [frame]
            begin=-250
            end=-200
            image="units/undead-necromancers/coldmage.png"
        [/frame]
        [frame]
            begin=-200
            end=-100
            image="units/undead-necromancers/coldmage-attack-staff-1.png"
        [/frame]
        [if]
            hits=yes
            [frame]
                begin=-100
                end=100
                image="units/undead-necromancers/coldmage-attack-staff-2.png"
                sound=staff.wav
            [/frame]
	  [missile_frame]
              begin=-100
	      end=-50
	      halo="halo/cold-twister-1.png"
	      offset=1.0
	  [/missile_frame]
	  [missile_frame]
	      begin==-50
	      end=0
	      halo="halo/cold-twister-2.png"
	      offset=1.0
	  [/missile_frame]
	  [missile_frame]
	      begin=0
	      end=50
	      halo="halo/cold-twister-3.png"
	      offset=1.0
	  [/missile_frame]
	  [missile_frame]
	      begin=50
	      end=120
	      halo="halo/cold-twister-4.png"
	      offset=1.0
	  [/missile_frame]
	  [missile_frame]
	      begin=120
	      end=190
	      halo="halo/cold-twister-5.png"
	      offset=1.0
	  [/missile_frame]
	  [missile_frame]
	      begin=190
	      end=240
	      halo="halo/cold-twister-6.png"
	      offset=1.0
	  [/missile_frame]
	  [missile_frame]
	      begin=240
	      end=290
	      halo="halo/cold-twister-7.png"
	      offset=1.0
	  [/missile_frame]
        
        [/if]
        [else]
            hits=no
            [frame]
                begin=-100
                end=100
                image="units/undead-necromancers/coldmage-attack-staff-2.png"
                sound={SOUND_LIST:MISS}
            [/frame]
        [/else]
        [frame]
            begin=100
            end=175
            image="units/undead-necromancers/coldmage-magic-1.png"
        [/frame]
        [frame]
            begin=175
            end=250
            image="units/undead-necromancers/coldmage.png"
        [/frame]
    [/attack_anim]

Here, i attach the picture of my mage.

BTW, do we have a storm/snow sound file in stock somewhere?

[artisticdude]

The WML workshop would probably be the best place for this, since you're looking for help with the unit coding.

If you want him to stay in one place during the attack, you'll want this:

Code: Select all

        [filter_attack]
            range=ranged
        [/filter_attack]

Melee attacks don't have missile frames, since what would be the point of firing a missle when you're right next to the enemy and can hit him with your fist/stick/sword/etc.?

[iserp]

It is indeed a melee attack.

About the "missile frame", well... i copied that from the Mage of Light ranged attack, and i didn't check what happens if you use normal frames.

Ok, i tried now with normal frames: it moves towards the enemy as i wanted, but now, the problem is that the guy disappears for some time while the twister is on.... mmm, i'll try a bit more to see what happens.

EDIT: a Mod could move this to WML workshop if it is better...

[iserp]

In the end, i got a workaround.

I used the missile frames, and i used the offset tag in the normal frames to move the unit towards the enemy; it is not as smooth as the normal attack, but it is not bad. I will post my unit when i have an appropiate sound for the attack, in case anyone finds it useful.

[Speedbrain]

a Mod could move this to WML workshop if it is better...

don't worry, TSI will be along before long. He will decide whether to move it or not.

I like the base frame of that mage, though. Looks real good.
If you want critiques on the animation, you could post a .gif of it here, or .pngs for people to look at.

[Boucman]

ok, this is an issue with the way the animtion logic guesses if an attack is melee or ranged (which is not as trivial as it seems)

basically, if a [missile_frame] block exists, it considers it as a ranged attack.

a way to work around this is to set the offset= yourself. I don't remember what the offset is set by the engine (0~0.7:0.7~0 iirc) and if the magic missile itself has a separate offset

it's all documented on the AnimationWML page, though...

[AI]

Ah, boucman beat me to it, here's the exact quote though:

* [attack_anim] is an animation with the following parameters automatically set

if the animation contains a missile frame

Code: Select all

apply_to=attack
missile_offset="0~0.8"

else

Code: Select all

apply_to=attack
offset="0~0.6,0.6~0"

[iserp]

Thank you!

This,

Code: Select all

apply_to=attack
offset="0~0.6,0.6~0"

was exactly what i needed

Ok, here are the animations. I just did the same changes to the frames of Dark Sorcerer, i wasn't sure what to add to make it feel more different (and in the realm of my possibilities, hehe). And also a directory with everything, i am not sure how you use to upload it, i tried to keep the directories as they should be placed.

[Issyl]

I would suggest making his lower body a little more dynamic in the 'casting' animation.