16 replies to this topic

[Radspakr Wolfbane]

I thought I'd create a topic to discuss the coolness that is LUA.
So if you have a cool LUA script or would like help with one post here.
(This is another one of my everything goes here topics that I like)

LUA is a very powerful modding tool that can expand what is possible from coding and really expands what mods can do.
LUA is used for simple things like hiding subobjects like Forged Blades.
It can be used to randomise weapons or models or used to trigger fear the possibilities are vast,I hope by having a topic like this we can learn more about LUA and it's capabilities.

I have been playing with a scripting that allows Gimli to get temporarily stronger when facing lots of enemies.
I haven't got the script ready yet but basically it works like this.
The script reads the amount of nearby enemies and when it surpasses a certain number it triggers a special power similar to
Blade Master that makes him stronger.
For this check out Gandalf's Telekinetic push script.

Another script I am working on is a random critical damage weapon.
I will get into that once I worked it out more fully.

Another cool thing is using map scripts to trigger power.
These allow a lot of freedom in coding adding a lot of different options I got this idea from RJ's camera power thing and the Day/Night transition thing.

Basically a script is made in worldbuilder that when triggered will fire a special power.
Using "fake" special powers that trigger map script events can create a lot of great things.
Just think of firing of a spawning spell at a special waypoint or having a special power that evacuates all units from transports all instakills everything.
Script/Coding (we should come up with a name for it) of course has to be added to all maps for it to be universal a drawback but if your power is really cool it is worth the extra effort.

I don't think mapping and modding are seperate things and the 2 can really support each other.
So let's see what we can come up with.

(can someone pin this one,this can be an important resource for coders it's always good to have a one stop shop for these things)

[Phil]

I actually believe nobody here has fully taken advantage of LUA scripting. From a technical point of view the possibilities are very limited, however the options it adds to the (limited) pool of overall possibilities in BFME are interesting. The point is though that LUA alone cannot do much... the power it gives you is only useful if you can combine it with standard items like powers, upgrades and model states.

I myself once planned to expand on the typical random-subobject scripts and create truly random units by assigning units upgrades (something you can do in LUA), so you can have random skins, subobjects, weapons, armors, powers, etc. Still a very limited use, but already interesting gameplay-wise.
The other idea I had involved a chain of LUA broadcasts, states and upgrades. Unfortunately all I remember is that it involved Frodo and the Nazgûl

[Sûlherokhh]

I actually believe nobody here has fully taken advantage of LUA scripting. From a technical point of view the possibilities are very limited, however the options it adds to the (limited) pool of overall possibilities in BFME are interesting. The point is though that LUA alone cannot do much... the power it gives you is only useful if you can combine it with standard items like powers, upgrades and model states.

But i did!

SuperModding
SuperDuperModding

Thanks to you, remember?

Credits:
Dark Lord of the Sith For hinting at the 'scriptevents.xml'

Edit: of course i didn't use everything. But i am using everything useful to me. Broadcasting can also be done by coding for example.

[robnkarla]

I definitely want to use LUA scripting much more than I currently am using it, but it's those blasted object upgrade limits that are driving me crazy. I've already hit the limit 3 times and had to re-write a whole set of upgrades just to re-gain them.

They are the whole basis for what I'm doing with the ring and many other ideas I've had. Blast you, CAH, and your 500 object ugprades that I need to re-do!!!

Seriously, there is so much that you can do along the lines that Sul has outlined in his articles that really is so very tempting

Robert J.

[Lauri]

I love LUA... I'd love to use it more, and not only for random equipment... My favorite part about random equipment though, as different animation sets for them (using spears and swords in same horde for example..)

I tried to nail a broadcast Mount for the slave Guards for a hero, when he mounts, they mount... problem was, only 2 out of 4 did

LUA's still great great fun though, but may I ask, is it possible to change skin via it? I've never looked into that

[Phil]

I actually believe nobody here has fully taken advantage of LUA scripting. From a technical point of view the possibilities are very limited, however the options it adds to the (limited) pool of overall possibilities in BFME are interesting. The point is though that LUA alone cannot do much... the power it gives you is only useful if you can combine it with standard items like powers, upgrades and model states.

But i did!

SuperModding
SuperDuperModding

Gee, I'm so sorry
Seriously, I totally forgot about that first article of yours. I've never even read the second because working with the AI never interested me. So I'll take back most of what I said about LUA not being used effectively. Still, I believe that there is a lot more potential.

[Radspakr Wolfbane]

I don't think this is working anyone have any ideas?

function GimliUseMadAxes(self, other, delay, amount)
	-- Or, if we are being hit and there are alot of guys arround, do our cool pushback power
	if tonumber(ObjectCountNearbyEnemies(self, 50)) >= 4 then
		ObjectDoSpecialPower(self, "SpecialAbilityGimliMadAxe")
		return
	end
end

<EventList Name="GimliFunctions" Inherit="InfantryFunctions">
		<EventHandler EventName="DamageIncoming" ScriptFunctionName="GimliUseMadAxes" DebugSingleStep="false"/>
	</EventList>

The AI Update all looks right and the special power too it's a simple modified Blade master power.
It looks right to me but i'm not sure.

[ched]

It may have to do with the KindOf. I've found myself stuck trying to trigger special powers using lua.

[Lauri]

function EldaravirSummon(self)
	--This spawns Citadel Guards when Eldaravir is near death... despite the power name
 ObjectDoSpecialPower(self, "SuperweaponSpawnOrcs")
end

<EventList Name="EldaravirFunctions" Inherit="BaseScriptFunctions">
	   <EventHandler EventName="ReallyDamaged"			ScriptFunctionName="EldaravirSummon" DebugSingleStep="false"/>
	</EventList>

that works
Then again, it could be your tonumber thingy that's got problems...

[Nertea]

Try defining the result of tonumber(args) in a variable first and comparing that in the if statement, lua is sometimes funny like that. It's also possible that the function needs a self declaration in front. If standard lua we'd use

self:ObjectDoSpecialPower('"SpecialAbilityGimliMadAxe')

but from what Lauri posted, it looks like your syntax is fine, so I don't know.

[Nertea]

Has anyone actually used ObjectTestModelCondition(self, condition) and had it work? I've been trying things all day with no success - won't trigger on a USER, WEAPONSET, WEAPONSTATE, DAMAGED, etc...

[Kwen]

I've never found a working tutorial or someones explanation on how to use LUA to code in random weapons and stuff.

[Radspakr Wolfbane]

http://www.the3rdage...tem-147?addview
Try that one

CODE
function EldaravirSummon(self)
--This spawns Citadel Guards when Eldaravir is near death... despite the power name
ObjectDoSpecialPower(self, "SuperweaponSpawnOrcs")
end


CODE
<EventList Name="EldaravirFunctions" Inherit="BaseScriptFunctions">
<EventHandler EventName="ReallyDamaged" ScriptFunctionName="EldaravirSummon" DebugSingleStep="false"/>
</EventList>

that works wink.gif
Then again, it could be your tonumber thingy that's got problems...

I forgot to try that out I am now looks like it should work

I tried it worked thanks Lauri.

Edited by Radspakr, 12 August 2009 - 02:17 AM.

[Nertea]

After discovering that BFME can indeed handle lua tables, and thus useful helper functions, I've written a small tutorial (really more of a code resources) on doing that. Check it out and let me know if it's useful!

Writing random model code just got a whole lot easier for me...

[Radspakr Wolfbane]

Some Lua I'm working on.
At the moment it doesn't work I haven't yet figured out if it's the code or the Lua.

Here's how it works.

When Thorin gets hit there is a 1/4 chance that he will counter hit with the Counterhit spell.
As far as I can tell everything looks alright.
As for the power it's a simple weapon fire type based on Word of power.
I'm going to run some more tests but I thought it'd be good to have my Lua a looking over by you guys.

function Counterhit (self, other, delay, amount)
	if tonumber(delay) > 1 then
		if tonumber(amount) >= 10 then
	   if counterhit <= 0.25 then
	   ObjectDoSpecialPower(self, "SpecialAbilityCounterhit")
	   return
elseif counterhit <= 0.4 then
	nil
	return
elseif counterhit <= 0.6 then
	nil
	return
elseif counterhit <= 0.8 then
	nil
	return
   end
end

[Nertea]

There are quite a few things that *could* be wrong with that. It would be better if you posted the scriptevents code and the unit power code as well - most enums don't seem to work with the ObjectDoSpecialPower trigger.

Code-wise, a few problems. One is that counterhit is not defined anywhere, so if counterhit <= 0.25 then won't work. You're also missing some trailing Ends, a lua if statement goes

if
elseif
end

Your structure has, essentially

if
-if
--if
--elseif
--elseif
--elseif
--end
-end

So you're missing an end for the first If statement, then also the End for your function. I'd also like to note that I've never got the DamageIncoming flag to work reliably, so I've used OnDamaged instead for a similar function:

function DainDoSuper(self,other)
	local chance  = GetRandomNumber()
	if chance <= 0.25 then
		ObjectBroadcastEventToEnemies(self, "BeTerrified", 250)
		ObjectDoSpecialPower(self, "SpecialPowerBlockAttack" )
	end
end

This I know works .

[Radspakr Wolfbane]

Ah Ok I'll have a look at that right after my cup of tea
I'll post back with the results.

Thanks Nert I got it working now I can start on all the other new powers

Edited by Radspakr, 16 March 2010 - 12:52 AM.