Winch Idea

[hcpookie 3770]

While searching the forum last night I ran across a discussion about being able to select *points* on a model for a transform, instead of the entire object. That got me thining about a vehicle winch addon. I believe it would be worth attempting for those times a vehicle gets stuck on a log or rock. I think it could also be employed for pulling a vehicle up a really sharp incline it could not normally reach.

Here is my idea.

1. Make a small winch model with the drum that rotates when active.

2. Make the winch a standalone addon, and use "AttachTo" to add it to any vehicle. Perhaps set a condition on the AttachTo command so it cannot be added to a motorcycle, etc.

3. Via user actions, employ the points-only transform to pull the cable from the winch.

4. Employ a "medic" or "reload" animation when the player "attaches" the hook to the anchor object.

5. Set conditions in the user actions so the attachment succeeds only within a certain area in front of the winch (< 100 feet, etc).

6. Again have the user go to the hook and "unhook" the animated line so it reels itself back into the drum.

If my thinking is sound (and that is questionable!), this winch could work on any vehicle within reason. I think if by setting an If-Then condition the AttachTo command allow this to work properly, but I'm unsure as to how to set the conditions? You would not want to have the winch on the lighter of the two objects to avoid a car winching out a tank, etc. Perhaps set it only to "AttachTo" vehicles with a weight of >= XXXX lbs.

It is also difficult to me to understand if the "hook" can be attached to any object such as a tree or a rock. I don't fully understand it but I think the AttachTo command could be utilized for the "hook" end? It may not be doable that way; it may only work by employing a virtual "stake" at the end of the line that would act as the anchor point to pull the vehicle towards.

Dumb idea?

[Spartan 163 0]

If your going to do this more power to you and I wish you luck. You have certainly been a membet long enough. But if your asking for someone to do this you do know there is an addon request thread and most ideas belong there.

The winch thing is solid and should work.

[hcpookie 3770]

You misunderstand, I am not asking someone to make it for me. I wish to discuss the feasibility of such an addon and whether the AttachTo command could work with the scripting this addon would require.

[nodunit 397]

Nah not a dumb idea at all, to me the idea is fantastic, I think there is far too much concentration on the 'killing' aspect in war games including Arma. There is so much more to it, rescue being one, I can think of several ways vehicular recovery could be both fun and nerving.

[hcpookie 3770]

Hrm I just found this -

HEDU_Rope - a physics rope for Arma2

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?t=117656

Need to check this out tonight as it may do what I had in mind!