Solved: Rotate the old CUP Spotlight

[z1_ 1]

Got an AI on the spotlight (CUP_O_SearchLight_static_RU).  Got it to turn on and all that but he doesn't really move it around until the enemy is detected.

Would like him to rotate it around.  Came up with something that kinda works, turns only the light and not the base (which is good), but it flickers and jerks

before each turn.  Would be cool if it was smooth. Tried turning both the player and the searchlight, but only the searchlight will turn when he's in it.  Also it

really wouldn't turn much unless I scripted a handful of turns.  Tried setDir, setFormDir, setVectorDir and only setDir seems to do anything.  Also tried using

the player as the direction to turn, but light would barely turn.  Looked around but the only spotlight scripts I came across were in regards to them on helo's

and couldn't find anything on the forum.

#searchlight
SL1_1 setDir 45; 
~15
SL1_1 setDir 90; 
~15
SL1_1 setDir 180; 
~15
SL1_1 setDir 225; 
~15
SL1_1 setDir 360; 
~15
if (SL1G_1 call BIS_fnc_enemyDetected) then {goto "stop";};
goto "searchlight"
#stop

So this basically worked.  He'll stop when the enemy is detected and actually search.  The actual rotations look fine but right when he

starts each turn the light jerks around which kinda kills immersion.  I could live with it, but anyone have an idea?  

Edited July 29, 2021 by z1_
Solved

[z1_ 1]

Maybe I'll try doing a unitCapture.  Hopefully I only have to capture the spotlight.

[z1_ 1]

Actually, I would assume if I make that initial script do every degree in the rotation it might look smooth and suffice for my needs.  I'll try that.

[Harzach 2505]

You can place a few gamelogics at positions where you'd like them to look, then use doTarget on the "gunner".

nul = [] spawn {
  while {true} do { 
    gunner1 doTarget spot_1;
    sleep (random [5,10,15]);

    gunner1 doTarget spot_2;
    sleep (random [5,10,15]);

    gunner1 doTarget spot_3;
    sleep (random [5,10,15]);

    gunner1 doTarget spot_4;
    sleep (random [5,10,15]);

    gunner1 doTarget spot_5;
    sleep (random [5,10,15]);
  }
};

 

[z1_ 1]

2 minutes ago, Harzach said:

You can place a few gamelogics at positions where you'd like them to look, then use doTarget .

Good idea, thanks.

[z1_ 1]

Thanks for the syntax, I was using archaic stuff i learned when i was messing with camera scripts

[Harzach 2505]

Or a little tidier:

nul = [] spawn { 
  _array = [spot_1,spot_2,spot_3,spot_4,spot_5]; 
  while {true} do {  
    { 
      gunner1 doTarget _x; 
      sleep (random [5,10,15]); 
    } forEach _array; 
  } 
};

Just as an example, of course.

[z1_ 1]

9 minutes ago, Harzach said:

You can place a few gamelogics at positions where you'd like them to look, then use doTarget on the "gunner".

nul = [] spawn {
  while {true} do { 
    gunner1 doTarget spot_1;
    sleep (random [5,10,15]);

    gunner1 doTarget spot_2;
    sleep (random [5,10,15]);

    gunner1 doTarget spot_3;
    sleep (random [5,10,15]);

    gunner1 doTarget spot_4;
    sleep (random [5,10,15]);

    gunner1 doTarget spot_5;
    sleep (random [5,10,15]);
  }
};

 

Can I use an array after do target or does it have to be object?  Might be interesting to randomize which logic it chooses as well.

[z1_ 1]

Read my mind lol

[Harzach 2505]

Absolutely, plenty of ways to throw some randomness into it.

[z1_ 1]

That works so much better, thanks again.

[z1_ 1]

On 7/26/2021 at 6:53 PM, Harzach said:

Or a little tidier:

nul = [] spawn { 
  _array = [spot_1,spot_2,spot_3,spot_4,spot_5]; 
  while {true} do {  
    { 
      gunner1 doTarget _x; 
      sleep (random [5,10,15]); 
    } forEach _array; 
  } 
};

Just as an example, of course.

 

How would you make it so it stops script when gunner1 detects an enemy?  Noticed he just kept on turning no matter what. 

 

I did get it to work well using my original idea and doWatch instead, then when he detects enemy he stops targeting the logics with doWatch objNull and he'll look for the enemy. 

But I figure there's a way to do it with your loop, plus I couldn't get the random sleep to work along with my idea.  Tried a lot of things with while and if/then but wasn't having luck

doing it your way.  Plus your way could go in an init if I recall correctly, and I have to call mine from a script.

 

this exec "scripts\searchlight.sqs";

#searchlight
gunner1 doWatch spot_1; 
~ 10
gunner1 doWatch spot_2; 
~ 10
gunner1 doWatch spot_3; 
~ 10
gunner1 doWatch spot_4; 
~ 10
gunner1 doWatch spot_5; 
~ 10
gunner1 doWatch spot_6;
~ 10
gunner1 doWatch spot_7;
~ 10
gunner1 doWatch spot_8;
if (gunner1 call BIS_fnc_enemyDetected) then {goto "stop";};
goto "searchlight"
#stop
gunner1 doWatch objNull;

 

[sarogahtyp 1104]

nul = [] spawn { 
  _array = [spot_1,spot_2,spot_3,spot_4,spot_5]; 
  while { isNull (gunner1 findNearestEnemy gunner1) } do {  
    { 
      gunner1 doTarget _x; 
      sleep (random [5,10,15]); 
    } forEach _array; 
  } 
};

you just have to define how long that while loop has to run. Above I used findNearestEnemy. The while loop should run as long as objNull is returned by this command.

Not tested.

[z1_ 1]

13 hours ago, sarogahtyp said:

nul = [] spawn { 
  _array = [spot_1,spot_2,spot_3,spot_4,spot_5]; 
  while { isNull (gunner1 findNearestEnemy gunner1) } do {  
    { 
      gunner1 doTarget _x; 
      sleep (random [5,10,15]); 
    } forEach _array; 
  } 
};

you just have to define how long that while loop has to run. Above I used findNearestEnemy. The while loop should run as long as objNull is returned by this command.

Not tested.

 

The ai wouldn't break out of the loop this way.  Unloaded in his vicinity and he kept on doing his turns.  Not sure if it has to do with distance.  He's high up in a tower.  So far my version is working the best, I don't even have to shoot, if he catches me in the light he'll break out of the loop, but it's an ugly script 😛  Any ideas? Tried some other conditions without luck. 

[sarogahtyp 1104]

Are you sure it will not break out? Try shorter sleep times like 

sleep (random [1,3,5]);

[z1_ 1]

Just now, sarogahtyp said:

Are you sure it will not break out? Try shorter sleep times like 

sleep (random [1,3,7]);

 

I'll let you know how that works.  Thanks

 

[z1_ 1]

6 minutes ago, sarogahtyp said:

Are you sure it will not break out? Try shorter sleep times like 

sleep (random [1,3,7]);

 

It seems to break now, but he just stops and looks one direction, doesn't scan around.  He has a teammate up there too who definitely knows when I'm shooting.  Also doesn't seem to break unless I fire, he doesn't notice me in the light.

[z1_ 1]

Is he treating the logics as an enemy when he breaks or something?  No rush on replies or anything, just trying to learn the right way to do things.  Mine works perfectly and will probably suffice for a SP mission, but not sure how that kind of scripting works in MP environment.

[panther42 40]

@z1_, first of all, the code you've been posting is SQS syntax, yet you have it in an SQF script?

20 hours ago, z1_ said:

this exec "scripts\searchlight.sqf";

SQF should be execVM "whatever.sqf"  See SQS to SQF conversion.

 

For a suggestion, you could try lookAt as utilized in this topic.

Another option is the animationSources for the spotlight.  I had a specific post in mind, but unable to locate it at this time.

 

Ok, I found the post I was thinking about, and I doubt it will help much with this spotlight.  Here's the post though, in case you need it for anything else...

 

Another one you may give a try is by ALIAS on SW.  I've never tried it, but he may not even use a spotlight item, just create a light source.  Could be an option to look into these script(s).

Edited July 28, 2021 by panther42
Found something else to add

[z1_ 1]

1 hour ago, panther42 said:

@z1_, first of all, the code you've been posting is SQS syntax, yet you have it in an SQF script?

SQF should be execVM "whatever.sqf"  See SQS to SQF conversion.

 

For a suggestion, you could try lookAt as utilized in this topic.

Another option is the animationSources for the spotlight.  I had a specific post in mind, but unable to locate it at this time.

 

Ok, I found the post I was thinking about, and I doubt it will help much with this spotlight.  Here's the post though, in case you need it for anything else...

 

Another one you may give a try is by ALIAS on SW.  I've never tried it, but he may not even use a spotlight item, just create a light source.  Could be an option to look into these script(s).

 

Thanks, that conversion chart is handy.  I learned all that sqs syntax working with camera scripts years ago.  Oddly enough my script works well, but I did want to use the correct syntax. 

[z1_ 1]

Okay, so it looks like the lookAt command panther suggested did the trick.  This works well.

nul = [] spawn { 
  _array = [spot_1,spot_2,spot_3,spot_4,spot_5]; 
  while { isNull (gunner1 findNearestEnemy gunner1) } do {  
    { 
      gunner1 lookAt _x; 
      sleep (random [5,10,15]); 
    } forEach _array; 
  } 
};

 

[z1_ 1]

Just wanted to add for anyone who uses this.  The doTarget works fine if the unit isn’t in the Spotlight vehicle, like perhaps you want a unit looking around with flashlight. For some reason I had to use lookAt to get them to break loop while in the spotlight.  Just wanted to mention that in case you wanted to use in a different way.