Attaching a particle effect to a head prop

[Shuma22]

I've been trying for the past few days to attach an effect to a helmet i'm working on, and i can't figure out how to do it. I think the closest i got is this

 

https://udn.epicgames.com/Three/SkeletalMeshSockets.html#Attaching%20a%20component%20to%20a%20socket

 

My problem is that i don't know where i should put the unreal script, if it should have a specific name or if another file needs to reference the unreal script. Right now i have the rigged helmet with a socket and a particle effect with the bone/Socket Location modules as per this tutorial:

 

https://docs.unrealengine.com/latest/INT/Resources/ContentExamples/EffectsGallery/1_G/index.html

 

Unfortunately this tutorial doesn't help me with applying the effect to a helmet, i don't think.

[swinka6666]

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Edited April 27, 2016 by swinka6666

[Amineri]

Another option for playing particle effects is via an XComPerkContent archetype.

 

This archetype is primarily used for particle effects that are linked to abilities/effects. Although you can sort of cheat around that by creating a persistent ability that doesn't really do anything :).

[Shuma22]

Well thanks for the help, but unfortunately i give up. I did try both methods but while i could easily add the notify to one of the soldier animations, i couldn't even save my package with the edited animationset in it to test it, not to mention that i would probably have to add the effect to a lot of animations if i want it to always be on, and while i could create a perk archetype, creating an ability is beyond my abilities. I think fiddling with animations and abilities is beyond the scope of what i'm trying to do anyway, i just wanted to put a lamp on a cosmetic hat, so i'll just slap an overly bright emisive texture on it and call it a day.

[Lucubration]

I don't think you need to give up just yet on creating an ability to add a particle effect to the helmet. I've done something similar in the past, and I think it shouldn't be too onerous. Here's the basics of what you need.

 

First, the X2Effect class that will play the effect attached to the socket:

// This is the effect that plays the particle effect attached to a socket
class X2Effect_YourModNameHere_ParticleEffect extends X2Effect_Persistent;

var name FXSocketName, FXEffectName;

private function DoTargetFX(XComGameState_Effect TargetEffect, out VisualizationTrack BuildTrack, XComGameStateContext Context, name EffectApplyResult, bool bStopEffect)
{
	local XComGameState_Unit	PrimaryTarget;
	local X2Action_PlayEffect	PlayEffectAction;
	
	if (FXSocketName == none)
	{
		`RedScreen("Forgot to assign the socket name.");
		return;
	}
	if (FXEffectName == none)
	{
		`RedScreen("Forgot to assign the effect name.");
		return;
	}

	PrimaryTarget = XComGameState_Unit(`XCOMHISTORY.GetGameStateForObjectID(TargetEffect.ApplyEffectParameters.AbilityInputContext.PrimaryTarget.ObjectID));
	
	if (PrimaryTarget != none)
	{
		// Play the effect animation for the detected unit
		PlayEffectAction = X2Action_PlayEffect(class'X2Action_PlayEffect'.static.AddToVisualizationTrack(BuildTrack, Context));

		PlayEffectAction.EffectName = FXEffectName;
		// Okay, this is where my offhand knowledge breaks down. There are one or two more properties we need to set
		// on this action, including the socket name, but I don't know what they are and I don't have the source available
		// to me right now to look it up. I'll do so when I get home
		PlayEffectAction.SOMETHING = SOMETHING;
		PlayEffectAction.bStopEffect = bStopEffect;
	}
	else (TargetEffect == none)
	{
		`RedScreen("Could not find unit state.");
		return;
	}
}

simulated function AddX2ActionsForVisualization(XComGameState VisualizeGameState, out VisualizationTrack BuildTrack, name EffectApplyResult)
{
	local XComGameState_Effect TargetEffect;

	if (EffectApplyResult != 'AA_Success')
	{
		// We're only going to visualize the Awareness active effect when it applies successfully
		return;
	}

	foreach VisualizeGameState.IterateByClassType(class'XComGameState_Effect', TargetEffect)
	{
		if( TargetEffect.GetX2Effect() == self )
		{
			break;
		}
	}

	if (TargetEffect != none)
	{
		DoTargetFX(TargetEffect, BuildTrack, VisualizeGameState.GetContext(), EffectApplyResult, false);
	}
	else
	{
		`RedScreen("Could not find effect state.");
	}
}

simulated function AddX2ActionsForVisualization_Sync(XComGameState VisualizeGameState, out VisualizationTrack BuildTrack)
{
	// We assume 'AA_Success', because otherwise the effect wouldn't be here (on load) to get sync'd
	AddX2ActionsForVisualization(VisualizeGameState, BuildTrack, 'AA_Success');
}

simulated function AddX2ActionsForVisualization_Removed(XComGameState VisualizeGameState, out VisualizationTrack BuildTrack, const name EffectApplyResult, XComGameState_Effect RemovedEffect)
{
	DoTargetFX(RemovedEffect, BuildTrack, VisualizeGameState.GetContext(), EffectApplyResult, true);
}

Second the X2AbilityTemplate class for the ability that applies the X2Effect to the unit:

class X2Ability_YourModNameHere_AbilitySet extends X2Ability;

// This method is natively called for subclasses of X2DataSet. Create and return the ability template
static function array<X2DataTemplate> CreateTemplates()
{
	local array<X2DataTemplate> Templates;
	
	Templates.Length = 0;
	Templates.AddItem(ParticleEffectAbility());

	return Templates;
}

static function X2AbilityTemplate ParticleEffectAbility()
{
	local X2AbilityTemplate				Template;
	local X2Effect_YourModNameHere_ParticleEffect	ParticleEffect;

	`CREATE_X2ABILITY_TEMPLATE(Template, 'YourModNameHere_ParticleEffectAbility');

	Template.AbilitySourceName = 'eAbilitySource_Perk';
	Template.eAbilityIconBehaviorHUD = eAbilityIconBehavior_NeverShow;// Doesn't show up on the unit's action bar
	Template.Hostility = eHostility_Neutral;
	Template.bIsPassive = true;

	Template.AbilityToHitCalc = default.DeadEye;
	Template.AbilityTargetStyle = default.SelfTarget;
	Template.AbilityTriggers.AddItem(default.UnitPostBeginPlayTrigger);

	// This effect will perform the creation and attachment of the particle effect
	ParticleEffect = new class'X2Effect_YourModNameHere_ParticleEffect';
	ParticleEffect.EffectName = 'YourModNameHere_ParticleEffect';
	ParticleEffect.BuildPersistentEffect(1, true, false); // Make the effect last forever
	ParticleEffect.SetDisplayInfo(ePerkBuff_Passive, Template.LocFriendlyName, Template.LocLongDescription, Template.IconImage, false,, Template.AbilitySourceName); // Hide the effect so it doesn't show up on the unit status
	ParticleEffect.DuplicateResponse = eDupe_Ignore;
	ParticleEffect.FXSocketName = 'YourSocketNameHere';
	ParticleEffect.FXEffectName = 'YourFXNameHere';
	Template.AddTargetEffect(ParticleEffect);

	Template.BuildNewGameStateFn = TypicalAbility_BuildGameState;
	// This function will (I think) call effect's visualization function, which is where we'll attach the particle effect
	Template.BuildVisualizationFn = TypicalAbility_BuildVisualization;

	return Template;
}

Lastly, have the item give the dummy ability to the unit that equips it by adding this line to the item template definition:

	Template.Abilities.AddItem('YourModNameHere_ParticleEffectAbility');

Edited March 23, 2016 by Lucubration

[Synthorange]

I was thinking that the PsiAmps might be where to look because they've got a persistent particle effect attached to them. I cant find anything pointing me in the right direction though.

 

edit: Eugh, no it's part of the weapon archetype.

Edited March 23, 2016 by Synthorange

[swinka6666]

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Edited April 27, 2016 by swinka6666