211 lines
11 KiB
Markdown
211 lines
11 KiB
Markdown
# Cameras and triggers
|
||
|
||
The game has no free camera: it follows the llama on its own, and special objects in the level
|
||
change how it does that – camera zones, focus points and cut scenes. Other invisible objects react
|
||
when the llama enters an area or comes close: secrets, cut-scene triggers, force zones. This
|
||
chapter shows how to see, set up and tune all of them.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
## How the game camera works
|
||
|
||
During play the camera hangs behind the llama at a certain **distance** and **height** and turns
|
||
with it smoothly. Camera objects change these values while the llama is inside their area:
|
||
|
||
* a **camera zone** sets the height, distance and often a fixed view direction (yaw),
|
||
* a **focus point** turns the camera towards an object when the llama is near,
|
||
* a **cut scene** takes over the camera completely and flies it along a path.
|
||
|
||
All camera objects are invisible in the game. In the editor they are drawn as markers, their
|
||
areas as boxes and their cameras as frusta (pyramids showing the view).
|
||
|
||
## The start camera
|
||
|
||
The **Llama** (the player start) owns a waypoint chain of **camera start positions**. When the
|
||
level begins, the game takes the first node that lies within **2.5 cells** of the llama as the
|
||
camera position, looking at the llama. If that node's field *unk2* is not 0, its distance and
|
||
height to the llama also become the camera distance – until the llama first moves. In the
|
||
original levels there is one node per entry door; a node that sits on the llama would put the
|
||
camera into the llama's head.
|
||
|
||
The [Player start](09-objects.md#player-start) setup gives a new Llama a single node 2 cells
|
||
behind it. Moving the start takes the nodes near the old start along (and turns them with the
|
||
llama), leaves the door nodes where they are, and adds a node if none is in range. The Place
|
||
tool's rotate knob turns the near nodes too. **Level → Check** warns when the start camera would
|
||
sit inside the llama.
|
||
|
||
The villages also start with a **fly-by**: a *CutSceneTrigger* stands on the player start (radius
|
||
0.7). When you move the start, the setup moves this trigger along and sets its "end behind the
|
||
player" flag (parameter 6, bit 1), so the fly-by ends behind the llama at the new start instead
|
||
of at the old one.
|
||
|
||
The Llama's *Camera mode* parameter switches between the normal and an alternative camera
|
||
behaviour.
|
||
|
||
## Camera zones
|
||
|
||
A camera zone is an object with a **box**: two waypoints marking opposite corners on the ground.
|
||
While the llama stands inside the box (the game only tests x and z), the zone controls the camera.
|
||
Edit the box with the [Zones and triggers tool](#the-zones-and-triggers-tool-j).
|
||
|
||
### CameraSide
|
||
|
||
The most common camera zone. Its parameters (Inspector → **Object parameters**):
|
||
|
||
| Parameter | Meaning |
|
||
|---|---|
|
||
| **Height** | Camera height above the llama, 0 = keep the current value |
|
||
| **Distance** | Horizontal distance behind the llama, 0 = keep |
|
||
| **Yaw mode** | **free**; **node yaw** – the camera looks in the direction of the zone's first node; **node yaw ±180°** – that direction or the opposite one, whichever is closer to the current view; mode 3, mode 4 (unknown) |
|
||
| **Height limit** | Only active while the llama is below the first node's height |
|
||
| **Flag 0x10000** | Sets an object flag (purpose unknown) |
|
||
| **Several boxes** | The chain holds several boxes (node pairs 1–2, 3–4 …) |
|
||
| **Height offset** | Added to the camera height |
|
||
| **Alt. height** / **Alt. distance** | Used instead of Height / Distance in a special game state |
|
||
| p5 … p9 | Not decoded (originals use small values) |
|
||
|
||
With the **Camera frusta** layer on, a selected CameraSide shows where the game camera will be:
|
||
the editor assumes the llama in the centre of the first box (and distance 2, height 1 when the
|
||
parameters are 0).
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
> **Tip:** The easiest way to set up a CameraSide is [Look through camera](#look-through-camera):
|
||
> select the zone, press **Ctrl+Shift+L** and fly the viewport to the view you want. Height,
|
||
> distance and the node yaw follow.
|
||
|
||
### CameraLift
|
||
|
||
A camera zone for lifts and object-relative views, with one box.
|
||
|
||
| Parameter | Meaning |
|
||
|---|---|
|
||
| **Yaw source** | **none**, **object yaw** (the camera turns with the zone object) or **player yaw** |
|
||
| **Use helper position** | Tests the box against a helper object instead of the llama |
|
||
| **Smooth** | Softer camera movement |
|
||
| **Height limit** | Only while the llama is below the node's height |
|
||
| **Flag 0x10000**, p2 | Not fully understood |
|
||
|
||
### CameraSetDistance and CameraFocusPoint
|
||
|
||
* **CameraSetDistance** sets several camera values while it is active: *Height* and four raw values
|
||
(*Value g82*, *g68*, *g83*, *g73*) whose exact effect is not known yet.
|
||
* **CameraFocusPoint** turns the camera towards the object while the llama is within **Radius**.
|
||
Further parameters: *Min. height*, *Max. angle* (largest angle between object and view),
|
||
*Height limit*, three flags and *Blend* (0–1, how fast the camera turns). The radius can be
|
||
dragged in the viewport (see [Radius triggers](#radius-triggers)).
|
||
|
||
## Cut scenes
|
||
|
||
Cut scenes are made of two kinds of objects:
|
||
|
||
* **CutSceneTrigger** starts a scene when the llama comes within its **Radius**. Its chain is the
|
||
camera path. Parameters: *Character* (the trigger is a talking character: drops onto the floor),
|
||
*Radius*, *Event bit* (the scene is skipped once this progress bit is set – so it plays only
|
||
once), *Height check* (the llama must also be above the trigger), *Flags* (1 = face the
|
||
llama, 2 = cannot be skipped) and two flags whose purpose is unknown.
|
||
* **CutSceneCameraDirectional** is the camera of a scene. Every node of its chain is a camera
|
||
position; the node's **yaw** and **pitch** give the view direction. Parameters: *Event bit*,
|
||
*Mode*, *Wait*, *Disabled* (removes itself at the start), *End mode*.
|
||
|
||
The dialogue, animations and character movements of a scene are part of the object scripts and
|
||
cannot be edited – but you can move, re-aim and re-time the camera, move the trigger and change
|
||
its radius.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
## Camera frusta layer
|
||
|
||
The **Camera frusta** layer (options bar → **Layers**, on by default) draws, for the selected
|
||
objects:
|
||
|
||
* **CameraSide** / **CameraLift** – the computed game camera looking at the zone,
|
||
* **cut-scene cameras** and **camera nodes** – a frustum at every node, pointing along the
|
||
node's yaw and pitch.
|
||
|
||
The game's field of view is approximated with 60°.
|
||
|
||
## Look through camera
|
||
|
||
**View → Camera → Look through camera (pilot)** (**Ctrl+Shift+L**), or the **Look through**
|
||
buttons in the Inspector and the options bar of the Zones and triggers tool, turns the viewport
|
||
into the selected camera:
|
||
|
||
| Selection | The viewport shows | Flying changes |
|
||
|---|---|---|
|
||
| A camera node (any waypoint) | The view from the node | Node position, yaw and pitch |
|
||
| A cut-scene camera or other camera object | The view from the first node of its chain | That node's position, yaw and pitch |
|
||
| A **CameraSide** zone | The game camera of the zone | *Height*, *Distance* and the first node's yaw |
|
||
| A **CameraLift** zone | The game camera of the zone | The first node's yaw |
|
||
|
||
While pilot mode is on, fly as usual (right mouse button + **W A S D**, **Q / E**) – the camera
|
||
object follows the viewport, and the whole pilot session is **one undo step**. Press
|
||
**Ctrl+Shift+L** again, or select something else, to end it. The status bar shows *Piloting …*
|
||
while it is active.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
> **Note:** The first node of some original cut-scene cameras is a fly-in start point, so looking
|
||
> through it may show a wall.
|
||
|
||
## The Zones and triggers tool (J)
|
||
|
||
The **Zones & triggers** tool (toolbar, key **J**) adds handles to the selected object:
|
||
|
||
* **pink corner handles** at the four corners of each box of a box zone – drag a corner to resize
|
||
the box; the opposite corner stays,
|
||
* a **yellow radius knob** for every radius parameter (CutSceneTrigger, CameraFocusPoint, guards'
|
||
view and chase ranges, ForcePlayerMovement, Bunny) – drag it to change the radius; the status
|
||
bar shows the value.
|
||
|
||
Grid snapping applies (Ctrl inverts it). Clicks elsewhere select as usual. The options bar has a
|
||
**Look through camera** button for camera zones. Each drag is one undo step.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
### Box zones
|
||
|
||
These types use one box (two nodes) – or, for CameraSide with *Several boxes*, several pairs:
|
||
|
||
| Type | Effect while the llama is inside |
|
||
|---|---|
|
||
| **Secret** | Shows the secret message and counts the secret (needs *Box area* on) |
|
||
| **CameraSide**, **CameraLift** | Camera control, see [Camera zones](#camera-zones) |
|
||
| **ObjectDontDropInBox** | Objects (for example fruit from smashed pots) are not dropped here |
|
||
| **FallOffNoHurt** | Falling off costs no energy (optional *Game state* condition) |
|
||
| **RiverCurrentBox** | River current (not decoded in detail) |
|
||
|
||
The box is a rectangle on the ground; the game ignores the height. The editor draws it with an
|
||
estimated height of about 1.2 cells above the lower node.
|
||
|
||
### Radius triggers
|
||
|
||
Radius parameters are distances in cells. The scripts compare the *squared* distance, which the
|
||
editor handles for you – just enter or drag the radius. The **Zone areas & trigger radii** layer
|
||
draws the circles of the selected objects.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
## Force and water objects
|
||
|
||
* **ForcePlayerMovement** pushes or steers the llama towards the points of its chain while it is
|
||
within *Radius*: *Active*, *Radius*, *Game state* (only in that state), *Lock controls*,
|
||
*Align yaw* (the llama turns to the node's yaw).
|
||
* **WaterReboundPoints** (and **WaterReboundPointsTurnsOff**): the points of its chain are where
|
||
the llama is thrown back to after falling into water. Parameter *Active*.
|
||
|
||
## Zone areas layer
|
||
|
||
The **Zone areas & trigger radii** layer draws the boxes of **all** zone objects as outlines and
|
||
fills the boxes and radius circles of the **selected** ones. Switch it off in a busy original
|
||
level if the outlines get in the way.
|
||
|
||
## Known limits
|
||
|
||
* The camera preview of CameraSide assumes the llama in the box centre and the default distance
|
||
and height when the parameters are 0; the real camera also depends on where the llama enters.
|
||
* Zone heights in the viewport are estimates; the game tests x and z only.
|
||
* Many camera parameters are only partly understood (*p5 … p9*, *Value g…*). Copying values
|
||
from similar zones in the original levels works best.
|
||
* Cut-scene content (dialogue, animation) cannot be edited.
|