This VFX pack modifies certain spells within the game, allowing them to emit actual light as opposed to a non-light emitting glow effect. I always found it odd that several types of spells that you would think would emit light (like a fireball spell, or lightning, or magic missle, etc) do not. This VFX pack is my attempt to correct that, and in a manner that has the least performance impact, while preserving a realistic look to suit the spell effect modified.
Version History:
1.0 - initial release, added lights to most fire-based spells.
1.01 - added certain acid and lightning-based spells; minor tweaks.
1.02 - added ice and holy-based spells; added light effects to magic weapons that use an elemental visual effect (ice/fire/acid/lightning/holy).
1.03 - added magic missile-types, plus a few other various spells, and all Evocation-based spells. Added Mordenkainen's Sword. Added lighting effects to Turning Undead.
1.04 - the 'Warlock Patch' - added all Eldritch-based spells/invocations. Fixed minor positional error with light emitters on cone-based spells.
1.05 - added all Abjuration/Conjuration/Cures/Divination/Enchantment/Evil-based spells. Modified/tweaked a few stand-alone spells. Added ERF and HAK versions of this vfx pack.
1.06 - added all Illusion/Inflict/Necromancy/Transmutation-based spells. Added light emitter to negative weapon effects. Added light emitter to the spell Summon Creature (all levels).
1.07 - added light emitters to various creature appearance/attack effects. Added support for several more spells.
1.08 - added shadow-casting properties to 99% of light emitters (see readme for details). Added support for two more spells. Fixed numerous positional emitter errors.
1.09 - fixed positional errors on several spells, other minor fixes.
1.09a - the 'Cone of Cold' patch. This spell now acts as it should without 'breaking' other effects.
1.09b - adds a visual effect to your weapon when casting 'Magic Weapon' and 'Greater Magic Weapon' spells.
1.10 - numerous fixes/changes to spells and invocations. See the included readme for the entire list of changes.
See the readme file or the discussion thread here for complete details and install instructions.
This is a simple merge of Kaedrin's PrC pack version of the spell 'Cone of Cold' and the light emitter I created for the same spell. Be sure to follow the directions in the included readme.txt file.
I've also been using this for quite a while and it makes the visuals much more immersive. I like that weapons will cast a little light in dark places. Now if OE will just tone down their VFX (explosions of hit) and let yours shine a little more, the game would be a contender. Actually, do you have the ability to fix the flaming weapons and exploding weapon fixes or is that hard coded in by OE?
Posted by Andros_Forever at on04/24/08
Yep, every weapon shadow was perfect Imo except for spear and probably quarterstaff because of their lenght. The light is emitted from the front of the character and back at the same time, which creates a shadow buggy animation, but besides that little problem I want to congratulate you again on this awesome mod. It seriously brings the game to the next level with the beautiful lights affecting the scenery. Good job again! _________________________ -------------Role Player since 1997-------------
Posted by K2 at 2008-04-2112:57:04
MyHouse - all ya have to do is use the visual effects editor in the toolset, an open up the .sef file that corresponds to the effect you want to modify. I've labelled the added light effect as 'light_fx' - there's a single shadow setting that you can set to true or false. Andros - glad that ya found a way to make the changes you wanted to make. When I initially set out to make this vfx pack, I wasnt going to add shadows to weapon effects at all. When I finally got around to doing that, I wrestled with how they looked; I probably spent a lot more hours than I normally would, getting the placement as right as I could. Granted, I only tested on great axes and swords, but unfortunately, one setting affects all weapons. But hey, that's the beauty of a game like this - don't like it? Change it. I am slowly but surely making progress on the next version. _________________________ - K2 - http://www.hardfought.org - [ Light Emitters in Spell & Magic Weapon Effects ] | [ Creature AI Test Module ] | [ Hellfire Skeletons ] | [ The Rabbit of Caerbannog ]
Posted by MyHouse at 2008-04-1922:31:26
Andros_Forever- No idea how you did that. Care to let me know how. I'm having the same problem...
Posted by Andros_Forever at on04/24/08
Update: I have edit your Visual Effects with the Editor and have taken out the shadows cast from weapons, that problem is solved. If you wish to make the next version better, fix the spear's enchanted effect to make a normal shadow. txs bye. _________________________ -------------Role Player since 1997-------------
Posted by Andros_Forever at on04/24/08
Update on my situation from above: I have deleted the default_item files in the Battle sub folder and that got rid of the lighting all together for enchanted items, but what I would prefer is to have the Items mantaign their glow WITHOUT casting shadows. I want the spells to cast shadows thought so turning off point light shadows is obviously crossed out as an option. K2 when you see this post pls help me out. _________________________ -------------Role Player since 1997-------------
Posted by Andros_Forever at on04/24/08
You know I was thinking about it and If you could just tell me which files from the overrides you made make the weapons glow with fire/ice/lighting etc. I could delete those and they would not create shadows anymore, solving the crazy shadows problem created by spears/multiple enchanted weapon users in group... txs :) _________________________ -------------Role Player since 1997-------------
Posted by Andros_Forever at on04/24/08
Hello K2 I love your mod, it adds TONS to the gameplay, but there is a problem. My system can handle the point shadow of light emitters from all spells but the light emitted from element enchanted weapons makes the shadows move like crazy drawing back from realism. Every other shadow emitted looks fine... Is there a way to remove the shadows emitted from my weapons only? (Btw the enchanted spear is the most annoying every other weapons does a pretty normal shadow, maibe you can fix the spear weapon only in next version..) _________________________ -------------Role Player since 1997-------------
Posted by K2 at 2008-03-3108:31:07
Thank you very much ladyelvenstar, khoover, and PNJ. OK, here's what I am gonna do. I am going to force myself to make time to get version 2.0 out for my light emitters in spell VFX. The current version, 1.08, will be left as-is, and will be for players that have the official campaign only. Version 2.0 will be all of that, plus updated light emitters for the new spells introduced in MotB, as well as any other effects I see that are new for MotB that could use some love (various creature breath effects, etc). I will start researching what needs to be looked at tomorrow my time. Just bear with me folks. Many of ya probably aren't aware - I'm currently 4 months into my second deployment to Iraq. I'm infantry, so I am away from base on missions more often than not. When I am back on base, I usually just wanna sleep ;) Our CO is finally starting to pull his head out of his ass, and is giving me and my men some actual days off. Sorta ;) So on those days is when I will start knockin' this out. Thx everybody. I'll keep ya updated. _________________________ - K2 - http://www.hardfought.org - [ Light Emitters in Spell & Magic Weapon Effects ] | [ Creature AI Test Module ] | [ Hellfire Skeletons ] | [ The Rabbit of Caerbannog ]
10 - A Masterpiece, Genuinely Groundbreaking 9 - Outstanding, a Must Have 8 - Excellent, Recommended to Anyone 7 - Very Good, Deserves a Look 6 - Good, Qualified Recommendation 5 - Fair, Solid yet Unremarkable 4 - Some Merit, Requires Improvements 3 - Poor Execution, Potential Unrealized 2 - Very Little Appeal 1 - Not Recommended to Anyone
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