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Nov 29, 2003, 7:36pm

I wish you could attach a name to some objects, and then using
a new command, set all of the named objects center position for
visibility calculations to the location of some other object.

For example.... let's say you built a gigantic cave that you enter
from one end, and that has a bunch of large objects at the far end.

You may not see those far objects until you are well into the cave
because of the visibility mechansim, even though you have built the
cave so that people cannot ever go beyond the objects on the back
wall.

If you could name all of the back objects, and then position another
object near the door (invisible perhaps), and then tell AW to
dynamically 'move' the center axis of all the named objects to coincide
with the object using the command, then it would be much easier to
construct builds that never need to worry about the popping in and
out that occurs because of the visibility thing.

Using the name command like that would automatically prevent the
command from affecting other objects that are extremely far away
since the name command also only affects objects within a certain
range.

Something like:

create vis_center name=back_wall_objects

assuming

create name back_wall_objects

had been put on all of the objects you need to be visible from the
entry would ensure that you can see those objects from the entry.

Nov 29, 2003, 7:38pm

I should mention that you can actually do this now by manually editing
the objects in question and moving their axis off center 'toward the
door', but it would be easy for the browser to move the center position
of objects with an object command so that builders had more control
over the visibility mechanism.

[View Quote] <SNIP>

Dec 1, 2003, 2:55am

couldn't this be used to vandalize though? someone in another property sets
the visibility centered on their lot, while someone else makes the
visibility centered on their lot.. could be some type of clash

Dec 1, 2003, 3:34am

Commands that can be used to vandalize should be reserved for CT..
it would be a special command for sure.

And people can already use the move command to vandalzie other
peoples builds anyway, and in what is probably a worse way. What
I am talking about would not move where you perceive the object,
only the point that the visibility algorithms consider to be the object
center.

There are many kinds of builds that are very hard to pull off because
of the visibility popping effect, and it's difficult to think of a mechanism
that could be added relatively easily to provide a method of addressing
it.

But moving the object axes definitely can be used to control the
visibility mechanism, and adding a command that allows you to
displace the axis of an object (just the axis.. not the object) seems
like it would be very little work on the part of AWI to add compared
to other possible mechanisms.

They might even just wedge it into the move command as an
extra parameter like axis=on or what have you.

Now I am actually wondering if the same thing could be done
by using the inverse idea. Place the object where you want it's
visibility center, and then use the transltate command to move
the object and maybe it's visibilit center would stay where you
placed the object.

I'll have to try that :-)


[View Quote]

Dec 1, 2003, 3:53am

It does work.

If you use 'move' to displace an object, the objects vis center stays
where you originally placed the object.

It's a good way to make mirages in the desert :-)

[View Quote]

Dec 2, 2003, 2:55am

well, despite the possibility of vandalism (this is off-subject) we've all
been waiting for move and rotate commands in alphaworld for much too long!
the long term advantages to having special commands in alphaworld far
outweighs the possibility of vandalism. besides, it's a good change to give
GET a kick in the butt to start becoming more active in case there ARE more
vandalisms.

Dec 2, 2003, 3:50am

*visits AW world* *clicks World>Rights* *looks at Special commands and sees
Everyone* looks like there are special commads in alphaworld!

[View Quote]

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