Has anyone had any experience getting translucency to work in a demo?
I noticed in one demo I had a Tsoo Spirit shows up. Along with his other attributes he has a line
0 4003 XLU 0.498039
Aha, I thought, That must be translucency. Stuck it in a custom demo and it didn't work.
I recorded my characters using Stealth and Invisibility. I noticed that even if I replay those unedited demos, no translucency can be seen.
is it just a limitation of demo playback?
Yep. The whole invisible thing just doesn't work in demos.
Another thing that doesn't seem to record are your animations when you do a Shadow Shard geyser jump - which is a pity cuz it's plenty fun to see your arms flying around!
Tired of EVERY shot hitting your favorite heroes and heroines in your demos and having to make them look like they shrug it off?
Need to show that no villian can possibly hit such a physically adept individual like the characters you showcase?
It is possible to have the special FX of powers miss their intended target. You just have to tell them where to go.
Consider this example Void Stalker model (#4079) and his opponent model (#3376) :
0 3376 FX OneShot 1397199 POWERS/COSMICPOWERS/NICTUS/NICTUSQUICKBLAST/NICTUSHUNTERBLASTHIT.FX 1397198
0 3376 FXSCALE 10.000000 10
0 3376 ORIGIN ENT 0 0
0 3376 TARGET ENT 4079 0
200 4079 MOV 2ND_SHOTGUNSHOOT
0 4079 FX OneShot 1397198 POWERS/COSMICPOWERS/NICTUS/NICTUSQUICKBLAST/NICTUSHUNTERBLAST.FX 0
0 4079 FXSCALE 10.000000 10
0 4079 ORIGIN ENT 0 0
0 4079 TARGET ENT 3376 0
A standard shoot/hit combo. (Though why the hit takes place 200 milliseconds before the actual shot animation and shot FX activation is beyond me. 
)
Also consider a shoot/miss combo :
0 4079 MOV 2ND_SHOTGUNSHOOT
0 4079 FX OneShot 1397244 POWERS/COSMICPOWERS/NICTUS/NICTUSQUICKBLAST/NICTUSHUNTERBLAST.FX 0
0 4079 FXSCALE 10.000000 10
0 4079 ORIGIN ENT 0 0
0 4079 TARGET POS -3045.586426 -55.896221 2511.771484
Instead of the usual :
Time Shooter# TARGET ENT Target# 0
Use:
Time Shooter# TARGET POS X Z Y
With a missed shot the intended target doesn't enter into the equation. A destination still has to be declared and utilized; although, this can be any valid 3D space coordinate.
Soon enough, there won't be a villain out there that can hit your favorite hero. 
Note: Untested with melee attacks, but you should be using a MOV BLOCK_L or MOV BLOCK_R to avoid them anyways. 
Not entirely sure what I'm doing wrong, but when I run the command to play the demo, all I get is a black screen and clouds crossing the sky at the top of my screen. I was just hoping someone could either point me in the right direction or fix whatever I'm doing wrong. Thanks for the help.
That happens when CoH can't find the demo file. The demo must be in the client_demos in your City of Heroes directory.
Ok... I've noticed my main problem. I don't know how to convert it from a "Text Document" to a "COHDEMO File"... if you could remedy that for me, I believe my worries will end. Once again, any help is greatly appreciated.
Sorry, I'm not following that at all. Demo files are text files. Just change the extension.
Then I must be screwing up somewhere.... I followed the "how-to" at the beginning of this post on how to make your own demo. When I saved it in the folder it was saved as a text document. Opens with "Notepad".
I then went and did a /demorecord real quick in-game and that was saved in the same folder, but viewed using the application you have a link to. Yet, under properties, it states that it opens with "Unknown application", although it runs on the Demo Launcher just fine. Hopefully this elaborates my predicament somewhat.....
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Ok... I've noticed my main problem. I don't know how to convert it from a "Text Document" to a "COHDEMO File"... if you could remedy that for me, I believe my worries will end. Once again, any help is greatly appreciated.
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Hi.
I'm not sure this is relevant to your situation, but it's the way I understand your issue, and hopefully this helps.
I dislike Windows' default setting to not display file extensions for known file types. I believe that file extensions should be displayed at all times, just to avoid this kind of confusion.
If you've configured your Windows to show extensions, then please consider disregard this entire post. Otherwise, please try following these instructions to show file extensions, so you can see right away whether you've saved something as a .txt file or a .cohdemo file.
How To: Show All File Extensions
- Open up any folder. "My Computer" works just fine.
- Near the top there should be a row of menus, listed something like File, Edit, View, and so on. Click on "Tools", and choose "Folder Options".
- There should be 4 tabs at the top to choose from. Click on "View".
- Take a look inside the box with all the options with their checkboxes. Listed under "Files and Folders" should be an option called "Hide extensions for known file types". Make sure the box to the left of this option does not have a check in it.
- Now look above the box with the options and checkboxes, below where you select the tabs. Click on the button that says "Apply to All Folders".
- Click "OK" at the bottom of the screen.
To do this, simply right-click on the file in question, and select "Rename" in the menu that comes up.
I hope this helps, not just you but everyone else. I've had to do this for so many RL friends, and I still can't understand why Microsoft decided to make the option to default to hide file extensions.
Good luck.
VIRTUE
Mister Marbles - Ice/Rad Controller
Glass Titan - Elec/En Blapper
Miss Marbles - Inv/Fire Tanker
Chef Jinglemerry - Spines/DA Scrapper
Blood Envy - WP/DB Tanker
Velvette - WS
My Custom Demos
That was exactly what I needed! Now that my "problem" is solved, I can go on and attempt my own clips. Once again, thank you both for your help.
I'd like to extend my thanks to Scuzz, Cumulo, Zloth and Marbles for their wealth of resources they have made available on demos.
Thanks to their materials to aid me in getting over a few rough spots I was able to complete Go. Hunt. Kill Skuls. The Movie.
Done almost completely by hand, I would love to see anyone's designs on a Demo Scripter that could handle creating demos that could cut down on spending a month to create a 6 minute demo. 
OMG! That was great!!!
I've always been a slightly slow reader so I couldn't quite keep up with that initial dialog. Luckily, it's a demo so I just popped in and added a few seconds!
I had toyed around with the idea of extending the time for the intro text, but I had a couple of reasons for going with the times I ended up with.
Timing: At the times I ended up with Ron makes some moves in his EMOTE cycle that just seemed to fit with the text that was being used. I realize this may not hold true for all machines depending on their loadtimes, but there was just something that looked "right" about the head scratch or shifting position when he asks for the missions to be done.
Flavor Text: The opening is intentionally slow-starting. As such, is only uses flavor text about the NPC so slower machines can fully load the demo and get it going before the actual "meat" of the demo starts. By "prepping" the scene with the NPC dialog even the slowest of rigs should be able to get it fully cranked up before the mission selection starts.
Basically, the intro text can be skipped just like most players do with in-game NPCs. 
I appreaciate the feedback and thank you for it and the groundwork that you laid out that made it possible.
I would have loved to toss this into the ring for a demo contest, but haven't seen anything for pure demo work, just converted and tricked out videos. 
Ah, so they are kinda like opening credits covering for folks who are late to the movie. Clever! I liked having Ms Liberty hiding behind the camera with a boombox, too!
Yo, quick question:
How do I change the height of a character with the new issue 4 make-up? Is it possible to, or is it really complicated?
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Yo, quick question:
How do I change the height of a character with the new issue 4 make-up? Is it possible to, or is it really complicated?
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Hi, Hippy_Mage and everyone else who reads my guide!
I haven't had the chance to look at I4 changes yet, and I don't believe that the developers have so far updated the demo playback system to reflect the new dimensions.
This means that the newly-recorded since I3 are read as "broken" when attempting to play it back.
As demo recording is an unsupported and undocumented feature, we can only hope that the developers will decide to make it fully functional again.
Also, I recommend checking out Zloth's Demo File Format FAQ.
Thank you for asking, and I look forward to more questions and your own suggestions to be posted in here!
VIRTUE
Mister Marbles - Ice/Rad Controller
Glass Titan - Elec/En Blapper
Miss Marbles - Inv/Fire Tanker
Chef Jinglemerry - Spines/DA Scrapper
Blood Envy - WP/DB Tanker
Velvette - WS
My Custom Demos
And I just figured out the problem and how to fix it. Gonna go post it at the end of my demo faq topic. About time to update my FAQ now, but I really really need to update my demo programs as well. And test the Arena. And see how this new Wormhole thing works. So much to do!!!
To the last question.... your height is actually in there. After the Costume line there is another line that's just a number. That's your height. Copy it up after the two numbers that are already there. So a line like:
COSTUME 1 0f263d
Becomes:
COSTUME 1 0f263d 16.140654
You'll still look wrong, though. Keep copying the numbers to the end of the Costume line until you get down to PartsName and you'll look right. So, in the end, it would look a little like this (minus any line breaks the forum might put in):
0 394 COSTUME 0 89a0ea 99 1 0 .777 .661 .202 .126 -0.1 1 -1 0 1 -1 0 1 -1 0 1 -1 0 1 -1 0 1 -1 0 1 -1 0
This also works in issue 3!
;uses self-kick travel power to get back to my FAQ topic....
Hi folks.
Due to unforseen circumstances the website which hosts the files included in this post has been dismantled. I will endeavor to find another web space to host these files. Meanwhile if you need the files linked in any of my posts, please private message me with your request and your e-mail address, and I'll see what I can do.
Thank you for reading. I apologize for any inconveniences caused by this.
VIRTUE
Mister Marbles - Ice/Rad Controller
Glass Titan - Elec/En Blapper
Miss Marbles - Inv/Fire Tanker
Chef Jinglemerry - Spines/DA Scrapper
Blood Envy - WP/DB Tanker
Velvette - WS
My Custom Demos
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if you need the files linked in any of my posts, please private message me with your request and your e-mail address, and I'll see what I can do.
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I'm glad I grabbed a copy of demodata.txt, then.
I have a modified local copy with additional models added that I have found as well as some Powers and EMOTES added that I have found. I was going to get it re-organized and add notes before sending it to Marbles so his list could be updated, but am willing to send it to anyone needing the list of known models, EMOTES, and powers to anyone needing it to email via PM. Note: Continuous work in progress.
I'll eventually work up an organized site with a better look, but it is a highly valuable resource in it's own right for pure raw data. Sorry to see your site down, Marbles.
*All Star*
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hey there, I am having a problem with some actions not working even though everything is the same as in the demo.
the one in particular i want is the fear effect as in the
MOV FEAR_A
but this has no effect. any suggestions to get my villians to cowar? i ran a demo of civilians doing that and the code is exactly the same so i am so confused. any help would be greatly appreciated.
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This can be seen throughout the entire 3D modelling industry. It also applies to COH's usage of models being modified in demofiles.
Any 3D model can only conduct animations (MOVs) that it has an assigned animation to conduct the particular animation. Not all models have the same animations. To wit, all models have a READY animation available in COH; conversely, a FLY_L animation is not needed for all models. Flying left only would be designed (or rigged) for models that need to do the Fly Left animation by the animators on the Team.
0 106 MOV FEAR_A
0 107 MOV FEAR_B
0 108 MOV FEAR_C
... are all confirmed animations available to most models. With the expansion of Fear-based powers during the release of Issue 4 I find it surprising that any model would not have one of the animations available to it.
With which model are you utilizing the animation?
Are you attempting to use power FX while attempting to use a non-combat animation such as FEAR?
Have you adjusted the timing of the commands to allow the animation to begin it's cycle before providing additional animations or FX?
Barring the above, there is no logical reason for the animation not to work.
*All Star*
On occassion I still get requests asking if I have the demodata.txt file and am willing to send it to valid email addresses.
Barring technical problems as long as there is a post within a month made by me of when a person is looking for the file, then I am still playing COH and have the demodata.txt file available. I am usually playing, researching/specing builds, working on SG website so I may not post often, but I will have the file as long as I am playing and will continue to make it available upon reqests. :-)
This allows anyone seeking the file to simply click on my Board name, quickly check the date of my last post, and send a PM with a valid email so they can recieve the file. My appologies if there is any delay in recieving the file as there can be up a week-long delay between times I log into the boards. (I do have other stuff to do. )
*All Star*
Hosted on
http://www.instantheroes.com
in the DataBase section.
Hey, just read all the posts. and all star your movie was spectacular! God you have to show me how to do some of that stuff. I am just now getting into it
Thanks for the compliment. Muchly appreaciated.
There is a lot that I want to cover with demo files including a Pulling Guide, Tanking Guide, Team Tactics Guide, and even a Demo Creation Guide. (Done with demos, of course. ) Unfortunately, time is my archnemesis which I cannot seen to defeat.
So while I grumble to myself about all of the amazing things other people are able to do with their demos and demo resources I am left with only enough time to help out with answering questions where I can. (If Zloth doesn't get to them first. )
*All Star*
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But between demo editing, html for my SG pages, Real Life, and a certian addictive online game, by the time I got anything done we'd be at Issue 53!
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I hear that! I've really wanted to add a way to work with the camera into my edit program. I got something in there so you can make the camera stop for awhile but actually moving the camera smoothly from one position/orientation to another? Uhhhh.... I think I'll go finish that story arc instead.