Now folks, I am completely new to these shaders but I'm trying the same thing with the same results - either no shader or completely black. I have one block using d3d_automated and one with setting the material. I'm using the same shader as I do for models which work BUT when I use the models I set the variables for the shader in the action:
ie:
my.skill41 = floatv(50);
my.skill42 = floatv(100);
my.skill43 = floatv(100);
my.skill44 = floatv(100);

Now, when I didn't set these in the action, the shader didn't work so my thoughts would be that these need to be set for the texture, but how is that done? Like I said, shaders are new to me and I don't like them (implimenting them that is, lovely to look at!).