I am trying to make some nifty tentacled creatures, and I am using individual segments that are held together with the vec_for_vertex command.

It works, however, if I use too many segments, or if there is some more stuff on the level, the segments start to separate, especially near the end of the tentacles, see image...



I have uploaded a sample of my script, if anyone is interested. I am wondering if there is a way to get the segments to apply their movement in the right order so these gaps don't appear, or if this is a limitation of the engine...

Tentacles Zip File

Here is the actual script, if you don't feel like downloading the file...

Quote:
///////////////////////////////
#include <acknex.h>
#include <default.c>
#include <mtlFX.c>
///////////////////////////////

//Tentacle Test
var segments = 50;
var roots = 20;
var speed = 3;

action segment()
{
set(my,PASSABLE);
my.material = mtl_specBump;

my.skill1 = handle(you);
my.skill2 = you.skill2 + 1;

my.scale_x = you.scale_x * .95;
my.scale_y = my.scale_x;
my.scale_z = my.scale_x;

//initialize movement variables
var my_angles;
var my_speed = speed;

//create next segment
if(my.skill2 < segments)
{
ent_create("tentacle.mdl",my.x,segment);
}

//start loop
while(1)
{
you = ptr_for_handle(my.skill1);

//make rotation changes
my_angles += my_speed * time_step;
my.pan = you.pan + 5 * sin(my_angles);
my.tilt = you.tilt + 5 * sin(my_angles);
my.roll = you.roll + 5 * sin(my_angles);
vec_for_vertex(my.x,you,15);

wait(1);
}
}

var pan_mod = 0;
var tilt_mod = 0;
var roll_mod = 0;

action root()
{
random_seed(0);
my.pan = random(360) + pan_mod;
random_seed(0);
my.tilt = random(90) + tilt_mod;
random_seed(0);
my.roll = random(360) + roll_mod;

random_seed(0);
pan_mod += random(45) + 15;
random_seed(0);
tilt_mod += random(45) + 15;
random_seed(0);
roll_mod += random(45) + 15;

set(my,PASSABLE);
my.material = mtl_specBump;
ent_create("tentacle.mdl",my.x,segment);


if(roots > 0)
{
roots -= 1;
ent_create("tentacle.mdl",my.x,root);
}
}

function main()
{
sky_color.red = 0;
sky_color.green = 57;
sky_color.blue = 77; // bright blue sky

d3d_antialias = 9;

level_load("Tentacles.WMB");
wait(2);
}

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