2010-05-03, 07:59 PM
I have the .cp files in the bag. They do serve the exact function I had last speculated...
Basically there are these things embedded in the MDL files that look like little pairs of coloured triangles.
I think cyan triangles mark the center of the model. So for like walking animations they move. If there is no cyan triangle (I don't think this one comes in pairs) then coordinate 0,0,0 or the root animation channel is used.
Next are blue triangles which come in pairs generally one beneath each foot for biped creatures, not sure how non-bipeds would work out.
Red triangles are for attack elements. A pair forms a sword. They are also used to define where magic shoots from and in what direction. I reckon the size of the triangles might also come into play, but the .cp files only tracks the centers of each triangle throughout each animation.
I'm pretty sure I've also seen purple triangles. The colours themselves are probably for reference only.
So yeah basically, like I just said^ the .cp files are a database of the centers of the "control points" throughout each step of the animation.
I don't think it's necessary to interact with .cp files. The .prf files may reference control points directly. Somehow anyway the attack control points must be associated with attacking and only activated during particular attack animations or else you'd always be damaged by getting too close to monsters' implements of attack.
I'd like to document everything somehow, but I can't find any open standards for file format documentation or non-proprietary XML markup. So since no one else is interested in working with the files afaik I will wait until I can decide upon the best means of doing so.
PS: For some reason many of the doors have an awful lot of control points lined up almost like track lighting. I have no clue why that is necessary.
Basically there are these things embedded in the MDL files that look like little pairs of coloured triangles.
I think cyan triangles mark the center of the model. So for like walking animations they move. If there is no cyan triangle (I don't think this one comes in pairs) then coordinate 0,0,0 or the root animation channel is used.
Next are blue triangles which come in pairs generally one beneath each foot for biped creatures, not sure how non-bipeds would work out.
Red triangles are for attack elements. A pair forms a sword. They are also used to define where magic shoots from and in what direction. I reckon the size of the triangles might also come into play, but the .cp files only tracks the centers of each triangle throughout each animation.
I'm pretty sure I've also seen purple triangles. The colours themselves are probably for reference only.
So yeah basically, like I just said^ the .cp files are a database of the centers of the "control points" throughout each step of the animation.
I don't think it's necessary to interact with .cp files. The .prf files may reference control points directly. Somehow anyway the attack control points must be associated with attacking and only activated during particular attack animations or else you'd always be damaged by getting too close to monsters' implements of attack.
I'd like to document everything somehow, but I can't find any open standards for file format documentation or non-proprietary XML markup. So since no one else is interested in working with the files afaik I will wait until I can decide upon the best means of doing so.
PS: For some reason many of the doors have an awful lot of control points lined up almost like track lighting. I have no clue why that is necessary.