Control Point (particles)

In particles, a Control Point is a Vector variable that enables external values, like locations or colours, to be passed into a particle system.

Each system can have up to 64 CPs, but the first, 0, is reserved as the system's origin.

Confirm:Children inherit the CPs of their parent.

Specifying

In the particle system

Use one of the following operators:

• Set Control Point Positions
• Set Control Point to Particles' Center
• Set Control Point To Player
• Set child control points from particle positions

To temporarily set a value, use the "Ctrl Pts" tab of the preview window.

In a map

Fill in the fields of the info_particle_system used to spawn the system.

In code

Call CNewParticleEffect::SetControlPoint().

In a QC file

Confirm:It is not possible to configure control points when compiling a model.

However, see the Position on Model Random initializer.

Using

There are many particle functions which can be configured to read values from a control point. Of particular interest are:

Operators

Affect particles throughout their lifespan

• Remap Control Point to Scalar
• Remap Distance to Control Point to Scalar
• Remap Distance Between Two Control Points to Scalar

Initializers

Affect particles when they are spawned

• Remap Control Point to Vector
  Note:There is no 'CP to Vector' operator, just this initializer. The reasons for this omission are not clear.
• Remap Control Point to Scalar
• Remap Initial Distance to Control Point to Scalar

Using these functions, a CP's value(s) can control the following particle values:

Scalar

Lifespan

Creation time

Todo: Same idea as pre-ageing, or affecting spawn time?

Radius

Roll speed

Alpha

Alpha alternate ^[Todo]

Sequence number

Sequence number 1 ^[Todo]

Trail length

Particle ID

Yaw

Vector

Position

Roll

RGB Colour (normalised)