Rain splashes

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January 2024

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January 2024

By default the rain splashes done in c_effects.cpp in the Simulate Rain function take place 20% of the time, and more importantly, only on water. This snippet will allow the rain to work on almost all surfaces, including static props, and also allows for a custom rain splash particle effect.

Warning:Tested in Source 2007 only.

First, replace line 36 in c_effects.cpp with the following code.

ConVar r_RainSplashPercentage( "r_RainSplashPercentage", "99", FCVAR_CHEAT ); // N% chance of a rain particle making a splash.

Now, simply the function at line 295 with the following code, replacing SPLASH_PARTICLE_NAME with your own particle:

Code provided by Tony Sergi

inline bool CClient_Precipitation::SimulateRain( CPrecipitationParticle* pParticle, float dt )
{
	if (GetRemainingLifetime( pParticle ) < 0.0f)
		return false;

	Vector vOldPos = pParticle->m_Pos;

	// Update position
	VectorMA( pParticle->m_Pos, dt, pParticle->m_Velocity, 
				pParticle->m_Pos );

	// wind blows rain around
	for ( int i = 0 ; i < 2 ; i++ )
	{
		if ( pParticle->m_Velocity[i] < s_WindVector[i] )
		{
			pParticle->m_Velocity[i] += ( 5 / pParticle->m_Mass );

			// clamp
			if ( pParticle->m_Velocity[i] > s_WindVector[i] )
				pParticle->m_Velocity[i] = s_WindVector[i];
		}
		else if (pParticle->m_Velocity[i] > s_WindVector[i] )
		{
			pParticle->m_Velocity[i] -= ( 5 / pParticle->m_Mass );

			// clamp.
			if ( pParticle->m_Velocity[i] < s_WindVector[i] )
				pParticle->m_Velocity[i] = s_WindVector[i];
		}
	}

	/*
	// No longer in the air? punt.
	if ( !IsInAir( pParticle->m_Pos ) )
	{
		// Possibly make a splash if we hit a water surface and it's in front of the view.
		if ( m_Splashes.Count() < 20 )
		{
			if ( RandomInt( 0, 100 ) < r_RainSplashPercentage.GetInt() )
			{
				trace_t trace;
				UTIL_TraceLine(vOldPos, pParticle->m_Pos, MASK_WATER, NULL, C COLLISION_GROUP_NONE, &trace);
				if( trace.fraction < 1 )
				{
					m_Splashes.AddToTail( trace.endpos );
				}
			}
		}

		// Tell the framework it's time to remove the particle from the list
		return false;
	}*/
   /*Tony; the traceline replaces the IsInAir check.
   you also don't want the random's to be around the traceline either, or it will only check SOMETIMES. it  needs to check _all_ the time.
    you also probably want to do some radius checking of the particles position (ignoring z) for if it's in range of the local player to run this code or not
    otherwise you will have traces for every particle all over the place even if there's no way that the player can see it
   so when the player is out of that radius, you would only use if ( !IsInAir( pParticle->m_Pos ) { return  false; }
    probably also need to check to make sure that it doesn't splash on sky, too.
  */
    trace_t trace;
     UTIL_TraceLine(vOldPos, pParticle->m_Pos, MASK_SOLID_BRUSHONLY, this, COLLISION_GROUP_NONE, &trace);

    if( trace.fraction < 1 || trace.DidHit() )
   {
        if ( RandomInt( 0, 100 ) <= r_RainSplashPercentage.GetInt() )
           DispatchParticleEffect( "SPLASH_PARTICLE_NAME", trace.endpos,trace.m_pEnt->GetAbsAngles() , NULL );

       // Tell the framework it's time to remove the particle from the list
       return false;
   }

	// We still want this particle
	return true;
}

If you set up things correctly, you will see this!

Particle Setup

The only specifications needed for your splash particle are that it be precached (See Particles_manifest.txt), and that it has "Constrain distance between control points" in the Constraints section of your particle.

What will happen if your particle is not precached.