Day of Defeat 1.0 utilizes sub-models to a large extent in order to save filespace, while this has proven to make things much more difficult for player modelers, it can have some interesting applications for the custom community.

It is just such an application I intend to propose to you here. Weapon models include several sub-models for sleves from each team, each team has their own sleve model that is called up when they use a weapon, regardless of which weapon they are using.

All the weapons include German sleves, and either American or British sleves, but none of the default models have all three. This is not a matter of code, but rather one of saving space. It is entirely possible to recompile a weapon model with all three sleve models included and it will work perfectly in game.

This is also true for weapons like the pistols, which don't have seperate sleve models at all, it is possible to delete the cuffs that are included in the model, and compile using standard sleve sub-models instead.

The applications of this are two fold: First, the custom weapon in question could be used to replace any weapon, regardless of which team uses them, at the descretion of the end-user simply by renaming it. It certainly increases the options people have, if, for example, they'd rather have that spiffy new Thompson replace the Sten instead of the default American Tommy. The second application is that pistols could be reorigined with far fewer limits than would be otherwise possible. I always thought the pistols were a little too close to the screen, anyway, it's like he's holding it up to his cheek.

However, I digress from my original theory, which is this: If it's possible to have sleves change depending on which team is using the weapon, how hard would it be for the weapon to change as well? The applications, I'll admit, are limited, and there are problems with the idea. A few limitations would be that the weapons would still only have one p_model, and, most notably, they would have to share animations.

The possibility is there though, and could be used to make subtle alterations to weapons or to replace them entierly with a weapon that is operated similarly. I'll leave it to the custom community to decide wether the idea is worth looking into, what should be done with it, or if it's even possible.

Have at you!

Well I've already been playing with this on my own, but there's a few problems that arise with the order and number of anims. The Sten, Thompson, MP40, StG44, and even the Carbine to a degree, all have similar operating methods and anims, but the Thompson and MP40 have 2 shooting anims, whereas the Sten has only one. I don't have all the info memorized, like animation lengths and timings, but while you're idea is possible, it might not be as useful as you think. Though the idea of replacing weapons with similar ones is interesting, like releasing a model that's an M1A1 Thompson for the Americans and a 1928 Tommy for the Brits. Would be horribly innefficient, though.

Actually Cheeto, you're wrong. He's saying to put the weapon's model into the different sleeves, the amount of shooting anims is insignificant, as is the speed. On the other hand, one issue is the fact that every gun only has 1 shoot sound. This can't easily be avoided.

The number, order, and timing of the anims is very significant, even if you're sticking each weapon into a different sleeve. Because they all have to share the same anims, and if weapon A has an order of 'idle draw reload shoot1 shoot2 idle_empty' and weapon B has an order of 'idle draw reload shoot idle_empty' then your anims won't work because the game isn't able to call animation names, just orders in the sequence.

That's a good point about he animation sequences Cheeto, but I was speaking more about just picking up guns dropped from enemies than what you're suggesting. I agreen that the concept is limited in it's practical applications, but I thought I should get the idea out there in the hopes that somebody would come up with something clever.

Sounds like a good idea.

While reading this I came up with this:

As you said, you could have a similar gun. Well, how about the gun picked up is the same model except you could have small changes to the skin e.g. bloody finger prints on the gun or mabye signs of damage as generally if you pick up an enemy gun it's usually cos you've jus killed them.

Jus a thought but I think it could work quite well (aslong as you dont go over kill with the blood and that lol)

Ska

That's actually the direction I was thinking when I came up with the Idea Ska. I think it could make for some interesting cosmetic enhancements for second hand weapons.

I say go for it mate, should be pretty cool if you pull it off.

Ska

heh, i was thinking having a different skin on one model that appears randomly when you spawn. But anywhoo that seems like a great idea ska!