Difference between revisions of "Unplayable Items"

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Unplayable Items (edit)

Revision as of 17:07, 11 September 2006

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UNPLAYABLE ITEMS - AKA TOKENS By guidobot101
UNPLAYABLE ITEMS - AKA TOKENS By Guidobot
 


Ok, so you've probably heard about tokens all over the forums by now and are wondering "what are they" or "what's all the fuss about".
Ok, so you've probably heard about tokens all over the forums by now and are wondering "what are they" or "what's all the fuss about".


Well they are basically unplayable items that allow you to effectively reprogram any actor or even the player. In fact, despite their modest name, tokens are perhaps the most powerful tool that scripters have in the unextended CS. Tokens themselves are really almost that - i.e. they are an object that exists just to get the attached script to run on a target. What is actually important is the 'token effect'.
Well they are basically unplayable items that allow you to effectively reprogram any actor or even the player. In fact, despite their modest name, tokens are perhaps the most powerful tool that scripters have in the unextended CS. Tokens themselves are really almost that - i.e. they are an object that exists just to get the attached script to run on a target. What is actually important is the 'token effect'.


To create a token:
To create a token:


1) Choose any item in the game that has the Playable switch. These are  essentially clothing and weapons. Most favored choice seems to be a ring but it  really doesn't matter since it's 3D object will never see the light of day. In  fact a base model marked unplayable cannot be placed in game.
1) Choose any item in the game that has the Playable switch. These are  essentially clothing and weapons. Most favored choice seems to be a ring but it  really doesn't matter since it's 3D object will never see the light of day. In  fact a base model marked unplayable cannot be placed in game.
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To deploy a token on a target simply do the following command from any active script:
To deploy a token on a target simply do the following command from any active script:


actor.AddItem MyToken 1
actor.AddItem MyToken 1


So what's the point? Well it's mosty about what you can't do with other objects. Here's a list of important token properties:


So what's the point? Well it's mosty about what you can't do with other objects. Here's a list of important token properties:


1) Tokens are always specific to the actor they are applied to, even if that actor was created by PlaceAtMe. In contrast, spells and abilities are added to the base model. (All [new] actor references of the same base model inherit these effects when they respawn.)
1) Tokens are always specific to the actor they are applied to, even if that actor was created by PlaceAtMe. In contrast, spells and abilities are added to the base model. (All [new] actor references of the same base model inherit these effects when they respawn.)
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7) Like spells, tokens can remove themselves or be removed from a calling script (very handy for instant or 1-time effects).
7) Like spells, tokens can remove themselves or be removed from a calling script (very handy for instant or 1-time effects).


Here's a very useful example. This token effect allows a merchant to initially have a particular spell in their inventory for sale. It is attached as the script to the token (you just made), called LoadSpellToken.
Here's a very useful example. This token effect allows a merchant to initially have a particular spell in their inventory for sale. It is attached as the script to the token (you just made), called LoadSpellToken.
CODE


  scn LoadSpellTokenEffect
  scn LoadSpellTokenEffect
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  End
  End


To use this particular version I suggest a Quest script. There are other ways to do this but having a startup quest is a good idea for almost any mod involving scripting. Here a skeleton start up quest script, attached to quest ID MyStartupQuest:
To use this particular version I suggest a Quest script. There are other ways to do this but having a startup quest is a good idea for almost any mod involving scripting. Here a skeleton start up quest script, attached to quest ID MyStartupQuest:
CODE


  scn MyStartupQuestScript
  scn MyStartupQuestScript
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  End
  End
Ok so what have we done here? Basically we've added spells to a particular vendor (or vendors) without ever modding any of the vanilla world - not even an activator/sensor placed next to the vendor!




Ok so what have we done here? Basically we've added spells to a particular vendor (or vendors) without ever modding any of the vanilla world - not even an activator/sensor placed next to the vendor!
Note: In this example you may be able to do the AddSpell directly from the quest script. However, often you may need to add things multiple times or the particular commands may not work until the actor is in scope - hence the GetInSameCell conditional. Conditionals and global variables are often needed to ensure the timing of when token effects are triggered.


Note in this example you may be able to do the AddSpell directly from the quest script. However, often you may need to add things multiple times or the particular commands may not work until the actor is in scope - hence the GetInSameCell conditional. Conditionals and global variables are often needed to ensure the timing of when token effects are triggered.


ASIDE: This works equally well for basic items, etc. However, much of the time you want to introduce a persistant scripted item in to the game. This is a bit more tricky since objects easily lose their scripts when being moved from 3D (the world) to 2D (an inventory/container). To do this firstly it is a good idea to have a room of your own to hold stuff, even if you can never get to this area from inside the game. The reason is by doing this you will never cause mod conflicts. You then need to  
Aside: This works equally well for basic items, etc. However, much of the time you want to introduce a persistant scripted item in to the game. This is a bit more tricky since objects easily lose their scripts when being moved from 3D (the world) to 2D (an inventory/container). To do this firstly it is a good idea to have a room of your own to hold stuff, even if you can never get to this area from inside the game. The reason is by doing this you will never cause mod conflicts. You then need to:


(1) MyObject.MoveTo player  
(1) MyObject.MoveTo player  
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These 3 steps must be done in different (successive) frames. A (hidden) vendor container should be used. If you add directly to the vendor, 9/10 times you can bet that vendor will equip this item immediately - and not let go. (This is handy if you require the item to be pick-pocketed.)
These 3 steps must be done in different (successive) frames. A (hidden) vendor container should be used. If you add directly to the vendor, 9/10 times you can bet that vendor will equip this item immediately - and not let go. (This is handy if you require the item to be pick-pocketed.)


Tokens on the player: Very useful for OBSE key programming. It appears necessary to do this in 2 steps:
Tokens on the player: Very useful for OBSE key programming. It appears necessary to do this in 2 steps:


(1) set tokenRef to player.AddItem MyPlayerToken 1
(1) set tokenRef to player.PlaceAtMe MyPlayerToken 1


(2) tokenRef.Activate player
(2) tokenRef.Activate player


Again, to keep the attached token effect script, these command have to be done in different frames (use a counter). This is probably because of issues with OB expecting message spam for AddItem when added to the player. However, AddItem might work on it's own for you.
Again, to keep the attached token effect script, these command have to be done in different frames (use a counter). This is probably because of issues with OB expecting message spam for AddItem when added to the player. However, AddItem might work on it's own for you.


Token Abuse: Because tokens are always active make sure you dont add them repeatedly or to almost very NPC you meet (in-game). Sometimes using a spell, ability or other method to get your active script going is more appropriate.
Token Abuse: Because tokens are always active make sure you dont add them repeatedly or to almost very NPC you meet (in-game). Sometimes using a spell, ability or other method to get your active script going is more appropriate.


Token Origin: I wish I could say I invented tokens but I didn't. It appears they started out in thread discussions and were eventually put to use by early adopters such as Shuggsywuggsy-the-ferret. Through thread discussions, I have only helped solidify our understanding of how and when to use them.
Token Origin: I wish I could say I invented tokens but I didn't. It appears they started out in thread discussions and were eventually put to use by early adopters such as Shuggsywuggsy-the-ferret. Through thread discussions, I have only helped solidify our understanding of how and when to use them.


[[Category: Useful Code]]
[[Category: Useful Code]]
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