Wired setting control over turrets, rangers, and such

[Yerocrg]

I think that it would be very helpful and useful to be able to change settings of turrets and similar entities on the fly. For example, where each slider and checkbox is now in the STool, there would be another checkbox added to the right. If none of these boxes are checked, the entity would function as usual and be spawned as usual, with the settings designated in the STool menu. If, for example, the box for the 'Damage' setting in the Turret STool was checked, the turret would spawn with two inputs, 'Fire' and 'Damage'. If the 'Damage' and 'Bullet Force' boxes were checked, the turret would spawn with three inputs, 'Fire', 'Damage', and 'BulletForce'. This would add a lot more control and versatility to Wire.

[tomb332]

I was thinking of making an Entity Controller. Its basically a box and when you spawn it you choose from a set of presets like turret, ranger, target finder. Then you link it to one of the appropriate entity. It then has inputs so you can set the table features of the linked entity.

[Yerocrg]

I think that my system would be much more intuitive and simpler. It also has the advantage of not needing to spawn any new entities.

[tomb332]

except for the fact that we cant put extra check boxes next to existing boxes and sliders so adding it would pretty much double the length of every settings menu that it affects.

[Yerocrg]

Oh. I didn't realize that. However, it would only significantly increase the size of two menus: 'Target Finder' and 'Turret'. Here is the complete list of the options that I envision. Also, the things that can be set exclusively with inputs currently, such as 'FadeRate' on the Holo Emitter, should also be able to set as presets, just as you can set 'Point Size' now. This would allow the user to spawn entities that don't have any inputs that the user doesn't need to change. FadeRate would also have a checkbox for making it an input, rather than a preset. And also, just think of the things that you could do if you could dynamically change the colors of holo-points.

Target Finder
-Minimum Range
-Maximum Range
-Maximum Number of targets to track
-Maximum Number of Bogeys
-Target players
-Target NPCs
-Target locators
-Target hoverballs
-Target thrusters
-Target RPGs
-Paint Target

Holo Emitter
-Red
-Green
-Blue
-Alpha
-Show beam
-Point size

Radio
-Channel

Hoverball
-Movement speed
-Air resistance
-Strength

Turret
-Bullets per shot
-Damage
-Bullet Spread
-Bullet Force
-Delay

Wheel
-Torque
-Force Limit
-Friction

[tomb332]

All those would work with my idea i think. I should probably start it then.

[Yerocrg]

When I read it the first time, I missed this sentence:

It then has inputs so you can set the table features of the linked entity.[/b]

Now that I read it again, I realize that your way would also work well, as long as the entities retain their changed properties once they are disconnected from the Entity Controller.

[tomb332]

yeah it would retain them as the table data is only normally set at the beginning and it stays at what ever the current setting is.