XCom craft shadows in battlescape map

[TomVD]

Hi,

 

I have a question for the X-Com experts. In the battlescape you see darker tiles under the wings and nose of your skyranger for example.

Here you see it very clearly:

https://www.ufopaedia.org/images/0/0b/Darksun_tactical_001.png

 

Where is this info stored, I don't find it in MAP or MCD files, is it hardcoded?

 

Thanks

[NKF]

It's done at runtime if I'm not mistaken, but an incidental copy of the light map is stored in the save files when you save the game.

 

If you look at the interior of buildings on the farm map, you'll notice they are darker inside as well. I suspect when the game updates the light map, it simply casts a ray down on the tile at the maps current light level, and if it encounters a floating tile (wing, roof, etc) it darkens the light level of the tile beneath it.

 

- NKF

[TomVD]

Hmm, raytracing, very advanced

So if I mod the skyranger and remove one wing, the shadow should change automatically, and if you blow off the roof a building it goes brighter inside. It makes sense.

Thanks for the reply.

[Bomb Bloke]

Note that soldiers generate light, which messes with the SkyRanger's shadow patterns a bit (as there's just about always at least one trooper in there).

 

https://www.ufopaedia.org/index.php?title=BGLOB.DAT