Easy First Person View

I was searching for a way to make a 3D view for my latest game. It is a hero based game and I wanted to have a first person view to make the graphics look better. It has a town in the middle that looks quite bland "in play" but in the editor, the views can be quite spectacular with the houses being 3D and all. I had an optional angled view, that was nice but, I wanted something to give the players a first person rotating camera that stays at the heroes back.

I found a way.3D View J3y: J3lademaster

So far as I can tell there are no tutorials on the subject on this or any wc3 web site.(this is the coolest site btw) It was, I knew, completely possible, however, because I have played games that had this view. So, eventually I figured it out on my own. I am posting this to save anyone else the same wild goose chase that I encountered. I don't understand why this tutorial does not exist but, it does now so we wont have to worry ourselves any longer in the search for better game play viewing.

This view has its hang-up's. If your game has this view make sure that it is necessary for what you are trying to accomplish. The view can be annoying to cynical players so you may want to have it as an optional view in certain games. Also while in this view you cannot move by means of a map signal. If you click on the map to move your hero it will do nothing. Last, this is a locked view so, players would have to make a subgroup for their buildings to use them or, they would have to walk to them in order to use them. These might not be all bad because they provide new challenges to the players and with the right map they could be quite fun and useful. One good point about this view though, you can scroll your view to a different angle and it still works. Also, this view works well over mountainous or hilly terain.

Disclaimer: The triggers here are just a simple model. The values might need adjusting although I found them to work quite well. And, this model is only for player 1(Red)'s view. It is made for a pre-placed hero. If you want to have a map where you choose your heroes, have multiple players etc., you will have to figure out the rest of the triggers on your own. I will, however try and include simple instructions on how to make enable/disable functions because I feel them to be important.

~3D View J3y: J3lademaster~
Before you start you will need to place a camera and a hero on your map. (I used a Tauren Cheiftain here for the example.) First you will need to make these two variables. The names I used for the variables will be in quotations throughout this example for clarity.
"real_rotation"---------real variable
"unit_viewed"-----------unit variable
Then you will need these three triggers. The first one you may use with your map initialization trigger.

(1)
>Event
-Map initialization
>Action
-Set "unit_viewed" = Tauren Chiftain 0001
-Camera- change camera smoothing factor to 10.00

(2)
>Event
-Time- elapsed game time is 1.00 seconds
>Action
-Camera- apply camera 001 for player 1(red) over 0.00 seconds
-Camera- lock camera target for player 1(red) to "unit_viewed" offset by (0.00, 0.00) using the units rotation.
-Trigger- turn on untitled trigger 001

(3) Untitled trigger 001
>Event
-Time- every 1.00 seconds of game
>Action
-Set "real_rotation" = (facing of "unit_viewed")
-Camera- set player 1(red)'s camera rotation to "real_rotation" over 0.50 seconds

That's it. Pretty simple for such a great effect. If you have any ways to improve upon this model or, if you have any questions please post them here.
Oh, I almost forgot to add the enable/disable triggers I promised. Just make a player chat message:
>Event
-Player- player types a chat message containing "-disable"
>Action
-Trigger- turn off Untitled trigger 001
Do the same thing for the -enable trigger turning on Untitled trigger 001
I think that you also need an action that returns the players view to normal to unlock the locked view
but I haven't checked.

Hope you enjoy the view.


Question: Is this an FPS (First Person Shooter) view?

Sounds more like a Third Person view if it follows the unit. Still cool, I'll try it out later :D

Xaran Alamas: I wondered If it was a third person view. That's what people call it I think but that doesn't make sense to me. In writing isn't a first person narrative when the person writes about themselves from their point of view. This view simulates the heroes point of view almost as if you were him. So, I don't know. I believe you but, It's still not clear to me why it's called third person.

If anyone could make this more clear to me I would greatly appreciate it.
Also, If this is not an FPS view then what is the definition of one. Thx

I think the reason is in writing something being written from the first person is effectively how they saw it or through their eyes and in games a first person view is when you see what they see whereas a third person view (and your map) is more like someone following someone from behind.

Ok, I understand now, thanks for clearing that up. Now I just wish I could change the title of this thread 'cause I feel really dumb for calling it a first person view. I wish that "pole" thing could go too. Although it does serve a purpose, it is very misleading as to the true intent of the thread. It was supposed to be like a tutorial. I would like peoples opinions on the view though, to see how popular it would be for use in a game. Do people like this kind of view or do they think it would get in the way of playing.

I'll tell you one thing. It's great for showing off the terrain.:foot:

ive made a small map with a first person view (that includes keyboard walking and turning... its just too... SIMPLE :D

Making it simple was the whole point. That's why the thread is called easy first person view, because it's easy to make. Besides it might seem like child's play to you but, some people don't even know what a variable is. And a lot of people could benefit from this. It took me forever to figure out how to do this. Even if they have the skills to make it they may not think of the idea.

Besides, this is exaxtly the way I wanted it. I don't really like the arrow movement controls. It's inconvinient to bring your hand from the keyboard to the mouse every time you have to order an attack or pick up an item. It's a lot more hand movement than just pushing the mouse button a millemeter every couple seconds.You have to keep pushing the arrow keys without a break.:nono:

Plus simple means; more room for more triggers or; less lag.

Im sure you could get it first person if you offset the camera by the angle of the unit being followed

Egarb-
I have thought about this. I'm pretty sure it's possible. That's one of the reasons why I said that you might want to play with the numbers or add more triggers. This is just a basic model for you to study. You are right though. This could actually be turned into a first person view very easily so, the title of this thread isn't completely incorrect. I don't really understand your method though. I think it has to do more with the numbers. I'll have to go back and look.

Edit If you change the time of the camera rotation to maybe 1.00 sec. you won't get so dizzy ( 3-5 seconds works the best but only if you set your event to go off at the same interval)
-Camera- set player 1(red)'s camera rotation to "real_rotation" over 0.50 seconds

Edit Egarb- You have to change the camera position of the actual camera by double clicking on it. The only problem is that if the camera is too close then you can't turn around because you can't click behind your hero. you can only turn in slow archs.

lol, you said you created a map with 1st person view (i'm refering to dremora)? then could you post an attachment or something? i need to know badly-- or anyone else know how?

to clear up what i mean, because it seems some people don't know what 1st person view- i'm talking about seeing the map through a unit's eyes

also do you know how to make it so when you go to different terrain levels, the cameras don't get messed up?

lastly this is kinda off topic but i might as well ask... how do you make a unit shoot "something" when you press a hotkey and it shoots straight in front of the unit. it doesn't follow the unit like in melee games when a ranged unit attack it follows until it hits... i'm talking about it just shoots straight in front of the unit, hitting something or not... i'm a visual learner so if you could make a map and i can take a look at the triggers... that'd be great