Pre-loading ressources

04-16-2008, 06:33 PM	#1
divo	I'm creating a hero map with some triggered spells but they all tend to lag when they are used the first time. There are no problems afterwards and everything loads nice and fast. Is there any way to pre-load the trigger ressources before the spell is actually cast the first time (Maybe when the hero is chosen)? That way it wouldnt interrupt the gameplay.

04-16-2008, 06:35 PM	#2
Fireeye	When you talk about the 'First time lag', yes you can prevent it with preplacing a unit of that unit type and remove it on Map init.

04-16-2008, 06:37 PM	#3
Alexander244	The things that cause first cast lag are models that have not been used before; these can be preloaded with the preload native; native Preload takes string filename returns nothing.

04-16-2008, 06:40 PM	#4
divo	Thanks for your answers (+rep) Do I have to preload both unit and effects? Am I missing some other things as well?

04-16-2008, 06:45 PM	#5
Alexander244	Preload units (and abilities), models (and textures). I don't think there are many other things that will be noticable.

04-16-2008, 07:08 PM

divo

I've tried pre-loading every imaginable model file using the preload native but there is still some start lag. I've even tried creating the unit at initialization but the spell still lag the first time (The spell creates that unit).

Am I missing something? You talk about preloading abilities.. do you mean the effects used in the abilities or what? And do I have to do something special for textures (Aren't they just loaded with the models)?

EDIT: Typo

04-16-2008, 07:32 PM	#7
Alexander244	You could always try just creating and destroying the effects at map init instead of using Preload; see if that works better. There may be something with the animations not all being preloaded, or something similar...

04-16-2008, 07:52 PM	#8
Vexorian	Post the triggers. Abilities must be preloaded, for example the ones you add to dummy units, etc.

04-16-2008, 08:03 PM

divo

Creates a totem at the position of the hero and assings the totem some spells based on the level of the ability.

JASS:

globals

  // Each player
  unit array gg_ability_war_totem_self
  real array gg_ability_war_totem_pos_x
  real array gg_ability_war_totem_pos_y
  effect array gg_ability_war_totem_effect_1
  effect array gg_ability_war_totem_effect_2
  //effect array gg_ability_war_totem_effect_3
  
  // Defaults
  string gg_ability_war_totem_effect_1_string = "Abilities\\Spells\\Items\\AIfb\\AIfbTarget.mdl"
  string gg_ability_war_totem_effect_2_string = "Abilities\\Spells\\Orc\\WarDrums\\DrumsCasterHeal.mdl"
  //string gg_ability_war_totem_effect_3_string = ""

endglobals

function ability_war_totem takes nothing returns nothing

  local unit unit_triggering = GetTriggerUnit()
  local player player_triggering = GetOwningPlayer(unit_triggering)
  local integer player_id = GetPlayerId(player_triggering)
  
  local integer ability_war_totem_level = GetUnitAbilityLevel(unit_triggering, 'A001') - 1

  // Create the totem
  set gg_ability_war_totem_self[player_id] = CreateUnit(player_triggering, 'n000', GetUnitX(gg_player_hero[player_id]), GetUnitY(gg_player_hero[player_id]), 270.00)
  
  // Register totem position
  set gg_ability_war_totem_pos_x[player_id] = GetUnitX(gg_ability_war_totem_self[player_id])
  set gg_ability_war_totem_pos_y[player_id] = GetUnitY(gg_ability_war_totem_self[player_id])
  
  
  
  // // Give auras to totem
  
  // Healing aura (Hero)
  call UnitAddAbility(gg_ability_war_totem_self[player_id], 'A005')
  call SetUnitAbilityLevel(gg_ability_war_totem_self[player_id], 'A005', ability_war_totem_level)

  // Command aura
  call UnitAddAbility(gg_ability_war_totem_self[player_id], 'A007')
  call SetUnitAbilityLevel(gg_ability_war_totem_self[player_id], 'A007', ability_war_totem_level)
  
  // Endurance aura
  call UnitAddAbility(gg_ability_war_totem_self[player_id], 'A009')
  call SetUnitAbilityLevel(gg_ability_war_totem_self[player_id], 'A009', ability_war_totem_level)
  
  
  
  // Effects
  set gg_ability_war_totem_effect_1[player_id] = AddSpecialEffect(gg_ability_war_totem_effect_1_string, gg_ability_war_totem_pos_x[player_id], gg_ability_war_totem_pos_y[player_id])
  set gg_ability_war_totem_effect_2[player_id] = AddSpecialEffect(gg_ability_war_totem_effect_2_string, gg_ability_war_totem_pos_x[player_id], gg_ability_war_totem_pos_y[player_id])
  //set gg_ability_war_totem_effect_3[player_id] = AddSpecialEffect(gg_ability_war_totem_effect_3_string, gg_ability_war_totem_pos_x[player_id], gg_ability_war_totem_pos_y[player_id])
  
  // Remove War Totem artifact
  call DestroyEffect(gg_player_hero_artifact[player_id].artifact_effect[0])
  

  
  // Cleanup
  set unit_triggering = null
  set player_triggering = null

endfunction

// Forced by WE
function InitTrig_war_totem takes nothing returns nothing
endfunction

What do you mean when you say that I have to "preload abilities"? Preload effect models or what? I can't find a preload native that takes anything else than a model string as an argument.

I've already tried using the following as preload

JASS:

  call CreateUnit(Player(0), 'n000', 0, 0, 0) // Create the totem
  call Preload(gg_ability_war_totem_effect_1_string) // Effect 1
  call Preload(gg_ability_war_totem_effect_2_string) // Effect 2
  call Preload("Doodads\\Barrens\\Props\\TaurenTotem\\TaurenTotem0.mdl") // The totem model 
  call Preload("Abilities\\Spells\\Other\\ANrm\\ANrmTarget.mdl") // Heal effect of the totem's aura

Edit: Added some info.

04-16-2008, 08:06 PM	#10
Alexander244	At Init: Create a unit, add abilities to it, remove unit -> Abilities Preloaded You will need to do this for 'A005', 'A007' and 'A009' by the looks of it.

04-16-2008, 08:14 PM

#11

divo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexander244

At Init: Create a unit, add abilities to it, remove unit -> Abilities Preloaded

You will need to do this for 'A005', 'A007' and 'A009' by the looks of it.

That did it, thanks! Strange that you have to actually create the unit and assign the abilities and not just load the model files..

+Rep to everyone above.

04-16-2008, 08:41 PM	#12
Vexorian	The model files are one thing. For war3 loading an ability seems to take enough time to cause some first cast lag. I guess it is about the button and perhaps some event listeners, etc.