In its current form, this script REQUIRES any version of 3DGS with the stencil shadow feature. Even if you set the "castToggle" to "on", you'll need to be sure to set the "cast" flag of each entity whose shadow should be influenced by these lights to "on", as well. Also, make sure the "shadow_stencil" flag is set to "on" to enable stencil shadows or none of the shadow eyecandy will work to begin with.

I guess if you take out the "cast" part, at the beginning, it should work with older versions of A6. I don't know if there are any other instructions that are native to A6 only, but if not then you can use it with A5 after removal of those shadows sections. Possible candidates are "vec_dist" and "sleep". You can substitute "sleep" with "waitt"(for conversion purposes, sleep(1) is equal to waitt(16)) and you can probably figure out an alternative for "vec_dist" if it isn't a part of A5's instruction set.

This script should fulfill your every need except movement.

Code:

---

var killSwitch = 0;               //0 = all lights active, 1 = all lights inactive

define range, skill1;             //lightrange for this light

define rangeModifier, skill2;     //used for random lightrange calculation...if random lights used, DO NOT set to 0 or script will crash

define redColor, skill3;          //red color for this light

define greenColor, skill4;        //green color for this light

define blueColor, skill5;         //blue color for this light

define distToggle, skill6;        //distance to toggle on/off lightrange...uses vec_dist(player.x, my.x)

define startDelay, skill7;        //if > 0 then light object is invisible for this value in seconds at level start

                                  //only use with constant blinking lights..unexpected results may occur with random blinkers

                                  //this will only take affect if beginOn is true

define shortDelay, skill8;        //shorter of two delays for blink

define longDelay, skill9;         //longer of two delays for blink

                                  //make short/long delays equal for a true constant light

                                  //for example: 2 sec. on, 2 sec. off



define castToggle, flag1;         //on = influence stencil shadow

define beginOn, flag2;            //on = light object will be visible at level start unless startDelay > 0

                                  //off = light object invisible at level start

define alwaysOn, flag3;           //on = light is always on regardless of player's position from lightsource

define randomColorRange, flag4;   //on = light will always be a random color and lightrange

                                  //off = light is constant color & lightrange

define blink, flag5;              //on = light will blink; off = light will not blink

define randBlink, flag6;          //on = light will blink at a random rate if true...blink must be true

define localSwitch, flag7;        //on = light is on; off = light is off

---

Code:

---

// uses: range, rangeModifier, redColor, greenColor, blueColor, distToggle

// uses: startDelay, shortDelay, longDelay, castToggle, beginOn, alwaysOn

// uses: randomColorRange, blink, randBlink, localSwitch

action dynamicLight //assign to a dynamic light entity

{

  while(player == null) { wait(1); }

  var tempShortDelay;

  var tempLongDelay;

  my.passable = on;

  if(my.castToggle == on) //light will influence stencil shadows

  {

      my.cast = on;

  }

  else

  {

      my.cast = off;

  }

  while(1)

  {

    if(killSwitch == 0 && my.localSwitch == on)

    {

        if(my.beginOn == on)            //light object is visible at level start, unless startDelay > 0

        {

             if(my.startDelay > 0)      //useful for scrolling lights on marquees

             {                          //should ONLY be used with constant blinkers

                sleep(my.startDelay);   //you may experience unexpected results if you use with random blinkers

             }

            my.invisible = off;

        }

        else

        {

            my.invisible = on; //light object is invisible at level start

        }

        if((vec_dist(player.x, my.x) < my.distToggle && my.alwaysOn == off) || 

           (my.alwaysOn == on)) //distance based and non-distance based/always on lights

        {      

           if(my.randomColorRange == on) //random color and range

           {

  	         my.lightrange = max(random(my.range), my.range/my.rangeModifier); //make sure rangeModifier > 0

                 if(my.lightrange == 0) { my.lightrange = 1; }

       	         my.red = int(random(my.redColor)); 

                 if(my.red == 0) { my.red = 1; }

                 my.green = int(random(my.greenColor)); 

                 if(my.green == 0) { my.green = 1; }

                 my.blue = int(random(my.blueColor));  

                 if(my.blue == 0) { my.blue = 1; }

           }

           else //constant color and range

           {

  	         my.lightrange = my.range;

                 my.red = my.redColor;

                 my.green = my.greenColor;

                 my.blue = my.blueColor; 

           } 

           if(my.blink == on)                                      //light will blink with 2 separate delays

           {

               if(my.randBlink == on)                              //random blinking

               {

                   tempShortDelay = random(my.shortDelay);

                   if(tempShortDelay == 0) { tempShortDelay = 0.1; }

                   sleep(tempShortDelay); //shorter delays

                   my.lightrange = 0;

                   if(my.beginOn == on)                            //light object is now invisible

                   {

                       my.invisible = on;

                   } 

                 tempLongDelay = random(my.longDelay);

                 if(tempLongDelay == 0) { tempLongDelay = 0.1; }

                 sleep(tempShortDelay + tempLongDelay);            //longer delays

               }

               else                                                //constant blinking

               {

  	           sleep(my.shortDelay);                           //shorter delays

                   my.lightrange = 0;

                   if(my.beginOn == on)                            //light object is now invisible

                   {

                        my.invisible = on;       

  	           }

                 sleep(my.longDelay);                              //longer delays

                 my.startDelay = 0;   //zero out so it won't delay again 

                                      //after initial delay at level start.. 

                                      //..only applies to constant blinkers

               }

           } 	  

        }

        else //player is > my.distToggle from lightsource..turn light off and make object invisible

        {

             my.lightrange = 0;

             my.invisible = on;

        }	

    }

    else

    {

        my.lightrange = 0;

        my.invisible = on;

    }

   wait(1);

  }

}

---

Wow, tons better than mine!

Braxton, you seem suprised

Thanks for this contribution OB

Sorry for stepping on your script. I had thought about waiting a few days, but I was ready to post it. Here's Braxton's script for those who might want to use it instead:

http://www.conitecserver.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=486436

It's somewhat similar, but not quite as flexible. Still, if that's all you need and script execution time is a factor......

i am not, just was surprised to see a better one so fast. The only difference between our scripts is that mine is editable in the behavior panel. His is still way better.

I have run into a problem. I can't get it to run... it says 'ultimateDynamicLigh' action not found. so I copy the 'ultimateDynamicLight' script and rename it 'ultimateDynamicLigh'. then when I build and run nothing is different.

BTW Orange Brat - It is ok, you didn't step all over my script. When someones script is better, it is better and you can't argue.

I think there might be a length limit for action/function names, since I've run into that problem before. I went ahead and renamed it to "dynamicLight".

I think the limit is 15 characters for actions, but I may be wrong.

Made a small change which will allow you to see the "defined" skill and flag names in WED's behavior panel. Just copy & paste the three "// uses: " lines right before the action and add them to the same spot in your own code. I also changed the red, green, and blue defines to redColor, greenColor, and blueColor. This was done to eliminate any potential conflicts with the built in c-script instructions of the same name.

Hey, this is a nice contribution!
From now on, we don't have to re-invent the wheel all the time
Concerning the character-limits question: As fas as I know, there's still a limit of 8 characters for actions, although the limit fpr functions is much higher. Shame on you, Conitec, the times of DOS are over!

Added a light switch toggle. Required a new flag(#7) and an addition to a single line right after the "while". Don't forget to add the flag name to the "uses" section.