Sprite applications  

 Sprite applications:  lotag 32 sector effector

This first example is to illustrate the one of several possible uses of a lotag 32 effector. Someone asked me if it were possible to make an under water door, and of course it's possible. This effect is by no means a difficult effect but it's one such effect that puts to use the sector effector, lotag 32.
 
Here's a screen capture taken in Build to illustrate this example. The first thing you would do is have your door sectors made and then pull the door sector down to the floor (assuming you're making a doom type door) so that you can apply a door tile and scale and size it to fit. If you would like to have this door work without a visible switch, then you will need to apply a special door tile. If you do not know what is meant by these special door tiles, see Special door tiles and wall lotags
In 3D mode place the cursor on the door and press and hold the ' key and press the t to give the wall a lotag of your choice ( but it must match the lotag of the activator sprite). Raise the door back to the ceiling height and switch back to 2d mode. Once in 2d, place two sprites in the door's sector: one activator and one effector. Give the activator the same lotag as the you did the wall lotag for the door.
 
note: If you want this door to close again, place another sprite give it a lotag 10 with a hitag of your choice for the duration that door stays open before closing. But adding a lotag 10 sprite has a side effect: the door will open about half way, stop for a second and then continue to open. If this side effect will bother you, then skip this part and add switch sprites on the wall. If you want the door to open or close from either side, either add a switch to both sides or, if using without a visible switch, make sure that both sides of the door has a lotag matching the activator.

The best way to do this is to have a switch sprite on the wall (both sides of the door if necessary). The door works perfectly without the lotag 10 sprite. Make sure that the lotag 32 sprite's tail is positioned South and the activator and the switch sprites (or the wall lotags of the door) match the activator. In Build the door is left opened but in the game the door will start closed. That's it; your under water door.





Here is the 2D schematic for the set up of this effect
Green sprites = switch sprites, blue sprite = activator, purple sprite = lotag 32 effector.
If you want this effect to work without the use of visible switches, that is, have it appear to work like any usual door effect as when Duke opens a door by you pressing the space bar, then use one of the special door tiles and give the door a wall lotag to match the activator. If you want to have the door open from either side, then lotag both sides of the door. Without using a lotag 10 sprite to close the door, the effect works perfectly. If you don't mind the side effect mentioned earlier, then add a lotag 10 sprite. (shown here in yellow)



 Sprite applications:  lotag 31 sector effector

If you wanted to make a lotag 21 door under water, you would Build this effect just like the one above, except, you would give the sprite for the door action a lotag of 31, and since the door used in this example is 16 clicks (units) in height, you would only have to raise the sector effector 16 clicks up. When you are done, you will be able to just see the bottom of the effector sticking out a little bit below the top of the door sector. You would leave the position of the sprite's tail as in the lotag 32 example, everything would be the same except for the above two differences mentioned.


 Sprite applications:  using lotag 31 & 32 sector effectors together for a split door under water

While we're at it, we may as well talk about making a split (horizontal split) door under water. Following the same directions, for the most part, of the lotag 32 example at the top of this page, you would only have to add another sector effector. You may want to forget all about the lotag 10 ( auto close ) effector because it messes up the effect with its side effect (stopping mid way before continuing opening or closing).

Anyway, with the activator left on the floor (the activator sprite for any of the examples mentioned on this page about under water doors stays on the floor), you have two sector effectors: one with a lotag 31 and one with a lotag 32. Both of these sprites would have their tails positioned South and hitags of zero. Once these sprites are in place, sitting on the floor, and since this door in this example is also 16 units in height, raise both these sector effectors 8 clicks from the floor (mid point of this door). You now have a split door under water. The best results are attained by using either a keycard switch sprite or regular wall mounted switch sprites. (note: if using a keycard switch sprite, put one on both sides of the door if you also want this map for Duke Match game play).