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Topic Subject: Everything you need to know about the transform trigger - tricks, guides, etc
posted 24 April 2007 01:37 PM EDT (US)   


How I found it

It all started when Two_ace_u showed me the console and how to use it. He told me that you could use it to bring up commands and insert them. He said that if I put in helptext(".") that I would get every command in the game. I put it in and it brought up loads of commands. I started to get excited because I realised it was likely to be how Reyk got his commands to make the new editor. Indeed, it seemed Reyk knew all about the console because he also said to put helptext(".") to get the commands. Anyway, I looked through the command list but I didn't see anything mega useful. Anyway, I was curious about something. Were there any commands in which the help text did not have a . in it? So, I tried that instead and put helptext(" "). This brought up more commands than helptext(".") because like I thought, some of the commands did not haven a . in their helptext. I was browsing though these extra commands when I found "unitTransform(proto1,proto2):replaces all of one with the other, via mutation" which as you can see does not contain a full stop which is likely to be why I was the first to find it and all because of my crazy curiosity. After several attempts - I did actually give up and came back to it later, I managed to eventually get it to work. I then made the command into a trigger and the transform trigger was born. (It is extremely lucky that it works as a trigger - very few commands do!)

Facts about the trigger

A few facts which you should find useful when you want to use this trigger.

  • Works by mutation - so it keeps everything that you have selected on the unit.
  • It can change ANY unit unlike the change units in area
  • Affects ALL players.
  • Keeps the size of the previous unit
  • Keeps the lifespan of the previous unit - when you want to - prevent the transformed unit from dying from it's lifespan, modify the unit it USED to be or it won't work!
  • Keeps most coding that it attached to the unit - e.g. fade ins, coding to destroy the unit after time, etc.
  • Some units if changed to will crash the game - e.g. cows, relics except under special circumstances, some of which I will mention later.
  • Can often keep it's position on the Y axis - e.g. making floating units!
  • Keeps the LOS of the old unit.
  • WORKS ONLINE!

    How to get this trigger or use it without getting it

    There are several ways which you can obtain or use the trigger:

    (1)Download my trigger here: Here on it's own (second download) or Here with my editor super pack.

    (2)Make up the trigger using xs user code if you have it:

    unitTransform("proto1","proto2");

    Simply type it into the trigger text box and replace the proto1 and 2 with what you want to transform from and 2. This is case sensitive!

    (3)If all else fails - e.g. you can't download and you don't have xs user code then there is a third way. Insert 3 trigger effects that you can type in in some way (e.g. send chat) and put the following into each of them:

    "); /*
    */unitTransform("proto1","proto2");/*
    */ //

    Like, xs user code, replace proto1 and proto2 with units of your choice. If you wish to have more that 1 transform, you only have to use the second line again which goes between the first and last command line. I.e. The first and last part is what allows you to insert the code, the lines in between are the actual lines of code.

    If you are random map scripting, you can add this trigger by inserting the following void command and trigger commands:

    Void

    void code(string xs="") {
    rmAddTriggerEffect("SetIdleProcessing");
    rmSetTriggerEffectParam("IdleProc", "true); "+xs+" trSetUnitIdleProcessing(true");
    }

    Trigger code

    code("unitTransform(\"proto1\",\"proto2\");");

    Replace proto1 and 2 with units of your choice - coding is case sensitive!


    TRICKS WITH IT!

    Below is a list of tricks and guides you can do with the trigger. I am sure that there are many other tricks you can do but here are some of the main ones:

    CHANGING PROJECTILES

    Any moving projectile from a unit can be transformed to throw something else. Steps to using it are:
    (1)Modify the projectile lifespan so it has a minus amount - e.g. -100 on the lifespan modify protounit
    (2)Put a transform trigger on loop changing the projectile into something else.

    Screenshot!

    CHANGING GOD POWERS

    Any protounit that a god power makes can be changed into something else. It will also keep the coding given by a god power. It will even keep the size and fade given by the god power. How to use:
    (1)Put a transform trigger on loop changing the protounit of the god pwoer into a unit of your choise
    (2)Change lifespan of any units you want to die after time or not die at all, etc

    Lightning Scourch changed to create giant units!

    TEXTURE CHANGE

    Unit textures can be changed with this trigger too! If there is something that changes the texture of a unit and you change the unit with that texture to another one, it keeps the texture! The following texture changes currently known to work are:

  • Bronze - from bronze god power
  • Stone - from medusa
  • Woody brown - From the forest fire god power

    How to use:
    (1)Do whatever is needed to produce a unit with the texture.
    (2)Transform the unit with that texture to one of your choice

    The texture disappears at the same time the texture on the other unit would do normaly.

    NOTE:If you change medusa stone, the unit must be transformed before it completely stops moving or it won't work but not too early that you don't get the texture.

    Pyramid of bronze

    CARRYABLE UNITS

    Relics that have been picked up can be transformed into another unit so that the unit that is carrying the relic is now carrying that unit. The picked up unit CANNOT be selected untill the original unit drops the relic (or what now the unit!).

    How to use:
    (1)Get a hero to pick up the relic
    (2)Transform the relic into a unit of your choice

    Examples - Image by Alexandergreat3

    MAKING ANY UNIT BLOCK GOD POWERS

    Any unit using the transform trigger can be made to block god powers in the same radius of a hesperides tree.

    How to use:

    (1)Place a hersperides tree of the player you want the isis monument to be the equivilent of.
    (2)Transform it to the unit you want to block god powers

    The unit will keep the god power block radius on it as if it is an isis monument or that is what the game message says!

    WARNING: If a capturable unit is captured, the effect of the block is cancelled for all the units on the map!

    CHANGING THE CONTENTS OF GARRISONED UNITS INTO UNITS YOU CAN'T GARRISON

    This is quite an interesting effect. You could change the relics in a temple to titans for example, when the temple is killed titans would come out and wreck havoc on the map!

    How to use:
    (1)Garrison the unit you want to change inside something
    (2)Transform it to another unit of your choice

    Gaias garrisoned in a temple!

    CHANGING THE UNIT SOMETHING IS GARRISONED IN TO SOMETHING YOU CAN'T GARRISON IN

    You can also change a unit is garrisoned in keeping the garrisoned units in!

    How to use:
    (1)Garrison the unit in the unit you want to change
    (2)Transform the unit one the units are garrisoned inside to a unit of your choice!

    Flying implode spheres with enemy units garrisoned inside!

    MAKING GIANT UNITS APPEAR OUT OF NOWHERE

    The transform trigger can also be useful in making giant units deploying/appearing out of thin air.

    How to use:
    (1)Place a unit in editor which you cannot see ingame and increase the size of it. This can be hard because depending on the unit it is likely you will not be able to see it increasing in size. It is really so don't worry.
    (2)When you want the giant unit to appear, make the invisible unit transform into the giant unit of your choice.

    SOULS APPEARING FROM KILLED ENEMIES

    You can make souls of killed enemies appear where the enemy unit is killed. This is done by transforming generic corpse sfx into a unit of your choice It is good idea to use an establishment like Hero Death sfx or Osiris sfx for this. It is best to have something that will only appear for a short time. If that is a problem, change the lifespan of generic corpse so it dies after short time. You cannot select the unit that is created by this effect either and it will not crash if changed into crashable units.

    How to use:
    (1)Loop a transform trigger changing generic corpse into a unit of your choice.

    NOTE:Not all units will produce a generic corpse when they die but most will so it is worth doing.


    Afterword

    This is an amazing find and I am sure that you will have to agree. Feel free to experiment with the trigger and post any finds you get. Please also credit Two_ace_u because it was him who showed me the console in the first place which led onto the find of this trigger. I hope that this article will clear up any mishaps that you have about this trigger and hopefully you have learnt a lot from this trigger. I am looking forward to seeing plenty of maps from you using this trigger! - in fact, this is already happening for I have already played several maps with it on.


    The boy with the mad imagination
    Prepare for the ultimate duel!
    Learn to use all my triggers and what you can do with them. Visit here.
    Find out and download the transform trigger here.
    Play some minigames I have created outside AOM including some 3D games here.

    [This message has been edited by nottud (edited 04-24-2007 @ 01:59 PM).]

  • Replies:
    posted 24 April 2007 01:46 PM EDT (US)     1 / 25  
    Great, I will add it now

    Yes, periods and smileys are the same for me
    No matter what you say
    posted 24 April 2007 02:02 PM EDT (US)     2 / 25  
    "The Age of new triggers"

    That's what happening! And nottud is the one to lead us in to it!


    Please note that while you are reading this text you should have thought about the fact that the end of the world is going on outside.

    Homepage

    posted 24 April 2007 02:16 PM EDT (US)     3 / 25  
    Nice guide

    MEPH
    [Insert amazingly witty signature here.]

    Me and Yeebaagooon's scenarios | Download The Corruptor
    posted 24 April 2007 02:39 PM EDT (US)     4 / 25  
    Sounds cool. The last two can be done with a simple change unit, however.

    Ewww... I just got 'YOU ARE THE 999,999th VISITOR TO THIS SITE! CLICK HERE TO CLAIM YOUR REWARD!!' at the top of the page >.>

    posted 24 April 2007 02:44 PM EDT (US)     5 / 25  
    You can't do the last one with the normal change unit because it doesn't keep the unit size.

    The boy with the mad imagination
    Prepare for the ultimate duel!
    Learn to use all my triggers and what you can do with them. Visit here.
    Find out and download the transform trigger here.
    Play some minigames I have created outside AOM including some 3D games here.
    posted 24 April 2007 02:50 PM EDT (US)     6 / 25  

    Ewww... I just got 'YOU ARE THE 999,999th VISITOR TO THIS SITE! CLICK HERE TO CLAIM YOUR REWARD!!' at the top of the page >.>

    lolliez. I get that all the time.


    Please note that while you are reading this text you should have thought about the fact that the end of the world is going on outside.

    Homepage

    posted 24 April 2007 06:19 PM EDT (US)     7 / 25  
    nottud i saw a pick a wile back of a bunch of stone units that did not dissapeare or fall over and it looked like a garden statue. could u find a way to do that with the texture change??
    posted 24 April 2007 11:24 PM EDT (US)     8 / 25  
    This really is a great trigger...ive been experimenting with transforming Petrobolos Shot and found that if you shoot an attacking unit (such as the dog Bella in this case) and select it in the air and tell it to attack the thing its sailing toward it will actually attack it once it gets to the bottom, in Bellas case killing the building. Very amusing.

    o_0
    posted 25 April 2007 12:56 PM EDT (US)     9 / 25  
    Indeed you can. I do that with rocs.

    The boy with the mad imagination
    Prepare for the ultimate duel!
    Learn to use all my triggers and what you can do with them. Visit here.
    Find out and download the transform trigger here.
    Play some minigames I have created outside AOM including some 3D games here.
    posted 25 April 2007 10:04 PM EDT (US)     10 / 25  
    Great job nottud... Next thing we know...

    Units will be able to walk on water.

    0_0

    And villies build on it

    0_0

    lol

    Nottud and his trigger revolution!!!

    (Well if you have all those commands...)

    I was just thinking with all the commands in the game couldn't you make a trigger instantly changing the texture of the selected unit? Work on it.. its tiring to do medusa's in entire scenario.. and it sorta lags.. =P

    So just locate the command for texture change... see if ya can make a trigger and bam!! More happy nottud followers!

    LOL!!!! Nottud uses GIMP!!! The best program ever!!

    =_=

    <(*_*)>

    [This message has been edited by MatoR (edited 04-25-2007 @ 10:08 PM).]

    posted 26 April 2007 02:59 AM EDT (US)     11 / 25  
    Great job nottud... Next thing we know...
    Units will be able to walk on water.

    0_0

    And villies build on it

    0_0

    lol

    Nottud and his trigger revolution!!!

    (Well if you have all those commands...)

    I was just thinking with all the commands in the game couldn't you make a trigger instantly changing the texture of the selected unit? Work on it.. its tiring to do medusa's in entire scenario.. and it sorta lags.. =P

    I have already managed to make villagers walk and build on water deeper than normal - there is a way to do it.

    For the medusa thingy, I know a way to stone instantly and get max amount of stone texture from it:

    Cast bronze on some units and get them stoned, change the the momment they are stoned. THey get the best stony texture garunteed but it tuns out after 1 and a half minuites.


    The boy with the mad imagination
    Prepare for the ultimate duel!
    Learn to use all my triggers and what you can do with them. Visit here.
    Find out and download the transform trigger here.
    Play some minigames I have created outside AOM including some 3D games here.
    posted 26 April 2007 03:56 AM EDT (US)     12 / 25  
    Ah I see you've put this together, well done.
    posted 01 June 2007 09:26 AM EDT (US)     13 / 25  
    Can I change the name of all units of a certain type?

    New in designing*
    posted 01 June 2007 10:28 AM EDT (US)     14 / 25  
    Well about the textures, I came up with making a frost giant freeze a unt then make it a titan. Yet, since that didn't work I am going to try folstag breath which makes a texture around a titan right? so it should work!

    Reconcile not with the fear of the snake, but embrace it as your own...
    posted 01 June 2007 10:33 AM EDT (US)     15 / 25  
    Can I change the name of all units of a certain type?
    Not with this trigger.

    The freeze thingy the transform doesnt keep it for some reason.

    The boy with the mad imagination
    Prepare for the ultimate duel!
    Learn to use all my triggers and what you can do with them. Visit here.
    Find out and download the transform trigger here.
    Play some minigames I have created outside AOM including some 3D games here.
    posted 01 June 2007 01:36 PM EDT (US)     16 / 25  
    I thought the titan freeze was a texture unlike the normal freeze. yet it isn't Though, surely there must be more than 3 textures possible in the game? eh?

    Reconcile not with the fear of the snake, but embrace it as your own...
    posted 01 June 2007 05:06 PM EDT (US)     17 / 25  
    I think the titan freeze texture is the ice terrain.

    MEPH
    [Insert amazingly witty signature here.]

    Me and Yeebaagooon's scenarios | Download The Corruptor
    posted 02 June 2007 02:20 AM EDT (US)     18 / 25  
    no that would be the frost giant freeze I think. It makes the ice block over it. The titan should work but it doesn't. It textures over the titan...

    Reconcile not with the fear of the snake, but embrace it as your own...
    posted 02 June 2007 02:58 AM EDT (US)     19 / 25  
    Oh, I see what you mean.

    MEPH
    [Insert amazingly witty signature here.]

    Me and Yeebaagooon's scenarios | Download The Corruptor
    posted 02 June 2007 03:43 AM EDT (US)     20 / 25  
    When you freeze, it textures AND creates an ice block.

    The boy with the mad imagination
    Prepare for the ultimate duel!
    Learn to use all my triggers and what you can do with them. Visit here.
    Find out and download the transform trigger here.
    Play some minigames I have created outside AOM including some 3D games here.
    posted 02 June 2007 06:08 AM EDT (US)     21 / 25  
    both cases or just titan? Well I am going to try one thing and that is the bronze rock thingy. Plus, I have a question: Can you stop a burnt texture (using burning forest) from getting killed/destroyed after its time runs out?

    Reconcile not with the fear of the snake, but embrace it as your own...
    posted 02 June 2007 06:46 AM EDT (US)     22 / 25  
    Looping minus damage to heal?

    Also, I made a thread on how to make sideways units, which is another interesting little trick.
    [/shameless self promotion]


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    posted 02 June 2007 09:11 AM EDT (US)     23 / 25  
    both cases or just titan? Well I am going to try one thing and that is the bronze rock thingy. Plus, I have a question: Can you stop a burnt texture (using burning forest) from getting killed/destroyed after its time runs out?


    Cast restoration on the object just before it dies to prevent it dying.

    The boy with the mad imagination
    Prepare for the ultimate duel!
    Learn to use all my triggers and what you can do with them. Visit here.
    Find out and download the transform trigger here.
    Play some minigames I have created outside AOM including some 3D games here.
    posted 02 June 2007 09:14 AM EDT (US)     24 / 25  
    If this is EVERYTHING to do with the transform trigger, then why is this in that thread? That's some useful info.

    MEPH
    [Insert amazingly witty signature here.]

    Me and Yeebaagooon's scenarios | Download The Corruptor
    posted 02 June 2007 10:41 AM EDT (US)     25 / 25  
    BTW, I tried the bronze/rock texturing but it won't work. The thing would still get only the rock texture

    Reconcile not with the fear of the snake, but embrace it as your own...
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