Problem with spawning actor actor layers

BasGoodboy

Hello all,

The idea:
So I'm having a vendor in my game where the player can buy new items, which will instantly be visible after buying by spawning an actor before the hero (like a headpeace actor, which will spawn in front of the head of the actor).

The problem:
I want it so, that the buyable headpiece goes over the chestpiece (cause of a larger picture)
Problem is a part of the headpiece will dissapear UNDER the chestpiece, while i want it to OVERLAP the chestpiece.

I can't set the layer of the headpiece actor higher then the chestpiece actor because the 'buyable item actors' are not in the layers because they are not spawned yet.

Please help.

UtopianGames

Not 100% i understand lol but you could try making a duplicate actor, our layer template (free) might help.

http://www.deepblueapps.com/layer-selection-template/

Darren.

jamie_c

You could also consider not using spawn. Make a layer for all your items and start them off screen. Then when they are purchased move them to the correct X/Y coordinates.

BasGoodboy

Hey DeepBlueApps, that's not exactly what I ment. Let me try to make the problem obvious:

Check

Before the chest piece layer gets spawned:
http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/8572/7amp.png

After the chest piece layer gets spawned (you will notice the headpiece misses the lower piece of it's image, if you compare it to the screen above:
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/4/0ior.png/

See the problem?

UtopianGames

Ahh I see, i would simply have some separate sprites and just swap them, full body one with no chest piece and full body with chest piece unless you plan do do a lot of items?

Or you could have the chest piece include the red scarf so it doesn't look odd.

Darren.

VolontaArts

or you can have a invisible actor. layered on top of what you want it to be. and have the invisible actor spawn the headpiece on top of it. i think that should work

BasGoodboy

@DeepBlueApps, I'm planning to have a lot of items (or already do have), so that won't work. Thanks tho.

@Mpaula620 that would be an idea, but how can I make an actor invisible?

BasGoodboy

@Mpaula620 I might have an idea, a transparant pixel in photoshop as an actor would make an actor invisible. Only I still was hoping for a better option to set layers of the unspawned actors.. would make all a lot more easy.

BasGoodboy

@jamie_c I missed your reaction, that actually does make sense! I think I'm gonna try that!

VolontaArts

yea i understand. but btw you dont have to make it transparent in photoshop. GamaSalad can do that. just edit the color/alpha of the actor that will spawn the other actor. good luck bud

BasGoodboy

But of course, I honestly new that haha. Thanks mate.

BasGoodboy

One problem I have now, I want to change the positions of the actors (I putted all item-actors outside the screen, and want to change their positions in the screen if an item is bought). How do I change the positions without a movement?

-Timo-

change self.position.x (and y) to where you want?

BasGoodboy

Im feeling completely noob now, but I can't find 'change self.position' rule????

-Timo-

haha the behavior is change attribute
and then you change self.position
self.position is an attribute

BasGoodboy

Got it hahaha.. Thanks mate.

-Timo-

glad I could help
good luck!