How do I get an object that is posessed with a follow imp to move on z axis
The imp can move around the scene with the left stick. An object possessed with follow imp selected can move on the x and y but not z-axis - the left stick is inoperative. The right stick controls the camera the same. How do get the object to move like the imp does when it is not possessing something? I have tried puppet interface and a mover, and no luck.
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It seems as though the "follow imp" option locks in depth.
I did come up with a hacky workaround by connecting the object via ball joint to a stationary block, and then using a second object connected via a slider. The negative Y axis of the L stick output is plugged into a timeline with two keyframes recording slider positions.
The ball joint is necessary to stabilize the rig, and to rotate the objects away from the camera. Otherwise they want to stay in a straight line, and bounce all over the place... and it's just no good.
I have no idea if this is what you're looking for, or if it will work with the rest of your setup, but it's the best I've got.
Cloud1985, OgEnigma, oLMCo, CgCody, or someone will probably be on shortly to one-up me. :P
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPu9bdYCILM&feature=youtu.be -
Will I do? XD
I've been playing with various methods along these lines recently, making a game where you "throw" beanbags by grabbing them and just tilting the controller up to move away from the camera.
3 methods that may suit your needs depending:
- Follow-imp object that collides with an invisible block that's angled away. Physics will shove it forward as you move the "imp" up, in line with the angled block.
- The follow-imp position away from the camera is dictated by the camera's focus distance. So you can change that value and the imp position and the follow-imp object will adjust accordingly.
- Have an invisible follow-imp object with a tag in it just to get that position. Then have another object with a follower. Use the tag's position, split it, mess with the Z axis, combine it again and plug that into the "target position" of the follower. You may have to fiddle with strength/speed/dampening settings to get it to not jitter so much.
They all have slightly different benefits and drawbacks. Depends on what you want to do with it. Hope this helps. -
Ha! See, thats why you should never name names. You always leave someone out by mistake.
Your second suggestion of tampering with the camera focus sounds the most promising to me. You could wire the -/+ of the L's Y axis into variable modifiers set to continuously update, and then wire the variable into the focus distance. Then the Imp could move without springing back like it did in my demo.
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