-------------------------------------------------------------
******************Pillar Gun - By Rich_Zap*******************
-------------------------------------------------------------

Installation:

To install simply extract this file to your base UT2004 folder. So C:\UT2004\ as an example.



The Pillar Gun: Explanation

The PillarGun is a constructive tool used to build up defensive or offensive fortifications. You can place 1 of 5 different pieces at any one time using primary fire, where they are placed depends on where you are looking and the normal (direction) of the object that your beam hits. Alternate fire will switch between the 5 items.


Item 1: Wooden Beam

This is the most versatile of all the items and will be placed lengthways along the normal it is placed on. If the normal has an angular component on top of it it will align with this as well.

Its uses are general purpose but mostly for creating quick scaffolds or constructions. It is more expensive to try to use this as a wall though because multiple beams have to be placed to seal an opening or build a fence. However this will impart added strength because there is a greater concentration of items.


Item 2: Wooden Post

This is similar to the beam but varies on the way it is placed. This will always remain vertical no matter where it is placed and will be rotated so that it faces the player who spawned it. 

This item has only 1 main use, starting structures on uneven ground. It comes invery useful if you need to build a fence or wall across terrain. You can use them as posts and connect either wooden walls or wooden beams to the sides to create an effective barrier.


Item 3: Wooden Cylinder

This is an item which helps you get a wider variety of angles. It will be placed so that the centre of one side of the cylinder is against the object you shot.

Its use is really only for gaining angles that you would be otherwise unable to achive using any of the other items. Other than that it is really only decorative.


Item 4: Wooden Sheet

This will be placed so that if you shoot any vertical object then this will always be horizontal. Its behaviour will not be very useful or predictable if not placed on a vertical plain however.

Its uses are for flooring or roofing. This could be to very quickly build up an effective and wide bridge at a fraction of the cost of using wooden beam, or it could be that you need some cover from aerial assault in which case you build a roof.


Item 5: Wooden Wall

This is similar to the Sheet but instead of being placed horizontally will always be placed vertically.

This is used as a cheap piece of wall which can quickly cover a large area. It is however quite weak and will need to have multiple layers put down to gain a reasonable amount of strength. It can be used very effectively in combinatin with the wooden post to create long fence structures.


All items have a strength of 200HP, build style will increase the effectiveness of the structures. Items that are placed close together will be vulnerable to splash damage weapons, otherise the fortifications are very effective against non-splash weapons.

The PillarGun does work online as well.


Known Bugs:

Bot AI is unfortunately not capable of dealing with such a rapidly changing environment. I am planning to make a modification which makes bots shoot any items that get in their way but it is not implemented yet.

If you do play against bots then do not expect them to know how to use the pillargun or be able to navigate around closed paths. However the pillargun mutator can be used quite effectively in combination with the invasion gametypes or similar. The best use of it is between human players though, theres nothing more satisfying than trapping someone under a pile of wood or sealing a corridor to escape.