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Valhalla Avatar
Player Model Conversions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Valhalla Avatar?
Valhalla Avatar (VA) is a mod that allows clients to use any model, skin, or voicepack on a server, regardless of whether or not it is installed server-side. Many games, such as the later Quake games (2 &3) already have this supported, unfortunately UT's custom content system is quite limited. Many have wished for a more custom content friendly sytem in Unreal Tournament, and I created this mod as an answer.
VA, at this time, has the following features:
-Clients can use any LEGAL model, skin, or voicepack on the server. They are no longer limited to what the s1erver admin has installed.
-Any client who has this model/skin/voicepack installed will see it. Otherwise it will revert to a selected default.
-Unreal I models are supported and are automatically added to the player setup menu upon connection to a VA server.
-Models can now be swapped in game!
-Gestures can be stopped or reduced.
-Some enhancements from CTF/E by Dr SiN have been included. These allow you to use teleporters in waiting mode and also to use flags in teamsay (more info below).
-Various model fixes. For instance, the atomic cow can now be used in team games, the nali supports team skins, and the BP4 models support custom skins. The head not showing has also been fixed.
-In most cases, the S3 texture/no animation bug has been fixed.
-In theory, lag should be reduced, do to less information being transfered.
So what does the name mean?
Valhalla-The great hall in Norse mythology where the souls of heroes slain in battle are received.
Avatar-An incarnation in human form.
I will leave it to you to figure out why the mod uses that name :P
*some interrogative* CHEATING?
Skin cheating is no more possible under Valhalla Avatar than vanilla Unreal Tournament. When loaded, clients check that another player's selected class has a PLAYER MESH, and that the skin follows the standard UT format (package name must be prefixed by the name of the mesh). This in fact is even more secure than UT's security checks. The only other potential exploit lies with the default mesh option. Server admins may prevent clients from using this by setting AllowClientOverrides to False.
As a matter of fact, VA has some built in security checks for hacks that CSHP can not even catch.
How well VA run with *insert name* mod?
VA is compatible with 98% of the mods out there. The only ones that it will not work with are mods that use custom playerpawns. This includes Rocket Arena (support for RA will be in final version!), Tactical Ops, Infiltration, Strike Force, Matrix Moves, Unreal Fortress and Weapons Factory. The U4E player classes will work, but unfortunately their special properties are not supported.
What are the limits of VA?
VA will support any voicepack or skin (assuming its package name is valid).
The only limitations lie with the model support.
The following aspects of a player model are supported:
-Any mesh
-Any custom skin related code
-Custom Carcass Chunks
-Custom Player/Carcass sounds, assuming that they are set purely in the defaults.
-AMS models. They are checked if the head should pop off, although any custom head is not supported.
The following is NOT supported:
-Custom animation scripting. Various systems have been hardcoded into VA (normal, tourney player, Bonus pack models, Half-Life conversions, X3M's conversions), yet new code will not work. When VA is out of beta status, custom animation code can be dynaimically loaded (although it must be formatted for VA).
-Custom sound scripting. Because this has never been used, I doubt there will be support for it.
-Custom physics/other scripting: Not supported due to obvious reasons. The same is true with most default properties (only sound and skin related ones are used).
-Custom Blood effects/Carcasses (custom masterreplacements are supported however): This pretty much only affects Alcor's Spawn model, and I doubt I will ever have support for it.
This mod sounds 1337! Where may I download/use it?
If you are a server admin, feel free to download it in the Valhalla Avatar->Downloads section of my site. However, I ask that you mail me the following information to be added to the server list:
-Server Name
-Server IP address
-Gametype
-Any mutators running
-Whether your server is using an install from the UT CD or the downloadable dedicated server pack.
Please note that even though it is a beta, it has been extensively tested. Nonetheless, there may be some minor bugs.
If you are looking for servers, you may view them by clicking on the VA servers menu item in the left frame.
What does "1337" mean?
Elite.
I just joined a VA server. Are there any new console commnads I should know about?
Yes. Please note that the following commands will ONLY work if you are a player. Spectators will be supported in the full version.
| Command | Description |
| Help | Help on the following commands or general command information. |
| SetDefault | Specify the class name of the model you wish to revert to if you do not have one a player is using installed. |
| SetGestureTime | Specify the delay between gestures. If you choose 0, no gestures will play. Ignored when gameplay has finished. |
| TeamSay | Yes, it is
the same command as normal UT (use key R). Yet, this one
has enhancements to tell about info. Use the following
switches and infomation will be insterted: %H - inserts your health. %W - inserts the name of the weapon you are holding. %A - insters the amount of armor you have. %P- CTF ONLY! Calculates what you appear to be doing and inserts it in. |
| ChangeMyTeam<team> | This simply changes your team to the number you place afterward. I recommend using the CSHP commands however, if that mod is installed on the server. |
More commands will come in VA full!
You may also use the menus by hitting ESC. Valhalla Avatar adds a new menu tab, which will be removed upon logging off from the server.
So when will the full version of VA be released and what will it include over the current BETA?
The full VA, well, uh.. probably never will happen. But who knows. It might. If it is produced:
It will include:
-A highly advanced menu system to configure options and see information about other players.
-POSSIBLE: A downloader that will attempt to download a model/skin/voice pack from a master server that you do not have installed. However, do not get your hopes up about this.
-You will be able to choose both the model you wish to play as, and the secondary model that people will see you as if the primary is not installed.
-More options to control skin and mesh reverting. Possibly multilpe meshes you can choose which are randomized.
-More limits on new mesh/skin loading. Through options, you can limit the swap until the player dies. You will also be able to not load any new meshes until you die or view the scores.
-Much more powerful console that will allow you to change your skin, view info, etc. through just console commands.
-Support for Rocket Arena.
/me wants technical details and source!
The source has been removed from VA for the purpose of reducing downloading time (400 kb vs. 150 kb). It has been partially "stripped" to prevent hack attempts. However, the source will be released when the final is. You will be allowed to make any modifications you please (outside of cheats, trojans, etc.)
Here are some TECHNICAL DETAILS for all those who wish to know how VA basically works. I have simply compared the standard UT way of handling the following operations to VA's way.
| Operation | Vanilla Unreal Tournament | Valhalla Avatar |
| Skin Replication | The server will load the client's skin upon connection to server. If it cannot find the skin, it will revert to a default. | The server does not load the skin but rather sends it as a string to all clients through a custom PlayerReplicationInfo (PRI). Clients then load the skin and it is set on playerpawns and carcasses when they are received. If the client cannot find the skin, it uses a selected default. |
| Voicepack Replication | The server will load the client's voice option. If it cannot find the voicepack, it reverts the models option. | The server will do UT's meathod as normal. However, it also sets a string in the PRI which is the intended voicepack class. The voicepack is then loaded on the client. If it isn't found it uses the one the server chose. Voices are all assigned a number (order they appear in speech window (V key)). Thus, if someone could not load a voicepack, it would simply play the same number taunt for them. |
| Mesh Replication | Native code sets the player class. It is either the one the client selected, or if that cannot be found, the server's default is used. | The player class is always constant (except for spectators). However, the server will tell all clients (again though the PRI) what the intended class. This class is loaded on each client. If it cannot be found, a selectable option is used. The mesh of the player/player's carcass is then set. |
| Animations | The server will play all animations, which are determined through various physics calculations. The name that is played, rate, frame, and other animation info is replicated to clients. However, it does not send this information to the actual player, which handles anim playing itself. | The server does NOT play any animations (this is to prevent replication, which happens to also break listen servers). Rather, it will send each client a two bytes worth of animation data. One byte represents the "base anim". The "base anim" is the looping animation, i.e. running, strafing, swimming, waiting, chatting, crawling, etc. If needed, it will replicate a "special animation". This are non-looping animations that are only played in special cases. These include gestures and projectile hit animations. The client has asigned a class of static animation functions. It calls an update each tick on this class, as well as rerouting anim ends. The class then decides what animation to play from these instructions. The local player will also use the static animation class. |
| Sounds | The server is in charge of all sound playing, which it determines through physics calculations and such. | The server does not play any sounds. The local client will calculate all sound playing by itself. For the playerpawn on other clients, the server will send sound instructions as a single byte of data. This is read and the sound is analyzed by a static sound class. It will then play the sound from the defaults of the model that was loaded. |
I wish to use Valhalla Avatar code in my mod that makes use of custom playerpawns/bots.
Sometime after the full release (or maybe even before), I will release a library for use with mods.