I also would like to see this expanded even a little. The ability to link standard entities would allow objects that use different shaders, textures, etc. to be linked and saved as a composite. An example of what I mean would be:
1. create an entity that has an animation shader applied. (like a monitor screen)
2. create an entity that serves as a console for the above screen. This object would use the standard bump shader to render nice looking surface detail with your normals. ( note: as great as Bond1's animated shader is, it lacked the ability to render surface relief through the normal maps).
3. Position the screen ( in editor) to line up on the console I've built. (it's orientation, and such could be defined with the .fpe)?
2. link them together with the fpe, or other method so the 2 parts can be saved together as a single usable object. ( similar to how segments were built and saved in classic. (multiple parts, one object).
Result: A sharp looking entity that uses the standard entity shader, with an animated monitor screen.
Another would be nicer window glass, and frames. ( such as a water effect shader to the glass mesh, in a standard frame, to build an aquarium type effect). Or candles, and torches that you could place on walls or whatever, that has the flame effect already attached to the entity.
Even classic had the ability to add, and position an animated sprite to an entity (attaching the sprite mesh to the entity mesh) with just a few lines in the .fpe. It's the same exact thing, I just don't know how to make it work. I'm horrible at scripting of any kind.
This would be one of, if not "the" most important, and useful features that could be made for modelers like me.
Thanks for reading. Cos.
AMD 6 Core 3.5gh, 16GB DDR3, NVIDIA Gforce 4GB. Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit.
