//Applies a row of visual effects from initial position to final
//position recursively, at a changeable frame rate and travel time
//use small visual effects for best results
//This function can be used with 3d vectors, and can generate an effect
//similar to the moving colored puffs in the Elemental ruins area in
//SoU chapter one.
void VFXTrace(vector vInitial, vector vFinal, float fTime, object oSource, int nVFX, float fRate= 2.0);
//DON'T USE THIS! It is an internal recursive function
void RecursiveVFX(vector vCurrent, vector vDiff, int nTimesLeft, int nVFX, float fDelay);
//This will generate a visual effect similar to a laser cutting
//beam tracing from the initial position to the final position
//The emitting object stays stationary, and may be a placeable or
//a creature. Adjust the travel time and frame rate to suit the
//distance travelled, or the beam will appear to jump. Frame rates
//higher than 2.0 do not work, as the created invisible object target
//needs time to appear
void BeamTrace(vector vInitial, vector vFinal, float fTime, object oSource, int nColor, float fRate= 2.0, int nNode=BODY_NODE_CHEST);
//DON'T USE THIS! It is an internal recursive function
void RecursiveBeam(vector vCurrent, vector vDiff, int nTimesLeft, object oSource, int nColor, float fDelay, int nNode);

//*****************************************************************************
//Now for the functions themselves...

void VFXTrace(vector vInitial, vector vFinal, float fTime, object oSource, int nVFX, float fRate= 2.0)
{
vector vdiff= vFinal-vInitial;    //finding the relative position
int times= FloatToInt(fTime*fRate);  //finding the number of times to recurse
float delay= 1.0/fRate;      //finding the delay time
vector vdiff2;
vdiff2.x= vdiff.x/times;     //finding the distance to move in the delay time
vdiff2.y= vdiff.y/times;
vdiff2.z= vdiff.z/times;
                             //Start the recursion!
AssignCommand(oSource, RecursiveVFX( vInitial, vdiff2, times, nVFX, delay));
}

void RecursiveVFX(vector vCurrent, vector vDiff, int nTimesLeft, int nVFX, float fDelay)
{
vCurrent+=vDiff;  //update the current position by the difference
location lCurrent= Location(GetArea(OBJECT_SELF), vCurrent, GetFacing(OBJECT_SELF));
effect eVFX= EffectVisualEffect(nVFX);
ApplyEffectAtLocation(DURATION_TYPE_TEMPORARY, eVFX, lCurrent, fDelay);

//now for the recursion...
nTimesLeft--;
if(nTimesLeft!=0)
   DelayCommand(fDelay, RecursiveVFX( vCurrent, vDiff, nTimesLeft, nVFX, fDelay));
}

void BeamTrace(vector vInitial, vector vFinal, float fTime, object oSource, int nColor, float fRate= 2.0, int nNode= BODY_NODE_CHEST)
{
vector vdiff= vFinal-vInitial;    //same idea as above function
int times= FloatToInt(fTime*fRate);
float delay= 1.0/fRate;
vector vdiff2;
vdiff2.x= vdiff.x/times;
vdiff2.y= vdiff.y/times;
vdiff2.z= vdiff.z/times;

RecursiveBeam( vInitial, vdiff2, times, oSource, nColor, delay, nNode);
}

void RecursiveBeam(vector vCurrent, vector vDiff, int nTimesLeft, object oSource, int nColor, float fDelay, int nNode)
{
vCurrent+=vDiff;               //same idea as above function
location lCurrent= Location(GetArea(OBJECT_SELF), vCurrent, GetFacing(OBJECT_SELF));
effect eBeam= EffectBeam(nColor, oSource, nNode);
object oCreated= CreateObject(OBJECT_TYPE_PLACEABLE, "plc_invisobj", lCurrent); //error in name of item created
DestroyObject(oCreated, fDelay);
ApplyEffectToObject(DURATION_TYPE_TEMPORARY, eBeam, oCreated, fDelay);

//now for the recursion...
nTimesLeft--;
if(nTimesLeft!=0)
   DelayCommand(fDelay, RecursiveBeam( vCurrent, vDiff, nTimesLeft, oSource, nColor, fDelay, nNode));
}