Good day to all! I just recently started using Unreal and have already seen something similar to my question, but I could not find some clarifications and make a final decision, so I create my first topic.
The issue: I need an opportunity to adding visual effects to the material of certain objects during the game. For example, if the enemy is poisoned - the one, if it is burning - the other, and in some cases even both at once.
What implementation options I have identified for myself:
- Adding to the material of each of the actors (to whom this will need to be used) functions that multiply or add the visual component to it if the corresponding parameter is set as True. I don’t like this option, since it turns out that each of the materials will have a decent number of params and each time a new visual effect is added to the game, I will have to go through all of them.
- Additional material to each mesh (change in the file itself) of the required actors, which will be intended only for these visual effects. Then you only need to make one material on the idea from the first option and change only its parameters. I don’t have my own models in the project yet, so I can just take this into account when creating.
- Use a layered material system. For each actor, do not a classic, but a layer material, as for each effect too.
Make one main material that will use a stack of layers and make its own instance for each mesh (
with its texture as a background), and during the game just add and remove layers. Are there any pitfalls when working with layered materials instead of normal ones?
Which one should I choose? And if you have in mind another implementation option – write it too!
