How do I use Triggers?

[SteelCrow]

I'm trying to create a program whose PWR cost is based on the player's current PWR.  I've been trying to activate triggers to keep the program's PWR cost updated, but the new triggers I've been trying aren't working.  The only one that's made a difference is the existing one "TRG_START_TURN", but I need this program to update more often than that.  I've been trying to alter the function addCpus() so that every change to the player's PWR makes my program update.

Is there any important difference between dispatchEvent() and triggerEvent() that I need to know about? 

My mainframe_abilities.lua and the addCpus() entries at the moment:

Spoiler

	steelcrow_flood = util.extend( DEFAULT_ABILITY )
	{
		name = STRINGS.SCMODS_PROGRAM.PROGRAMS.FLOOD.NAME,
		desc = STRINGS.SCMODS_PROGRAM.PROGRAMS.FLOOD.DESC,
		huddesc = STRINGS.SCMODS_PROGRAM.PROGRAMS.FLOOD.HUD_DESC,
		shortdesc = STRINGS.SCMODS_PROGRAM.PROGRAMS.FLOOD.SHORT_DESC,
		tipdesc = STRINGS.SCMODS_PROGRAM.PROGRAMS.FLOOD.TIP_DESC,

		icon = "gui/icons/programs_icons/icon-program-powerdrip.png",
		icon_100 = "gui/icons/programs_icons/store_icons/StorePrograms_drip.png",
		cpu_cost = 1,
		value = 600,
		equip_program = true,
		equipped = false,


		PROGRAM_LIST = 10,

		onSpawnAbility = function( self, sim )
			DEFAULT_ABILITY.onSpawnAbility( self, sim )
			self._sim = sim
			sim:addTrigger( simdefs.TRG_CPU_CHANGE_FLOOD, self )
		end,

		onDespawnAbility = function( self, sim )
			DEFAULT_ABILITY.onDespawnAbility( self, sim )
			sim:removeTrigger( simdefs.TRG_CPU_CHANGE_FLOOD, self )
		end,

		onTrigger = function( self, sim, evType, evData )
			DEFAULT_ABILITY.onTrigger( self, sim, evType, evData )
			if evType == simdefs.TRG_CPU_CHANGE_FLOOD then
				self.break_firewalls = math.max(math.ceil(sim:getPC():getCpus() ),1)
				self.cpu_cost = math.max(math.ceil(sim:getPC():getCpus() ),1)
				self.tipdesc = string.format(STRINGS.SCMODS_PROGRAM.PROGRAMS.FLOOD.TIP_DESC2,self.break_firewalls)
			end
		end,
	},

 

Spoiler

local simplayer = include( "sim/simplayer" )
local simdefs = include( "sim/simdefs" )

function simplayer:addCPUs( delta, sim,x,y, delay )
	local old_cpus = self._cpus
	self._cpus = math.max( 0, self._cpus + delta )
	self._cpus = math.min( self:getMaxCpus( ), self._cpus )
	local actual_delta = self._cpus - old_cpus

	if delta < 0 then
		self._sim:dispatchEvent( simdefs.EV_HUD_SUBTRACT_CPU, {delta = delta} )
	end

	if actual_delta > 0 then
		self._sim._resultTable.pwr_gained = self._sim._resultTable.pwr_gained and self._sim._resultTable.pwr_gained + delta or delta
	elseif actual_delta < 0 then
		self._sim._resultTable.pwr_used = self._sim._resultTable.pwr_used and self._sim._resultTable.pwr_used - delta or -delta
	end

  	sim:dispatchEvent( simdefs.TRG_CPU_CHANGE_FLOOD )

	if x and y then
		local sound = "SpySociety/HUD/gameplay/gain_pwr"
        local floatTxt
		if delta < 0 then
			sound = "SpySociety/HUD/gameplay/lose_pwr"
            floatTxt = util.sformat( STRINGS.FORMATS.PWR, delta )
        else
            floatTxt = util.sformat( STRINGS.FORMATS.PLUS_PWR, delta )
		end

	    sim:dispatchEvent( simdefs.EV_UNIT_FLY_TXT, {txt=floatTxt, x=x,y=y, color={r=1,g=1,b=1,a=1}, sound=sound, soundDelay=0.1, delay=delay } )  --1.5
	else
		self._sim:dispatchEvent( simdefs.EV_PLAY_SOUND, "SpySociety/HUD/gameplay/gain_pwr" )
	end
end

 

 

[PrismaticPhoton]

I don't think triggers are what you want. I would think the simplest approach would be to override the "getCpuCost" function for the program. This is what Rapier does:

Spoiler

getCpuCost = function( self )
            local trackerStage = 0
            if self._sim then
                trackerStage = self._sim:getTrackerStage( math.min( simdefs.TRACKER_MAXCOUNT, self._sim:getTracker() ))
            end
            self.cpu_cost = 1 + trackerStage

            return DEFAULT_ABILITY.getCpuCost( self )
        end,

 

[SteelCrow]

22 hours ago, PrismaticPhoton said:

I don't think triggers are what you want. I would think the simplest approach would be to override the "getCpuCost" function for the program. This is what Rapier does:

Okay.  So this is exactly what I needed.  Working perfectly now.  Thank you!  I'm planning out a small Programs mod now.  I was on the hunt for the perfect breaker to match with Seed.

On the other hand, triggers still have some mystery about them.  Question stands.

[Cyberboy2000]

I'm guessing that your addCPUs function is not being called. You see, simplayer is not used in itself, it's only purpose is for pcplayer and aiplayer to inherit from. What this means is that if those two are loaded before your mod function, it will not cause any change to pcplayer and aiplayer, and in this case you are looking to change pcplayer.

The difference between dispatchEvent() and triggerEvent() is that triggers can be used on any table as long as you can pass it to the sim, and events are only passed to hud and boardig (which in turn passes them to unitrigs). Only triggers can be used for gameplay purposes, events are for sound and visuals only.