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i have a problem with subanim controllers on my biped xtras.
i assign an orientation constraint to it
(make sure subanims are enabled/manipulatable)
add my desired orientation target (a point helper)
nothing happens!!!
I was able to get a test working using the arm bones on a fresh default biped.
is there something about the Xtras bones that is different?
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basically I’m trying to automate the minor wing bone on a dragon
so it stays halfway between the two major bones surrounding it
currently i have a point helper that is parented to the upperwing bone
and then 50% wieght orientation constrained to forewing bone.
this keeps the point oriented halfway between the two driving bones
and i should be able to just add the subanim constraint to
the inbetweeen bone and set it to orient to the point helper, but,
the bone doesn’t react to any orientation target i put on it.
i’ve also tried rotation reaction, but couldn’t get that to work. haven’t ever
used reactions. still confused on how to set them up.
then tried a scripted controller and expose transform. wasn’t sure if i had
the right tracks as variables or converted them correctly to the quat
i want/need (was using the forewing bone’s local eulerxyz and halfing
the resulting quat). i musta been way off because any time i’d try to srub
the timeline (move the arm) i’d get a circular reference error on the expose
transform and max would clear out the expose’s node link to the biped
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so, that was a lot, i know. why won’t my Xtra bone obey an orientation constraint?
that would fix this the quickest for now. but even on the test and working pointer,
there is a problem, in that, if the two bones go past straight, the point will flip. or is that
a quat vs. euler issue? i got this when i was using lookat’s too. quats though always
use the shortest distance around, right, so i should need euler for this? don’t i have
to use euler for the whole biped then?
can anybody get me straightened out on all this? what really is the best way to go
in this situation? i have so many other questions. where can i find some good
information or tutorials on biped subanims and extending biped. or should i just
be looking at learning MotionBuilder or something else in Max?
many thanks in advance for any thoughts,
Nick
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