PLOOP – correct syntax to keep lag to a minimum

I see a lot of very bad use of PLOOP. I will give an example from ‘SG Rainbow in Vegas 3’ to show how you should and should not use PLOOP.

PLOOP (PlayerLOOP) will CYCLE through ALL players EVERY second to check if the conditions for the trigger IN the PLOOP are met.

 

Proper syntax for PLOOP:

if TRIGGER and (optional) CONDITIONS then

PLOOP

if trigger and (optional) conditions then

actions

endif

END

endif

 

Bad use of PLOOP:

SG RAINBOW IN VEGAS 3 has close to 50 PLOOPS – all without triggers!!! As an inevitable result it generates a lot of lag despite low VB and texture memory.

Example from RAINBOW IN VEGAS 3:

PLOOP
if never() and ssnlosssn(1738,player,8) then inc(v2)
endif
END

PLOOP
if never() and ssnlosssn(1739,player,8) then inc(v2)
endif
END

PLOOP
if never() and ssnlosssn(1740,player,8) then inc(v2)
endif
END

PLOOP
if never() and ssnlosssn(1741,player,8) then inc(v2)
endif
END

Worst part is when you check what variable 2 does in the script. It only triggers the following and the incremental (v2) is total B.S.:

if never() and gt(v2,0) then
ssnwave(1743,”gdtv002d.wav”,100)
endif
if chain(5) then
ssnatt(1738,50)
ssnatt(1739,50)
ssnatt(1740,50)
ssnatt(1741,50)
endif

 

Proper use of PLOOP:

if eq(v2,0) then

PLOOP
if ssnlosssn(1738,player,8) or ssnlosssn(1739,player,8) or ssnlosssn(1740,player,8) or ssnlosssn(1741,player,8) and NEVER then

SET(v2,1)

endif
END

endif

if eq(v2,1) ENTER
ssnwave(1743,”gdtv002d.wav”,100)
endif
if chain(5) then
ssnatt(1738,50)
ssnatt(1739,50)
ssnatt(1740,50)
ssnatt(1741,50)
endif

This way the PLOOP (reduced to ONE command instead of four separate ones) in the script will only fire as long as var2 is false. As soon as it equates to true, the PLOOP triggered by var2 will stop firing because it’s no longer needed.

Thanks for sharing.
I’ve also noticed a bit of lag on one of the halflife maps  – I thought it might had to do with my machine but it could very well be that as well.
Great info to know for map makers 🙂