Projectiles

Ten projectile datablock types ship with Tribes 2. Each maps to a C++ class with its own flight model, rendering, and collision behaviour. You cannot add a new type — that would need engine changes — so building a new weapon means picking the closest existing type and tuning it.

The type hierarchy

scripts/projectiles.cs documents it in a header comment [script]:

ProjectileData            : GameBaseData
LinearProjectileData      : ProjectileData
LinearFlareProjectileData : LinearProjectileData
GrenadeProjectileData     : ProjectileData
SeekerProjectileData      : ProjectileData
SniperProjectileData      : ProjectileData

The remaining four — EnergyProjectileData, TracerProjectileData, ELFProjectileData, TargetProjectileData, ShockLanceProjectileData — are not listed in that comment but exist in the shipped weapon files.

That same header claims the file contains illustrative default-value datablocks. It does not — the blocks were removed at some point before release and only the functions remain. The real reference is the weapon files, reproduced below.

ProjectileData itself is abstract — the comment says so explicitly: “ProjectileData cannot be used as a concrete datablock type.”

Choosing a type

Type	Used by	Flight	Pick it for
`EnergyProjectileData`	Blaster	Bounces off surfaces, gravity-affected via `gravityMod`, motion-blurred billboard	Bouncing energy shots
`LinearProjectileData`	Spinfusor	Straight line, constant speed, uses a `.dts` shape	Dumbfire rockets, discs, thrown shapes
`LinearFlareProjectileData`	Plasma gun	Linear, rendered as a flare sprite cluster	Glowing bolts without a model
`GrenadeProjectileData`	Grenade launcher, mortar	Ballistic arc, bounces, arming delay	Anything that lobs
`SeekerProjectileData`	Missile launcher	Homing with turn rate and terrain avoidance	Guided missiles
`TracerProjectileData`	Chaingun	Very fast, tracer-rendered, leaves decals	Bullets
`SniperProjectileData`	Sniper rifle	Instant beam with range limit and headshot multiplier	Hitscan beams
`TargetProjectileData`	Targeting laser	Persistent beam, marks targets	Designators
`ELFProjectileData`	ELF gun	Sustained lightning beam, drains energy	Continuous-effect beams
`ShockLanceProjectileData`	Shock lance	Very short range, rear-hit multiplier	Melee-range weapons

Fields shared by most types

Field	Meaning
`projectileShapeName`	`.dts` model. Not used by flare/tracer/beam types.
`directDamage`	Damage on a direct hit
`directDamageType`	`$DamageType::` constant for direct hits
`hasDamageRadius`	Enables splash damage
`indirectDamage`	Maximum splash damage at the centre
`damageRadius`	Splash radius in metres
`radiusDamageType`	`$DamageType::` constant for splash
`kickBackStrength`	Impulse applied to hit objects — this is what makes disc jumping work
`explosion`	`ExplosionData` on detonation
`underwaterExplosion`	Alternate `ExplosionData` underwater
`splash`	`SplashData` on water entry
`sound`	Looping `AudioProfile` while in flight
`velInheritFactor`	Fraction of the shooter’s velocity added. `0.5` is typical; missiles use `1.0`.
`lifetimeMS`	Maximum flight time
`fizzleTimeMS`	Time before it fizzles out
`explodeOnDeath`	Detonate when lifetime expires
`hasLight`, `lightRadius`, `lightColor`	Dynamic light while in flight
`scale`	Model scale, `"x y z"`
`emitterDelay`	Delay before trail emitters start. `-1` disables.
`baseEmitter`, `bubbleEmitter`, `delayEmitter`, `puffEmitter`	Trail particle emitters
`dryVelocity`, `wetVelocity`	Speed in air and in water
`reflectOnWaterImpactAngle`	Skip angle in degrees
`explodeOnWaterImpact`	Detonate at the surface
`deflectionOnWaterImpact`	Deflection amount
`fizzleUnderwaterMS`	Underwater lifetime
`activateDelayMS`	Arming delay before it can hurt anything

Reference: every shipped projectile

`LinearProjectileData` — spinfusor

datablock LinearProjectileData(DiscProjectile)
{
   projectileShapeName = "disc.dts";
   emitterDelay        = -1;
   directDamage        = 0.0;
   hasDamageRadius     = true;
   indirectDamage      = 0.50;
   damageRadius        = 7.5;
   radiusDamageType    = $DamageType::Disc;
   kickBackStrength    = 1750;

   sound               = discProjectileSound;
   explosion           = "DiscExplosion";
   underwaterExplosion = "UnderwaterDiscExplosion";
   splash              = DiscSplash;

   dryVelocity       = 90;
   wetVelocity       = 50;
   velInheritFactor  = 0.5;
   fizzleTimeMS      = 5000;
   lifetimeMS        = 5000;
   explodeOnDeath    = true;
   reflectOnWaterImpactAngle = 15.0;
   explodeOnWaterImpact      = true;
   deflectionOnWaterImpact   = 0.0;
   fizzleUnderwaterMS        = 5000;

   activateDelayMS = 200;

   hasLight    = true;
   lightRadius = 6.0;
   lightColor  = "0.175 0.175 0.5";
};

The spinfusor does zero direct damage — all 0.50 of its damage is splash. This is why point-blank discs and near-misses do the same damage, and why disc jumping works at all.

`EnergyProjectileData` — blaster

datablock EnergyProjectileData(EnergyBolt)
{
   emitterDelay        = -1;
   directDamage        = 0.15;
   directDamageType    = $DamageType::Blaster;
   kickBackStrength    = 0.0;
   bubbleEmitTime      = 1.0;

   sound = BlasterProjectileSound;
   velInheritFactor    = 0.5;

   explosion           = "BlasterExplosion";
   splash              = BlasterSplash;

   grenadeElasticity = 0.998;      // ← bounce: 0.998 is almost lossless
   grenadeFriction   = 0.0;
   armingDelayMS     = 500;

   muzzleVelocity    = 90.0;
   drag              = 0.05;
   gravityMod        = 0.0;        // ← raise this and the bolt arcs

   dryVelocity       = 200.0;
   wetVelocity       = 150.0;

   reflectOnWaterImpactAngle = 0.0;
   explodeOnWaterImpact      = false;
   deflectionOnWaterImpact   = 0.0;
   fizzleUnderwaterMS        = 3000;

   hasLight    = true;
   lightRadius = 3.0;
   lightColor  = "0.5 0.175 0.175";

   scale        = "0.25 20.0 1.0";
   crossViewAng = 0.99;
   crossSize    = 0.55;

   lifetimeMS   = 3000;
   blurLifetime = 0.2;
   blurWidth    = 0.25;
   blurColor    = "0.4 0.0 0.0 1.0";

   texture[0] = "special/blasterBolt";
   texture[1] = "special/blasterBoltCross";
};

The community documentation is right about this one [community]: gravityMod turns the blaster bolt into a grenade, and it bounces further the faster it travels. It can take a .dts shape, but the shape renders distorted because the projectile is scaled non-uniformly (scale = "0.25 20.0 1.0") for the bolt-streak effect.

`LinearFlareProjectileData` — plasma

datablock LinearFlareProjectileData(PlasmaBolt)
{
   projectileShapeName = "plasmabolt.dts";
   scale               = "2.0 2.0 2.0";
   faceViewer          = true;
   directDamage        = 0.0;
   hasDamageRadius     = true;
   indirectDamage      = 0.45;
   damageRadius        = 4.0;
   kickBackStrength    = 0.0;
   radiusDamageType    = $DamageType::Plasma;

   explosion = "PlasmaBoltExplosion";
   splash    = PlasmaSplash;

   dryVelocity      = 55.0;
   wetVelocity      = -1;          // ← -1 = cannot travel underwater
   velInheritFactor = 0.3;
   fizzleTimeMS     = 2000;
   lifetimeMS       = 3000;
   explodeOnDeath   = false;

   size[0] = 0.2;  size[1] = 0.5;  size[2] = 0.1;

   numFlares        = 35;
   flareColor       = "1 0.75 0.25";
   flareModTexture  = "flaremod";
   flareBaseTexture = "flarebase";

   sound        = PlasmaProjectileSound;
   fireSound    = PlasmaFireSound;
   wetFireSound = PlasmaFireWetSound;

   hasLight    = true;
   lightRadius = 3.0;
   lightColor  = "1 0.75 0.25";
};

flareColor only takes effect when no shape is used. numFlares is the sprite count in the cluster.

`GrenadeProjectileData` — grenade launcher

datablock GrenadeProjectileData(BasicGrenade)
{
   projectileShapeName = "grenade_projectile.dts";
   emitterDelay        = -1;
   directDamage        = 0.0;
   hasDamageRadius     = true;
   indirectDamage      = 0.40;
   damageRadius        = 15.0;
   radiusDamageType    = $DamageType::Grenade;
   kickBackStrength    = 1500;
   bubbleEmitTime      = 1.0;

   sound               = GrenadeProjectileSound;
   explosion           = "GrenadeExplosion";
   underwaterExplosion = "UnderwaterGrenadeExplosion";
   velInheritFactor    = 0.5;
   splash              = GrenadeSplash;

   baseEmitter   = GrenadeSmokeEmitter;
   bubbleEmitter = GrenadeBubbleEmitter;

   grenadeElasticity = 0.35;      // ← bounce
   grenadeFriction   = 0.2;       // ← roll
   armingDelayMS     = 1000;      // ← cannot detonate before this
   muzzleVelocity    = 47.00;
   drag              = 0.1;
};

The mortar (MortarShot) is the same type with different numbers.

`SeekerProjectileData` — missile launcher

datablock SeekerProjectileData(ShoulderMissile)
{
   casingShapeName     = "weapon_missile_casement.dts";
   projectileShapeName = "weapon_missile_projectile.dts";
   hasDamageRadius     = true;
   indirectDamage      = 0.8;
   damageRadius        = 8.0;
   radiusDamageType    = $DamageType::Missile;
   kickBackStrength    = 2000;

   explosion        = "MissileExplosion";
   splash           = MissileSplash;
   velInheritFactor = 1.0;

   baseEmitter    = MissileSmokeEmitter;
   delayEmitter   = MissileFireEmitter;
   puffEmitter    = MissilePuffEmitter;
   bubbleEmitter  = GrenadeBubbleEmitter;
   bubbleEmitTime = 1.0;

   exhaustEmitter  = MissileLauncherExhaustEmitter;
   exhaustTimeMs   = 300;
   exhaustNodeName = "muzzlePoint1";

   lifetimeMS     = 6000;
   muzzleVelocity = 10.0;      // ← slow launch, then accelerates
   maxVelocity    = 80.0;
   turningSpeed   = 110.0;     // ← degrees/sec — the key homing tuning value
   acceleration   = 200.0;

   proximityRadius = 3;        // ← detonate within this distance of the target

   terrainAvoidanceSpeed  = 180;
   terrainScanAhead       = 25;
   terrainHeightFail      = 12;
   terrainAvoidanceRadius = 100;

   flareDistance = 200;        // ← flare countermeasure decoy range
   flareAngle    = 30;

   sound = MissileProjectileSound;

   hasLight    = true;
   lightRadius = 5.0;
   lightColor  = "0.2 0.05 0";

   useFlechette     = true;
   flechetteDelayMs = 550;
   casingDeb        = FlechetteDebris;

   explodeOnWaterImpact = false;
};

The velInheritFactor = 1.0 carries a comment explaining itself [script]: “to compensate for slow starting velocity, this value is cranked up to full so the missile doesn’t start out behind the player when the player is moving very quickly.”

Guidance is script-driven — see Weapons for MissileLauncherImage::onFire calling setObjectTarget / setPositionTarget / setNoTarget.

`TracerProjectileData` — chaingun

datablock TracerProjectileData(ChaingunBullet)
{
   doDynamicClientHits = true;    // ← client-side hit prediction

   directDamage     = 0.0825;
   directDamageType = $DamageType::Bullet;
   explosion        = "ChaingunExplosion";
   splash           = ChaingunSplash;

   kickBackStrength = 0.0;
   sound            = ChaingunProjectile;

   dryVelocity      = 425.0;
   wetVelocity      = 100.0;
   velInheritFactor = 1.0;
   fizzleTimeMS     = 3000;
   lifetimeMS       = 3000;
   explodeOnDeath   = false;

   tracerLength    = 15.0;
   tracerAlpha     = false;
   tracerMinPixels = 6;
   tracerColor     = 211.0/255.0 @ " " @ 215.0/255.0 @ " " @ 120.0/255.0 @ " 0.75";
   tracerTex[0]    = "special/tracer00";
   tracerTex[1]    = "special/tracercross";
   tracerWidth     = 0.10;
   crossSize       = 0.20;
   crossViewAng    = 0.990;
   renderCross     = true;

   decalData[0] = ChaingunDecal1;
   … decalData[5] = ChaingunDecal6;
};

Note tracerColor built with arithmetic and @ concatenation — a legitimate way to write colours as 0–255 values.

`SniperProjectileData` — sniper rifle

datablock SniperProjectileData(BasicSniperShot)
{
   directDamage     = 0.4;
   hasDamageRadius  = false;
   velInheritFactor = 1.0;
   sound            = SniperRifleProjectileSound;
   explosion        = "SniperExplosion";
   splash           = SniperSplash;
   directDamageType = $DamageType::Laser;

   maxRifleRange       = 1000;
   rifleHeadMultiplier = 1.3;      // ← headshot multiplier
   beamColor           = "1 0.1 0.1";
   fadeTime            = 1.0;

   startBeamWidth = 0.145;
   endBeamWidth   = 0.25;
   pulseBeamWidth = 0.5;
   beamFlareAngle = 3.0;
   minFlareSize   = 0.0;
   maxFlareSize   = 400.0;
   pulseSpeed     = 6.0;
   pulseLength    = 0.150;

   lightRadius = 1.0;
   lightColor  = "0.3 0.0 0.0";

   textureName[0…11] = "special/flare", "special/nonlingradient",
                       "special/laserrip01" … "special/laserrip09", "special/sniper00";
};

Headshots are implemented in SniperProjectileData::onCollision [script]:

if(%targetObject.getDataBlock().getClassName() $= "PlayerData")
{
   %damLoc = firstWord(%targetObject.getDamageLocation(%position));
   if(%damLoc $= "head")
   {
      %targetObject.getOwnerClient().headShot = 1;
      %modifier = %data.rifleHeadMultiplier;
   }
   else
   {
      %modifier = 1;
      %targetObject.getOwnerClient().headShot = 0;
   }
}

getDamageLocation() is the general hit-location API — usable by any weapon mod that wants location sensitivity.

$DamageType::Laser = 6 carries the comment “This value is referenced directly in code. DO NOT CHANGE!” [script]. Take it seriously.

`ELFProjectileData` — ELF gun

datablock ELFProjectileData(BasicELF)
{
   beamRange         = 30;
   numControlPoints  = 8;
   restorativeFactor = 3.75;
   dragFactor        = 4.5;
   endFactor         = 2.25;
   randForceFactor   = 2;
   randForceTime     = 0.125;
   drainEnergy       = 1.0;      // ← energy drained per tick
   drainHealth       = 0.0;      // ← damage once the target is out of energy
   directDamageType  = $DamageType::ELF;
   mainBeamWidth     = 0.1;      // width of blue wave beam
   mainBeamSpeed     = 9.0;      // speed that the beam travels forward
   mainBeamRepeat    = 0.25;     // number of times the texture repeats
   lightningWidth    = 0.1;
   lightningDist     = 0.15;     // distance of lightning from main beam

   fireSound    = ElfGunFireSound;
   wetFireSound = ElfFireWetSound;

   textures[0] = "special/ELFBeam";
   textures[1] = "special/ELFLightning";
   textures[2] = "special/BlueImpact";

   emitter = ELFSparksEmitter;
};

restorativeFactor, dragFactor, endFactor, randForceFactor, randForceTime control the beam’s rope-like visual simulation across its numControlPoints. [inferred] — the names and the presence of numControlPoints imply a spring/damper chain, but the engine code has not been traced. The 2002 tutorial corpus admits the same ignorance [community].

The behaviour that matters is in script and is fully readable [script]: ELFProjectileData::zapTarget subtracts drainEnergy from the target’s recharge rate, and ELFProjectile::checkELFStatus reschedules itself every 32 ms, applying drainHealth as damage once the target’s energy hits zero.

%enLevel = %target.getEnergyLevel();
if(%enLevel < 1.0)
   %dataBlock.damageObject(%target, %this.sourceObject, %target.getPosition(),
                           %data.drainHealth, %data.directDamageType);
else
   %target.playShieldEffect( %normal );

%this.ELFrecur = %this.schedule(32, checkELFStatus, %data, %target, %targeter);

drainHealth = 1.0 kills instantly on energy depletion [community] — the shipped value is 0.0.

The zap also respects friendly fire [script]:

%teammates = %target.client.team == %targeter.client.team;
if( %target.teamDamageStateOnZap || !%teammates )
   %target.setRechargeRate(%oldERate - %data.drainEnergy);

`TargetProjectileData` — targeting laser

datablock TargetProjectileData(BasicTargeter)
{
   directDamage    = 0.0;
   hasDamageRadius = false;
   maxRifleRange   = 1000;
   beamColor       = "0.1 1.0 0.1";
   startBeamWidth  = 0.20;
   pulseBeamWidth  = 0.15;
   beamFlareAngle  = 3.0;
   minFlareSize    = 0.0;
   maxFlareSize    = 400.0;
   pulseSpeed      = 6.0;
   pulseLength     = 0.150;
   textureName[0…3] = "special/nonlingradient", "special/flare",
                      "special/pulse", "special/expFlare";
   beacon          = true;      // ← marks the target for missile lock
};

`ShockLanceProjectileData` — shock lance

datablock ShockLanceProjectileData(BasicShocker)
{
   directDamage     = 0.45;
   radiusDamageType = $DamageType::ShockLance;
   kickBackStrength = 2500;
   velInheritFactor = 0;

   zapDuration      = 1.0;
   impulse          = 1800;
   boltLength       = 14.0;
   extension        = 14.0;   // script variable indicating distance you can shock people from
   lightningFreq    = 25.0;
   lightningDensity = 3.0;
   lightningAmp     = 0.25;
   lightningWidth   = 0.05;

   shockwave = ShocklanceHit;

   boltSpeed[0] = 2.0;   boltSpeed[1] = -0.5;
   texWrap[0]   = 1.5;   texWrap[1]   = 1.5;
   startWidth[0] = 0.3;  endWidth[0]  = 0.6;
   startWidth[1] = 0.3;  endWidth[1]  = 0.6;

   texture[0…3] = "special/shockLightning01" … "special/ELFBeam";
   emitter[0]   = ShockParticleEmitter;
};

The rear-hit bonus is script, in ShockLanceImage::onFire [script] — a 120° cone test behind the target, %damageMultiplier = 3.0 on success:

// 120 Deg angle test...
// 1.05 == 60 degrees in radians
if (%dot >= mCos(1.05)) {
   // Rear hit
   %damageMultiplier = 3.0;
}

Collision and explosion callbacks

Two functions do all the damage work, both in scripts/projectiles.cs [script]:

function ProjectileData::onCollision(%data, %projectile, %targetObject, %modifier, %position, %normal)
{
   %targetObject.damage(%projectile.sourceObject, %position,
                        %data.directDamage * %modifier, %data.directDamageType);
}

function ProjectileData::onExplode(%data, %proj, %pos, %mod)
{
   if (%data.hasDamageRadius)
      RadiusExplosion(%proj, %pos, %data.damageRadius, %data.indirectDamage,
                      %data.kickBackStrength, %proj.sourceObject, %data.radiusDamageType);
}

Override either in a package to change hit behaviour globally, or define a <YourProjectileDatablock>::onCollision for one projectile only. RadiusExplosion is documented in Damage and type masks.

Weapons — the image that fires these
Damage and type masks — $DamageType::, RadiusExplosion, falloff
Particles, explosions, and effects — ExplosionData and SplashData
Audio — the sound / fireSound fields

On a patched install: nothing on this page changes. Neither TribesNEXT patch touches gameplay content — see 03 · Content Recipes.

Projectiles

The type hierarchy

Choosing a type

Fields shared by most types

Reference: every shipped projectile

LinearProjectileData — spinfusor

EnergyProjectileData — blaster

LinearFlareProjectileData — plasma

GrenadeProjectileData — grenade launcher

SeekerProjectileData — missile launcher

TracerProjectileData — chaingun

SniperProjectileData — sniper rifle

ELFProjectileData — ELF gun

TargetProjectileData — targeting laser

ShockLanceProjectileData — shock lance