"Replacing" an arbitrary actor (aka an actor with no TID) based on X and Y coordinates

[sarge945]

So, I am trying to make a script that modifies some of the objects in existing maps. It is being done for a reason, and I can not modify the maps at all (they are retail maps).

 

Anyway, adding an actor is easy - I can simply use Spawn or SpawnForced

 

However, replacing an existing actor (based on their position) is a lot more difficult.

 

Currently, I am doing this:

Spawn a dummy object (an empty actor I defined in DECORATE) at the location of the object I want to replace with a custom TID

Call CheckProximity in ACS to get the closest actor to the dummy object (it requires a class, but using the class "actor" and the CPXF_ANCESTOR flag allows it so select any actor of any type), to check anything within 2 map units, which is set to it's TARGET

call Thing_Remove() on the dummy actor's target

Then, spawn the new actor

 

This works fine in (G)Zdoom. However, Zandronum has an older version of the CheckProximity function, which doesn't allow using "actor".

 

I am looking for a zandronum compatible way to replace an actor without a tid, in a way which isn't horrible. I really wish there was a "GetActorAt" function, or some equivalent.

 

There is probably a simpler/more obvious solution to this, but I do not know it.

[Arctangent]

The obvious solutions are either to stop targeting Zandronum or wait for several years until it catches up. These are also probably the only solutions.

[sarge945]

Yeah I don't really want to badmouth Zandronum too much, but it seems like it's codebase is almost prehistoric, which is a real shame because it's hands down the best port for multiplayer.

 

I kinda wish they would stay more up-to-date with gzdoom releases, but whatever