Spectator GhostPad feature

[kai-li-wop]

The idea is to use the GhostPad model, originally created as a kind of random powerup drop when being shot flying around in the game, as a player model, only for players who are part of the spectator team. This way spectators can fly around a map, for example in LPS, waiting for the next round for their own entertainment. Only players on the spectator team should be able to see each other, and no other players in the match. This should keep spectators from disturbing players in a match.

We also don't know yet how spectators with a visible model would appear in the game. It seems that spectators can crouch while floating, but I guess it will be the same as with the noclip command enabled. So there will probably be no leg animation needed for walking and swimming. Besides, the GhostPad as a player model has no legs anyway, just a chain hanging down. Also, the model doesn't need to hold a weapon, so we don't need a weapon change animation. A gesture animation would be feasible.

What to do?

• Enable spectators to spawn with a certain GhostPad player model
• Spectators should be able to see each other but should not be seen by any other player team
• GhostPad must be stored somewhere else so it should not be shown in the player setup menu
• Probably only certain animations are needed for idle and gesture, we need to check that

As long as there is no GhostPad player model asset, we could try to simulate the feature with an existing player model.

[cinnamon189]

How about GhostPads do remain visible to players still in a match, and leave items if they get fragged? That would give GhostPads something exciting to do, and would be in the spirit (haha!) of the original idea. For balancing, you could have each player spawn as GhostPad only once.

[kai-li-wop]

We wanted to keep spectator GhostPads invisible to normal players to prevent spectators from interfering with normal players in a match in unpleasant ways. For example, you could try to disrupt a normal player by flying around very close in their line of sight, making aiming and shooting very difficult and frustrating.