One night when there was a lightning storm (2 or 3 nights ago) I decided I would write an article on lightning just for fun. This is the first time I have ever tried to simulate lightning before.

All the demo code is in Visual Basic with DirectX8. There is a demo with code and exe that you can via the attached article resource.

Getting down to work

First off, you just set up a normal Direct3D scene. I added a bit of fog to make it look like it's raining, but you don't have to do this if you don't want to.

Enough of that on with the fun. I use 2 classes in this method: the first you only need on ref to its name is "clsLighteningBoltMain". It's more or less just a container class for the second class called "clsLighteningBolt".

clsLighteningBoltMain

Class variables

Private BoltArray as clsLighteningBolt

This is the head of are singly linked list

Functions

Public Function Get_YfromXZ(ByVal X as single, ByVal Z as single) as Single

This function returns the height of the ground at X, Z. (Note: This function only returns 0 because our ground is flat)

Public Sub AddBolt(ByVal X as single, ByVal Y as single, ByVal Z as single, ByVal lColor as single)

This sub adds a bolt to the list at the starting pos of X, Y, Z with the color lColor (Note: for some unknown reason color is not working; if any one finds out why please e-mail me)

Public Sub DrawBolts()

This sub draws the bolt list and removes any bolts that say they can be removed.

clsLighteningBolt

Variables

Public iNext as clsLighteningBolt

Pointer to the next bolt in the list

Public Parent as clsLighteningBoltMain

Pointer to the container class (so we can call Get_YFromXZ)

Functions

Public Sub Init_Bolt(ByVal X as single, ByVal Y as single, ByVal Z as Single, iColor as Long)

Sets the bolt startup values

Public Function Draw_Bolt() as Boolean

Draws the bolt and returns false if it's done (e.g. hit the ground)

How the code works

clsLighteningMain

Get_YFromXZ

This function returns the height of the ground/strike plane at position (x, z).

Public Function Get_YFromXZ(ByVal x As Single,	ByVal z As Single) As Single
	Get_YFromXZ = 0
End Function

AddBolt

This sub adds a bolt to the start of the bolt list with the specified position and color.

Public Sub AddBolt(ByVal x As Single, ByVal y As Single, ByVal z As Single, lColor As Long)
	Dim NewBolt As New clsLighteningBolt
	NewBolt.Init_Bolt x, y, z, lColor
	Set NewBolt.iNext = BoltArray
	Set BoltArray = NewBolt
	Set NewBolt.Parent = Me
End Sub

DrawBolts

This sub draws all of the bolts in the bolt list and removes bolts that have hit the ground.

Public Sub DrawBolts()
	Dim Curr As clsLighteningBolt
	Dim Last As clsLighteningBolt

	Device.SetVertexShader FVF_LineVertex

	Set Curr = BoltArray
	Device.SetTexture 0, Nothing

	Do
		If Curr Is Nothing Then Exit Do
		If Curr.Draw_Bolt() = False Then
			If Not Last Is Nothing Then
				Set Last.iNext = Curr.iNext
				Set Curr = Curr.iNext
			Else
				Set BoltArray = Curr.iNext
				Set Curr = BoltArray
			End If
		Else
			Set Last = Curr
			Set Curr = Curr.iNext
		End If
	Loop
End Sub

clsLighteningBolt

InitBolt

This sub just sets the first line segment up.

Public Sub Init_Bolt(ByVal x As Single, ByVal y As Single, ByVal z As Single, ByVal iColor As Long)
	ReDim Lines(1)
	NumberLines = 1
	With Lines(0)
		.x = x
		.y = y
		.z = z
		.Color = iColor
	End With

	With Lines(1)
		.x = x


		.y = y - 0.06
		.z = z
		.Color = iColor
	End With
End Sub

DrawBolt

This sub draws and adds one more vertex to the line strip and returns true if its not done yet and false if it is.

Public Function Draw_Bolt() As Boolean
	NumberLines = NumberLines + 1
	ReDim Preserve Lines(NumberLines)
	With Lines(NumberLines)
		.x = Lines(NumberLines - 1).x + (1 - Rnd * 2) * 0.3
		.y = Lines(NumberLines - 1).y - (Rnd + 0.55)
		.z = Lines(NumberLines - 1).z + (1 - Rnd * 2) * 0.3
		.Color = Lines(0).Color
	End With

	Device.DrawPrimitiveUP
	D3DPT_LINESTRIP,NumberLines, Lines(0),_
	Length_LineVertex

	Draw_Bolt = True
	If Lines(NumberLines).y <= Parent.Get_YFromXZ(Lines(1).x, Lines(1).z) Then
		If Rnd > 0.95 Then
			Draw_Bolt = False
		End If
	End If
End Function

Theory

How it works

The way this works is really simple when you think about it. There is a list of all the bolts that this container needs to think about. You add and remove bolts from there. Here's a picture to help out with this one:

Adding a new bolt
Step One:

Create a new bolt class and set its variables.

Step 2:

Insert the new bolt into the list right after the head.

Removing a bolt

Steps:

1. Set 1.iNext = 2.iNext
2. Set 2.iNext = Nothing
3. Set 2 = Nothing

Figuring out where to put the next vertex for a bolt is even easier then that. Here's how:

1. Resize the Vertex array so you can fit one more vertex in it
2. Set the X to X(index-1) + 1-(rnd * 2) * 0.3 and same for the z coordinate
3. Set y to Y(index-1) - (rnd + .55)

Now last but not least: drawing the bolt. I do it with DirectX using a line strip.

Device.DrawPrimitiveUP D3DPT_LINESTRIP, Ubound(Lines()), Lines(0),16

Conclusion

Well that's all there is to it. Not hard, is it?

WepPage: http://www.telusplan...public/javaman/