So yeah, after recent updates, while creating custom hero spells (see my github and blog), I was twinkling on Dota 2 Workshop tools.

What a sight! It looks like a major update on Workshop, where a tool (previously void) shifts a particle's color to a new one (that is, changing the color).

Be noted that the changes only applies to ultimates' particles. So yeah, basic abilities are still in their actual color.

Nonetheless, I tried it myself, only to change the particles to full green (0,255,0), and Voila! It may be different from actual in-game later (primarily based on the color shift), but here you go. It's official.

Sonic Wave:

Freezing Field (falling shard):

Black Hole:

Doom:

Laguna Blade:

Finger of Death:

Macropyre:

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Tutorial Will be Moved

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It's not that I wanted to, but apparently this blog isn't suitable for code-heavy writings. So, I decided to move the tutorial into the GitHub's wiki page.

Don't worry, I'll still be here if you have critics or questions regarding the tutorial.

So, rather than this post being empty, I'll write out the overview instead.

Overview

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So, Dark Pact will teach us about how to use modifier's interval function; OnIntervalThink. Upon cast, Dark Pact will have a delay, and after that, continuously purges the caster.

There are 2 intervals; the delay and the continuous purge/damage. Both need to share the logic on one function; OnIntervalThink. In this case, we use boolean to check which interval invokes the function.

How it should be implemented? Here's the full tutorial: Slark's Dark Pact.

Conclusion

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Next, we're going to have Linear Projectiles and How You Use Them, using Mirana's Sacred Arrow.
Comments, Critics and Questions…
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Preface

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It's been a while, eh? Don't worry, I'm still pretty much alive (at least physically, but inside...).

So, I've been tweaking around github and decided to split between real version of Dota 2 abilities and tutorial version. Meaning, there are 2 implementations for each ability created in different github branch.

Why the split? I thought that for beginners, it would be better if they just understand basic functions explained in this tutorial, and the ability scripts should only show what's essential for them. Meanwhile, the real version of the ability tends to have a lot of fuss and fancy APIs which may confuse the learners.

I've moved tutorial version of the abilities from "master" branch to "tutorial" branch. Previous links have been updated to the new links, so make sure you get the correct version.

In short, to download ability scripts, go to branch tutorial in the github to get the 'easy' version, and go to branch master to ge…
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EDIT: Some links have been updated due to github repository change.

Ability Form: Precache

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I've been avoiding aesthetics up until now, but finally it's unavoidable anymore. If you look at the base .txt file, everything seems normal excluding that "precache" key-value.

Okay, here's the thing about precache: the engine is just pure lazy. It won't load any resources (such as particles and sounds) unless it is explicitly required. This 'precache' is a way to ensure the particle is required 'explicitly'. Spawning a hero is another one, but even the engine won't automatically load his/her voice until they're triggered to speak.
Particle not loaded means it won't show up. Got it?

Knowing a particle's path would require a Workshop Tools or a GCFScape, so if you don't want to be bothered by those, simply use the path I set there. The most essential particle is the "chaos_knight_chaos_bolt.vpcf" one; the rest is optional.

Logic: Tracking…
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EDIT: Some links have been updated due to github repository change.

Previously we've been dealt with passive abilities, which tends to do their action on their modifiers. Now, this unit-targetted ability will have actions that is defined in the main lua instead; modifier will be a simple tag without action.

Ability Form (.txt file)

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The base .txt filled with things that have been covered in the first tutorial. Fireblast is a unit-targeted ability which target enemies that may be heroes or creeps, and deals magical damage that may be dispelled by strong dispel but cannot pierce spell immunity.

A question may be raised as to why the damage section is empty even though Fireblast do damages its target. The thing is, it does not have considerable impact as long as your code follows this form. If the form has "AbilityDamage" value, the code may call "Ability:GetAbilityDamage()" to retrieve it. If the form uses "AbilitySpecial" instead, then…
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