Inactive [MECH] PorteCoulissante - Easy and realistic portcullises

Discussion in 'Inactive/Unsupported Plugins' started by Captain Chaos, Mar 6, 2011.

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  1. Offline

    Captain Chaos

    ****************************************************************************************
    PorteCoulissante moved to BukkitDev!

    PorteCoulissante has moved to BukkitDev! I will no longer be updating this thread, please use the BukkitDev page to keep track of developments, download the plugin and source code, read how to configure it and other details, etc.
    ****************************************************************************************

    PorteCoulissante - The easy and realistic portcullis plugin:

    Build redstone powered portcullises, without using commands! This is my first ever Minecraft plugin, so please be gentle! I needed a project for my first plugin, and I've always wanted a working portcullis in my town gate, so I decided to write this. I subsequently discovered that there already is a portcullis plugin (which is why I named mine after the French word that the word portcullis was derived from), but I think mine has enough distinguishing features to be useful.

    Download the latest release from the BukkitDev page.

    Also check out the new sister plugin, RetractableBridge, which does basically the same thing, only horizontally.

    Features:
    • It doesn't use commands. Just build the portcullis and it will work.
    • Stateless, i.e. it does not have to save anything on the server.
    • It's redstone powered, giving you flexibility in controlling it.
    • It is realistic. The portcullis does not disappear, but moves up and down just like a real one would.
    Usage:
    • Build the portcullis itself by stacking rows of fences (wood or iron), at least two wide and two high.
    • Build the wall around it to contain it. Leave enough empty space above the portcullis to allow it to go as high as you want it to go.
    • Power the portcullis by powering one of the blocks adjacent to it on either side, by attaching a lever or redstone dust. For now, the power has to come from the side.
    • The result should look something like this:
    [​IMG]
    • When the block is powered, the portcullis will start moving upwards, and will keep going until it hits something and can't go any further. It moves slowly, since a portcullis is heavy!
    • Important: make sure that when it is in the up position, it is still in contact with a powered block (the same one, or a different one).
    • When the power goes off, the portcullis will drop down (a lot faster than it went up).
    • Decorate the gate by building walls in front of and behind the portcullis to cover the empty space and to make it appear the portcullis is moving in a groove. Of course you can make it look any way you want! Here is an example:
    [​IMG]

    Hints and tips:
    • The portcullis can be any size you want, as long as it is at least two blocks wide and two blocks high. It must be rectangular though, and have no holes. If the portcullis breaks, it won't move any more until you repair it.
    • Try to make the empty space above the portcullis one block less high than the portcullis itself (like in the first picture above). That way, you only need to power one block (the one in the middle on either side), since that block will always be in contact with the portcullis.
    • Of course the empty space can be even smaller, if you want. The portcullis only has to go up two blocks to let people through, or three if you want the passage to be a little less claustrophobic.
    • The portcullis will go through (and hold back) water and lava, so you can make water gates and water or lava traps with them.
    More information:

    For download links, source code, configuration information and change logs, please see the BukkitDev page:

    http://dev.bukkit.org/server-mods/portecoulissante/
     
  2. Offline

    yottabyte

    How about breaking the entire gate when Y is equals to or more than 128? This way we won't have gates getting stuck in the air.
     
  3. Offline

    Captain Chaos

    That's not a bad idea. Thanks, I may do that. :)
     
  4. Offline

    Maxis010

    If this is done then ensure that a gate is broken ONLY when it is surrounded by air, I do have a few users building on mountains around 110 and I don't want complaints that their gates self-destruct "for no apparent reason"
     
  5. Offline

    dark1256

    works perfect i will use it!
     
  6. Offline

    Captain Chaos

    Every portcullis should have a frame around it, including above it, so no correctly made portcullis should be able to reach the top of the map.
     
  7. Offline

    yottabyte

    Even better! Check if there's blocks above it, if there is not then it won't move.
     
  8. Offline

    Maxis010

    Noted, even so if possible do the air check anyway to ensure there are no false positives
     
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    Wolfburns

    I've been using this plugin to build some elevators with but I can't seem to get it to come back down reliably. I constructed a test elevator with a lever at the top and bottom so it can work, and it works flawlessly. However once I take the design indoors to use it never comes back down. I have the levers placed opposite the same piece of fence too, although multiple combinations of lever placement hasn't made a difference, I opted to keep it on the 2nd block just for consistency.

    I have the levers in the same vertical space on my test and it works fine but one the production model I can only get it to work by placing the levers on opposite ends, meaning the bottom lever is on the left side while the top one is on the right, inconveniently outside the building. When I try to put both levers in the same vertical space the top lever ceases functioning.

    I did find that in order to get the elevator to go up the lever has to be in an off position and vice versa to get it to come down. It goes up slowly and comes down quickly.
     
  10. Offline

    Maxis010

    The up slowly down quickly is part of the realism for this plugin, All I can say for your set up is check that there is no other redstone setup capable of interfering and that the first lever is being completely disconnected from the elevator else the continued power will keep it up
     
  11. Offline

    Wolfburns

    The levers aren't even within line of sight of each other so they can't be competing. There also isn't any redstone being used as I'm trying to keep it simple for my first production elevator. This is also the first thing I am attempting to add to this building so there aren't any other redstone projects period.

    Also its not weird that I have to turn a lever OFF in order for the elevator to go up, and not vice versa? I added the up slow and down quick to show that the elevator is still functioning as intended even though it seems the power needs to be reversed in order for it to go work.
     
  12. Offline

    br0ad456

    awesome!
     
  13. Offline

    Captain Chaos

    I can't explain that. There is nothing in the plugin which would prevent that from working, as far as I'm aware. All I can suggest is to examine the situation carefully to double check that everything is at it should be, and there is no redstone interfering, blocks missing or blocks too many, etc. If you still can't get it to work, feel free to invite me to your server so I can take a look.
    What do you call the off position? A lever is on when it is down, which is counter intuitive if you're using it to power a portcullis.
     
  14. Offline

    Wolfburns

    Okay so I'm a jackass on the lever part, can't believe I've been playing since the start of beta and haven't made something with a lever on the side of a block... Hope everyone gets a nice chuckle at that :D

    Anywho, I will PM you the address if you get a chance to come check it out. I've also attached a decent screenshot of the production elevator in case you can figure it out by looking at it. [​IMG]
     
  15. Offline

    Captain Chaos

    Hmmm. I think that should work, I don't see any obvious problem. I'll come take a look... ;)
     
  16. Offline

    Owned645

    i have a fence that is approximately 640 fence blocks and it wont move most likely do to the size of it.
     
  17. Offline

    Captain Chaos

    There's no maximum on the size of the portcullis. Even one that big should work. There's probably something not quite right with its construction or the redstone connections.
     
  18. Offline

    Owned645

    Well I've been working with this for quite some time and it should definitely be working. The only explanation can be the size. Should I make a video?
     
  19. Offline

    Sneaky420

    So i read threw this and it seems there wont be a config file.... but like the retractable bridge, can we have it if we connect more lines of redstone to it, can it move a bit faster?

    Other then that, it has been great and i had to redesign most of my keeps walls to allow a bridge and gate :)

    Thank you for a great plugin
     
  20. Offline

    Captain Chaos

    I may or may not do that at some point in the future... ;)

    That, or a couple of pictures (one that clearly shows the entire portcullis and one that shows exactly where the redstone goes). Or invite me over to your server so I can take a look.

    EDIT by Moderator: merged posts, please use the edit button instead of double posting.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 11, 2016
  21. Offline

    Sneaky420

    *crosses fingers*

    I made a gate with a bridge... the bridge can extend 22 block in the time it takes for the gate to move 3 :(

    I wanted to give players the option of the gate opening faster and then being able to ride part of the bridge out, so I just hope that it is not too much, and again...

    Thank you for making such great addons :D :D :D
     
  22. Offline

    Captain Chaos

    I wouldn't count on it any time soon, anyway. The reason it moves so slowly is to be realistic. It's a very heavy wooden portcullis, it takes time to hoist such a massive object. I think it would look weird and unrealistic if it moved fast, and having to wait for it while being chased by monsters makes the game more interesting.

    I always imagine it to be accompanied by sounds like these: http://www.sounddogs.com/sound-effects/2723/mp3/460227_SOUNDDOGS__po.mp3 I wish I could play sounds from the server. Who knows, perhaps in the Adventure Update... :)
    One thing you could do is to delay the extending of the bridge with a bunch of redstone repeaters, so that it only starts extending once the portcullis has been raised two blocks. You could even make it so the reverse would happen when you close the gate: delaying the portcullis so that it only drops when the bridge has fully retracted.

    Another tip for making the delay seem shorter is to place the controls some distance away from the gate, so that the portcullis has already been raised some distance when you reach it.
     
  23. Offline

    Sneaky420


    I can understand wanting it to be realistic... but i have a gap that i only 3 tall... sorry i guess i am being too picky, and i need to learn java to mod myself :( but thanks...

    and giving the option for your other plugin to move a 45 long 3 wide slab of stone at a walking pace, but i cant just double the gate speed? i dont want a super fast, just a bit faster.

    and to support a reason for it to be more "real" the real gates made for the real castles had counter weights installed to allow the weight of the door to be offset and allow faster movement.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portcullis

    Dont get me wrong, i love the plugin and the work you have done to it, and tbh if i did not see the speed difference on the bridge compared to the gate, i would just assume it is a limitation, but thank you for considering it even if it is shot down...
     
  24. Offline

    Divizion125

    This is one of the best mods out there as to pimping ur castle with effects!

    just troubles me badly that there aren't any permission nodes :(
     
  25. Offline

    AlsoKnownAsJazz

    Very cool, thanks for making this! I had a static portcullis just for looks, now I've hooked it to redstone and tied it in with my drawbridge. Thanks!
     
  26. Offline

    Xanadar

    Could you make it so that it stops moving if it goes up too far and loses contact with a powered block? This would prevent it from endlessly going up until it hits the skylimit, but still require someone to "fix" their connection. It also keeps it more realistic. :)

    Edit: adding additional thought.
     
  27. Offline

    Captain Chaos

    That is not likely to ever change. It would require an extensive rewrite of the plugin, adding features like commands, which I really dislike. Check out the discussion between me and ravyn on page 12 of this thread for more details (it's about RetractableBridge, but it also applies to PorteCoulissante, which functions almost identically).

    No, I made it like that on purpose because it gives you maximum flexibility. Some people want their portcullis to be able to travel long distances without touching redstone. I think I will implement the idea of the portcullis being destroyed if it hits the top of the map though, so you at least don't have to go all the way up there to retrieve it. :)

    EDIT by Moderator: merged posts, please use the edit button instead of double posting.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 11, 2016
  28. Offline

    cj89898

    hey umm i don't know how to use it i tried to but still doesn't work with redstone
     
  29. Offline

    Captain Chaos

    It's not difficult. Just follow the instructions in the top post closely, and look at the first image carefully. If you build that, it will work.

    If you really can't get it to work, and you're sure the plugin is actually being loaded (check the server.log), then post a picture here of you built (from such an angle that the redstone is clearly visible) and I'll take a look.
     
  30. Offline

    cj89898

    i figured it out already but thank you
     
  31. Offline

    drakowolf

    Is there a way for the gate to go up at the same speed as you have it going down ? I feel that the gate going up appears to be alot slower.
     
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