Random black blob on terrain lightmaps [fix'd]

[KittenIgnition]

I've been messing around in Radiant again recently, and got back to my little test map. I don't remember ever having this issue before, but that doesn't matter as I have it now. There's a huge black spot over my terrain, and the same thing on a few other brushes in the same terrain cluster (I have a few terrain brushes func_group'd for more detailed shadows).

The shader for the grass is really basic:

Code: Select all

textures/landscape/fielddirtgrass01
{
//	q3map_surfacemodel models/landscape/grass/fallforestgrassobj01.obj 96 .3 1.5 0.5 0 360 1
	q3map_lightmapSize 2048 2048
	q3map_lightmapBrightness 2.0
	q3map_lightmapMergable
	surfaceparm alphashadow
	surfaceparm slick
	{
		tcgen lightmap
		map $lightmap
		rgbGen identity
	}
	{
		map textures/landscape/fielddirtgrass01.tga
		blendfunc filter
	}
}

and I'm using Lunaran's ridiculous skybox from lun3dm5, but it happens also with more standard skyboxes. I dunno where to look for a solution, as this is the first time I've ever seen this that I can recall.

[KittenIgnition]

I'm, uh, really unlucky with these kinds of things. I don't know why "surfaceparm alphashadow" is there, and I don't know why I didn't check it earlier... but somehow that was the cause. And I found it within 30 seconds if making this topic, after having the issue for 3 days.

FML

[AEon]

I noted that the act of trying to analyse and explain an issue to others usually helps to focus the own mind. Had that happen to me several times as well in the past few years...

[KittenIgnition]

It also happens to me really often, but I don't catch it until I already send my message or make my post, thus causing some embarrassment. Not that it really matters, it's a bit annoying though.

Seriously though, why the hell does alphashadow cause this? It's friggin' weird. I know it shouldn't have been there, and its presence in the shader was an accident, but this basically means alphashadow casts its own shadow on itself, right? That's weird. And potentially cool.

[Eraser]

Same thing with programming. Sometimes you stare at an unsolvable issues for hours and then you ask someone to take a look at it and while you explain what's happening, you suddenly note your parentheses are incorrect

[MKJ]

it's called Rubber Ducking.

[mrd]

It's actually called a new pair of eyes.

[Eraser]

It's actually called a new pair of eyes.

Nah, because it's your own eyes spotting the mistake without any input from the other person.

[MKJ]

Indeed, it's forcing yourself to go through it step by step.

[mrd]

Apparently I need a new pair of eyes.

[KittenIgnition]

here is pic A of the map in its working stage and pic B, if anyone was interested =D

If you aren't actually playing on the map, it really isn't that special to look at. It's not amazing even if you are on it though... It's just for experimenting and learning mainly.

lightmap ver of pic A and pic B.