Some of you that have been following my comments may of seen that I'm working on proper artifact containers where artifacts actually go inside Here's a bit of a write-up I did in the Testing Lab forums for those who may be interested. Remember this is only a side-project and, unless stated otherwise, is not an "official" MDT project
Someone wrote: Well what I got at the moment is I've changed the IAM's class so it is usable. It can also still be attached to the belt. Because it's not an artifact class now though even if you attach it to the belt it wont change any of the actors properties (This is one of GSC's shortcomings with xray IMO. They didn't make an item class where the object is usable and not food/antirad, or an item class where an item could be usable but still retain its property changes if it gets attached to the belt.)
I also took some of the functions from amk's inventory.script and converted them for use in CoP. These functions can determine whether an item is on the belt of not
You can only change certain actor properties/effects via script as well (radiation level, bleeding level, stamina level, health level). I did create a loop that can emulate the current radiation restore that the iam has per second, but I can't emulate the electrical resistance. I'm thinking about dropping this idea entirely and just going with the empty container not being able to be put on the belt and can only counteract the radiation of a artifact that is put inside it, and not just a straight out positive benefit. If the artifact emits less radiation then the container "radiation level", its just makes it neutral, if it is higher then there still is radiation leakage
What I have it got at the moment is that when the iam is used and a medusa "jellyfish" is in the backpack, both items get destroyed and a crystal is created. This is mainly just for proof of concept. The idea is that when the container is used with an artifact, the conatiner and arty are released and a new item of the "artefact" class is created in the inventory. (E.g "IAM with Jellyfish inside"). This item will gain the benefits/drawbacks of both items combined. In the case of radiation it with either be completely counteracted or there will be a "bleed-out" if the original arty has more radiation then the container counteracts. This item could then be put on the belt.
It will probably then be a matter of whether or not deciding whether the container and artefact are then "fused" together and cant be removed from each other (decent misery money sink, and the easiest to implement), or doing some more nifty script work and breaking it up back to a original arty and container if it is taken off the belt or put into a box or something, or even having to take it to beard or some other trader (scientists perhaps) and paying a fee to have the artifact safely removed from the container. Even making so you have to take it to the scientists to get the arty put in the container properly in the first place could even be an option (But would require a different approach to the scripting).
Next step would be creating some sort of UI for when a container is used/activated. Originally I thought I could possibly steal the repair UI for it and modify it so its a artifact to container system, so a container is similar in operation to a repair kit. Another option is doing a modified version of whats been done in STALKERSOUP (Mentioned by K.E.V.L.A.R) where, if i remember right, when you use the container a window comes up and you can drag and drop an artifact into it. (Their artifact container only works in the inventory, only effects radiation (via scripts) and cant be attached to the belt so is just a storage container. Artifacts emit radiation while in backpacks in SS).
There was also some discussion about whether or not I should make artifacts emit radiation even while they're in the backpack, and having an artifact storage box similiar to StalkerSoup as well. I was leaning towards not implementing something like this but is a possibility.
Also a project like this will take a while as I have toned down a little so I can use my free time to actually play some games myself as well :P. It would also require a rebalance of all the artifacts and containers from pricing to properties which takes time as well.
Yasti
