I see that there's a new version of QSS here:

https://triptohell.info/moodles/qss/

Is there an equivalent version available for OSX? What about a version running natively on the M1 Macs? 

Anyone knows if QSS suports semi-transparent models? Is there any way to code a translucid enemy (like a ghost) or semi-transparent weapons models (when you pick the ring of shadows)? 

Just setting the alpha field on an entity should work. For weapon models, try setting alpha on the player entity. (that would work in fitzquake) 

Thanks!!!

This trick just work when you're making a map and set an alpha field for an entity?

Can't i set this "alpha" information on the QC file? 

You can set alpha directly to on entities in the map, no mod required, and if you’re making a mod, you can define a new .float alpha and control it in QC. 

Thank you so much!!

The .float alpha thing works like a charm :) 

I am trying to make a kind of countdown timer display for powerups. The idea is to have five transparent overlay images for the powerup icons (Quad, Ring of Shadows etc) which cover more and more of the icon when a powerup moves towards expiration.

It's probably a rather simple task, but I don't know how to implement it via CSQC. I guess it involves nextthink since I basically need a delay every 5 seconds before the next overlay image is shown. That or there is a way to directly tap into the runtime of each powerup and use that as a base (which would be even better).

I know it has been done in some mods like Quake 1.5, but I don't quite understand how it was done there. 

I would be OK with a function doing this:

- Do nothing for 5 seconds
- Show overlay image #1
- Do nothing for 5 seconds
- Show overlay image #2
[...]

Here is an example of what I tried. I am sure it's horribly wrong (also because it doesn't work):

if (sitems & IT_QUAD)
{
entity e = spawn();
e.nextthink = time + 5;
e.think = (void()) { drawpic('272 8 0', "gfx/sba1_quad", '16 16 0', '1 1 1', 0.5, 0); };
e.nextthink = time + 5;
e.think = (void()) { drawpic('272 8 0', "gfx/sba2_quad", '16 16 0', '1 1 1', 0.5, 0); };
e.nextthink = time + 5;
e.think = (void()) { drawpic('272 8 0', "gfx/sba3_quad", '16 16 0', '1 1 1', 0.5, 0); };
e.nextthink = time + 5;
e.think = (void()) { drawpic('272 8 0', "gfx/sba4_quad", '16 16 0', '1 1 1', 0.5, 0); };
e.nextthink = time + 5;
e.think = (void()) { drawpic('272 8 0', "gfx/sba5_quad", '16 16 0', '1 1 1', 0.5, 0); };
remove(self);
} 

Another thing I tried:

This is how I call the whole thing from another function:

if (autocvar(cl_pwrtime, 1) == 1)
PowerupTimer();

I added this function above it:

static void PowerupTimer()
{
entity ptimer = spawn();
ptimer.nextthink = time + 5;
ptimer.think = PowerGFX1;
ptimer.nextthink = time + 5;
ptimer.think = PowerGFX2;
ptimer.nextthink = time + 5;
ptimer.think = PowerGFX3;
ptimer.nextthink = time + 5;
ptimer.think = PowerGFX4;
ptimer.nextthink = time + 5;
ptimer.think = PowerGFX5;
remove(self);
};

And before that (I am not listing all functions, just the first, and only for one powerup):

static void PowerGFX1()
{
if (sitems & IT_QUAD)
drawpic(pos+'272 8 0', "gfx/sba1_quad", '16 16 0', '1 1 1', 0.5, 0);
};

There are two problems here:
- The replacement image doesn't show up ingame. Tried with text (drawstring) and it also won't work.
- I don't know how to port over the vector "pos" (it's used in the function that draws the itembar on top of the statusbar). 

Does QSS support replacing .tga (or other format) .spr replacers? Using the FTEQW and MarkV naming convention, it doesn't seem to work so I assume it is unavailable? Would like to know for certain though. 

I've encountered a bug with incorrect spawning monsters in my old map and the newer one, which is not released yet. I've tried two different revisions of qss and in them monsters spawn differently. Anyway the both revisions have that problem (2021-03-06 and 2021-09-13). I can fix it by moving monsters above the ground or in a diffrent place in trenchbroom, but it still annoying. The maps work flawlessly in Quakespasm and DarkPlaces. 

The map that doesn't work correctly with QSS if you want to check it:
https://www.quaddicted.com/filebase/pillars.zip

The main problem with some monsters in the teleporter closets. 

Also, my newer map works fine in the old revision of QSS but it's messy in the latest one. 

Have you checked out the latest version with your maps. I thought this might have been fixed but i have no idea. QSS releases can be confusing as you can read above.

No matter what these issues have affected other maps as well. 

If there was a changelog on the QSS website. I assume most of the updates these days are for Quake Enhanced, but not sure. 

I've tried the latest one i think, form QSS website. 

*from the QSS website 

Did you already tried to change the console command:
sv_gameplayfix_setmodelrealbox ?

QSS has it turned on (1) by default, so the engine takes the real size of the enemy model instead of the size registered inside the QCs files.

I noticed that turning it off (0) can solve a lot of problems like enemies stuck in floors or walls. 

This problem happens because Quake has two different bounding boxes for it's MDLs. The physics box for clipping, and the geometry box for frustum culling. The physics box size needs to be what it is because of the BSP hulls.

The problem occurs when well-meaning engine coders intend to calculate an accurate culling box (which GLQuake gets wrong) but end up changing the physics box too.

The MDL format actually includes per-frame culling boxes so these don't need to be recalculated at all, they just need to be loaded and used properly. 

Setting an undocumented cvar shouldn't be required to play a map.

How does one know about a cvar if there's no changelog and no documentation? 

Tried and it didn't help. 

There have been a few updates to QSS. Maybe it got fixed? 

> MD3 model support, basic IQM support.

What does "basic IQM" mean? 

Short for "Inter-Quake Model". It is (or was?) intended as a replacement for MD5 and SMD skeletal animation formats. It was used in Cube 2: Sauerbraten.

If you want to read a bit more about it:
http://sauerbraten.org/iqm/

Anyway, I don't think it's a relevant feature for the average Quake player, rather a feature to cover all bases. 

Starting from version 0.94.1 and higher the QSS engine constantly crashes when switching between replacing models with MD5 from Quake Release and standard MDL models of Quake ID1 and then loading another map or restarting. Moreover it was tested with upgraded folders (particles/progs/textures, etc.) and with a standard ID1 folder and without MD5 models. All the same, versions 0.94.1-0.94.2 100% crashes when switching and loading another map or restart. On QSS version 0.94.0, everything works fine. Who solved this problem and how?