MATRIX Vehicle Damage Engine — Firestorm Install Tutorial (Car & Bike)

This guide shows how to install the MATRIX Damage System in Firestorm by dropping one ROOT script in the vehicle, then dropping the Hovertext and Smoke scripts into specific linked prims (roof/antenna + engine/hood).

⚠️ IMPORTANT — MLS REQUIREMENT (MANDATORY)
The vehicle MUST contain the word “MLS” in its object name.
If MLS is not present, the damage system is considered inactive and invalid.

Examples

• BMW M4 → MLS BMW M4
• BMW M4 → BMW M4 MLS

Prefix or suffix is allowed, as long as MLS is included.

How to rename in Firestorm

1. Right-click the vehicle → Edit
2. Open the General tab
3. Change the Name field to include MLS
4. Press Enter

➡️ Do this BEFORE installing any scripts.

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What you need (3 scripts)

ROOT (Main)

• Script name: 1. MATRIX DAMAGE (root) V1.0.1
• Goes in the vehicle root prim (the whole object inventory)

Hovertext (Child)

• Script name: 2. MATRIX DAMAGE (hovertext)
• Goes in the roof prim (cars) or antenna (if the vehicle has one)

Smoke (Child)

• Script name: 3. MATRIX DAMAGE (smoke)
• Goes in the engine prim (bikes)
  OR engine prim (cars with openable hood)
  OR hood prim (cars without openable hood)

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Before you start (recommended)

• Rez the vehicle on the ground where you have permission to build
• Make sure you have Modify rights on the vehicle
• If the vehicle is no-mod, you cannot install this system
• Ensure the vehicle name already includes MLS

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Step 1 — Install the ROOT script (Firestorm)

1. Right-click the vehicle → Edit
2. In the Edit window, click the Content tab
3. Drag and drop the script: 1. MATRIX DAMAGE (root) V1.0.1 into the Contents of the vehicle

✅ Success check

• The script appears in Content
• In local chat you should see:
  “Matrix vehicle damage system active.”
• If you accidentally drop the ROOT twice, the scripts handshake and the new copy auto-deletes

Tip: Keep the vehicle selected for the next steps.

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Step 2 — Install Hovertext (on roof or antenna)

Hovertext must be inside a specific linked prim, not the root inventory.
In Firestorm, this requires Edit Linked.

2A) Enter “Edit Linked”

• With the vehicle selected, click Edit Linked
• Clicking parts of the vehicle now selects individual prims

2B) Choose the best prim for hovertext

Pick one:

• Antenna prim (best, if available)
• Roof prim (cars)
• Any top-most, centered, visible prim

2C) Drop the hovertext script

1. Click the antenna or roof prim so only that prim is selected
2. Open the Content tab (for that prim)
3. Drag and drop: 2. MATRIX DAMAGE (hovertext)

✅ Success check

• Hovertext activates automatically when damage occurs
• At 100% health with no attacker, hovertext stays hidden (normal behavior)

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Step 3 — Install Smoke (engine / hood logic)

Smoke should be placed where you want the particles to originate.

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A) Bikes

Bikes: install smoke in the engine prim

1. Stay in Edit Linked
2. Select the engine prim
3. Content tab → drop: 3. MATRIX DAMAGE (smoke)

✅ Smoke emits from the engine area when broken

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B) Cars (two cases)

Case 1 — Car with openable hood (engine selectable)

1. Edit Linked ON
2. Open the hood (if needed)
3. Select the engine prim
4. Content tab → drop: 3. MATRIX DAMAGE (smoke)

✅ Smoke emits directly from the engine

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Case 2 — Car with no openable hood (engine not accessible)

1. Edit Linked ON
2. Select the hood prim
   • Example: hood prim named SYZM
3. Content tab → drop: 3. MATRIX DAMAGE (smoke)

✅ Smoke emits from the hood area

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Final checks (quick test)

Registration

• Hovertext registers automatically
• Smoke registers automatically

Damage test

• Apply damage via your combat system
• Hovertext updates health and forensics
• At 0% health, vehicle will:
  • Stop
  • Disable physics
  • Emit smoke
  • Unsit all occupants
  • Lock controls (if permissions exist)

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Troubleshooting

Hovertext doesn’t show

• Ensure hovertext script is inside a linked prim, not root
• Re-check prim selection using Edit Linked
• Hovertext is hidden at full health (normal)

Smoke doesn’t show

• Confirm smoke script is inside engine or hood prim
• Try a more visible prim if particles are hidden

ROOT message doesn’t appear

• Script may not be running
• Check permissions or script errors in Content
• Ensure the vehicle name includes MLS

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Recommended install layout (clean & professional)

Root prim (vehicle inventory):

• ✅ 1. MATRIX DAMAGE (root) V1.0.1

Roof or Antenna prim:

• ✅ 2. MATRIX DAMAGE (hovertext)

Engine prim (preferred) / Hood prim (fallback):

• ✅ 3. MATRIX DAMAGE (smoke)