Today we want to create a simple environment to test and troubleshoot our grappling prototypes in.

In the first clip below (↓), the end of the rope is not attached to anything, which affects the movement of the entire rope due to a lack of a counteracting force. As a result, throwing is a bit more difficult as the weight of the rope affects the hook movement, and if the hook is too heavy, the rope will fly out of control. The rope also still clips through if it moves too fast, due to the thinness of the colliders interacting with the rope. We are able to climb this prototype once it was taut though. (↓)

The following are our attempts at a horizontal throw of the rope, which allows the player to maneuver themselves across the horizontal rope through climbing mechanics. (↓)

The rope seems pretty stable when you’re climbing across. However, the position of the horizontally climbing player is currently above the rope prototype, almost as if they are hovering or doing a handstand. Realistically, climbing a horizontal rope should have the player dangling below it (due to gravity) and have the player’s body weight visually pull down on the rope.

We worked on fine-tuning the grabbing motion in these clips. The player’s hands no longer phase through the rope, and the motion looks realistic. (↓)

We also experiment briefly with swinging, although you can immediately see that gap between the player’s hand and the rope occurs. (↓)

We’ll come back to explore this some other time.