I’m using the PhoenixFDOceanTex to create and ocean as illustrated here:
Is it possible to track the surface of the VRay displacement plane, so that a boat or buoy “floats” and is “moved/rocked” by the OceanTex animation, without doing a full fluid simulation?
Basically is there a hack to track a surface point of a VRay displacement to drive a helper used to move a object on the surface of the displacement?
Thanks
if we are talking about hacks, couldnt you use the same texture on a reasonably fine (but not too heavy) mesh using the max displace modifier, then set it to non renderable. then youd have some proxy geometry to play with. how to get a moving boat to follow that is a different matter, although it sounds like the kinda thing thats not too hard.
[slaps forehead with hand] - Why din’t I think of that! Just wasn’t thinking. THANKS!
well, when you figure out how to animate the boat nicely over that surface, please, let me know 
I’ve kind of got something, I’ll try and tidy it up and post it.
man i love this forum. its a world away from pretty much every other forum ive seen.
its kinda like sitting in one big open plan office with a load of (other ;)) really professional cgi guys.. a casual roll across the floor on your shiny aeron and bingo, somebody can help.
Joconnell - that would be most excellent dude!
Super gnu - Yeah, reminds of the old days working for a games company, so much passion and genuine unpretentious collaboration.
This forum is a massive lifeline when you work on your own.
My understanding is that future versions of phoenix want to have the ability to cause objects to react.