Ability effects not being masked to Player models

[Kirazy]

This is a longstanding issue that has been bothering me for months. I finally have 100% reproduction for this issue.

 

Description of Issue: http://i.imgur.com/sGsxw9J.png

Abilities on the Imperial side only, will occasionally display as a sphere around the player character, as opposed to this: http://i.imgur.com/4GWab8P.png, where the animation/ability visual is masked by the player character's model and displays "properly."

 

This issue does not exist on the Republic side, to my knowledge and experience.

 

This affects every single ability that provides a visual effect to the player character.

 

The cause and reproduction steps:

The issue is Kolto Shell. When Kolto Shell is on a player, all effects are not masked properly. When Kolto Shell is not on the player, effects mask properly.

 

This is incredibly obvious in Terror from Beyond during the Operator IX encounter.

1. Select a color, any color, so that you have the color/tech effect on your player character.

2. Cast Kolto Shell (Mercenary Probe Heal) ability on yourself.

Immediately the effect is a sphere, as in the image above

3. Right click on the Kolto Shell effect on your buff bar to cancel the buff.

Immediately the effect returns to normal.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3.

 

It's super simple. Super reproducible.