2GvSAP_Dart

Whoops, need to apply a link to the same question on SimHQ: http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2690668/Campaign_description_and_missi.html#Post2690668 Here's the deal on the campaign description thing, and it's hilarious: There isn't anything in the box to let you know you've selected it for text. That doesn't mean one can't simply click in the box and start typing! It simply didn't occur to me to put anything in the box, as no cursor shows and text doesn't get highlighted. :doh: The whole branching of campaigns and specific mission selection stuff finally sank in: To get a linear progression, one needs exactly one mission per stage, dummied up to ensure the player scores enough to proceed to the next stage. Since there's only one mission in there, the player is forced to fly it. If one wants a branched mission, then two (or more) missions would go in a subsequent stage, each with a tightly defined score range. In the example of the picture, I want a "core" set of missions that lead up to a simple choice between two branches, based on the player's decision in game. Now, then, in any case the player is forced into the next stage - what's engineered is how well they advance. Let's say you're to stop the raiding of a train full of military equipment and supplies bound for Afganistan (NATO stuff, too, if you watch the news) in the "decision" mission.* Fail the mission and you'll still advance a stage, but the branch from there will have you dealing with the consequences of "bad guys" with a lot of advanced gear, having earned 51 points (with the A1 mission's range at 0-52). Meet the mission and you'll advance as well with a score of 62, but your branch will be different, as the "bad guys" will now have to go after local stuff and the missions may turn out to be more spec ops support in going after the failed ring leaders (with the A2 mission's range at 53-100). Rinse and repeat, keeping one's missions straight and ensuring that the player scores the precise amount to go to the next planned mission whether he wants to or not.** Theorically, one could have 50 fixed branches to a campaign! However, One could also build a mission tree that diverges and rejoins like the one that they used in the old space game Wing Commander. * Not the campaign I'm working on right now, but I think I'll use it in a follow up. ** I like static campaigns, as they lend themselves to story telling.

Well, if it's takeoffs you want to control (and that's about all one can in multiplayer!), cheat and put FARP objects down where you want the helicopters to spawn in at. Just make sure their takeoff point is on the FARPs.

Yep, you should use indicated airspeed.

However, since it was part of the producer's notes that preceeded the release of the sim, in this case one would think it passed muster....

The maker of the mod would have to sign papers giving unlimited license without compensation to ED - since it's an international product, Matt and crew may not want to spring for the lawyer to come up with the script that will cover all bases.

LOL, you guys don't simply figure it's your Shkval not cooperating (as it is want to do) and put missiles into shelled hulks using manual targeting? I guess I'm waaayyy too immersed in this sim. Plus one never knows when they might try to come back as zombie tanks, so it never hurts. :)

Big thanks on the notepad plus! I ended up cheating on the campaign briefing by copying one of the .cmd files from Oil campaigns, renaming it, changing the briefing notes using notepad plus, and then editing the missions and stages. A few more missions to do and some tightening up, and I think I'll have the gist of it. [edit] I was WRONG, so this bit deleted! Read below for the right way. [/edit] It's more focused on fun and story than hardcore fighting skills, though one better be able to fly NOE and hover low....

One: I've read the manual about fifteen times and can't figure out how to get the description to populate when making a new campaign. The manual speaks to it being generated with the first mission, but I can't find where it's supposed to go within that first mission in the editor - and I can't go into the description box from the campaign editor. I tried editing the campaign file in notepad, but that doesn't work. Two: Similarly, I think I understand that I can force a linear campaign by setting the values in ascending order as well as in the way I place them. Is that right? The idea is that I have a set of "core" missions that MUST be in order for the campaign to make sense; it then branches to one of two other stages depending on what the player decides to do on the last mission. Sounds easy enough: only the last mission has a set value earned, with a 49 going to stage one (the "core" missions being in stage 2) and a 51 going to stage three. Am I getting this right? Three: How do I make sure that the campaign is over at the completion of either Stage One or Three?

I say we keep watching Ekran. Or being asked to; I rarely comply. Screens are for watching; boxes are for checking.

Wow, some loaded questions; which HOTAS to gets into what sounds a lot like the old Ford vs. Chevy debates. First off, get Black Shark. Don't let the forums fool you - under the "simulation" mode the work load isn't all that heavy at all. Most of the studying folks are doing is for the long startup sequence. But there's a two key shortcut (Left Win and Home) that does it for the player. I'm really allergic to switchology and almost missed out on a fantastic sim from all the scary technical stuff being discussed. Fortunately, I bit the bullet and have been really impressed. If you want the full meal deal, avoid the "arcade" setting entirely. The flight modelling is not to be missed out, and the learning curve for flying is exactly what you'd expect; it's easy to learn the basics and rather difficult to master the fine tuned stuff. The electronics for targeting and shooting is pretty straight forward as well, provided one has a HOTAS. I'd also recommend a TrackIR to look around with and a set of rudder pedals. Head over to SimHQ.com as well as this forum for help. The community is really forgiving of simple questions. Here's a review on the Saitek X52Pro and pedals, with links to TrackIR reviews as well from SimHQ. Disclaimer: I wrote the Saitek review, so I'm a bit biased as to its quality. http://www.simhq.com/_technology2/technology_104a.html One could play it with keyboard and mouse, but it would be pretty tough. Even a cheap joystick would be better than none at all! At any rate, don't miss out on this one. It's a keeper.

I've got a Cougar in the box in the closet. I doubt I'll ever pull it out ever again. I'm no weakling - but if I wanted an arm wrestling exercise device I'll go to the gym. It's not what I wanted in a joystick. The fact that this 300 USD HOTAS really needs another 300 bucks in modifications to really make it worthwhile puts it in the vanity toy league. My money is on the Saitek X52Pro - great product at a good price that has stood up very well for me. I can't speak for CH stuff (I dropped out of CH about the Flightstick II era), other than their pedals, which are very good. But I wouldn't recommend a Cougar to anyone. It's simply too overpriced, too stiff, and not really ready for play out of the box.

Bingo. When I updated the graphics drivers, it wiped out the DX files that Black Shark installed, which is pretty darned weird. Uninstall and reinstalling the sim cleared it right up. First time I've run into that one.

Dunno what's causing it, latest drivers, etc. Here's the last .crash file: http://www.darts-page.com/files/Dart_BS_crash.crash The particulars: Vista Home Premium nVidia 8800 GTS (two in SLI) Creative Labs X-fi X52 Pro Saitek pedals TrackIR 4 Intel X6800 (2.94 GHz, standard clock) 4 GB RAM Latest drivers on everything. The sim is set to the same resolution as my desktop, 1680x1050. Everything starts up fine and I am able to take off and fly around for a bit - and then it all just freezes up and then will CTD, just plain freeze up and force me to hard reboot (alt+tab, etc. won't work), or give me the mighty Vista "this program has failed to respond, etc." message with no solution found. I renamed the lua_direct_output.dll to resolve the X52Pro problem with Vista and have tried running it as admin as well as under XP compatability mode. I'm stumped.