Does Mission Creation Require LAU Scripting Skills ?

[SnowTiger]

I am trying to create what I believe to be a relatively simple mission (at least the mission goals should be simple).

The mission involves picking up and dropping off troops that will fight enemy ground troops, but I cannot for the life of me, figure out how to place troops (i.e. enemy troops lying in wait at the Dam). I cannot find any Static Object OR whatever Troops are defined as, to place anywhere.

 

There is also the need to pick up and drop off a Cargo within a specified period of time in a specific location.

I don't want to say much more that will give the Mission Plot away ... yet.

 

I have read a TON of threads and still don't know how to place a group of ground troops anywhere.

But also, after looking at the ME... re: creating conditions etc which appear to use pre-defined terms and stuff, I am wondering if it is necessary to learn LAU language and scripting in order to create good missions OR is it sort of like using NotePad to create a webpage instead of using WYSIWYG webpage creation ? That is to say, for some it's just easier to use Scripting INSTEAD of using the ME to create dynamic missions ?

 

Finally, IF it wasn't going to cost too much $$ (because I am on a fixed low income disability pension), I'd consider paying someone to create the mission or at least provide me with some lessons (online) to help me do it myself. I think as long as I had some Live Help and got to see the process to begin with, I would find it easier to get through the learning curve.

But right now I can't even figure out how to put Red Team (enemy) Troops at the dam that my friendly troops can attack (if and when I figure out how to pick them up and get them there !!).

So I'm wondering if I am in over my head before I even get started ?

 

Anyway, if anyone can figure out what I'm asking here or any part of it, please fill me in.

Thanks in Advance.

[SnowTiger]

PS> I should mention that the mission I am trying to create (mentioned above) is a Single Player HUEY mission.

[SnowTiger]

I apologize to everyone.

After all the reading I have done in the ED Forums and the Manual and having already played with the ME a couple times, I have NOW found the Troop Placement command in the ME under Vehicle Group.

I would have never thought to look there, even though I have previously placed vehicles.

 

But other questions asked could still be answered if anyone is up to it.

 

Sorry about the misunderstanding re: Troops.

[Stonehouse]

You may have missed this thread I think http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=141383

 

On the lua side - you can do a great amount without it but eventually as what you want to do becomes more complex you need to learn the basics of scripting. People have also released script packages to do various things so mission builders can plug them into their missions. List here http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=118935

 

@Sithspawn, could Ranger's thread get stickied? It's a really good one for people starting out.

Edited September 14, 2015 by Stonehouse

[Exorcet]

LUA is not required, but it will allow you to make better missions. Without LUA, will still have good missions, but you will run into some of the limitations of the ME, like lack of respawn, getting units to coordinate in certain ways, etc.

[SnowTiger]

Stonehouse - Thank you. In fact I do have that link and I forgot all about it. Time to sort some bookmarks I guess. Thanks again for that.

 

Exorcet - I appreciate that information. It is as I expected (if not as I had hoped). Hopefully, I'll be able to avoid scripts for this mission.

Otherwise I guess I'll go as far as I can go and then maybe hire someone to give it the once-over and add/fix anything they think will help.

 

Thanks again friends.

[dooom]

heya Snow... catch me on TS3... I'll be happy to help. Do you have teamviewer installed?

[SnowTiger]

Hi Doom

 

Thanks for that. The fact is, when I saw you online last night I then dawned on me that you would probably be a good one to ask, knowing how much you have worked with mission creation (really good one's at that).

It wasn't until then that I remembered that you have already created some Huey Missions.

So I just might take you up on that ... sooner rather than later.

In the meantime, I will try to find out what TeamViewer is. It sounds handy. I'm guessing it's a Whiteboard attachment for TS for live graphical stuff.

 

Thanks again friend.

[dooom]

teamviewer is just a screenshare/remote control for windows. it will let me control your pc while we walk through the editor or vicce versa...

 

https://www.teamviewer.com/en/download/windows.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riYypvVQ1VQ

[Wrecking Crew]

I have time to help, as well. PM me ...

 

You don't need LUA. I use it to do some advanced unit detection, set flags at waypoints and set Stop Conditions with flags.

 

WC

[SnowTiger]

Thanks for your offer Wrecking Crew.

I'll probably need all the help I can get.

 

Seeing things done once or twice really cuts down on my learning curve time. Once I see something done, I can usually figure it out and be well on my way .... as opposed to simply reading something and trying to recreate it in reality.

 

All said, DOOOM, I have Downloaded and Installed TeamViewer and I "think" I have it set up (configured) the way it needs to be.

But Before I bother either you or Wrecking Crew, I will do as much as I can on my own first.

I am currently setting things/objects etc where I want them and trying to create some Triggers (or at least Trigger Names/Descriptions and Locations).

At the same time, I have commenced doing my PDF Manual Homework to try to learn as much as I can on my own before asking for any help ... so I'm not a complete newbie basket case (to help eliminate and/or reduce Your Frustration with ME !!). At this moment I think I am getting a bit of a handle on Triggers. I have discovered they are necessary for most things I wish to accomplish in this mission.

 

Finally, DOOOM, I will send you my Draft Mission with Written Explanation/Plot as soon as I get as far as I can go so that you will have some time to contemplate it prior to hooking up with me.

 

Thanks again to both Dooom and Wrecking Crew for your kind offers to help me out.

Have a good one !!

[Wrecking Crew]

ST -- check out my Wrecking Crew Projects site where you can download the missions. Lots of examples in them to follow; say what you want to accomplish and there might be a scenario in one that you can study.

 

WC