How to randomize mission params?

[Thunder Chicken22]

Hey guys-

New to trying to make a complex missions in the ME.  I'm trying to create a REDFLAG mission where BluFor will assemble to the east then push west at a certain time.  There will be a trigger just west of their assembly area and I'm trying to get this trigger to randomize RedFor fighter and SAM dispositions. Ideally something like 10-15ish different threat presentations but even if I can get 4-5 that would be great.  I messed around with the Random conditional in the triggers but that doesn't work.  Any help much appreciated!

[Death Merchant]

This can be done with some scripting. How are your scripting skills?

[Thunder Chicken22]

Zero experience. I have some limited programming skills but it's C++.

[Exorcet]

Use a MISSION START trigger to give a flag a random value with the number of mission variations you want (ie 4-5 or 14-15)

Then use a set of ONCE triggers for each variation (once 'blue is in the west trigger' and 'flag from the previous trigger = x' > spawn unit a/b/c ,etc)

To spawn a unit you need to set it to LATE ACTIVATION when you place it on the map. Alternatively for aircraft if you want them to spawn from airport parking, do not use late activation, but instead set them to UNCONTROLLED and give them a COMMAND > START triggered action.

I've attached a simple randomized mission to this post as an example. It will randomly spawn enemies from variation 1 or variation 2 when a blue unit crosses the trigger zone.

Randomized Mission Example.miz

[cfrag]

9 hours ago, Thunder Chicken22 said:

Zero experience. I have some limited programming skills but it's C++.

What @Exorcet said is correct, and it builds the basic groundwork of mission randomization. It can be quite tedious, and using scripting can alleviate a lot of that.

If you don't want to script yourself and aren't adverse to simply including some scripts, randomizing missions can be a lot easier. Below please find a demo mission, and that mission's doc. Randomization here is achieved by using DML, a modular "mission assembly kit" (please be advised, I'm tooting my own horn here and are totally biased ) that mainly works by placing Trigger Zones and then adding attributes to these zones in Mission Editor. So you 'program' the modules inside of Mission Editor.  It can make short work of randomization and other tasks, but may require some up-front planning.

 

Attack of the CloneZ.pdf demo - Attack of the CloneZ.miz

[Thunder Chicken22]

Oh man this is great. Thanks gents for the help!