How to create random tasking

[J3ST3R]

Hi all, does anyone know a simple way to create a mission with random tasking. Then when a task is complete, another random task is given etc?

[Exorcet]

You can either script it or build in a bunch of tasks and activate them via triggers. Scripting is more powerful, but also more complex.

For the trigger route, you'd place all the necessary parts of the mission, probably set the related units to late activation and then select them at random with a flag, for example:

Mission Start > Flag Set Random Value (Flag 1, Min 1, Max 5)

Once > Task 1 > When Flag 1 = 1, Activate Group 1 and Message to Player 1 (to tell the player task)

Once > Task 2 > When Flag 1 = 2, Activate Group 2 and Message to Player 2

etc

[Dangerzone]

15 hours ago, J3ST3R said:

Hi all, does anyone know a simple way to create a mission with random tasking. Then when a task is complete, another random task is given etc?

I guess it depends on how detailed/advanced you want to go. I've been working on an idea to do this with script but to make things as simple as possible. I've created a script that will dynamically load units from a .miz file into the current running game to import new units on the fly. (So additional .miz files effectively become templates for units to spawn in) so all the work is done in the mission editor, and not manual scripting.

The next step I'm working on is to have objectives, so that when an objective is completed another .miz file template will load in to continue the mission. (Similar I guess to campaigns, but in this instance - the server never stops and players aren't booted, etc).  I suppose it could be possible to set this up that there could be 4 or 5 miz files to choose from and a random generator would choose which one to use.

The only thing with this sort of randomization is that it creates a lot of future options. (Think of the old 'choose your own adventure' books - there's going to be a lot of branches with their own branches so there would be a lot of work).

The other option I have been playing with (that also uses the dynamic .miz loading script I've written) is to be able to randomize the groups - so that certain groups have a potential possibility of spawning. This means even as the misson designer, you wouldn't know exactly what's going to happen next.

If this is of interest, check out the 'spoiler' on my post at 

 

[jonfog]

Look into DML in the Mission Editor forum. It is very well done AND documented.  You add zones with name attributes, where each attribute can be a flag coming in or going out. It really is impressive.