GOW Chapter 2 Mission 3.2: Am I Missing Someting?

[ericinexile]

Question about Mission "ATO-B-P3.2.miz" (Oil War chapter 2, stage 3, mission 2):

 

I flew this mission, ensured the destruction of every bad guy on the map, lost only a few RU units and no wingies but scored just 15. So I tore the mission apart and noticed that a "Flag is True" scores 51 points. So I searched the triggers to find the criteria for the Flag. But there are none. The only triggers are those activating random units. No "Objective" triggers--only Activate Group triggers. So, even with an Objective Trigger Zone set, isn't it true that something (a unit or group) must be assigned a trigger for entering the zone in order for it to mean anything? I feel like I have a fairly solid understanding of the mission editor but this one has me mystified. Just to be clear, I'm not looking for advice on winning the mission--I don't care about that--I just want to discover what I am missing and perhaps learn a little about campaign building in the process.

 

Thanks for the help,

Smokin' Hole

Edited January 31, 2009 by ericinexile

[Jack57]

I have had the mission success score go backwards on me enough times to suggest that the scripting perhaps wasn't fully tested. Just last night I spent well over an hour on a campaign mission only to have the mission score go from 80% to 10% after destroying another group :cry: Times like that I open the logbook.lua with Notepad++ and adjust it accordingly :smilewink:

[GGTharos]

OP: You need to look at the goals.

 

Jack: You failed to protect your forces and friendlies got killed.

[ericinexile]

Thanks GG. But take a moment to look at the mission with the editor. Sure there are multiple scores for the survival of friendlies and death of blues. But there is a big score (+51) for making the flag true. That flag is never defined. There is also an objective trigger zone which is never used.

 

It could be that I completely don't understand the use of flags and trigger zones. More likely, I'm pretty sure this mission just wasn't completed by the designer. If you disagree, a little more detailed analysis about what I am missing would be helpful.

 

[edit: Apparently I really am missing something. Because many missions in the GOW campaigns seem to have "ONCE" triggers with nothing in them, Flags with no triggers to make them "True" and Trigger Zones that aren't utilized.]

 

Smokin' Hole

Edited February 1, 2009 by ericinexile
noted in body

[Sinner6]

Perhaps Matt used template missions, and not all triggers and flags are used in every mission in a series?

[ericinexile]

Perhaps Matt used template missions, and not all triggers and flags are used in every mission in a series?

 

That's almost certainly true but it doesn't explain the Trigger Zones which aren't used or the Goals/Rules which are, for practical purposes, missing links.

[Jack57]

Jack: You failed to protect your forces and friendlies got killed.

 

Well I've got egg on my face haven't I :noexpression:

 

I'm very impressed. I will apprach the missions with much more respect now - thanks for the heads-up GG

Edited February 2, 2009 by Jack57

[uhoh7]

Well I've got egg on my face haven't I :noexpression:

 

I'm very impressed. I will apprach the missions with much more respect now - thanks for the heads-up GG

 

The chapter 2 area defense missions have also mystified me unitl your explanation GG. The mission goals speak of stop advances, but I never understood why goals were not reached when the advances were indeed stopped. Friendly deaths do explain this---what would be nice is a message upon the deaths fo these units to the effect or more immersive a radio comm.

 

Please don't get me wrong, many of these are wonderful missions with great interactions-- I was taken out by A10s tonite with Aim9s, and other time was forced to take down AH-64s with canon at close range, after hiding between buildings under hellfire assault.

 

It's hard to get the priorites perfect with 2 vikhr abrahms platoons in full advance and enemy air close in, hehe.

 

I finnaly got good enough to get through chapter one in the campaign format, but chapter two now has me ready to open the single missions again.

[GGTharos]

Yep, it's some pretty tough missions in there. ;)

 

I'm pretty certain Wags is keeping tabs when you guys post about the campaign, and he tends to make modifications when he thinks it's needed and if/when practical.

[Jack57]

Without me looking in the Editor, can you tell me if you get a negative score when the players group is taken out (even if you rcvr)?

[Jack57]

It's OK, I checked already. About -50 in the missions I looked at. Which begs the question, do you keep losing a further 50 points each time you waste a chopper?

[uhoh7]

Ok here is an example--and please I LOVE these missions now, so this is with great respect:

 

ATO-B-P4.1.miz

 

"Area Defense. Forward reconnaissance units have reported enemy forces advancing west from the staging area around Samtredia and Sadzhavakho. The likely objective of the push is Abasha and Ketilari. The road bridge east of Marani will be a key blocking point of their advance. Prevent enemy forces from crossing the river and engaging friendly ground forces."

 

Now this is highly misleading, because the M1A2 column is over the aforementioned bridge before you can get 1/4 the way to the target area--at full speed. It is impossible to forfill the goal as stated. Maybe this is intentional. The column breaks into two beautifully, with the tanks seemingly held up by terrain at an overpass( because the cone formation will not allow them to make it under) while bradleys rush forward.

 

Meanwhille AH64's come at you from the flank. It's a wonderfull scenario, FPS is good, but I defy anyone to stop this column before it crosses the bridge.

 

After looking over the mission goals and objectives, 100% is impossible unless starting point of enemy column is moved east to allow them to be stopped at bridge as advertised--even then with agressive enemy air it would be really hard--but at least possible.

 

While there is a narrow window to attack after the bridge, loadout is inadeqate to deal with all threats before objective 1 is reached.

 

A few simple adjustments would fix this mission, and it's understandable with so many missions that some need adjustments. I suggest a thread be created for missions like this one, where issues can be reported and updated versions be posted---it's easy to insert a replacement in the campaign.

 

all the best,

Edited February 3, 2009 by uhoh7

[ericinexile]

Back to GOW Ch. 2-3.2: "Flag is True" is worth 51 points. What is the flag for this mission?

 

SH

[Wags]

Both B3.2 and B4.1 have been adjusted for the upcoming patch.

[ericinexile]

^^^^

 

Good to hear. In the meantime I've already modified them on my end. The beauty of Black Shark is the virtual playground quality of the mission editor. I can use your great work as a template (including the "dead links") and remake the mission to suit the experience I want to have. I have to say I am really enjoying this tour south through Georgia. Thanks.

[Doggy]

A question:

I have landed with mission accomplishment status 100%, quit the mission and wanted to loaded a next one. But what a surprise?! Same mission loaded again. Any reason for this? Like even if I have 100% mission accomplishment I did screw up something else so I have to fly it again?

[ericinexile]

Stupid question, but how do you know your 100% accomplishment status?

[Doggy]

press " ' " key while in the mission (on the left from enter) It shows you acctual mission accomplishment status

[Wags]

^^^^

 

Good to hear. In the meantime I've already modified them on my end. The beauty of Black Shark is the virtual playground quality of the mission editor. I can use your great work as a template (including the "dead links") and remake the mission to suit the experience I want to have. I have to say I am really enjoying this tour south through Georgia. Thanks.

 

Along those sames lines, both the missions and campaign files are open, so if community members like they can modify missions, create new missions for a stage, and create new stages for a campaign. This allows the already large campaigns to grow still larger with greater diversity.