Three campaign building questions:

[2GvSAP_Dart]

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?

[uhoh7]

Dart you probably saw this, but I opened one of the GOW chapters and noted that at the end was this:

 

\

WARNING: This campaign is designed for high end Windows XP systems and is not compatible with Windows Vista.\

\

Introduction:\

\

With the ever growing demand for oil in world markets, Georgia has taken advantage of its oil-wealth to both improve its infrastructure and its military power. This became even more important after the Russian invasion of Georgia in 2008. Key to this has been the diversion of oil and natural gas from the South Caucasus and Central Asia regions directly to the West. In doing so though, Russia has been left out of the economic windfall. Further, both Azerbaijan and Georgia have worked closely together to minimize Russian involvement in oil coming from Baku. \

\

To further inflame matters, there exist the oil and gas fields not yet exploited in Kazakhstan. How this oil will be transported out of Kazakhstan is a matter of contention. Russia insists that it be routed north through its territory whereas the West would like to see it head West through Georgia. \

\

Within this energy/economic environment, both the West and Russia have vital strategic interests in Georgia. Recognizing this and the insatiable demand for fossil fuels, several western countries and Georgia have created an energy and defense alliance to ensure the uninterrupted flow of oil from the region and to the west and prevent a repeat of the Russian invasion in 2008. This cooperation has included the granting of western high-technology weaponry and the training of Georgian forces.\

\

Recognizing the growing strategic military and economic threat to its south, Russia has taken pre-emptive military action to restore a legitimate government to Georgia and remove western influences from the region.",

fullPath = "C:/Program Files/Black Shark/Missions/Campaigns/Georgian Oil War - Chapter 1.cmp",

name = "Georgian Oil War - Chapter 1",

} -- end of campaign

 

 

I think they recommend using the following instead of notepad:

 

http://sourceforge.net/projects/notepad-plus/

Edited March 14, 2009 by uhoh7

[EtherealN]

Yeah, apparently there has been cases of regular notepad corrupting the syntax or something like that, thereby making the files not work in the game even if they look correct to the human eye.

 

Sadly I can't help with the OP's questions, though. :(

[2GvSAP_Dart]

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....

Edited March 17, 2009 by 2GvSAP_Dart

[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.