Mission editor

[Russianfish]

I've been messing about with the editor alot more recently and even started building a campaign! And there are some interface questions I have been meaning to ask

1) This has always annoyed more than anything and I know its gotta be something dumb I'm not doing! When you place a group of units on the map and set them up in a custom formation, how do I keep them from resetting everytime I select the group from the drop down menu??? This is now driving me nuts!!!!!!! :rolleyes:

 

2) Is there a way to preview the units on the map without having to go in the game back out make adjustments then back in?? This is especially frustrating with the new building objects as the facings are angled and the size is larger then they appear on the counter.

 

3) How do you place trains? They are listed in the encyclpedia but are not availible in the editor.

 

4) I created a mission with a AN-26 landing, after it landed it just sat on the runway right there in the middle!! I have other AC placed as objects in some of the parking areas are these what prevent it from taxiing off the runway? or does this happen with all the AI AC that land?

Funny thing with this is my wingman landed and crashed right into it! like he couldn't see a An-26 sitting in the middle of the runway...dumbass.

 

Any help would be apprieciated, thanks :)

[ZoomBoy27]

I've been messing about with the editor alot more recently and even started building a campaign! And there are some interface questions I have been meaning to ask

1) This has always annoyed more than anything and I know its gotta be something dumb I'm not doing! When you place a group of units on the map and set them up in a custom formation, how do I keep them from resetting everytime I select the group from the drop down menu??? This is now driving me nuts!!!!!!! :rolleyes:

Yes, it's annoying but they do not intend to fix that. Bug them in the bug forum to get the complete answer. I just give up arranging them until Ive got the mission near complete.

 

2) Is there a way to preview the units on the map without having to go in the game back out make adjustments then back in?? This is especially frustrating with the new building objects as the facings are angled and the size is larger then they appear on the counter.

Yes, it's annoying but they do not intend to fix that. Bug them in the bug forum so maybe they'll work on it.

[AStotzer]

I've been messing about with the editor alot more recently and even started building a campaign! And there are some interface questions I have been meaning to ask

1) This has always annoyed more than anything and I know its gotta be something dumb I'm not doing! When you place a group of units on the map and set them up in a custom formation, how do I keep them from resetting everytime I select the group from the drop down menu??? This is now driving me nuts!!!!!!! :rolleyes:

Is this a new bug? I never had this problem before.

 

2) Is there a way to preview the units on the map without having to go in the game back out make adjustments then back in?? This is especially frustrating with the new building objects as the facings are angled and the size is larger then they appear on the counter.

Yes post this in the Bug or Wish List forum. I posted similar 'issue' a few days ago. It is just WAY too much work to run the game every time just to see if something is in the right place.

 

3) How do you place trains? They are listed in the encyclpedia but are not availible in the editor.

Yes, they are in the encylopedia, but they are considered 'Civilian' units, and only show up automatically if you have Civilian Traffic turned on in the options.

 

If you do, then trains start at certain train stations all over the map. I'm guessing there is about 40-60 of them. I played with this for a while 7 months ago. When you go into any mission, just press Shift-F12 to cycle through the Trains in the game. No matter what 'day' or 'time' you set a mission for, the trains always start in the same station and follow the same route. So, you could find and bomb a moving train. The problem is, since it's not an object 'you' can place on the map, you can't designate it as a target, or a success requirement. However, you can designate the static train cars that are on the side rails at some train stations. You just have to designate the target as cooridnates, not object.

 

4) I created a mission with a AN-26 landing, after it landed it just sat on the runway right there in the middle!! I have other AC placed as objects in some of the parking areas are these what prevent it from taxiing off the runway? or does this happen with all the AI AC that land?

Funny thing with this is my wingman landed and crashed right into it! like he couldn't see a An-26 sitting in the middle of the runway...dumbass.

I read a similar post a few days ago. I have not seen this myself. In that thread they said the ac just drove across country thought trees and grass. They said it was a known bug that sometimes ac want to 'drive' to their takeoff airbase after landing at the landing airbase. This sounds maybe similar, but I truly don't know.

[bSr.LCsta]

I've been messing about with the editor alot more recently and even started building a campaign! And there are some interface questions I have been meaning to ask

1) This has always annoyed more than anything and I know its gotta be something dumb I'm not doing! When you place a group of units on the map and set them up in a custom formation, how do I keep them from resetting everytime I select the group from the drop down menu??? This is now driving me nuts!!!!!!! :rolleyes:

 

2) Is there a way to preview the units on the map without having to go in the game back out make adjustments then back in?? This is especially frustrating with the new building objects as the facings are angled and the size is larger then they appear on the counter.

 

3) How do you place trains? They are listed in the encyclpedia but are not availible in the editor.

 

4) I created a mission with a AN-26 landing, after it landed it just sat on the runway right there in the middle!! I have other AC placed as objects in some of the parking areas are these what prevent it from taxiing off the runway? or does this happen with all the AI AC that land?

Funny thing with this is my wingman landed and crashed right into it! like he couldn't see a An-26 sitting in the middle of the runway...dumbass.

 

Any help would be apprieciated, thanks :)

 

1. Once you have positioned the units the way you want, select another entity from the list on the left. (It doesnt matter what, but this seems to get the editior off the group with resetting its default positions.

 

2. You can only see icons, you just have to get used to bouncing from game back to editor.

 

3. Trains are currently not available with the standard editor. (I have noticed that they seem to always start in the same places so you can still build missions that utilize them.)

 

4. You are probably right about the additional objects at the AF, those planes should taxi to an apron? (Occasionaly an entity will just get "bugged" somehow, and alot of times just delete and a new 1 of the same type will fix the problem.) Try and remove the other objects 1st though, then fly the mission and see where he taxi's to. Then when you put bake the other objects you will know his route.

 

I will usually build missions in this order, and after making 1,000's of them i have figured out work arounds for most of the issues.

 

1- Weather and lighting and coalitions

 

2- Target goal layout (i.e. buidlings, static vehicles, etc) example: "Road Block, HQ, etc"

 

3- Enemy and friendly air and ground units (surrounding or support entities, not usually part of main goal) example: AWACS, vehicles at friendly airports, etc.

 

3- Friendly units (not players) IF DESIRED to assist in mission goal. example: Bombers, tanks, etc.

 

(run mission and make sure of desired outcome)

 

4- Now add enemy air/ ground units that will actually prevent desired outcome. example: Intercept group, AAA, etc.

 

(again run mission to make sure this time the goal is not reached)

 

5- Players and/or clients

 

6- Mission Goals

 

*Remeber to set all of your attack info and WP's for each entity!!!

 

*If making a campaign, I will build a base mission and save it, and then extrapolate from that one, each time saving under a new name. (This will help with continuity) example: an elborate HQ at home base, will not need to be recreated for each mission, as well as static air defenses in theatre like SAM's, and even awacs or tankers.

 

Hope that helps ;)

[Russianfish]

Thanks all :-) AStotzer #1 has been like this from day one, and I've used several tricks including the one bSr.L()Csta mentioned, just thought I was missing something.

Thanks for the train tracking tip I sat around for a hour or so just train spotting..lol