Here's the big thread we've been waiting for. :D
The two campaigns choosen were Black Wolf's NTF campaign and Singh's trapped in the nebula campaign.
How things will work
Basically I've assigned everyone to a campaign. If I messed up tell me and I'll reassign you. Everyone on the Retail campaign has to use FRED2 retail. Those of you on the FS2_Open campaign can use whatever build of FS2_Open you like (Tell me if you use the Kazan and Taylor fixed FRED build though since I use an older build than that).
Missions are assigned on a first come, first served basis. Pick a mission you like the look of. Announce that you've done so clearly in the thread below and then get to work. If you've got problems post a topic and people will help out. Once you've got a working mission either upload it or request that someone upload it for you. Can you please upload the mission zipped BTW. Some people (myself included) sometimes have problems opening missions that weren't zipped in FRED).
Make a new thread for each mission. Start the thread name with [FA] so that people not interested in playtesting or being spoiled can avoid it. I'm expecting all the FREDders to playtest each others missions. This project will fail really fast if you leave it up to the experts to playtest everything. We simply don't have the time for that.
When playtesting be a little nasty. Try to break missions by jumping out at the wrong point, blowing up ships you were told to disable etc. It's the best way to check that the events were properly written.
When you play someones missions note any bugs down and post them on that mission's thread. The designer can then correct them.
The Experts
Right obviously I'm not expecting the experts to go over every mission with a fine tooth comb looking for mistakes very time a version of the mission is posted. What I need to the experts to do is to load the missions into FRED and look for the obvious mistakes. It only takes 5 seconds to notice if the Y-axis is being left unused. It takes a similar amount of time to notice that all the events are called Event Name. Basically you're looking for mistakes in FREDding style more than mistakes in the actual code. If you have the time and want to point them out too feel free though.
The big job I'm expecting from the Experts is for you to be on hand to answer questions and show how to do things in FRED. This isn't going to be too big a difference from what we do on the boards.
When a FREDder is happy with the mission I want a slightly more detailed check. I'm still not expecting you to check through the logic of every SEXP but we all know the big faults that can be made so have a quick poke around and see if you can spot any.
The Campaigns
Campaign 1 - FRED2 Retail
Staff :
Akalabeth Angel, Pilot of the US, Fergus, Ghostavo, ShadowFox, z3r0_tr0jAn and Freespacegundam. You guys get Black Wolf's campaign.
Black Wolf has promised me a more detailed version of the plotline sometime soon but I'll post the simple version to get things rolling.
The campaign uses a vp which is available from http://dynamic4.gamespy.com/~freespace/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=539759
Campaign Description : http://www.swooh.com/peon/BlackWolf/Archives/Damocles.htm
Mission 1 - (ASSIGNED to Ghostavo) - NTR (Neo Terran Remnant) have been raiding cargo depots in the Polaris system. Intel has pinpointed several likely future targets, and has rotating shifts watching them. Your squadron (luckily enough) happens to be there when the NTF make their move.
Mission 2 - (ASSIGNED to ShadowFox) - Intel has received an anonymous tipoff about a smuggler filling an NTR contract for highly restricted materials (high level decoding and cryptography computers). It is believed they are trying to crack GTVA ciphers to gain a tactical advantage within the region. The computers use a unique powersource that can be detected through simple scanning, but the smuggler is moving as part of a huge convoy. Once detected, the vessel must be captured intact. NTR vessels do their best to prevent this should the freighter be discovered.
Mission 3 - (ASSIGNED to Akalabeth Angel) - The NTR as been trying desperately to recruit other capital ships in the region, but until now had been unsuccessful. However, recent intel on the Aeolus class GTC Alexander suggests it destroyed the (Aten Class) GVC Khem. Alpha wing escorts bombers tasked with disabling and disarming the Alexander, but things become more complex when the Damocles arrives.
Mission 4 - (ASSIGNED to Fergus) The NTR has attacked and boarded the Adur research installation (Black Wolf suggested Robin Varleys Archeron (With weaker weapons of course) for this. If we decide to use mods we'll add them in but until now just use an Arcadia) . The player arrives too late to prevent their transports from escaping, but the NTR are trying desperately to eliminate the installation and the science vessels around it, apparently to cover up what exactly they stole. The NTC Perilous should escape with the transports here as a set up for the next mission.
Mission 5 - (ASSIGNED to z3r0_tr0jAn) Information from the Adur confirms what some had already begun to suspect. The NTR stole the prototype for a subspace communications device that was being developed to send subspace messages through destabilized nodes and re-establish some contact with Earth. It is theorized that Staker plans to use this device to contact someone possibly on the other side of Capella, either Bosch or the Shivans themselves. Nobody really knows what thatll mean, but theyre pretty sure they dont want it to happen. The GTVA needs to keep up the pressure and disrupt Stakers timeline. The NTC Perilous was recently confirmed as operating within the system, and its present location has been confirmed. Your mission here is two fold - destroy the Perilous, and capture at least two of the three wing leaders of the fighters guarding it. They will be interrogated and the location of the cache hopefully disclosed. (Black Wolf's suggestion was to use special table entries to make Uberlokis - however I've recently written a disabiling mission and believe me it's not easy to disable an enemy fighter. We'll stick to using standard craft (The Ares sounds suitable to me as it's an offshoot of the Herc II (Which the NTF had) and it's a real bastard to disable ).
Mission 6 - (ASSIGNED to FreespaceGundam) Acting on information gleaned from our captives, A GTVA ground force raided and took the NTRs main cache, but many of the fighters and bombers escaped into space, presumably to join Staker. Without the Perilous or his cache, theres nothing holding him in Polaris, and hes attempting to escape into EP. You try to prevent him, but this mission should really echo mission 3. The Damocles escapes and youre left fighting its entourage.
Mission 7 (ASSIGNED to Pilot of the US) - the GTVA has scrambled the GVCv Sopedu to intercept it at the EP- Capella node. Your job is to guard the Sopedu, take out turrets and also the communications subsystems on the Damocles (Add a few to make this part more challenging).
Campaign 2 - FRED2_Open (Any build)
Staff : Magatsu, Singh, JR2000Z, mr.WHO, Deepstar, Culando, Cobra and Mongoose.
You've got Singh's campaign and fortunately he's on the staff to answer plotline questions rather than me. :D
The plot was posted on the campaign ideas thread but here it is again.
(ASSIGNED to Singh) You play Alpha wing, sent into the Gamma Draconis nebula to rescue a damaged GTVA Battlegroup, the only survivors of which are an Orion Class Destroyer , the GTD Ionas, and two damaged Corvettes, The GTCv Julius and the GVCv Annatet. The group has been missing for several days after a fierce encounter with a large Shivan fleet. Due to the nebula, contact with command was lost for the time period, and the fleet has been drifting and trying to repair itself.
Initially, the rescue attempt suceeds and the first mission sees the Ionas jumping out to safety after repelling several shivan assaults. Ive actually managed to FRED this mission; only left with beta testing it and what-not.
The Second mission (ASSIGNED to Magatsu) is where things start to go downwards. Alpha wing and the Ionas are approaching the jump node back to Gamma Draconis when the Shivans arrive - this time in force. They encounter a retreating Aquitaine as it heads for the node. Command re-establishes contact and informs them that another Sathanas has been found, and more are inbound for Gamma Draconis. Alpha must now defend the Battlegroup as it heads to the node (which is now empty as the Aquitaine has jumped out) and as it comes under fierce attack from the Shivans. Just before the Ionas can make it through the node - A Sathanas jumps in from behind and rips it to shreds, throwing the Julius and the Annatet off-course. Alpha wing is ordered to retreat and re-group with the Julius as it jumps out.
Mission three (ASSIGNED to JR2000Z) sees the rendevouz with the Julius. They are badly damaged after the previous encounter. The commander forms a plan to make a run for the node, along with the Annatet once they reach the rendevouz point. But when the Annatet reaches the point, it is badly damaged and is able to send only a distress signal before a large force jumps in behind it and obliterates it. Alpha cannot do anything much to save it; and is ordered to jump out again with the Julius.
Mission four (ASSIGNED to Cobra) is in Subspace. The Shivans have followed both Alpha wing and the Julius into subspace. Only a few fighters and bombers have managed to follow them in, and strangely the main fleet seems lacking. After the fighters and bombers a dispatched off; its comms chatter time. A plan is hatched and a secret is revealed: The Battlegroup had actually gone in to rescue a SOC transport, which had been the base for several scout operations within the nebula and beyond. Recently, a lone wing had come in from of the nodes leading systems beyond the Nebula, where the Shivans were gathering all the Sathani to invade. But what was more interesting is the node next to this one. It leads to a crossroads which in turn leads back to Gamma Draconis and at the time, an undiscovered node.
The transport's signal was lost and it was assumed destroyed; but recently the SOC recieved it's distress signal again, and sent the Ionas in to rescue it. The Shivans were about to close in onto the Transport when the Ionas arrived, but they managed to distract it enough for it to escape. The transport is still in the nebula and around the same co-ordinates, so if they can find the Transport, they might just be able to find a safe haven of sorts. The plan is to find the transport and get a way out of there.
Mission five takes place back in the Nebula. Alpha wing is searching around for the transport and its quite...seemingly too quite. Alpha wing find a few shivan wings and destroy them before they eventually find the transport - its barely functioning and only a single survivor is left. The Julius jumps in and the transport docks. It then undocks and leaves along with the Julius. Alpha is ordered to leave as well. Thats about it - mostly a talking mission more than anything else.
Mission six is where things get interesting. The subspace node to the gamma draconis system is not too far away from the one leading to the system the Sathanas is coming from. The transport pilots says that scout wings went into this system and came out the other side near the outer parts of the Gamma Draconis system, but far away from actual GTVA presence. The node is too unstable for Destroyers to use, but a Corvette and a few small ships should be able to get through allright. The plan is simple. First, the Transport goes in laden with heavy explosives some distance from the node. Alpha is ordered to keep some distance from the transport as the Shivans attack and destroy it, causing a large explosion and damage to ships all around. The Julius then jumps in and makes a run for the node. The Shivans have a small presence near the node (which Alpha has to clear), but things tend to get interesting as a group of corvettes follows the Julius in as it departs.
Mission seven is again in subspace. The trio of corvettes, designations Flaga, Isthar and Ereshkigal, have followed the Julius through subspace. Fortunately, it is almost at the end of its journey through the node when the Corvettes come through. The Isthar tries to take a pot shot at it, and hits, but then doesn't fire after that. Alpha must now intercept bombers and fighters as they try to destroy the Julius (again)
Mission eight is red alert from Mission seven. Turns out the node doesn't go to Gamma Draconis - nothing could be further from the truth. The node leads all the way to the Capella system, skipping Gamma Draconis totally. It turns out that the subspace corridor was unstable, and kept on switching from the nodes in both systems; with an ever-changing exit point the chances of the trio of corvettes following is quite low. But now the problem is that the Julius has emerged smack bang in the middle of a battle between GTVA and Shivan forces. The Julius (and Alpha 1) runs through beam fire, GTVA ships, Shivan ships and whatever else you can think of in an attempt to get away from the crossfire. GTVA forces cover the Julius's retreat as they themselves start to retreat and head to the node to Epsilon Pegasi. Alpha 1 leaves just as the trio of corvettes show up nearby.
Mission 9 is simple. The Julius has reached the Epsilon Pegasi node - it moves past the convoys in an attempt to reach the node (maybe insert complaints from the civvys that the GTVA are cowards) and gets there whilst protecting them against shivan attacks as well. Red Alert to Mission 9a.
Mission 9a is VERY simple. Julius jumps into the node, so does Alpha 1. Their moving along when they recieved a signal from a bouy on the other side - the GTVA are about to close the Node; the Bastion is on its way in. General cursing and shouting and "OH CRAP! WE'RE GONNA DIE!! ARRGH! RUN!!!" sort of a thing as the Julius turns around and makes a run back for the entrance. It warns off the Civvies that come in as well; and is about 5 seconds out when the Bastion arrives in the node. Cue command starting the remote detonation sequence. Alpha 1 and the Julius make it out barely in time.
Mission 10 is the last mission. The Julius jumps in...only to see the entire fleet being annihalated by the Shivans - including the Trio of corvettes mentioned earlier. All are extremely damaged, but all open fire on the Julius (enter more messages about "Oh crap!! We aint gonna make it!! stuff) and it goes down. Their are other GTVA ships here; but they are behind the shivan vessels. Alpha one is now ordered to jump out ASAP to rendevouz with the retreating task force, but has to jump in behind the Shivan vessels. Basically running through all the way to a nav bouy.
Now Cue Supernova, end-mission and debrief. The debrief is a log entry from the Captain of the GTCv Actium, which was one of the few ships that made it into the nebula. The captain laments on their current situation, stranded behind enemy lines and what-not. In the log the captain mentions the presence of the Julius and what an aid the information it was holding might have been - and also mentions that a fighter tried to escape from there, but was destroyed in the Supernova before it could reach them. Also mention on how hopeless the situation is for the survivors; faced with an overwelhming shivan force and nowhere to go.
Okay I'm going to be adding a third campaign since there are too many people signed up for the ones we have.
Campaign 3 - FS2_Open (any build)
The team for this one will be ngtmlr, InfernoGod, GoulMiester, AqueousShadow, Aphenicus, RedMenace, Grass69er, and Ransom Arceihn.
This one is FreespaceGundam's plot which you won't have seen before as he PM'd it to me. It's much longer than the other two but you'll probably be getting reinforcements as the other campaigns finish.
Setting: Ross 128,Laramis, N362
Plot: Assigned to special operation command GTVI Phantoms, you fly missions to protect the security of the GTVA. Against remnant NTF, mysterious conspirators, and even the shivans.
Mission 1: Oh **** (ASSIGNED to GoulMiester)
Briefing: GTSC Minerva attacked and disabled, Alpha wing flies in and secures the area. After a scan, the GTT Vagabond jumps in and docks. Alpha then fights off five more successive wings, with itermittent transmissions between Alpha 2 and the Vagabond, and command. Vagabond determines Minerva was attacked, but vital data was not accessed(or so it seems), Vagabond undocks, but is destroyed when NTCv Bosch jumps in and destroys it. Command orders Alpha to destroy the Minerva, and a hasty getaway ensues.
Mission 2: Aren't we curious? (ASSIGNED to ngtm1r)
Briefing: Intelligence tracks the Bosch deeper into the system, hiding out in a hidden asteroid staging ground. Alpha, Beta, and Delta are sent in to capture the Bosch. Arriving just in time to see it jump, they see a rogue cruiser, the NTC Alexus, guarding cargo containers. The pilots engage the enemy forces, and a reassigned to capture the Alexus and the cargo. After disabling the Alexus and destroying the escort, the GTT Eschelon and three freighters jump in to collect the cargo and ships. The Eschelon finds the crew dead, and a self destruct in progress. Set for five minutes, the freighters collect the cargo as Alpha looks on, waiting for the Eschelon to undock. The Eschelon downloads the Alexus's mainframe information and undocks, jumping out just as the ship explodes. Alpha then does likewise.
Mission 3: The Plot Thickens (ASSIGNED to AqueousShadow)
Briefing: Data retrieved from the Alexus reveals that it and the Bosch rendevous with a supply company called Tetrarch Conglomorate, who also supply the GTVA forces in the area. An analysis of the information reveals a secret location of supply exchange. Alpha 1 is put in a pegasus stealth fighter and dropped in, waiting for the exchange to take place. Three transports arrive, and Alpha 1 scans them. Then the Bosch arrives and the transports dock one by one, as Alpha listens to their transmissions. As the transports attemtp to leave however, they are destroyed by the Bosch, which claims they broke the agreement. Fighters of the regular GTVA arrive to investigate, and engage the Bosch and its forces. Alpha one is ordered to jump out.
Mission 4: (ASSIGNED to Ransom Arceihn) Aren't You Dead Already?
Briefing: The Bosch is cornered by GTVA regulars, and consequently devestates them when its backup arrives. Alpha, Delta, Epsilon, and Zeta wings arrive, jumping the Bosch and destroying it completely. The regular wings of Beta and Charlie wonder who you are, but are called back for debriefing.
At this point you are offered a covert operation for SOC
Branch 1 = You accept.
Mission 5: Accomplices. (ASSIGNED to Aphenicus)
Briefing: Since Tetrarch supplied the rogue NTF, they seem to have some hidden agenda. Since they're hiring pilots to defend their transports(what with the Bosch destroying three of them and all), Alpha 1 can volunteer for this mission. If he doesn't, he goes on to the second plot line. If he does, his first task is to guard a convoy of six ships heading to the GTI Boone. You get attacked by a few straggling NTF fighters, who don't quite get that they're done. You eliminate them and move on.
Mission 6: Wolves in the Fields (ASSIGNED to Aphenicus)
Breifing: Second part of Accomplices. Alpha wing escorts the convoy to the Boone, and oversees the docking, along with a few patrolling wings from the station. A convoy from a rival company arrives, one that also supplies the station. Supposed rebel fighters jump in, destroying the rival convoy. Your employers order you not to engage until attacked, and you do so. The fighters are revealed to be mindless drones, and you destroy them completely.
Mission 7: Follow the leader (ASSIGNED to InfernoGod)
Briefing: Alpha wing is ordered to escort the corporate corvette Apos to while it meets with a mysterious buyer. A few pirate wings show up, but you handle them easily. Eventually, a shivan transport jumps in, but does not appear hostile. A mysterious person aboard the ship,(who may or may not be Bosch!), talks with the Apos and agrees to supply something called, the Thanatos. GTVA forces arrive, having detected the Shivan signal. You feign ignorance, and the transport jumps out.
Mission 8: Buddying Up (ASSIGNED to Grass69er)
Briefing: The Apos meets up with a wing of dragon class fighters, who are piloted by terrans oddly enough. A Shivan cruiser arrives and transmits data, as GTVA regulars attack. You fight them off, killing as few as possible, or not. You and the Apos jump to the Laramis system.
Mission 9: The Masks Come Off. (ASSIGNED to ngtm1r)
Briefing: You finally are allowed to betray the Apos, and do so at an opportune time. You attack it during a scheduled meeting with another unknown contact. You disable it, then the Ravana jumps in and screws everything up, destroying the Apos. This ends the covert assignment.
Branch 2 = You decline.
Mission 5A: Aggressive Requisitioning.
Briefing: Instead of escorting a convoy, Alpha 1 is assigned to attack and capture a CEO of Tetrarch company, in order to find out what his companies involvement is. You destroy the mercenary escorts and capture it, destroying his transport and waiting for the regular GTVA to arrive. Beta wing does so, and you inform them that the NTF destroyed it, and you arrived in time only to destroy the fleeing enemy fighters.
Mission 6A: Corporate Payback
Briefing: The CEO reveals that Tetrarch is attempting to monopolize its trade in the outer systems, and has been using the NTF to attack rival convoys. Other ships were attacked just to throw off the GTVA. In a payback move, Alpha wing ends up destroy the convoy it would've guarded had it taken the covert op. Its escort, being your operatives, assists. As the convoy is destroyed, however, a mysterious ship, the TCv Apos, arrives and destroys a passing rival convoy(yet again), and jumps out.
Mission 7A: Where do they Get These Toys?
Briefing: Alpha wing follows the Apos to its meeting place, this time with no escorts, and spots the Shivan transport escaping. The Apos summons twelve wings of fighters, and you fight for your life. As you do, it makes it escape. The enemy fighers are revealed to be drones.
Mission 8A: Someone's Been Bad.
Briefing: You come upon the same situation as the loop, but the Apos once again gets away. You attack and disable the cruiser, the Ecmus, and are just about get away when a Ravana destroyer arrives to smoke it. The Ravana then runs off
Mission 9A: All Loose Threads
Briefing: The Apos is cornered, just as in the loop, but this time has a cruiser guarding it. You blow up the cruiser, and then try to capture the Apos. Once again, the Ravana shows up to destroy it before disappearing into the Laramis system jump node.
At this point the two threads join
Mission 10: Excuse me?
Briefing: The Ravana's appearance sends shockwaves throughout the alliance, with your unit being mandated to destroy it at all costs. The destroyer makes little effort to hide itself, launching an attack on a GTVA installation in the system. The station is hammered by the time you get there, though strangely its weapons seem not to be fully charged. You duke it out with Shivan bombers and fighters, but having no bombs you can't harm the Ravana. The GTCv Orestes jumps in behind the Ravana, its beam cannons doing a bit more damage than they rightly should. The Ravana finishes off the station and retreats, leaving you with more questions than answers.
Mission 11: It Gets Better
Briefing: The Ravana sets course for the Ross 128 jump node, sending allied forces into a frantic panic. The GTID Acumen attempts to catch up to it, only to be ambushed by Shivan fighters with terran weaponry. The Acumen's engines are damaged, leaving it vulnerable. A pair of Molochs jump in, but like the Ravana, their weapons seem puny. After a pitched battle in which the Acumen blows the two corvettes away, a transmission is received indicating the Ravana made it to the node. The Acumen jumps out and you follow, hoping to catch up.
Mission 12: Punic Victory
Briefing: The Ravana is spotted near GTVA HQ in Ross 128, which means things are getting worse. Ross is only one jump away from the terran capital. Fighters are launched to intercept, but when you arrive the battle is already nearly one. Mjolinir beam cannons are ripping the Ravana to shreds, and HQs own protectors are having an easy time. As the Ravana is destroyed, a battered Fenris cruiser, the Pollux, arrives with grim news. An attack was launched in Luyten that destroyed the remaining defenders, and the ships were under the banner of the NTF. Analysis of the Ravana debris reveals terran materials, and power sources. The fleet is scrambled, with you jumping out to rejoin the Acumen.
Mission 13: Agendas
Briefing: The Acumen is first back into the Luyten system, where scouting reveals an NTF stronghold deep within the asteroid belt you visited earlier. A strike mission is launched, coming upon a small vanguard of cruisers and a Bodecia installation. Realizing that it could turn out to be another Iceni, command orders you to wipe out all enemy ships and installations. Just as you are about to finish the base off, two corvettes, identifying themselves as the NTF vessels Athos and Porthos, come in with multiple wings of fighters. The Bodecia reveals itself as the NTCv Terra, under the command of Marshall Richard Gelmeth, who is revealed as the Bosch look alike. He muses about how easy it was to manipulate corporate interests to suit his goals(i,e. Tetrarch), and then promptly jumps out. You follow suit, heading back to the Acumen.
Mission 14: Grand Scheme
Briefing: A hidden Acadia installation is located at the edge of the system, with a large gathering of NTF warships approaching it. Command sends you in in a lone Pegasus class stealth fighter to scope out the situation. You find at least twenty warships, with more jumping in and out all the time. Intercepting transmissions, you learn that the NTF has already sent forces into Laramis and other systems, and is massing its forces in Ross 128. Marshall Gelmeth addresses his fleet, revealing his plan to build a new Neo-Terra, free from the influences of the decrepit alliance. As he speaks, two Demon destroyer look alikes jump in, with a small freighter following suit. Docked with it is a meson bomb. The NTF revels in its fearsome ships and how the fear of the shivans led the GTVA to pull their forces out of Wolf 359 leaving the systems beyond Luyten poorly defended. Their plan is simple, to detonate a meson bomb at the Laramis node and seal themselves off all the while leaving the alliance to ponder their shivan 'allies'. A passive scan reveals your prescence, and you are forced to jump out.
Mission 15: Double-edged Sword
Briefing: A small task force of NTF ships is spotted, consisting of eight ships. Four corvettes, three cruisers, and one Hecate class destroyer, the NTD Chaldean. The Chaldean carries with it the meson bomb, bound for the node. Because the Acumen is still the only vessel in system, it has no choice but to intervene. All of its fighters are launched, assaulting the defending ships. The forces are evenly matched, due to the timely arrival of NTF fighters. Flying a Boangares bomber, you and Alpha wing fight for your lives to destroy the Chaldean, to no avail. Then, the Acumen orders you to disable it, and then get out of there. You do just that, and the rest of your fighters jump out, but due to a malfunction, you can't. The disabled Chaldean is on the verge of blowing up, but her captain laughs as he thinks they can just load it onto another ships. The Acumen arrives, informing them that their time has come. You are ordered to move as far away from the enemy as possible, while the Acumen fires on the Chaldean. The explosion destroys the NTF ships and damages the Acumen, but the battle is won.