Hard Light Productions Forums

Modding, Mission Design, and Coding => The FRED Workshop => Topic started by: PotzUK on July 17, 2006, 05:10:21 pm

Title: My first real FRED mission (Beta test release)
Post by: PotzUK on July 17, 2006, 05:10:21 pm
Well here it is :)  My first real fred mission.  It's a little rough around the edges, it's been several years since I used FRED!  It works OK here on 3.6.9 RC3, if you have any problems I'm sure someone can help!

To do list:

- Alternative debriefings
- Something isn't quite right on the Aquitaine objective
- I know I've typo'd "Aquitaine" in the messages, but the generated voice just couldn't say "Aquitaine" :)
- Add the objectives to the left of the HUD (Haven't worked that out yet...)

The premise is based on the first mission of the retail campaign.  Whilst the hero of the FS2 campaign is escorting an evacuation convoy nearby, our hero is defending the Aquitaine from NTF forces.
If it goes down well, then I might make a longer campaign out of it that mirrors the main campaign... who knows.

Here's the linkie... www.pyroport.com/downloads/tony.rar

Title: Re: My first real FRED mission (Beta test release)
Post by: PotzUK on July 18, 2006, 08:09:12 am
OK I've just figured out how to do the directives, so I'll update the fs2 file tonight when I get home (can't really test it at work!).  The update will also have a few typo corrections...
Title: Re: My first real FRED mission (Beta test release)
Post by: PotzUK on July 24, 2006, 06:49:45 am
aww, no comments? :)

Can't be that bad can it?  :lol:
Title: Re: My first real FRED mission (Beta test release)
Post by: karajorma on July 24, 2006, 07:06:17 am
Single missions tend to get very little attention around here. Never really figured out why to be honest.
Title: Re: My first real FRED mission (Beta test release)
Post by: Mobius on July 25, 2006, 12:36:15 pm
Single missions tend to get very little attention around here. Never really figured out why to be honest.

Karajorma said this!

About your single mission,releasing some kind of full mod pack isn't necessary at all. see other single missions releases and you'll find files not bigger than 80k in dimensions(as a single mission generally is).
Title: Re: My first real FRED mission (Beta test release)
Post by: PotzUK on July 25, 2006, 12:42:30 pm
Hi m8,

It was the only way I could get it to include the custom backgrounds and to get the voices to work :(
Title: Re: My first real FRED mission (Beta test release)
Post by: Mobius on July 25, 2006, 12:53:24 pm
Why you called me m8(nothing personal,I thinked about a possible explanation...)

I think those backgrounds need to be fixed. They're beautiful, as well as the loading screen,but they're inserted in boxes and will leave the immediate vicinity of the bg out of stars. Other suns and planets,if opened with a photo viewer,are surrounded by a nice vital-green.

I repaeat what Karajorma said,
until you make other missions in order to create a little campaign I'm sure only a few people will notice your work.
Title: Re: My first real FRED mission (Beta test release)
Post by: PotzUK on July 26, 2006, 04:12:14 am
m8 = mate ('m' + eight)

ahh - I didn't know about the green providing a transparency - I'll see if I can sort out the bankgrounds :)  Cheers m8.  If I get time I might string a few more together and attempt a small campaign

T
Title: Re: My first real FRED mission (Beta test release)
Post by: PotzUK on July 26, 2006, 04:37:11 am
OK, if anyone's interested I've made the updates and hopefully fixed the backgrounds too.  I've made up a .vp file and updated the .rar :)
Title: Re: My first real FRED mission (Beta test release)
Post by: Colonol Dekker on July 26, 2006, 05:17:56 am
Right i'll give that a go after work, I'll post on monday when i get back from.......Florence WHOOHOO !!!!
Title: Re: My first real FRED mission (Beta test release)
Post by: Mobius on July 26, 2006, 02:19:23 pm
OK, if anyone's interested I've made the updates and hopefully fixed the backgrounds too.  I've made up a .vp file and updated the .rar :)

I am interested!!  :)

What you need now is a couple of missions.
However with the backgrounds you maybe need a checking by an experienced modder. Maybe only a specific type of green grants that realistic effect...
I thought m8 standed for Mobius 8(AC4,on the last mission "Megalith").

Right i'll give that a go after work, I'll post on monday when i get back from.......Florence WHOOHOO !!!!

Aah,Firenze!.

When you finish with Firenze please visit us...we are about 700 clicks pointing South.
Title: Re: My first real FRED mission (Beta test release)
Post by: PotzUK on July 29, 2006, 10:00:49 am
Coolio :)

I've actually started a campaign now, no real plot per-say, I'm just making it up as I go along.  May not be the best way of doing it, but it's how I work  8)  For the green I used Photoshop to sample the green from a Derelict .pcx file, and used it as the bg for mine.  Worked a treat :)

Cheers bud
Title: Re: My first real FRED mission (Beta test release)
Post by: Kon on August 01, 2006, 12:53:14 pm
Overall this is a good mission, but it's not exactly done, so I wouldn't rush out on your campaign just yet. :)

I played it twice. The first time, the Braveheart got within 100km of the Aquitaine, which was probably the coolest part of the mission. I made sure to order Gamma wing onto it the next time. :D

Now, problems:

1) The first time, the Psamtek (sp?) got off all it's messages fine, and departed on time, but I was wondering why the avi was a Vasudan fighter pilot. I recommend using Vasudan Command for your destroyer avis. Also, the second time, the Psamtek jumped out right when it said "Jump drives ready in 90 seconds." :wtf: When it was time for the "Jumping out now" line, it was said by Command, not the Psamtek. That was probably because it couldn't send-message from a ship not in the map, so it sent it from #Command.

2) After the first wave, Capricorn wing is friendly. Make sure to mark wings hostile in the Wings Editor, not ship by ship.

3) The "Repel NTF Forces" objective never came true. I think this was caused by issue number 2.

4) I don't think the Belisarius ever came (which then of course means that it never left). Maybe I just missed it?
Title: Re: My first real FRED mission (Beta test release)
Post by: Colonol Dekker on August 02, 2006, 04:04:27 am
Quote
:wtf: When it was time for the "Jumping out now" line, it was said by Command, not the Psamtek. That was probably because it couldn't send-message from a ship not in the map, so it sent it from #Command.


 That can be resolved by using a # prejacent to the name of the messaage sender in the events editor.
It enables the message to be sent from "no-one" but with any name, if you understand.

Ie 

send_message
#non-existane GVD Psamtik.
Title: Re: My first real FRED mission (Beta test release)
Post by: PotzUK on August 02, 2006, 04:46:09 am
Thanks for all the tips guys :)  I'm putting a lot more effort into the new campaign set, it's day 9 and I've only just started to lay the framework for mission 2.  Lots of care and attention to detail like the anims ;)  Glad you liked the Braveheart bit - it took a while to get just right  :yes:

The Bellisarius is there from the get-go, but it jumps out shortly before the Psamtek/tik and triggers the #Command message (ripped from Mission 1 of the main campaign).  When I played the mission I did note that it sometimes got lost in the fray though and could be hard to spot.

I've been using the # precursor on the new campaign, but thanks for the info on it's other abilities Dekker - appreciate it.
Title: Re: My first real FRED mission (Beta test release)
Post by: Colonol Dekker on August 02, 2006, 06:21:02 am
Not a problem, Another tip is if any missions from any campaigns  have a neat effect or something special you like. Just rip it open as you have been doing and get some event inspiration (sexp usage i mean) once you twig how they can work together in concert with other factors. The universe is your oyster so to say...... :yes:
Title: Re: My first real FRED mission (Beta test release)
Post by: karajorma on August 02, 2006, 07:35:35 am
Check my FRED cookbook for a few more examples of clever things to do in FRED :)
Title: Re: My first real FRED mission (Beta test release)
Post by: PotzUK on August 02, 2006, 08:35:55 am
Cheers Kara :)

I think I got my head around that...

On the split second timing entry, about wanting some music 500ms after an event, would the attached not work?

When
-OP is-event-true-delay (Or other trigger)
--The argument for the above SEXP
--- /
---- 1
---- 2
-OP play-sound-from-file

Basically, using a piece of simple arithmetic to get your 0.5 seconds?
   
Title: Re: My first real FRED mission (Beta test release)
Post by: Goober5000 on August 02, 2006, 09:03:25 am
Nope.  Sexps can't currently have fractional values.
Title: Re: My first real FRED mission (Beta test release)
Post by: PotzUK on August 02, 2006, 10:59:14 am
Noted :)
Title: Re: My first real FRED mission (Beta test release)
Post by: karajorma on August 04, 2006, 05:42:21 am
That's why the cutscene and send-message-list SEXPs work in milliseconds not seconds. That distinction catches a lot of people out at first.
Title: Re: My first real FRED mission (Beta test release)
Post by: Mobius on August 07, 2006, 03:52:09 pm
About the mission:
1)You forgot the y axis for most ships.A mission with ships arriving from all directions is cool....
2)There were GTB Artemis and Boanerges!They weren't available on that moment,specially for the NTF!
3)Com brief,4th stage:the wav file is different from the text.
4)A bit,bit bit battleofendorish...
5)wav files work well without installing your mod,you don't have to put all them in your modpack.
6)Ha hem the aquitaine arrives from the jump node...after a little amount of time,the Psamtik departs...from the first mission we know that passes some time between the arrival of the Aquitaine and "Surrender,Belisarius".Remember the all out attacks against NTF positions throughout the system?
7)The Command message about the Belisarius uses the wav file of the first mission,but your text is different...
However this remains a good mission,only the plot needs major changes....