[Titan]

oh... ok, i'll look at that.......  duh....

P.S. Ok, i COMPLETELY understand variables, but i dont have a situation yet when i have to use them....... 

[Polpolion]

P.S. i'm getting to work on variables.. i read that part of the tutorial 20 times and im slowly starting to understand it......... 

I'm pretty sure you can get along without variables, but it is really hard and annoying trying to create the line of SEXPs to replace the variable.

[karajorma]

It's possible to FRED without variables. In fact only used variables in one mission in the whole of FS2 (To repair the Lucidity's radar dish a little  every 30 seconds or so in Battle of the Wilderness) and they actually misused them in that mission anyway (They modify a variable but never actually use its value anywhere).

However you'll find that the better you become as a FREDder the more trouble you have making missions without them as they allow you to do all kinds of things that are completely impossible without them.

[TopAce]

Titan, did you learn to make simple SEXPs? I know that in order to make variables work, you need SEXPs, but what I would like to know if you, for example, know how to make mission goals or directives or make Command send messages.

[Titan]

Titan, did you learn to make simple SEXPs? I know that in order to make variables work, you need SEXPs, but what I would like to know if you, for example, know how to make mission goals or directives or make Command send messages.

Ya........ i know all that stuff........ 

[Goober5000]

It's possible to FRED without variables. In fact only used variables in one mission in the whole of FS2...

This is technically true, but don't forget that the Special Explosion feature is based on the variable infrastructure.

[karajorma]

Yeah but it doesn't require the FREDder to actually understand variables.

Ironically enough the only time the modify-variable SEXP is used correctly in the entire game is in the mission from the walkthrough

[NGTM-1R]

I've never made a mission with a variable myself. Truthfully "Cleaning Crew" is pretty basic in terms of FREDding. If you want complication you'll have to move up to "Operation Savior", but that's not particularly complicated in terms of the actual sexp'ing, just attention to detail.

[Dark Hunter]

You want to see a complicated mission: look at the final of Transcend. I looked at the events and I think the only ones I understood were the fade-in/fade-out events. The rest was absolutely unintelligible to me...

[karajorma]

The problem with things like Transcend is that we're reaching the point where SEXPs are complex enough that it's no longer immediately obvious what they do from event names.

The more complex missions rely heavily on the use of variables and arguments which makes it hard for anyone other than the creator to know what is going on.

I also looked at the last mission of Transcend in FRED and I also had a hard time understanding what was going on without sitting down and having a very good read through the mission. I'm getting seriously tempted to revive an old idea I mentioned once before and make it possible to attach comments to events.

[TopAce]

I would welcome that addition.

[karajorma]

I'll add it to my post 3.6.9 list then

[Mobius]

Wow....

Is there anything else you are going to add?

[karajorma]

I've got a whole bunch of ideas actually I don't particularly plan to list them though cause most need investigation to see if they're feasible first

The only definite is that I'm going to finish off my Team Loadout changes.

[Mobius]

Have you planned something about cutscene SEXPs?

[karajorma]

They're WMC's children. I'm not sure my mathmatical skills are up to dealing with the SEXPs even if they do need anything done.

[Titan]

............

[karajorma]

Less dots more content Titan.

[Dark Hunter]

I think he is surprised (as I was, at first) at how quickly HLP topics go off on tangents. 

[Titan]

yup; i post something about seeing if anyone needs freding done and they start gossiping like housewives.