[Ryan]

Hello! I decided that i would like to start creating my very own Free space campaign. I already have the story line in mind, i just have afew questions about freds.

1: How do i save files as VP? So that i can try missions i create out?

2. How do i save pictures in the right format to appear in the debriefing thing? Wing logos?

3. How do i make stages in briefing?

I have of other questions, like how to time events and messages and warping in enemy shivans, but Is there an FAQ anywhere so that address all my questions there? Thanks in advanced!

[Herra Tohtori]

Hello! I decided that i would like to start creating my very own Free space campaign. I already have the story line in mind, i just have afew questions about freds.

1: How do i save files as VP? So that i can try missions i create out?

VP files are not needed to get things working.

VP file is a container that is usually used in campaign/mod distribution for matters of convenience for users. But in reality, VP file contains a structure exactly similar to what you would find in the ../data/ folder, either in the main FS2 directory or in a mod directory - that is, the top level of any VP is called data, and there's directories like missions, maps, models, tables etc. etc. that are added to the collective /data that the game uses. In short, the game looks at what it has at it's disposal, and combines all the data in both VP's and data directories in the root and enabled mod folders.

The only difference is that if there's a similarly named file in a data folder and a VP file, the file in the data folder will take precedence.

So, when you're building up your mod, campaign or whatever, create a mod folder and inside that, put ../modfolder/data/ and subfolders for missions, maps, tables et cetera.


As to how to pack your mod's data folder into a VP, there's the older VP Mage (found on Hard Light Wiki) and Maja VP editor (found with forum search). The VPMage does have it's tricks, though, but once you learn it it's pretty conclusive to use. Maja VP editor was actually more refined IMHO, but the problem with it was that the VP it exported didn't work, whereas the one from VPMage did work. I probably did something wrong, but the strange thing was that the files looked exactly similar with VPView32 - that did manage to read the files. Oh well.

2. How do i save pictures in the right format to appear in the debriefing thing? Wing logos?

Don't need about the debriefing thing (*.ANI? something else?), but Wing logos are 256 colour PCX files with 128x128 resolution, and with a little specialty regarding transparency - pure green (00ff00) is regarded as transparent, so it kinda acts like one bit alpha channel. You can't blend into invisibility, though, because any other shades of green are not transparent.

So for example, this would result in the green section being transparent.



You will need a suitable image editor (for free, you can get GIMP which will do nicely for almost anything FS2_Open related) and then you'll need to make your image, then convert it to indexed colours, THEN you need to check that the indexing didn't change the transparent part into any shades of green, which can be a little bit of fiddling... and then you save the 256-colour indexed file as a PCX file, and it should work.

Same applies to avatars (or pilot images), but they are of different size.

3. How do i make stages in briefing?

No idea, since I've never been really into making missions, but I can point you to find Karajorma's FAQ and FREDding guides.

I have of other questions, like how to time events and messages and warping in enemy shivans, but Is there an FAQ anywhere so that address all my questions there? Thanks in advanced!

Well, Karajorma's FAQ is good to read through, as well as his FREDding instructions, and then there's always the Hard Light Wiki.

[karajorma]

The first thing my FAQ will point you at is the walkthrough you can get at via the help menu. You really need to work your way through that. It will answer a very large percentage of your questions.

[TrashMan]

3. How do i make stages in briefing?

Stages in briefing?

By clicking ADD STAGE in the Briefing Editor in FRED.
Or do you mean those jump-like stages?
In that case just tick "cut to next stage"

[Ryan]

The first thing my FAQ will point you at is the walkthrough you can get at via the help menu. You really need to work your way through that. It will answer a very large percentage of your questions.

It says it can't find the help file.

I'm not using FS open, does that make a difference? I have normal freespace.

Oh, and if i don't need a VP, how do i play the mission?

[Herra Tohtori]

Check that you have the following directory (and it's not empty) in your installation:

..\FreeSpace2\data\freddocs\

It's the retail FRED documentation, so you should have it, but if you don't have it, create that directory in the root data directory, grab this file and extract it's contents to the ..\FreeSpace2\data\freddocs\, that should make the FRED2 find the documentation and give you the walkthrough... or you can just open the walkthrough files in your browser of choice from that directory, since that's what FRED2 will do as well.

[Ryan]

Check that you have the following directory (and it's not empty) in your installation:

..\FreeSpace2\data\freddocs\

It's the retail FRED documentation, so you should have it, but if you don't have it, create that directory in the root data directory, grab this file and extract it's contents to the ..\FreeSpace2\data\freddocs\, that should make the FRED2 find the documentation and give you the walkthrough... or you can just open the walkthrough files in your browser of choice from that directory, since that's what FRED2 will do as well.

Thanks! I just finished making a 1 on 1 fighter duel in the quick guide thingy, but it says i have to save it in the right directory. Right now its at "My documents." Whats the right directory please?

[Herra Tohtori]

Well, since you're using retail FS2, it would have to be ..\FreeSpace2\data\missions\.

BTW, may I respectfully inquire why you aren't using FS2_Open? Hardware limitations?

[Ryan]

Well, since you're using retail FS2, it would have to be ..\FreeSpace2\data\missions\.

BTW, may I respectfully inquire why you aren't using FS2_Open? Hardware limitations?

Tell you the truth, i'm not quite sure. I tried FS2 open and i got error messages, so i assumed a hardware problem. It took me awhile to get the retail version working. But i still have afew campaigns, i'm loving dues ex michina.

"Collusus, have you lost your collective minds!"

With FRED, i shall now create hordes of collusus and sathanas and have a blast

[TrashMan]

*DUM DUM DUUUUUUUM*

*ominous doom music in case you havn't figured it out.

[Ryan]

Alright then... I've Played with fraps FRED!, i always misspell that. But i have afew last questions.


1: How do i make an objective completed? As in Kill Scorpio wing before you can warp out.

2: HOw do you make them send a message after you scan an object? I want them to scan something, then say what it is.

3: How do you start a supernova? 

4: How to link missions? As in start a mission, finish it, then get the DOWNLOADING NEW ORDERS thing?

5: How d oi make the thing BEFORE the debriefing? the intro thing you see when you get transfered to a new wing or start the campaign?

Thanks in advance again. Once i get that info i will begin creating my campaign.




EDIT: sorry, i forgot one.... How do you link single missions together into 1 campaign?

[karajorma]

1: How do i make an objective completed? As in Kill Scorpio wing before you can warp out.

In the Objectives Editor you create the goal and give it a trigger like ship-destroyed-delay -> Scorpio

If you mean to actually prevent the player leaving until the objective is done you have to actually break his warp drive as shown in the 3rd question here.

2: HOw do you make them send a message after you scan an object? I want them to scan something, then say what it is.

Make sure that the object is scannable and that it isn't marked as it being known. (Both are in the Ships Editor -> Misc). Then use the is-cargo-known-delay SEXP

3: How do you start a supernova? 

The supernova-start SEXP will do that.

4: How to link missions? As in start a mission, finish it, then get the DOWNLOADING NEW ORDERS thing?

That's a red alert mission. In the first mission of the pair you mark several ships as red alert carry status (Ships Editor -> Misc again). In the second one you mark the mission as being a red alert mission from the Mission Specs Editor.

5: How d oi make the thing BEFORE the debriefing? the intro thing you see when you get transfered to a new wing or start the campaign?

Command Briefing editor. It's basically a simplified version of the briefing editor so you should have no problems with it.

EDIT: sorry, i forgot one.... How do you link single missions together into 1 campaign?

The Campaign Editor will allow you to do that.

[TrashMan]

For that objective thing:

1. Make a event named scorpio destroyed that uses the is-destroyed-delay - Scorpio
2. Type in the event text in the box below..something like "Destroy Scorpio"
3. Make a event Scorpio arrives - when-has-arrived-delay - Scorpio (you cna have someone send a message telling you it's here and you have to destroy it)
4. Put the arrives event ABOVE the destroyed in the even editor
5. link them.

Now the destroy scorpio directive will appear only AFTER scorpio actually arrives.


AS for the Campaign editor - it can get a little confusing if you don't know how to work in it, since it uses shortcuts.

what was it for the selecting a mission? hold shift? Dang, I gotta refresh my memory too

[Colonol Dekker]

Who made that #C~aprican Bombers logo   Me likee....

[Herra Tohtori]

Mainly, me... Although the lady is originally from a squad logo in IL-2 Sturmovik Forgotten Battles (or perhaps AEP or PF), apart from her hair, which I blonded for reasons that should be obvious.

[Goober5000]

For that objective thing:

1. Make a event named scorpio destroyed that uses the is-destroyed-delay - Scorpio
2. Type in the event text in the box below..something like "Destroy Scorpio"
3. Make a event Scorpio arrives - when-has-arrived-delay - Scorpio (you cna have someone send a message telling you it's here and you have to destroy it)
4. Put the arrives event ABOVE the destroyed in the even editor
5. link them.

Now the destroy scorpio directive will appear only AFTER scorpio actually arrives.

That's not necessary.  FreeSpace is smart enough to not display the directive until Scorpio is actually present.

[karajorma]

For that objective thing:

To make it further clear that is a directive not an objective. Objectives are set in the Mission Objectives Editor. Directives are set in the Events Editor. It causes no end of confusion when people use the wrong terms so just cause Ryan used the wrong term doesn't mean you should reinforce it without correction.

[TrashMan]

For that objective thing:

1. Make a event named scorpio destroyed that uses the is-destroyed-delay - Scorpio
2. Type in the event text in the box below..something like "Destroy Scorpio"
3. Make a event Scorpio arrives - when-has-arrived-delay - Scorpio (you cna have someone send a message telling you it's here and you have to destroy it)
4. Put the arrives event ABOVE the destroyed in the even editor
5. link them.

Now the destroy scorpio directive will appear only AFTER scorpio actually arrives.

That's not necessary.  FreeSpace is smart enough to not display the directive until Scorpio is actually present.

Than that's a new FRED addition since it didn't do that before. Good to know tough, makes it easier. However, for more complicated directives I tihnk that linking is still needed.

To make it further clear that is a directive not an objective. Objectives are set in the Mission Objectives Editor. Directives are set in the Events Editor. It causes no end of confusion when people use the wrong terms so just cause Ryan used the wrong term doesn't mean you should reinforce it without correction.

My bad.

[karajorma]

Than that's a new FRED addition since it didn't do that before. Good to know tough, makes it easier. However, for more complicated directives I tihnk that linking is still needed.

It's been that way since retail days AFAIK. You never needed to

There are a few conditions that do require a link in that way but not as many as used to be true since the is-event-true-delay can now be used instead by supplying the optional 3rd argument.

[TrashMan]

Then I'm freaking stoopid. I recall such directives NOT showing up for me untill I linked them....