[starwolf1991]

So recently I was in that mood where you really want to make your own campaign and you're about to start, but after realizing all that stuff that goes into making it work, you think "Oh god no, maybe I shouldn't because its all way too much." And I hate to admit it happens often. But then I thought about this:

"What if I were to just develop a few simple missions? Tweak them, test them, see how they go while the idea is fresh. After a while, if I believe they are good enough and the idea is still stuck in my mind, then add custom content from there."

Would this be an ideal or suitable approach for developing a campaign? I'd appreciate some opinions or suggestions on the matter.

[The E]

Yep, that's pretty much the ideal approach. Once you get your missions in a state where you can see what (if anything) you need in terms of custom assets, you're in a better position to start building your modpack. I think that, if you start gathering assets without a firm plan in mind what to use them for, you're going to end up with a mess of unused assets.

Also remember that debug builds are your friends when modding; start using them during the early stages of your mod's development to find and squash any bugs you can find in your assets.

[starwolf1991]

I thought I'd ask because...well, its kinda obvious. Making a campaign of my own that'll actually work in the long run is something I've always wanted to do.

I'll admit, I have attempted making campaigns of my own in the past (EG. FS1 Era, Post FS2 Era, you name it). Usually, they fail because of whatever approach I take. Cerberus, I guess, is a good example. I went content over missions, and look where that has got me.

It never really crossed my mind until recently that perhaps starting off with making missions, wherever for my own or someone else's campaign, is the way to go.

Would it also be suitable to, after making the first few missions and putting together the assets you want for them, announce your now long-term project and get some opinions from others first, or keep everything quiet until you get really far and feel it deserves showing to the public?

[The E]

Personally, I feel that if you have something presentable, you should present it in some form. As a demo, or by asking for beta testers. There is nothing that gets the creative juices flowing like a good dose of publicity.

[haloboy100]

If you just want to start FREDing missions first, try the FRED academy. My situation is a lot like yours, but I abandoned my ambition to start making a campaign long ago out of pessimism. Hopefully you'll have better luck.

[starwolf1991]

Lol I know enough about mission design to competently make levels. But thanks for mentioning the Fred Academy 

[CP5670]

"What if I were to just develop a few simple missions? Tweak them, test them, see how they go while the idea is fresh. After a while, if I believe they are good enough and the idea is still stuck in my mind, then add custom content from there."

That makes a lot of sense. In fact, I think more campaign developers are taking this approach today than they once used to. There was a time on HLP when most people focused on models and other assets before anything else, and a lot of campaigns became defunct before even getting to the actual mission design stage.

[Galemp]

"What if I were to just develop a few simple missions? Tweak them, test them, see how they go while the idea is fresh. After a while, if I believe they are good enough and the idea is still stuck in my mind, then add custom content from there."

This is just what my brother is doing for Vasudan Imperium (FSPort forum.) He's releasing the missions as he does them.

[SypheDMar]

This is just what my brother is doing for Vasudan Imperium (FSPort forum.) He's releasing the missions as he does them.

I don't think it's as easy for beginning FREDders to do this, as we don't have the reputation to draw attention nor do we have an included mission in a popular mod. I might try to do this at some point to see how it goes, though.

[karajorma]

Most newbie FREDders have only played FS and a few of the big, polished campaigns. The problem with that is since those missions are so well put together it's hard for a new FREDder to see why they work so well and why their first missions probably won't. These campaigns have been put together by people with years of experience using FRED but more importantly they have years of experience in what works and what doesn't in mission design.

I'd personally suggest playing the FRED Academy missions and notice what people did wrong there. Take note of what makes a mission too hard, too easy, too boring, too repetitive. By playing missions by other newbies you'll see the big, glaring mistakes much more easily and learn from them without having to make them yourselves.

You'd also help make the Academy useful again cause at the moment not enough people playtest the missions.

[Iss Mneur]

This is just what my brother is doing for Vasudan Imperium (FSPort forum.) He's releasing the missions as he does them.

I don't think it's as easy for beginning FREDders to do this, as we don't have the reputation to draw attention nor do we have an included mission in a popular mod. I might try to do this at some point to see how it goes, though.

I think you are wrong.  Starting with a single mission is a great way to build a reputation to draw attention.  There are plenty of people on this board that will play random stuff that is posted.

Also, the shorter this stuff is, the better, because there can be faster iteration on the mission(s) (ie. faster feedback, faster fixing the problems in the mission, etc).  Also, if it is a single mission the more likely someone will finish it in a single sitting, which also means more people will play it faster.

[karajorma]

Single missions tend to get ignored actually. I've seen quite a few cases of that happening on this very board.

[General Battuta]

Agreed, there's almost zero chance I (for one) will DL and play a single mission. That may be something I should change.

[bigchunk1]

Single missions tend to get ignored actually. I've seen quite a few cases of that happening on this very board.

I posted a mission roughly a month ago and got a good ammount of tips and suggestions for improvement (special thanks to FelixJim and Dilmah G). Releasing a single mission is a great way to get feedback from others, see how you are doing etc. Instead of publicty, I think releasing a single mission is good for the developer both for help and motivation. You also get that sense of satisfaction that something of yours is out there (popular or not), which makes you want to continue. Definately recommended, just try to make that first mission the best you can make it. Read the help documentation in FRED and browse the stickies.   

[Iss Mneur]

Single missions tend to get ignored actually. I've seen quite a few cases of that happening on this very board.

Well that could be as I am not a regular resident of this board, but anytime I have wandered in it seems that the the single missions get at least as much attention as anything other unannounced releases.  Obviously they won't get the attention that the big name campaigns do (like anyone that is listed in the hosted menu at the top of the site) but they have all (that I have seen) been downloaded.

Agreed, there's almost zero chance I (for one) will DL and play a single mission. That may be something I should change.

Thats too bad.  And is something that I don't really understand the thought process behind.  Is it that installing a single mission is just too much work for the less than an hour of entertainment (cringing)? Or what?

[starwolf1991]

Wow! A lot of opinions all around!

This is more than enough motivation for me to really start working towards a new project. Might take me a long time to get to where I want or have something of high enough quality, but this time, I at least have the motivation I need.

Thanks heaps, guys. Really appreciate it.

[CP5670]

Single missions tend to get ignored actually. I've seen quite a few cases of that happening on this very board.

I have noticed this too, and it's unfortunate. I remember standalone missions were given a lot more attention at one point, back in the days of the VBB and Xanadu's archive, but today there are enough good campaigns being released that they tend to crowd out any standalone missions.

[starwolf1991]

Ah damnit, guess motivation isn't just everything. What ever happened to mah originality and inspiration? 

Anyone find that's the hardest part of making a campaign? Try to be original in as many ways as possible?

[Dilmah G]

Single missions tend to get ignored actually. I've seen quite a few cases of that happening on this very board.

I have noticed this too, and it's unfortunate. I remember standalone missions were given a lot more attention at one point, back in the days of the VBB and Xanadu's archive, but today there are enough good campaigns being released that they tend to crowd out any standalone missions.

My first ever released item in the community was a standalone mission, and it got some feedback that's helped me since.

(thanks to all involved. You know who are.)

[NGTM-1R]

If you're still trying to create new content for your campaign with all the crap we have lying around, you're an idiot.