[Macfie]

You might want to look at Shadow Genesis.  They have used checkpoints extensively in their missions.  I also believe they have a stealth mission where if you are spotted you can run away and the hostiles lose track of you so you can continue on.

[Lorric]

You might want to look at Shadow Genesis.  They have used checkpoints extensively in their missions.  I also believe they have a stealth mission where if you are spotted you can run away and the hostiles lose track of you so you can continue on.

Heh. Got a couple of problems there since I'm still on 3.6.12 after issues with 3.6.14, and my C drive is all but full...

But thanks for the advice. I had a look at it's page and it looks intriguing.

[Axem]

Why not use checkpoints instead? Much easier.

I've never played a mission with checkpoints, but if you had to switch off your machine in the middle somewhere, wouldn't you have to start over again? Not a problem with my way. It also allows you to replay specific chunks of the mission in the techroom.

Checkpoints save as soon as they're called, and you could call them up in the tech room by looking for an "in campaign" variable (or rather checking if you're not in a campaign). Splitting a mission up into 5 mini-missions would be pretty annoying, for the player and fredder, 5 load screens, events to carry through things like position and events. With just using Admiral MS's checkpoint stuff, it's all a breeze!

[Lorric]

I'll be interested to see how that works one day.

[Arpit]

Don't shoot me for asking this, but do checkpoints work for single missions which are not part of campaign?

For example, if I add checkpoints in a Gauntlet mission in FSPort, will they work as intended?

I am quite confused with the nature of PPVs (player-persistent variables) and reading about it on the wiki did not help me somehow. 

[Axem]

If you use Admiral MS's checkpoint script, yes, they do work in missions that are not part of campaigns. The checkpoint script saves a file in a folder that lists everything required for the save.

If you're just keeping general progress with sexp variables, those will only work in a campaign, since they're saved with the pilot file. Player persistent variables will save right away (provided you're in a campaign). Campaign persistent will only save if the mission has been successfully completed.

[Arpit]

If you use Admiral MS's checkpoint script, yes, they do work in missions that are not part of campaigns. The checkpoint script saves a file in a folder that lists everything required for the save.

Any idea where that script is? I am toooooo lazy to search the boards.

[mjn.mixael]

Then I am toooooooooo lazy to post it for you.

[Arpit]

Then I am toooooooooo lazy to post it for you.

Tit for Tat. 
You sir are brilliant for teaching me a proverb. 

[Lepanto]

CHECKPOINT HIJACK: This thread is now about checkpoints, apparently.

Lorric, sorry if I misread your tone or attitude.

headdie, this topic was just out of curiosity, though I'll keep what people have said here in mind modding-wise.

The E, I agree that some kind of way to get back under cover once detected would be useful, if handled logically. Of course, that wouldn't make sense for undercover missions (though if you've got a mission where one supposedly-enemy fighter is flying around the enemy fleet and scanning things, it probably doesn't make sense anyway.)

[headdie]

Then I am toooooooooo lazy to post it for you.

Tit for Tat. 
You sir are brilliant for teaching me a proverb. 

seriously though, its not like the search function is so broken you cant find it for yourself, worst comes to google it.  Seriously I found it in 2 mins using google.



and yer tends to happen around here lol, and no problem everyone doing what they want in their own way is why there are often several informal ways to do the same thing.

(though if you've got a mission where one supposedly-enemy fighter is flying around the enemy fleet and scanning things, it probably doesn't make sense anyway.)

Depends how you play it, if it looks like the player has bugged out then the fleet will remain on high alert but not be actively seeking the player.

another idea would be to do a reverse stealth mission.  set the player up for a typical escort, when they arrive give them what they expect, some skirmishes or something to distract them like ghost readings in a nebula or asteroid field and slip in an enemy stealth fighter while they are not looking.  Let the player proceed as normal and see if they spot the enemy fighter(s) before it finishes it's mission and bugs out.

[Lepanto]

another idea would be to do a reverse stealth mission.  set the player up for a typical escort, when they arrive give them what they expect, some skirmishes or something to distract them like ghost readings in a nebula or asteroid field and slip in an enemy stealth fighter while they are not looking.  Let the player proceed as normal and see if they spot the enemy fighter(s) before it finishes it's mission and bugs out.

Hmm, an interesting idea, and one I don't recall having seen before in campaigns. Of course, if anti-stealth is a primary mission objective, the player should be given sufficient hints that something is up, so they don't fail the mission before they notice the stealth fighter. Secondary or bonus objectives would be a different story.

[Droid803]

Stelath mesions are teh siht.

[Lorric]

[headdie]

another idea would be to do a reverse stealth mission.  set the player up for a typical escort, when they arrive give them what they expect, some skirmishes or something to distract them like ghost readings in a nebula or asteroid field and slip in an enemy stealth fighter while they are not looking.  Let the player proceed as normal and see if they spot the enemy fighter(s) before it finishes it's mission and bugs out.

Hmm, an interesting idea, and one I don't recall having seen before in campaigns. Of course, if anti-stealth is a primary mission objective, the player should be given sufficient hints that something is up, so they don't fail the mission before they notice the stealth fighter. Secondary or bonus objectives would be a different story.

Its been a while since I fredded but IIRC you can change objective types so if the objective was listed as a bonus it wouldn't show on the briefing but by using the delay function you could move the objective to a primary just before you set it as completed if you wanted it to be a primary goal

[The E]

*snip*

Was there a point you were trying to make?

Other than "I do not like stealth missions", that is. If that's what you were trying to get at, I would suggest to keep it to yourself. We know your attitude now, no need to repeat it ad nauseum.

Oh, I see, you were trying to make a point about Droid being drunk. Sorry.

[Arpit]

Its been a while since I fredded but IIRC you can change objective types so if the objective was listed as a bonus it wouldn't show on the briefing but by using the delay function you could move the objective to a primary just before you set it as completed if you wanted it to be a primary goal

Creating two same goals of different types, keeping one valid and the other invalid. Later in mission through SEXPs validating the invalid one and invalidating the valid one. This is the right method, right?

[Kolgena]

I don't mind stealth missions, but the ones where there are like 10 fighters, all of which you need to stay >2km away from... it's a pain in the ass to keep track of them all.

[karajorma]

Its been a while since I fredded but IIRC you can change objective types so if the objective was listed as a bonus it wouldn't show on the briefing but by using the delay function you could move the objective to a primary just before you set it as completed if you wanted it to be a primary goal

Creating two same goals of different types, keeping one valid and the other invalid. Later in mission through SEXPs validating the invalid one and invalidating the valid one. This is the right method, right?

Yep.

[Hobbie]

I'm... not a fan. At all.

That being said, there are good ones (Everything Is Permitted) where you have a lot of tools but even then I tend not to enjoy myself on those. It's like my taste in music. For example, Queen is a good band that make good music, I just don't like it at all (and I think I just signed my death warrant with that sentence).

Then again, my way of playing stealth missions in other games is to silently murder every single person in the base and kill every camera so I can waltz about with impunity. I foresee FREDing a mission where that's possible might be an issue.