A bit confused.

[startrekmike]

So I have never really got into the IL-2 style mission builder (mainly use DCS style mission builder) and now that I have Cliffs of Dover, I wanted to dive in to this thing head first.

I have found two roadblocks that are in my way however.

1.) The lack of a dedicated (and all encompassing) manual for the editor, it makes it tough to know what to do when they did not even release a manual to help get a player started!

2.) My severe lack of knowledge when it comes to scripting.


So here is the dilemma, I want to create a simple co-op mission with the builder, a small flight (3 including the player) of Blenheim Mk IV's will take off from a airfield and about 2 minutes later, a group of escort fighters will fall into formation and fly near the player's flight group to help with enemy fighters.

The player flight would have a mission goal of destroying some parked German bombers and the surrounding equipment (arming and fueling trucks) and since the player (and gunners) are all in one aircraft, I was wondering how I would open the player aircraft to allow for player controlled gunners? I know how to spawn in the aircraft but I don't know how to allow other players to jump in with me.

Next up, I don't know how to make the targets into a actual objective, I just know how to place them, any tips on actually setting objectives so that the mission can either succeed or fail?

Lastly, I don't understand how to spawn a enemy aircraft (using the playerpassthrough trigger) that starts on the ground and takes off, I don't want any airstarts in my missions as I feel they are a bit unrealistic, I would rather that even the AI has to scramble from a field to meet me and my AI aircraft.

I don't know how much of this needs scripting so if it does, would it be possible to include the scripts and a little bit of info on how to make them work for me, as I said, I never dealt with scripting before and it is very intimidating.

I am sorry for asking so many questions, I simply feel like I am over my head at this point.

***EDIT***

I feel that I should perhaps include a clear list of my questions before I post in case I was not as clear as I think (I do tend to ramble on and throw a question in the middle of it!)

1.) How do I allow players to assume gunner and bombardier positions in a player controlled aircraft? (I have two AI bombers in the flight also, but that is easy to deal with.)

2.) How do I set mission goals and attach those goals to land (or air) based targets?

3.) How do I set the AI to spawn parked and take off to meet the player aircraft instead of just triggering a airstart (I don't like airstarts for anything), if this requires scripting, what would those scripts be and how would I use them for this, and other missions.


Thanks for any help in advance!

[salmo]

G'day Mike,
Full Mission Builder: You could start by looking at some FMB video tutorials HERE. They're for IL2-1946 but most of the information is transferable to COD. There's also a beginners guide/mission HERE.

How do I set the AI to spawn parked and take off to meet the player aircraft ? To spawn aircraft with the passthrough trigger. (1) create the AI flight you want to spawn. Make sure the 'spawn on script' checkbox in the group's properties tab is ticked & it's also set to 'spawn parked' (2) create your passthrough trigger, on the trigger's action tab, select the Ai flight as the trigger target.

How do I allow players to assume gunner and bombardier positions in a player controlled aircraft? Players can jump into any position in an aircraft but there's a bit of of a trick (because of a game bug). Online - When you enter the mission you will see a list of planes. You can usually take a pilot position, but other positions will show as an 'unavailable puppet'. For other positions, from the main menu you need first select a plane, and spawn in that plane, then back out to the main menu again then all available positions in the other planes will be vacant. Click on a vacant slot to enter that position.

c# Scripting:
Kodiak has information on how to setup for C# scripting and a simple scripting lesson HERE.

How do I set mission goals and attach those goals to land (or air) based targets? - You'll have to script this when you're comfortable with basic scripting. Use the OnActorDestroyed event to test whether your targets have been destroyed and code what you want the mission to do next.

[FG28_Kodiak]

And if you have Questions about scripting simply ASK

[startrekmike]

Any co-op missions that are already made that I can look at and learn from?

I ask because I got a gunner who is chomping at the bit to fly with me but I have no missions that are suitable, so I either have to find one online to use (until I make my own) or learn the editor as fast as possible.

It would be a bit easier if I had a sample that kinda matches the simple framework that I have outlined above.

I feel like this is a really needy post but I am really trying to learn!


Thanks so much for the help so far!

[salmo]

Originally Posted by startrekmike

Any co-op missions that are already made that I can look at and learn from?

I ask because I got a gunner who is chomping at the bit to fly with me but I have no missions that are suitable, so I either have to find one online to use (until I make my own) or learn the editor as fast as possible.

It would be a bit easier if I had a sample that kinda matches the simple framework that I have outlined above.

I feel like this is a really needy post but I am really trying to learn!


Thanks so much for the help so far!

Sample mission using pass-through triggers (no C# scripting) for download HERE Mike.

(1) Red - You can take an allied plane from Lympne airfield England. When you fly over Dover an Ai flight of Bf109's will spawn to engage you.

(2) Blue - You can take a Lufwaffe plane from St Inglevert airfield France. When you fly over Calais an Ai flight of Hurricanes will spawn to engage you.