SH4 Mission Editor Tips

[DavyJonesFootlocker]

First of all I'm no expert in mission building but have discovered some things along the way and thought I might share them with you. As I go along I'll add what I can.

1. Aircraft- When placing altitude lower that 1000m (say the default 500m) for Dive-bombers and level-bombers they will react in a weird way, in that physical movements appear unrealistic, eg. at 500m or lower they will most likely crash or raise up to the sky and stall. At 1000m or so they react much better and won't be shot down like flies. They hit their targets much better too. Torpedo-bombers should be set at 100m-200m.

2. Do not add any naval bases where they are historically located on the game's map. It's already there.

3. You have to disable the hand icon for you to do any addition of waypoints, objects, etc. Believe me it took some time to figure this out.

4. Sometimes when you set a map zone and set a time for, say, a message to appear it sometimes do not always come at that set time, eg, I had set up a zone in such a way that when I enter it and after 1 minute I would get the message. However,an additional 2 mins had passed when I got the message whilst inside the zone. Maybe it's a game bug, I don't know. Zones are really neat in the editor.

5. If you want ships stationary at say a dock or base then set the object close to the area where the dock or base is (unfortunately bases are not depicted on the editor map- I had to guess an approximation and trial and error to place objects in the right position. There is a way I believe using the merge option). Set the speed to 0 and set a waypoint for it and tick the dock box. Make sure to orient the object just the way you want it by using the heading box.

6. Want to move a convoy or group attached to a main object? Move them on the editor map one by one? Nah, ensure the move hand icon is disabled and outline a box around the objects. Now you can move the whole group.

7. When setting subs do not place the height level greater than 0 or else you won't have a sub but a plane.


Ok, so I'm not Einstein. Just some things I picked up along the way. Some or all may be known already and regarded as basic. I'll post up some more tips as the come in hand. Cheerio!

[Mush Martin]

Originally Posted by DavyJonesFootlocker

3. You have to disable the hand icon for you to do any addition of waypoints, objects, etc. Believe me it took some time to figure this out.

I remember that far back:rotfl:

Originally Posted by DavyJonesFootlocker

4. Sometimes when you set a map zone and set a time for, say, a message to appear it sometimes do not always come at that set time, eg, I had set up a zone in such a way that when I enter it and after 1 minute I would get the message. However,an additional 2 mins had passed when I got the message whilst inside the zone. Maybe it's a game bug, I don't know. Zones are really neat in the editor.

This may be just an effect of Zooming displacement for want of a
better phrase when you lay out the borders of a zone it may be similar
to when you place a pencil mark on a target in the big map try this
by going to full map and put a pencil mark on the target then zoom
in on it and the pencil mark is displaced at max zoom because the
representation of it on the big map was an approximation after all
the target icon on the big map is about the size of the full small map.

Originally Posted by DavyJonesFootlocker

5. If you want ships stationary at say a dock or base then set the object close to the area where the dock or base is (unfortunately bases are not depicted on the editor map- I had to guess an approximation and trial and error to place objects in the right position). Set the speed to 0 and set a waypoint for it and tick the dock box. Make sure to orient the object just the way you want it by using the heading box.

Next time your in take a look at the map location edit mode
under tools and see what you can see. I havent figured it out
yet but there may be something in there for you regarding
3d bases showing.

Originally Posted by DavyJonesFootlocker

6. Want to move a convoy or group attached to a main object? Move them on the editor map one by one? Nah, ensure the move hand icon is disabled and outline a box around the objects. Now you can move the whole group.

Conversely you can just move the lead unit right click on arrange
group and click Ok

if you highlight a unit or a group you can copy the group using ctrl C
and paste an identical unit or group using ctrl v when you do this
method all ai and unit settings like speed and skill level are copied too.

If you set the first way point speed to your desired cruise speed
prior to laying subsequent waypoints all subsequent waypoints will
have that speed set.

Originally Posted by DavyJonesFootlocker

7. When setting subs do not place the height level greater than 0 or else you won't have a sub but a plane.

Really ? did it fly I always use just straight up horsepower to get
my sub airborne.

Originally Posted by DavyJonesFootlocker

Just some things I picked up along the way.

Me too
M

[DavyJonesFootlocker]

See? You learn something everyday. Thanks for the tips Mush!

[Mush Martin]

Knowledge not shared is lost.
M

[Wilcke]

Is there a tutorial anywhere for this Mission Editor?

[DavyJonesFootlocker]

I have it home. If you can wait till tomorrow I can e-mail it to you.

[Nuc]

Originally Posted by Wilcke

Is there a tutorial anywhere for this Mission Editor?

Try these links:

http://www.wolfwillow.com/nu/westwin...HIV/index.html

http://hometown.aol.co.uk/dominicoba...creation1.html