Battle of Bismark Sea

[peabody]

Just finished my first single mission: Battle of the Bismark Sea, if anyone is interested. There is a nice air battle at the beginning if you have an external camera to watch it. Better cheer for the planes because anything left is up to you to take care of. Has a refit station so if you run out of torps, you can reload and if your quick enough intercept the convoy before it reaches Lae.
It has a Briefing and Objective on the game load screen. Let me know how you like it good or bad!

http://home.roadrunner.com/~peabody/SH4/SM15 Bismark Sea.zip

edit: Took out some of the planes, at times they were sinking ALL the ships.

Peabody

[charlyVII]

Hi Peabody,
I'm not just answering to your mission "Battle at Bismarck Sea". I downloaded it and it worked--great!
But I got some problems in creating own missions. The missins work but until now I didn't succeed in getting a picture on the briefing table right from the mission index. I put the same tga-name as mentioned in the briefing section of "Language Localization", I put the # in front and after the name, even the picture size (400x256 or 512x256pixels) should be OK and the size in KB is about 132KB. The text is displayed OK and the mission works but no picture??
Do you have any advice? I dont know what else to do!
charlyVII

[Rockin Robbins]

I'm doing my first attempts at playing with the mission editor and you have my respect there!

[peabody]

Thanks Rockin I appreciate that. I was going to do a Bigger mission as if we had paid attention to all the warnings and the Pacific Fleet was put on alert and put out to sea. But the problem is Pearl Harbor, the destroyed ships remain so I'm still thinking of a new idea.

charlyVII,
I would like to see your missions when you get them done. As for the picture, it is fairly simple but not if you don't know how.

1. The name in the "Language Localazation" MUST be EXACTLY the same as the name in the mission folder. When you install the mission you add an "SM## My Mission" to the folder name, then "SM## My Mission.mis" and "SM## My Mission.tsr". You know that because you said the missions work. BUT if you add "SM## picture.tga" it will not match the name in "Language Localization" and it will not show, unless you do have an SM## in the "Language Localization", but if you change it, it won't show. For example if you name it "SM 15 My Mission.tga" then when you go to install it and you have a 15 and you change the name to "SM 16 My Mission.tga" it doesn't match and won't show. So the simple solution is don't use any SM number on the .tga file (you don't need one)and I added a "Readme" file in my mission .zip file that says not to change the .tga filename.

2. #My Mission.tga#0,0,400,256
must go on a line by itself, you can not add anything else to that line. Notice there is no comma between the # and the first 0. And it must be in the "Mission Briefing", don't put it in the "mission title", that is what shows on the left side, the picture goes on the right side which is the "mission briefing".
You can put:

Date
Mission name
#My Mission.tga#0,0,400,256
Briefing:
This is what you are suppose to do in this mission. Don't screw it up or you sub will be destroyed and you will be kicked out of the Navy.

In other words you can add info before and after the picture as long as the Picture info is on a line by itself.

3, the numbers are the coordinated of the upper left and lower right of the picture. So it starts at 0,0 and ends at 400,256. So it start 0 pixels from the left and 0 pixels from the top. and it ends at 400 pixels from the left and 256 pixels from the top. So put the 0,0 then width of the pic first and the height of the pic second.
So, the #My Mission.tga# is the name of the picture file. and 0,0,400,256 is the position of the picture file on the briefing page. I set mine to 400,256 because I looked at others and that what size they were so i used that. But I just did a test and other sizes will work, but I don't know how big you can go.

4. I have Photoshop Elements and it allows 16bit,24bit and 32bit .tga either compressed or uncompressed. The only one I could get to work was 16bit uncompressed.

I hope you understand all my gibberish. I gave you a lot of info because I don't know what the problem is. If you still can't get it to work, give me a link to download the mission and photo and I will try to fix it for you. Even if your mission isn't done, it doesn't matter if I'm just fixing the picture so it will show. I'm pretty sure it is just a simple mistake.

Peabody

[charlyVII]

Originally Posted by peabody

4. I have Photoshop Elements and it allows 16bit,24bit and 32bit .tga either compressed or uncompressed. The only one I could get to work was 16bit uncompressed.

I hope you understand all my gibberish. I gave you a lot of info because I don't know what the problem is. If you still can't get it to work, give me a link to download the mission and photo and I will try to fix it for you. Even if your mission isn't done, it doesn't matter if I'm just fixing the picture so it will show. I'm pretty sure it is just a simple mistake.

Peabody

Peabody,
thanks a lot for your detailed informations. I am pretty shure I did everything as you described except probabely the shape of the tga-file (16-, 24- 0r 32bit). I also got the picture via a photoshop and I will check it out and let you know.
No problem to send you the mission, if I succeed to load it up. I've never done that but probably can learn it. I'll let you know.
charlyVII

[charlyVII]

Hi Peabody,
checked the mission over and over and couldn't find a mistake. But nevertheless there should be at least one. Even if I use a picture which works in other missions it does not work in mine! So it could not be the picture itself. It must be my fault, but I don't see it.
So my only hope is to try to upload. I'll see.
charlyVII

[charlyVII]

Peabody,
I managed to upload my mission to filefronthttp://hosted.filefront.com/charlyVII/ . May be you find some time to look at it. It is called "SMG02 Lombok Strait" and all three files (*.misge, *.tsr and *.tga) should be packed in the upload.
I owe you something if you find out my fault!
charlyVII

[Rockin Robbins]

The bombers killed off all the fat juicy merchies and left 7 DDs with nothing to escort and with a real bad attitude.

[peabody]

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

The bombers killed off all the fat juicy merchies and left 7 DDs with nothing to escort and with a real bad attitude.

I had that happen to me once too, and they don't like to give up. Most of the time they only sink 2,3 or 4 of the merchants but I did change some of the torpedo planes to dive bombers, maybe I should take some out. Or train them to bomb the DDs and leave the merchants alone.:rotfl:

Peabody

[peabody]

Originally Posted by charlyVII

Peabody,
I managed to upload my mission to filefronthttp://hosted.filefront.com/charlyVII/ . May be you find some time to look at it. It is called "SMG02 Lombok Strait" and all three files (*.misge, *.tsr and *.tga) should be packed in the upload.
I owe you something if you find out my fault!
charlyVII

Minor problem, I see from your profile you are in Germany. Are you using a German version of the mission editor? Your file ends in .misge but mine ends with .mis so I can't open your file to see what you did. But the picture works in one of my missions, so you may have it typed in wrong.
Open "Language Localization" Click on "Mission Briefing" in the top window, then highlight all the text in the bottom window with your mouse (click and drag) then right click and select copy. Then start a message here and paste it in.

Below is what I typed in the "Mission Briefing" window:
__________________________________
Lombok Strait
Date of mission
#Lombok Strait.tga#0,0,400,256

Mission Briefing:
Blow up some ships.
___________________________________
And this is what I got in the game.


then when you scroll down you get the rest of it.



So if you can show me what you have typed in the Mission Briefing window then we can figure out what isn't working, because the picture works here. I used 400 instead of 512 because the picture has 112 pixels of white space on the right, I don't know why, but I have seen it in some other pictures too.

Peabody

[charlyVII]

Originally Posted by charlyVII

Peabody,

So if you can show me what you have typed in the Mission Briefing window then we can figure out what isn't working, because the picture works here. I used 400 instead of 512 because the picture has 112 pixels of white space on the right, I don't know why, but I have seen it in some other pictures too.

Peabody

Yes, I am located in Germany and use SH4 Vers. 1.5. There you are able to do either German (*.misge) or American missions (*.mis) using the same mission editor. Rename the extension to .mis and you will succeed to open the file. In Version 1.5 this is only the label which says which subs you want to use: German or American. As soon you rename it to extension .mis you will be offered American subs and the mission runs (you only run against your own ships) .
I know it's a minor problem as missions are running, but I got curious why the hell this image does not show up. Can you understand this? The game to play is one thing but to change it by modding to your own gusto is much more and I like it. So I get crazy when I cannot solve such an easy looking problem !!
Thanks again for your help and time, I appreciate it. If you should find something, please, let me know.
charlyVII

[peabody]

Originally Posted by charlyVII

Yes, I am located in Germany and use SH4 Vers. 1.5. There you are able to do either German (*.misge) or American missions (*.mis) using the same mission editor. Rename the extension to .mis and you will succeed to open the file. In Version 1.5 this is only the label which says which subs you want to use: German or American. As soon you rename it to extension .mis you will be offered American subs and the mission runs (you only run against your own ships) .
I know it's a minor problem as missions are running, but I got curious why the hell this image does not show up. Can you understand this? The game to play is one thing but to change it by modding to your own gusto is much more and I like it. So I get crazy when I cannot solve such an easy looking problem !!
Thanks again for your help and time, I appreciate it. If you should find something, please, let me know.
charlyVII

I tried to change the extension to .mis but it won't open it crashes with an error. That is why I wanted you to show me what you have typed in the window because I can not see it. it won't run in the game either. Maybe if you saved a .mis version in a different folder and upload that maybe that will work.
Did you check what I typed and check to see if you have it typed the same? I wish I could help solve this but without being able to see the mission, there isn't much I can do unless you show me what is typed.
Do you know if 1.5 installed a 'new' mission editor?

FORGET ALL THAT I FOUND YOUR PROBLEM!!!!!!!!

The .tsr file contains your mission briefing. I opened it with Wordpad.

You have
#Lombok Strait.tga#

You didn't finish it, you need to type

#Lombok Strait.tga#0,0,400,256

You told the program the pictures name but you didn't give the size so it won't show. Go back into the Mission briefing and add
0,0,400,256
to the end of the name, do NOT put a space, type it just the way I did and make sure it still stays on a line by itself. You did the name right, you just didn't add in the numbers it needs to position the picture on the page.
This is how your finished briefing should look:

August, 1 1944, Surabaya Navy Base

#Lombok Strait.tga#0,0,400,256

Our air recon has spotted a Convoy SE of Lombok Strait. Leave immidiately the base and intercept the convoy north of the strait.
ATTENTION:The Convoy is escorted by a light cruiser and several escorts. Sink primarily the cruiser and secondarily tankers, merchants and escorts.

Good luck!
Commander of Surabaya base.

PS: We will try to send support by air force!

Make sure you "Save" the mission after you fix this.


Peabody

[kakemann]

Thanks a lot!

Been waiting for singlemissions! Trying this one out

[peabody]

Originally Posted by kakemann

Thanks a lot!

Been waiting for singlemissions! Trying this one out

Hope you like it, I just made some changes to it, I took out some of the planes. I played it last night and it seems to be a bit better with fewer planes. How many ships you end up with depends a lot on how many the planes sink, so it can be a different mission everytime. The first time I played it, they didn't sink any. I'm trying to come up with a better ending, because there is no way to determine when all the ships are sunk, because the game only keeps track of what you sink not what the planes sink. Working on that part.
Any suggestions or comments please let me know. I am not thin skinned, I prefer honest comments, I like to know what you don't like just as much as what you do like about it.

Peabody

[charlyVII]

Originally Posted by peabody

FORGET ALL THAT I FOUND YOUR PROBLEM!!!!!!!!

The .tsr file contains your mission briefing. I opened it with Wordpad.

You have
#Lombok Strait.tga#

You didn't finish it, you need to type

#Lombok Strait.tga#0,0,400,256


Make sure you "Save" the mission after you fix this.


Peabody

Hi Peabody,
I feel quite humbled! I was that sure I put the tga-file together with all indications in and tried back and forth and this and that, so I overlooked finally the incompleteness. Probably I lost it anywhen and also forgot to save the mission in between.
Now I tried it and naturally it runs! Thanks a lot and forgive me my dumbness! I would have sworn that all was OK, but it obviously was only in my mind!
By the way, in my vers. 1.5 the mission runs either with the extension .mis or .misge. If I chose .mis the mission shows up on the American site and as soon you start it, the American boat takes the hell of fire from the surrounding Japanese forces that you are lucky to dive before you get destroyed.
I would recommend to buy the upgrade (its just 10 bucks for you Americans, we have to pay 15 EUR). Even if you don't use the German U-boats (while the new Walther XVIII is very interresting), but the game loads up much faster and contains some more features.
Nevertheless thank you very much for your help and have fun gaming. I'll do another American mission and upload it for you!
charlyVII