Mission Builder - Revision history

Wolfsbane: /* Info dump of Sam's forum posts on the subject: */

2012-04-16T19:38:00Z

Info dump of Sam's forum posts on the subject:

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:38, 16 April 2012
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	The order of these, rather than their name, determines their position on the grid		The order of these, rather than their name, determines their position on the grid

			=== Notes on Racetracks: ===

			(1) To get the cars spawning at the right place, make sure that the SpawnSpheres are inside the PlayerDropPoints simgroup, not after it. To be inside, they need to be directly after the { symbol and before the }; symbols

			Like this:

			new SimGroup(PlayerDropPoints) {
			spawnspheres are in here..
			};

			(2) The scale of the Marker objects (which define the NPC route around the track) is very important. The position of the markers obviously defines where the NPCs should steer towards, but until they cross the edge of a Marker they won't move onto the next one. So if the scale is "1 1 1" they'll have a very hard time driving the track since they will insist on passing through a precise area 1x1 metre in size. If you open up one of the existing files, such as the Northern Desert Circuit, you'll see how the size is used to make them start turnning before they get to the apex in many cases.

			(3) Don't worry about the looping constraint, that will be easy to fix by forcing the track to always have 1 lap races.

	[[Category: World]]		[[Category: World]]

Trifler at 16:10, 24 January 2011

2011-01-24T16:10:15Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:10, 24 January 2011
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	==== Car Paths ====		==== Car Paths ====

	The simplest maps (which is most of them) have a single car path that follows a single road across the map. These are by far the easiest to make. Make a path just like you would for the ~~racetrack~~, but instead of a loop you want a single line from one edge of the mission area to the other. The AI will head the first waypoint on the next repeat of the map when they get to the last waypoint on this repeat, so make sure the two points are close to each other. You also need to make the points big enough that the AIs won't miss them if they're driving slightly off road.		The simplest maps (which is most of them) have a single car path that follows a single road across the map. These are by far the easiest to make. Make a path just like you would for the race track, but instead of a loop you want a single line from one edge of the mission area to the other. The AI will head the first waypoint on the next repeat of the map when they get to the last waypoint on this repeat, so make sure the two points are close to each other. You also need to make the points big enough that the AIs won't miss them if they're driving slightly off road.

	More complex maps may have multiple car paths that join and split it complex ways, but I can't help you there. Have a look at the gates of SS if you want an idea of how bad it can get. Then just stick to making maps with a single road on.		More complex maps may have multiple car paths that join and split it complex ways, but I can't help you there. Have a look at the gates of SS if you want an idea of how bad it can get. Then just stick to making maps with a single road on.
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	'''Checkpoints'''		'''Checkpoints'''
	ONLY USED ON ~~RACETRACKS~~		ONLY USED ON RACE TRACKS
	You need a set of these, probably between 5 and 10 of them. In fact, the more the better. Make sure they overlap the track boundaries generously, so we don't penalise people who drift over the edges a little.		You need a set of these, probably between 5 and 10 of them. In fact, the more the better. Make sure they overlap the track boundaries generously, so we don't penalise people who drift over the edges a little.

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	'''Spawn Areas'''		'''Spawn Areas'''
	~~RACETRACKS~~ HAVE 1 SPAWN AREA ONLY		RACE TRACKS HAVE 1 SPAWN AREA ONLY
	The spawn area is specified by using ''two SpawnSpheres'' inside a SimGroup called PlayerDropPoints. These two SpawnSpheres show the opposite corners of a rectangle into which the cars will be spawned. The first is the 'front' of the starting grid and the second is the 'back' of the grid. The rotation of the first SpawnSphere will be the rotation that cars are spawned at.		The spawn area is specified by using ''two SpawnSpheres'' inside a SimGroup called PlayerDropPoints. These two SpawnSpheres show the opposite corners of a rectangle into which the cars will be spawned. The first is the 'front' of the starting grid and the second is the 'back' of the grid. The rotation of the first SpawnSphere will be the rotation that cars are spawned at.

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	__isOffroad __- this takes 2 possible values, or can be omitted. A value 1 means this waypoint is only for offroad vehicles (e.g. the buggy or the landrunner) to use (they have better tyre friction and this can be significant in places where other cars slide a lot). A value 2 means this waypoint is only for non-offroad vehicles. If you omit the isOffroad field then all cars use the waypoint.		__isOffroad __- this takes 2 possible values, or can be omitted. A value 1 means this waypoint is only for offroad vehicles (e.g. the buggy or the landrunner) to use (they have better tyre friction and this can be significant in places where other cars slide a lot). A value 2 means this waypoint is only for non-offroad vehicles. If you omit the isOffroad field then all cars use the waypoint.

	~~RACETRACKS~~ HAVE 1 CARPATH		RACE TRACKS HAVE 1 CARPATH

	ARENAS HAVE BETWEEN 2 AND 4 CARPATHS		ARENAS HAVE BETWEEN 2 AND 4 CARPATHS

Wolfsbane at 22:53, 30 November 2010

2010-11-30T22:53:21Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:53, 30 November 2010
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	You can have as many spawn areas as you like, just keep increasing the number. One nice trick (which I didn't think of when making Oil Slick, unfortunately) is to add spawns at both ends of your path, facing towards the centre. Driving the map in both directions adds a bit of variety, and it means players will be seeing all that nice decration you added from both sides.		You can have as many spawn areas as you like, just keep increasing the number. One nice trick (which I didn't think of when making Oil Slick, unfortunately) is to add spawns at both ends of your path, facing towards the centre. Driving the map in both directions adds a bit of variety, and it means players will be seeing all that nice decration you added from both sides.

			== Submitting Your Mission ==

	== Notes ==		== Notes ==

Wolfsbane: /* Creating a Wilderness Map */

2010-11-30T22:51:56Z

Creating a Wilderness Map

Show changes

Wolfsbane at 19:33, 20 November 2010

2010-11-20T19:33:23Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:33, 20 November 2010
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	[[File:MB Screen 28.jpg]]		[[File:MB Screen 28.jpg]]

			== Creating a Wilderness Map ==

	== Notes ==		== Notes ==

Wolfsbane: /* Weather */ fix link

2010-10-03T23:18:04Z

Weather: fix link

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:18, 3 October 2010
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	[[File:MB Screen 25.jpg]]		[[File:MB Screen 25.jpg]]

	You can also change the fog colour (it uses [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RGB#Numeric_representations\|RGB] colour values). Here I've produced a nice pink fog. Very pretty.		You can also change the fog colour (it uses [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RGB#Numeric_representations RGB] colour values). Here I've produced a nice pink fog. Very pretty.

	[[File:MB Screen 27.jpg]]		[[File:MB Screen 27.jpg]]

Wolfsbane: /* Finishing Touches */

2010-04-28T09:41:44Z

Finishing Touches

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:41, 28 April 2010
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	Water is created in cubes - either single small areas or one big enough to fill the entire map. You can find '''Water''' under '''Mission Objects'''. Don't worry about the parameters, they're easy to change later.		Water is created in cubes - either single small areas or one big enough to fill the entire map. You can find '''Water''' under '''Mission Objects'''. Don't worry about the parameters, they're easy to change later.

	[[File:MB ~~Screen23~~.jpg]]		[[File:MB Screen 23.jpg]]

	Once you have your water (it will look like a 2D sheet, only the surface is really visible) you can move it into place and start changing the parameters. I recommend opening up a level which has water you like the look of, and copying that. You can make the water appear to flow, change the colour, and all sorts of other things. I've copied the water from the gates of Elms, and made it look a bit less appealing.		Once you have your water (it will look like a 2D sheet, only the surface is really visible) you can move it into place and start changing the parameters. I recommend opening up a level which has water you like the look of, and copying that. You can make the water appear to flow, change the colour, and all sorts of other things. I've copied the water from the gates of Elms, and made it look a bit less appealing.

	[[File:MB ~~Screen24~~.jpg]]		[[File:MB Screen 24.jpg]]

	==== Weather ====		==== Weather ====
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	You can also play with the depth fog. If you look through the list of objects which are created for you, you should be able to find '''Sky'''. There are various different parameters - in this screenshot I've reduced the fog distance and visible distance down to almost nothing.		You can also play with the depth fog. If you look through the list of objects which are created for you, you should be able to find '''Sky'''. There are various different parameters - in this screenshot I've reduced the fog distance and visible distance down to almost nothing.

	[[File:MB ~~Screen25~~.jpg]]		[[File:MB Screen 25.jpg]]

	You can also change the fog colour (it uses [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RGB#Numeric_representations\|~~8-bit~~ RGB] colour values). Here I've produced a nice pink fog. Very pretty.		You can also change the fog colour (it uses [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RGB#Numeric_representations\|RGB] colour values). Here I've produced a nice pink fog. Very pretty.

	[[File:MB ~~Screen27~~.jpg]]		[[File:MB Screen 27.jpg]]

	The final thing you can try is to change the sky texture. Have a look at '''MaterialList''' under '''Media'''. This is your current sky texture. If you find that file, there will be others in the same directory with the same extension. Those are the other possible sky textures. Play around until you find one that suits the mood of your level. This is the stormy sky texture, but there are a lot of others.		The final thing you can try is to change the sky texture. Have a look at '''MaterialList''' under '''Media'''. This is your current sky texture. If you find that file, there will be others in the same directory with the same extension. Those are the other possible sky textures. Play around until you find one that suits the mood of your level. This is the stormy sky texture, but there are a lot of others.

	[[File:MB ~~Screen26~~.jpg]]		[[File:MB Screen 26.jpg]]

	==== Sunlight ====		==== Sunlight ====

	The last thing to try is changing the colour of the sunlight, if you want a sunset or stormy feel. Find the '''Sun''' object, and you can change the colour in the same way as with the fog. You will need to recalculate lighting for this to work. Here is an example with a reddish sun, although it turned out a bit too pink to really look like sunset.		The last thing to try is changing the colour of the sunlight, if you want a sunset or stormy feel. Find the '''Sun''' object, and you can change the colour in the same way as with the fog. You will need to recalculate lighting for this to work. Here is an example with a reddish sun, although it turned out a bit too pink to really look like sunset. I also set the fog to yellowish brown, to blend in with the desert a bit better.

	[[File:MB ~~Screen28~~.jpg]]		[[File:MB Screen 28.jpg]]

	== Notes ==		== Notes ==

Wolfsbane: /* Finishing Touches */

2010-04-28T09:39:16Z

Finishing Touches

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:39, 28 April 2010
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	=== Finishing Touches ===		=== Finishing Touches ===

			A few random things you can use to modify the look of your mission.

			==== Water ====

			Water is created in cubes - either single small areas or one big enough to fill the entire map. You can find '''Water''' under '''Mission Objects'''. Don't worry about the parameters, they're easy to change later.

			[[File:MB Screen23.jpg]]

			Once you have your water (it will look like a 2D sheet, only the surface is really visible) you can move it into place and start changing the parameters. I recommend opening up a level which has water you like the look of, and copying that. You can make the water appear to flow, change the colour, and all sorts of other things. I've copied the water from the gates of Elms, and made it look a bit less appealing.

			[[File:MB Screen24.jpg]]

			==== Weather ====

			You can also play with the depth fog. If you look through the list of objects which are created for you, you should be able to find '''Sky'''. There are various different parameters - in this screenshot I've reduced the fog distance and visible distance down to almost nothing.

			[[File:MB Screen25.jpg]]

			You can also change the fog colour (it uses [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RGB#Numeric_representations\|8-bit RGB] colour values). Here I've produced a nice pink fog. Very pretty.

			[[File:MB Screen27.jpg]]

			The final thing you can try is to change the sky texture. Have a look at '''MaterialList''' under '''Media'''. This is your current sky texture. If you find that file, there will be others in the same directory with the same extension. Those are the other possible sky textures. Play around until you find one that suits the mood of your level. This is the stormy sky texture, but there are a lot of others.

			[[File:MB Screen26.jpg]]

			==== Sunlight ====

			The last thing to try is changing the colour of the sunlight, if you want a sunset or stormy feel. Find the '''Sun''' object, and you can change the colour in the same way as with the fog. You will need to recalculate lighting for this to work. Here is an example with a reddish sun, although it turned out a bit too pink to really look like sunset.

			[[File:MB Screen28.jpg]]

	== Notes ==		== Notes ==

Wolfsbane: /* Some extra notes on getting waypoints and checkpoints right: */

2010-02-18T19:46:57Z

Some extra notes on getting waypoints and checkpoints right:

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:46, 18 February 2010
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	The key thing here is to recognise that the terrain repeats itself, and the CarPaths need to connect to themselves or another CarPath in order to provide data for the NPCs to drive the road over multiple terrain repetitions. It can get a bit confusing, but if you stick to a single carpath that covers exactly 1 terrain repetition then it will work fine. More complex terrains are harder (take a look at gates of somerset for example).		The key thing here is to recognise that the terrain repeats itself, and the CarPaths need to connect to themselves or another CarPath in order to provide data for the NPCs to drive the road over multiple terrain repetitions. It can get a bit confusing, but if you stick to a single carpath that covers exactly 1 terrain repetition then it will work fine. More complex terrains are harder (take a look at gates of somerset for example).

	== Some extra notes on getting waypoints and checkpoints right: ==		=== Some extra notes on getting waypoints and checkpoints right: ===

	Waypoints:		Waypoints:

Wolfsbane at 19:46, 18 February 2010

2010-02-18T19:46:31Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:46, 18 February 2010
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	This makes the AI cars work in race mode, without it they only work in wilderness maps. Unzip the file and put it in the darkwind/server/scripts folder in the mission builder. You'll need to restart the mission builder too. Now load up your track, drive your car a little out of the way, enter editing mode, and press 1. An AI car should spawn and drive around the track. They're not too bright and the physics isn't too good but if it makes it to the finish line with only a couple of helping nudges I generally consider the waypoints good.		This makes the AI cars work in race mode, without it they only work in wilderness maps. Unzip the file and put it in the darkwind/server/scripts folder in the mission builder. You'll need to restart the mission builder too. Now load up your track, drive your car a little out of the way, enter editing mode, and press 1. An AI car should spawn and drive around the track. They're not too bright and the physics isn't too good but if it makes it to the finish line with only a couple of helping nudges I generally consider the waypoints good.

			=== Finishing Touches ===

	== Notes ==		== Notes ==