Helo Extraction/Insertion Loop

[McSpuds 10]

This is my first how to, and I hope it helps in editing.

It took a lot of searching and reading to find all the pieces to get my extraction to work. Once I got it working, I wanted to share it with others who might be looking for the same thing. I know how frustrating it can be to get things to work if you are new to editing. Anyway, here it is.....

*************************************************************************

This is a very easy way to set up a helicopter extraction if you know the location that you will be extracting from.

I use this in missions where I will set up two or three pre-plotted extraction points for the players to use.

What it does is allows you to call in a Dustoff to a predetermined location using the radio commands. The helo will come into the lz area and land. Once on the ground the helo will NOT take off till you send another radio message. The helo will then lift off and extract team. Once at a base, the helo will land and shut off engines.

This can be used to insert respawned players as well by simply boarding the helo before requesting the dustoff at the LZ. The helo will then, take off and insert team to the LZ.

At the bottom is a download that has the mission files and a example MPmission.

************************************************************************

Steps:

1. Create a H landing pad and name it "LZ_Base1"

2. Create a empty helicopter and name it "helo1"

3. Create a pilot and name them "pilot1"

(you can create a co-pilot as well, just be sure to group it to the pilot)

4. Create a trigger with Axis: 0 x 0, Activation: Radio Alpha, Repeatedly,

Type: Switch (this deletes the wp it will be sync'd to), Text: LZ_Base1,

on Act:

hint "Dustoff for LZ Alpha requested";

5. Set the following waypoints for the pilot:

WP1: Hold (place near helo1)

WP2: GET IN NEAREST effects: Text in text block

type "Dustoff for LZ Alpha in route" (place on top of helo1)

WP3: MOVE set speed:Full On Act:

 helo1 flyInHeight 25;

(place close to helo1 in the line of departure)

Set more way points to get to LZ. (we will place wp on LZ Alpha later)

6. Back at pilot location, sync trigger with the Hold Waypoint.

7. Create Landing Zone for helo1 at desired location. Name it "LZ_Alpha" (I use H (invisible))

8. Last way point before landing needs to have speed set to "LIMITED"

and the Behavior set to "CARELESS"

(This slows helo down, and looks more realistic because it does not make that high climb right on top of the LZ as the AI pilot raises the nose to slow the bird before landing)

(The careless prevents the helo from not landing because of enemy fire, GREAT FOR HOT LZ's)

9. Using the pilot, make a way point and place it on the new LZ

set the type to LOAD, On Act:

helo1 land "LZ_Alpha";

10. Right next to the LOAD Way point, make a way point and use the type HOLD

11. Create a trigger named "Dustoff" with Axis 0x0, activation: Radio Juliet, Repeatedly,

Type: Switch(this deletes the hold wp it will be sync'd to, thus making the helo lift off), Text: LZ_Alpha,

on Act:

hint "Lifting off now!";

(You can use this very same trigger if you have several LZ's, just sync each hold wp to this trigger)

(The o,o,o radio command will tell the pilot to "Take Off". This eliminates the need for all that complicated scripting to tell the bird when everybody is on board)

12. Syc the trigger to the last HOLD way point.

13. After the Hold WP, now set WP's back to LZ_Base to land.

14. The first wp after the LZ should be set to speed: FULL and in on Act:

helo1 flyInHeight 25;

15. Once again right before landing set the last WP to a speed of LIMITED.

16. The last way point is set to Type: Unload, On Act:

dostop helo1; helo1 land "LZ_Base";

Here is the neat part, this whole thing can be cycled! If you set a respawn marker near the LZ_Base,

you can add a couple more way points and use the same bird to insert you back onto LZ Alpha.

17. To set helo1 to repeat in a loop create next WP and set type: GET OUT , place on LZ Base

18. Make a WP set type: GET IN NEAREST, Place on LZ Base near helo.

19 Make a WP set type:CYCLE , important part, Place this WP right on top of the trigger near the pilot

that request LZ Alpha Dustoff. It is the HOLD WP that has the first trigger syc'd to it.

I hope this little set up helps somebody.

In the example download there is also a trigger and game logic to set a smoke on the LZ automaticly.

Helo_extraction Example Download

If you will, please come to www.black-company.org and let me know if this helped you any.