ZDROB Team Missions

[d3nn16 3]

Updated on November 7th 2014

Hello,

I am happy to present you the result of an idea born many years ago that has now got the last touches through combined efforts of the ZDROB Team members (led by eRazer and composed of various volunteers who believe in the same gameplay concept). Special thanks go to the Polish Arma Community for their active participation and the great ideas they shared during the development of the ZDROB engine and missions.

DOWNLOAD LINKS

STABLE MISSIONS: archive containing all ZDROB missions in stable version.

BETA MISSIONS: these are mission folders (not PBO files) that contain new corrections/features that are being tested. The engine version contains a letter 1.81A (stable engine version doesn't contain any letter, eg: 1.81)

ZDROB TOTAL TRILOGY mission pack

- TOTAL WAR (SECTOR CONTROL)

Total War is the competitive version of Total Warfare. Only play this mission if you live for challenge. Read more.

- TOTAL WARFARE (CAPTURE THE ISLAND)

Total Warfare is about teamwork, action and challenge. Cooperation, skill and smart tactics make the difference between losers and winners. Read more.

- TOTAL DEATHMATCH (TEAM DEATHMATCH)

Total Deathmatch is a fun way to learn how to use vehicles and infantry gear in combat. Read more.

ZDROB SPECOPS mission pack

- SKIRMISH (SECTOR CONTROL)

Skirmish is the next level after Close Quarters in infantry combat. Heavier weapons and larger areas of operation require more coordination and skill. Read more.

- CLOSE QUARTERS (SECTOR CONTROL)

Close Quarters is death around the corner. Be swift and deadly... or bite the dust! Read more.

Other ZDROB engine based missions

- KING OF THE SKY (SECTOR CONTROL)

Are you the king of the sky? Now you have a chance to prove it. Read more.

- PAC REALITY A&S[20-40]: Hard Beginnings (SECTOR CONTROL)

PvP missions focused on extreme balance of possibilities on both sides Read more.

Note #1: Visit this thread regularly if you want to download most up-to-date versions; visit the second post below for missions and engine change logs.

Note #2: Documentation for the ZDROB engine has not been released yet, but if you are interested in creating your own missions or extending the engine you may contact the ZDROB Team for help

Note #3: If you find any issues with the missions you may report them to ZDROB Team:

1) Issues that can be reproduced systematically will be solved faster (please provide a step-by-step issue reproduction procedure)

2) Check log output for error messages on your dedicated server and client computers:

- remove the -noLogs switch from ArmA startup parameters

- add the -showScriptErrors switch to see a hint on the screen when any script error occurs

- the log file is in the folder used in the -config switch for dedicated servers and in the C:\Users\<windows user name>\AppData\Local\Arma 3\ folder for client computers

- each time ArmA is restarted a new log file is generated and it is named like arma3_2014-XX-XX_XX-XX-XX.rpt

ZDROB TEAM CONTACT: zdrobmissions @ gmail.com

Q: Where can I play?

If you want to play the ZDROB missions with many players then join the ARMA 3 TOTAL WAR community. At least one event is organized every week and is announced on ARMA 3 TOTAL WAR Steam group page. The event is opened to all players (noobs or veterans) and some slots are always available (at least for now :-).

Only one server will host an event at a time, so check the ARMA 3 TOTAL WAR Steam group page (Events tab) to know which server hosts an event. A list of approved servers for public events can be found on the Overview tab.

Q: Where can I find some videos?

Up to date videos:

Total War Generic Intro (by PAC):

Outdated videos:

Total War Generic Intro (by PAC):

Total War Tutorial #1 (by PAC):

Total War Tutorial #2 (by PAC):

Q: Is performance good?

We noticed 48-50 server FPS with 30 players during 3 hours play (October 2014). This is encouraging and we hope to achieve a 60-100 players game with server FPS over 30.

Generally no complaints are made for player FPS, however on some rare occasions some still experience continuous poor FPS. Since not many players report this problem it is difficult to find and fix the cause (if any cause exists and it is due to the ZDROB engine). If you experience poor FPS then try this guide.

Q: Where is this project heading to?

The idea is to provide PvP (no AI) and TvT (with AI) missions for the largest audience (for 'public' and 'clan' players) in which all standard ArmA features (no addons) would be available for players to have fun with in a balanced gameplay. The ZDROB formula is: Teamwork + Action + Challenge = Fun.

The ZDROB engine was also developed as a tool that would enable mission makers with poor scripting skills to make quality missions with complete control over the behaviour of ZDROB engine scripts.

Continuous support will be provided for the ZDROB engine and mission makers who use it. However it may be limited depending on what resources are available.

Q: What licensing terms (or usage rules)?

1) If you organize public events (= public players can join without server password) with ZDROB engine based missions then you must follow these rules:

a) Create an event in the ARMA 3 TOTAL WAR Steam group Events tab

b) Allow any ArmA 3 Total War community member to join your public server during this event

c) Only the official ArmA 3 Total War TeamSpeak server is used during public events

2) You can use the ZDROB engine based missions for closed or clan vs clan events (= server connection requires password) without any restriction

3) If you modify ZDROB missions (eg: to match your gameplay preferences) then you must follow these rules:

a) Modify the name to indicate it is a modified version (eg: TOTAL WARFARE [ toto-clan settings ])

b) Do NOT remove or modify the ArmA 3 Total War TeamSpeak server information from the mission (you may add a single marker with your TeamSpeak server information on the map below the official markers)

Note: ZDROB Team is not responsible for these missions and issues related to them may be ignored

4) Do NOT use the "ZDROB engine" name for any of your engines that are based on a modified version of the ZDROB engine (the ZDROB engine is the set of scripts and files used to provide a base for mission creation):

a) DO mention that your engine is a modification of the ZDROB engine (eg: in the lobby description field, "TOTO engine based on ZDROB engine")

b) ZDROB Team may ignore issues related to your engine and should not be accounted for issues related to it

If any doubt contact ZDROB Team.

Q: How can I help this project?

1) Come play during the events

2) Vote up issues that affect the ZDROB engine (see further below in this post)

3) Give your polite and constructive feedback (in TS after the mission end or in this thread) for making the gameplay experience better for everyone

4) Help with finding bugs (see procedure about .rpt log file at the beginning of this thread)

5) Help with scripting, translating, graphic design

Note: If you (or your group) participate actively in the project then you will have your name added in the credits list during the mission intro

Q: What features does the ZDROB engine have?

- Technical Design

* the ZDROB Engine is a set of scripts that can be used for designing many different kinds of missions (script behaviour can be controlled with the help of parameters to best match mission design intentions)

** mission.sqm file and params folder are the places where parameters are set

** the other files and folders represent the engine and are the same for all ZDROB Engine based missions

* scripts from the ZDROB Engine were entirely written by one person from scratch (no piece of code was copied&pasted except for functions that come with the game itself)

* almost no errors in the log file related to ZDROB Engine scripts (1 or 2 errors persist because the exact cause could not be identified, these errors don't seem to affect any function in the engine)

* code is split in modules, the primary intention was to allow recycling of each module independently from the others outside of the ZDROB Engine

* code is written in a standardized way (standardized variable names, code indentation to improve readability, comments for code that contains hard to guess hypothesis)

* use of idempotent functions for starting/stopping loops

* updating/extending the ZDROB Engine for multiple missions is easy due to

** separation between parameter files (mission.sqm and params folder) and ZDROB Engine files (all the other folders and files)

** all parameters have default values stored in the engine files (params_default folder)

* advanced AI compatibility

** actions in the 'Options' menu will apply to AI units instead of the player when they are selected with F1-F12 keys

** only most interesting actions are AI compatible: choose & save gear, automatic rearming and servicing when going close to supply points, battlefield insertion near respawn points, parachute insertion

* compatible with dedicated and hosted servers

* over 200 parameters and many features allow the mission maker powerful design capability

** some of the most interesting features made available to mission makers through parameters are:

*** game admin can radically change the mission's gameplay thanks to many game parameters that control the objectives (battlefield location, sector capturing order, enable checkpoints for sectors, capturing time, war break time)

*** battlefield locations: allows creating an "all-in-one" mission that can be easily updated with new locations for new sectors and bases

*** random sector/checkpoint positions

*** vehicles can be easily adapted through parameters to mission design (changing textures, removing turrets/doors/backseats/etc, transforming in service vehicle, FOB deployer and MHQ, dynamic maximum determined by number of players, changing weapons and ammunition count while keeping compatibility with rearming system, driver/gunner/commander seats allowed only to members of the vehicle's squad)

*** any infantry and vehicle ammunition type can have a support points cost (the other ammunition types will remain free and easily available)

*** gear restricted depending on soldier type (a more realistic atmosphere, more challenging and inciting more cooperation between players)

* all player messages/texts are linked to an entry in the stringtable.xml file (new translations can be added easily)

- Optimization

* scripts were written with minimum server processing, minimum network usage and maximum client threaded processing in mind

* almost all scripts were re-written several times to fix bugs and make them more readable, robust and performant

* systematic use of {} in complex conditions to reduce impact on performance and make code more readable:

if (not isNil "myVar") then {if (myVar == 1) then {}}

becomes

if (not isNil "myVar" and {myVar == 1}) then {}

- Innovative Solution

* 4 types of parameters (for mission maker, for game admin which in turn split into engine default parameters and engine overwritting parameters) allow powerful and easy control over script behaviour

** many parameters allow great flexibility which makes it easier to test and find a well balanced gameplay and adapt the mission to various types of player preferences in no time

* universal options menu extensible at will with sections and subsections

* heavy duty scripts can be executed on server or on a random client computer automatically chosen among those with best benchmark results (automatic switching when previously chosen client computer disconnects) => 'Debug: Execute Scripts On Server' game parameter

Q: What are the issues posted in the Feedback Tracker that affect the ZDROB engine based missions?

Even with below issues the ZDROB engine based missions are playable. However, fixing these will improve the gameplay experience, avoid some frustrations or small hacks.

To vote, you need to create an account on the Feedback Tracker website: http://feedback.arma3.com/view_all_bug_page.php.

Important:

0021173: using addScore command inside HandleScore event handler wil crash the game every time

=> this will help

1) fix arma score system where that gives negative score for destroying enemy ammocrates and positive score for destroying friendly vehicles that come from independent faction

2) replace the arma score system with the ZDROB support points system

0020524: some ideas to improve the Virtual Arsenal

=> the ZDROB engine uses the virtual arsenal so vote this up to make it work best

0020519: score is computed based on object config attribute "faction"

=> if you destroy friendly vehicle controlled by enemy soldier you get negative score (it should be positive score)

0016752: Thermal Vision

=> there is no possibility in the Arma engine to disable thermal vision and keep only night vision for titan launchers, autonomous vehicles and autonomous static weapons

0008133: disableTIEquipment doesnt disable vehicle's PiP monitor

=> the monitor with thermal view can still be used to detect units

0018090: weaponDisassembled event handler would be more useful if it provided a parameter pointing to the static weapon

=> without fix any player that controls an AI soldier can create an infinite number of static weapons (ask AI to disassemble the weapon before creating a new static weapon)

0012991: add event handler "HandleRepair" similar to "HandleHeal"

=> at the moment you can get support points for healing, if this is added it would allow to get support points for repairing too

0018952: drag & drop static weapons

=> who doesn't want this?

0020523: add possibility to make some soldier squads persistent

=> this would help remove some scripts from the ZDROB engine and also remove the game logic units from the squads.

0017046: Enemy and Friendly TAGs are shown when disabled

=> this is a hack to detect enemy soldiers/vehicles that are hidden on the battlefield

Nice to have:

0009447: COIN: Please implement and improve COIN module

=> if the COIN interface is added then it would be easier to add fortification building to the ZDROB engine

0018952: Realistic Wounding System

=> also mentions reviving

0019243: Youtube on Arma3

=> this will help add videos in mission briefings

0011545: camPrepareDir command does not work (no effect)

=> the zdrob engine features a flexible camera moving script but it is a bit jerky at the moment because I couldn't find a smooth way to move the camera. If these issues are fixed I hope these commands will provide smoother camera movements.

0011921: multiple friendly fire for pilot when helicopter crashes

=> in the zdrob engine there is a possibility to remove support points from players when destroying friendly vehicles, but this is disabled because pilots and crewmen are too heavily impacted (eg: pilot gets negative score for helicopter and all passengers / tank commander gets negative score if tank explodes some time after the AT missile impact)

0017122: setvariable command with public parameter set to true doesn't work for some vehicles

=> this prevents using the offroad car as a respawn point (actually the vehicle is unusable with the ZDROB engine)

0016461: Option for enabling mines/explosives markers independent from general map markers

=> allow minetag difficulty setting to be enabled in veteran and second, make this setting also enable the mine/satchel markers on map (not only the red triangle in HUD)

0020521: add possibility to change respawn location description with bis_fnc_addrespawnposition

=> with this you will see FOB, MHQ, rally point, main base, air base int he respawn menu list instead of the names of closest towns/villages

0020826: Allow only admin to enable/disable AI for individual slots in game lobby

=> this can help avoid problems because of nasty public players when you want have control over what slots should have AI enabled

0020845: KeyDown UI event handler does not provide correct code for key combination (only single key press)

=> this allows to have key combos associated with actions like airlift, airdrop, open options menu, show vehicle crew; atm only single key press will work

Fixed:

0016758: player can't reconnect to UAV after reconnecting to server

=> disassembling an autonomous static weapon after reconnecting to server makes it unusable (impossible to connect with UAV terminal)

0015000: incorrect backpacks for autonomous static weapons

=> without fix OPFOR side can create infinite number of autonomous static weapons (workaround is add a cost to static weapons but is not best solution)

Edited November 22, 2014 by d3nn16

[d3nn16 3]

ZDROB Engine Changelog 1.80R:

TODO

Total War 1.80R.0:

TODO

Total Warfare 1.80R.0:

TODO

Total Deathmatch 1.80R.0:

TODO

Skirmish 1.80R.0:

TODO

Close Quarters 1.80R.0:

TODO

Edited October 23, 2014 by d3nn16

[raizde2 10]

looks nice, but why occupying objectives by staying there 300s, wouldn't be better something like destroying the enemy's FOB and building our own, plus maybe adding some defenses like mortar or something... it would make the objectives more interesting than just going to a place... it would involve blowing up stuff, killing...

still I haven't tried it yet, but since I'm looking for something like the coop missions but pvp, this is looks one of the best I've found.

[d3nn16 3]

I see you (and probably players coming from the coop community) would like more complex objectives instead of just capturing a sector. Well this is on the TODO list to create a "search and destroy/rescue/disarm" game based on the same engine with one side that defends and one side that attacks. The objective types we want to create in this new mission are destroy a vehicle/building/etc, rescue a prisoner, disarm a bomb.

At the moment we don't have time to focus on this because we are more busy with trying to reduce the negative impact of the ZDROB engine on server FPS (we suspect low server FPS impact the scripts that no longer function reliably).

[d3nn16 3]

New versions out, check first post

[grzegorz 33]

Thank you for your sweat and tears to create. During the tests, sometimes he was weeping and gnashing of teeth. How in hell.

Yesterday was a massacre. Do not have time to go out for a cigarette. The balance of power until the end of the game. Finally, I had some meaningful support. This game makes sense when there are many people who know how to play. This mission is highly complex. First there is shock and then fun. At the beginning, it seems that there is nothing.

Edited October 30, 2014 by grzegorz

[dr death jm 117]

is this not being updated any more?

[grzegorz 33]

Still something is happening http://steamcommunity.com/groups/a3totalwar#events

The current version is total_warfare_v1-82o-2.Altis.

Video https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8ly6Ll-w6brkipSIbnEAdw I record something rarely alone https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCquubvUzHw8tGGJG3dVM7Sw Maybe today will be a new movie.

Best to write to

ZDROB TEAM CONTACT: zdrobmissions @ gmail.com

Edited January 27, 2015 by grzegorz

[dr death jm 117]

k thanks

[[EC] Slawek 11]

Steam 604 members. In the MAKE-ARMA-NOT-WAR voted for the project of 34 people?