Mission makers changed to addon makers

[drow 0]

Did anyone notice that there is almost no good mission makers anymore?

[vade_101 0]

Certinally true that a lot of missions don't get to the stage of a 'public' release, BAS and FDF being the most notable exception to this 'rule'. but there are plenty of people making missions for clans, squads and the like .. that while possibly not polished enough for general consumption are a lot of fun to play...

[Messiah 2]

i also see it as BIS have released things gradually... try and think if people like tigershark, deadmeat and others had only stayed with mission editing... think of the addons that we wouldnt have now...

plus the kudos for mission making, is so much lower than addons... release a good mission, maybe 20% of the community will take notice... release a good addon, 90% will notice... BIS should launch another mission competition, and let see the mission editors get back on top - lets face it, whats the point of addons, when there are no missions using them?

[theavonlady 2]

Good morning, world!

[JAP 2]

Well, if a few ppl would stick their heads together we would be able to make a missionmaking "mod"

If we just discuss what addons to use so nobody needs 100 different addons to play 3 different missions ..

I suggested just that a month ago in the usermission section when i wanted to start work on a mini MP campaign. I think i got 2 answers or rather questions so .. seeing there was such an overwhelming support and desire from the community for missions with addons .. i put the idea in the fridge and rather give my time to actually playing the game instead of putting in hours of work for something nobody even cares to dl or comment on. I think the community is responsible for missionmakers to just not bother posting their missions cause generally ppl just think mission making is the easy part of OFP and addonmakers are GODS. Think again ...

I ve got loads of unfinished missions, but could use some help in scripting and i really really hate briefings

But as far as the missions i think i have a few really good ones.  Ask iNeo, he usually betastests them with me.

I d be interested in joining a missionmaking mod, making MP missions, but surely not leading it. I have a wife ...  

Cheers

[benu 1]

The problem is not the addons, if you want to play the mission get the addons you need for it. Some time ago most of my players really got into the missions from SES and Kyllikki, so we started getting a lot of the addons they used onto our server. Now our mission makers use the addons that are on our server and if people want to play those missions they will have to get those addons.

In theory i could get into a debate about "which addons to use in mission making", but i wouldn't be able to compromise much. If only addons from my server were used, fine. If i had to install a few additional, fine too. If none of my addons would be used but tons of other stuff, well, lets talk about that when you got a few hundred good missions ready.

And i guess other server admins will see it in a similar way.

Mind you, it happened often that i installed new addons for good missions. If i can get 10 good missions for 10 or 20 mb of (good) addons, then so be it. All praise ofp watch.

But it also happened that i turned down good missions because they needed too much addons that nothing else on the server was using. 30mb of additional addons for one mission? I guess not.

[JAP 2]

Well you re missing my point here benu.

I m not suggesting a debate what to use and what not, cause who are we to say that s good and that s not.

What i am suggesting is polling ppl about what they like most. So missionmakers know what units are preferred and can make missions according.

I can imagine missions not being downloaded cause an unpopular addon is used or the addon simply is unfindable or buggy.

I know it s not easy.

I got 4 very good missions ( that s not much, but they are huge ) that i kept changing over the last year cause all of these damn yummie addons keep coming and it s just too tempting not to transform that mission with the newer units.

That s also a reason they never get finished most of the time. "no i m gonna wait till marpat comes out, then change it and release ... " next week you see pics of new coming units and it s back to square one.

It just would be good if a few people stuck their heads together and start pumping out missions with addons, cause lets face it, who in the hell plays ofp still completely standard out of the box

Then again maybe that s not even workable.

But what would be great is a topic where mission idea's are created and discussed what addons would be used best.

I know i am often thinking about what mission to make, and just not having a clue what to make at that moment. Having a topic full of idea's to choose from would be good then.

But this is just me thinking up loud.

Cheers

[benu 1]

The only part of your post that is unclear to me is whom you mean when you say "they".

But you can poll "all people" only about single player missions. For everything else you would have to poll the server admins. And most would tell you the same as i do, that they have those addons on their servers for a reason and they of course want those to be used in missions.

[Ex-RoNiN 0]

I'm planning on making a new campaign soon, using many addons which have not found sufficient recognition.

I am currently trying to compile a list of which addons to include. The addons used in the campaign would not be a 5 min gimmick, but each addon would have his fair share of the campaign.

If anyone wants to help me, gimme a shout. Work won't start on it until I got my new PC though (mid-Feb is the current date).

[JAP 2]

The only part of your post that is unclear to me is whom you mean when you say "they".

But you can poll "all people" only about single player missions. For everything else you would have to poll the server admins. And most would tell you the same as i do, that they have those addons on their servers for a reason and they of course want those to be used in missions.

They as in the people who play them.

If the mission is good and popular enough i dont see any problem in admins putting it up on dedicated servers and providing the addons to dl.

But i m pretty sure that most people will name the same addons over and over again when asked what their favorite ones are. Still it would be good to poll them just to be sure

Do mission makers think it s a good idea putting up a topic as a gaint thinktank for creating mission concepts, unitloadouts etc etc ? I would think maybe that s a first step into making more missions with addons.

Cheers

[Acecombat 0]

I say we start a Mission makers Mod too

Frankly i got many unfinished missions like JAP here the trouble is after putting in loads of hours in making bases and storyline i get bored then and some one then releases a new addon i go after that and then i start making a mission for it .... do you see a pattern developing

I think it would be a good idea for some people to join up share their missions and work on it as a team helping in scripting and breifings and stuff , since joint work would take less time would be better and atleast some bloody missions will come out.

[Ex-RoNiN 0]

I don't see how mission packs could be classed as mods

As for collaboration amongst mission makers, there is always the problem of credits. People will almost always complain about someone stealing their idea and thus there are a few problems.

Unless storylines are agreed upon up front, and the missions are released by the team, rather than the individuals.

I'm sceptical about this, don't think it could work.

[JAP 2]

I don't see how mission packs could be classed as mods  

As for collaboration amongst mission makers, there is always the problem of credits. People will almost always complain about someone stealing their idea and thus there are a few problems.

Unless storylines are agreed upon up front, and the missions are released by the team, rather than the individuals.

I'm sceptical about this, don't think it could work.

That s why i put out the idea of a mission idea topic.

Discussing about missiontypes, what units to use, time of day, respawn or no respawn, you know stuff that you otherwise are figuring out yourself.

On the otherhand i dont see why a few people joining up to make missions wouldnt work ? You bring out missions under your joint name and place all the names into the readme or topic you posted the mission in. Simple as that. The other thing is about trust ! Same as with addonteams. Anyone could run of with your idea's there too. So trusting eachother is key, but isnt that with all things ...

I m willing to join a team directemundo. I would love help with scripting and camera ... i dont have a clue how to script and i hate camera. On the otherhand there will be ppl having problems coming up with a good storyline, or have problems with the commands etc ... would be cool to share some knowledge with other people. I mean, i cant count how many missions ended up in the recyclebin just because a chopper didn t do what i wanted it to do, or some unit refused to do this or that, small things but things that could make or break the mission or atmosphere.

Cheers

[Ex-RoNiN 0]

I have a rough idea of a campaign that would make use of many addons

The most important bit is to agree on a storyline and make it into a campaign. Campaign missions could be released one by one for beta purposes, whilst the campaign is compiled towards the end.

I don't do MP missions.

If you are interested, I'll make a thread in Missions Editing with my campaign and addon proposals

Btw, you just described what the Missions Editing forum is for

[shrike 0]

I will support any initiative in this direction as much as possible (hosting, a dedicated forum etc.). PM me if ya wanna talk about it.

imho there is nothing more important to keep OFP from dying slowly than new missions, be it SP or MP!

That doesn't mean I disregard addonmakers and their products but let's be honest:

all the beautiful stuff they make  needs screentime and I don't mean fiddling around in the editor with it for half an hour. So many great things have been made and just disappeared into the void of some forum just because nobody ever made (and properly promoted) missions using them.

My offer concerning an infrastructure stands :-)

[Acecombat 0]

Ex-Ronin i dont think mature enough people here give a damn about credits everyone will know who works in the team and thats it.

The credit part will be made by the dash dash or whatever mission making TEAM and not one individual , since evryone will contribute.

That should solve the problemo. As JAP said i'll gladly join up i was on the Spearhead team once but they never got started no one should interest , so this team if it forms better SHOW SOME GOD DAMN INTEREST , only die hard mission maker apply no need for free loaders

JAP i can do cam scripting i am pretty fair at it not bad not that damn good

So what do you guys say?

[JAP 2]

I don't do MP missions.

I dont do SP

See, we re already filling eachothers gaps !

But just on a serious note.

Making a team of mission editors will also give a much bigger drive finishing a mission and releasing it to the general public.

I m afraid to ask how many unfinished missions ( even with just a stupid briefing that needs to be done ) are sitting on peoples harddrives and never see the light of day.

In my user folder it s AT LEAST 25'ish. Some nearly finished some with just the basic things put on, or just the objectives and triggers for testing purposes waiting to be filled with bad bad enemies.

Working as a team you dont want to let the other ppl down and thus you wanna contribute your bit of the mission so the rest can move on too.

Nice offer shrike

But as i said in an earlier post, i m very interested in joining a team like that but definately not in leading such a thing.

Cheers

[Acecombat 0]

I mainly do SP's and co-ops if possible not MP.

[Ex-RoNiN 0]

Ok, fine, I'll sticky a topic in Missions Editing where we can come up with ideas.

I guess I could be the head honcho if no one has a problem with it? Just be aware I won't be able to start coding for another 2-4 weeks, as my current PC is too weak to deal with a decent sized mission.

Gimme a few minutes pls

[JAP 2]

I mainly do SP's and co-ops if possible not MP.

MP is co-op .. and i only do co-ops because i dont think the rest ( DM, flagstuff, etc ) is suited or representative of what OFP is all about.

I hope someone gets inspired by this thread to start or tries to startup such a team... pls pls !

I ll try to post a mission i made ( even one without a briefing ) so you can dl and test, so if ppl think it s total crap i m not waisting my time on this mission making

Later when i get home ...

Cheers

[JAP 2]

Ok, fine, I'll sticky a topic in Missions Editing where we can come up with ideas.

I guess I could be the head honcho if no one has a problem with it? Just be aware I won't be able to start coding for another 2-4 weeks, as my current PC is too weak to deal with a decent sized mission.

Gimme a few minutes pls

Great news !

Should we call you boss then ?

And if we do this, we aren t obliged to goto Greece on holidays each year are we ...

[Acecombat 0]

yeah i have no problem with Ex-ronin if anyone has show him what a ban is

So JAP what sorta missions you have asi said i can do fair bit of cam scripting and breifings show me what you need done , IF you want that is no pressures.

[Ex-RoNiN 0]

http://www.flashpoint1985.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard311/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST&f=55&t=36640

No, you don't have to call me boss, and no, you don't have to go to Greece every year (if you do go and I am there, I will buy you a few drinks though )

So yeah, please go to the above link and post away your ideas. Once we have the initial planning behind us, a Missions Editing thread will cater for editing techniques

[JAP 2]

yeah i have no problem with Ex-ronin if anyone has show him what a ban is  

So JAP what sorta missions you have asi said i can do fair bit of cam scripting and breifings show me what you need done    , IF you want that is no pressures.

My best ones ( or at least the ones i think are the best )

All co ops :

- Scudbuster :

A small team of specops forces are to destroy some scuds that are being unloaded at the enemy airport at this moment.

You start from LSD somewhere North of Nogova, insert in the SW desert where a resistance member provides you with KLR bikes to make your way to the airport. Then the story unfolds, no no no, not just blow up and leave, not at all !

- Airwing :

You re part of a strikeforce on Nogova. Lotsa targets including : Naval base, airfield, etc etc ( in total about 5 iirc )

- Aircav :

Spinoff of airwing, but here the goal is that ground and CAS support troops work together. Lots of very very nice objective : Retrieve a damaged but still functional SA-13 from an ambushed resistance convoy, rescue a downed chinook pilot that s on the run from specop forces, the pilot is headed to a designated LZ, clear it and keep it clean, wait for the pilot to be picked up, inspect the crashsite and retrive some stolen data, and some more ....

- Desert ambush ( just working on that for about a week )

Ambush a convoy of reinforcement troops heading to a village under soviet control. After you destroy the convoy, head over to the village that was waiting on the reinforcements and level it. Uses Marpat, T-55 pack, COC-UA ( oh man it s great arty'ing that village ) BTW, only just managed to destroy the convoy only once till now :s man it s hard

- Total War ( my very first real attempt on mission making from the CWC time )

Russian and resistance forces are fighting in Kogujev. A russian general is captured by the resistance and you are to assassinate him in the resistance camp because he has way to much information about key targets of the west forces on Malden. Then the story unfolds. About 5-6 objectives too. The great thing about this is it s always different, lotsa resistance and russian bases ( doesnt lag hard cause it s on Kogujev ) and they are fighting between eachother too. So you got 2 enemies who re fighting eachother too. All is unscripted ( mostly with guard wp's ) so sometimes a bmp comes charging in the resistance camp, sometimes they just dont fight at all, but its very cool hearing tankfights etc in the distance. You will fight the russians too

This mission needs alot of work still because converting to newer troops and it s hell, i dont even understand it fully anymore hehe.

-----------------

Those are the most important ones. All take about 1-2 hrs to complete

[drow 0]

holy smokes!

sorry guys but i couldnt read it ALL, so from what i gather, you somewhat aggree,

I want The Unsung's mission design to draw you in to the point where youre getting bloody goosebumps from the atmosphere (sounds, ambience, details, details, details,:) ), now in my couple years of mission making i have basically mastered the art of fortifying base positions etc. and making them look pretty damn sweet too, and now with a production team to work with the possibilities are endless.

Along with ofp's scripting and helicopter capabilities this is the perfect engine for Vietnam Warfare, scripting in my opinion is crucial in creative interactive, exciting experience, and creating surprising events for dinamic missions and campaigns.

With a little work re-learning things and some help from scripters, and other mission makers to talk things over with I hope to make ours some of the most stunning and inveloping missions in OFP to date, not to mention conveying reality the way it was at that time in Vietnam.

So anyone interested in Vietnam, whos mature, creative, has great attention to detail and level of finish, and most of all makes fun dynamic missions...

you are very welcome to join The Unsung.

Thanks

Drow