Escape from Island

[5133p39 16]

I am working on new mission with the working title "Escape from the Island".

2006.03.14, 23:52 - EDIT: first alpha released, read the next few posts

It's for 2 - 12 players (can be more, but that's not important now), and the objective is to get off the island with the help of one of the four vehicles available, which are missing some parts.

Players must find those missing parts, and mount them all on the appropriate vehicle to make it working.

In the basics it's a deadmatch, everyone is there for himself, but since the objective is not to kill other players but to escape from the island, you can cooperate with any of the other players and leave the island together - if you wish.

The parts are lying scatered all over the island - positioned randomly on the mission start.

To find them, each player has a "detector" which will force the parts to make some sounds when they are in range. Yes, not the detector, but the parts are beeping, so you just listen and go towards the sound

Each part has it's own 3d model, which looks like the appropriate part.

You can pickup the part, and put it down like you would expect, except there aren't any pickup/drop animations.

To mount the part on the vehicle, you must approach the vehicle, use the appropriate user action, and the part will appear on the vehicle.

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I made a fully working prototype of the mission, but with only two vehicles. I want to add more variety, and that is why i wrote this post:

Please, post your tips for any vehicles i could/should use.

The vehicles must be able to fly or float over water and the more unusual/interesting/funny they are, the better.

Another thing i want to ask from you is, if you have any suggestion, please share it, no matter how crazy it is.

Here are some images of the disassembled BIS Camel

[5133p39 16]

Good news!

I just received permission from AtStWalker to use his V1 addon, so now i have three vehicles:

Camel (BIS)

Cessna (BIS)

V1 (AtStWalker)

...but the Cessna isn't very attractive (at least not as much as the Camel is) so i don't think i will use it.

i still need more vehicles, please

[AtStWalker 0]

hi yep u're allowed to use/modify our V1

btw.. perhaps u can add this aircraft

Optica Observation Plane - PIC

Link: LINK

Greetings,

At

[5133p39 16]

btw.. perhaps u can add this aircraft

Optica Observation Plane - PIC

Link: LINK

yes, i was thinking about it, but since i already got one plane (actually two - the Camel and Cessna, maybe three if i count the V1 as a plane too), i would rather use some other vehicle type for the next vehicle, some boat would be nice.

Hmmm, but why not, why not have more planes. Ok, i'll add it to my wanted list.

And thanks for the idea, keep them coming.

[SFG 1]

Hey man any updates on this? It looks like a great idea.

[5133p39 16]

Hey man any updates on this? It looks like a great idea.

oh, really? Then you are the first one who says anything like that. And i thank you very much for such words - i was nearly about to stop the work completely.

I thought nobody is interested, so i didn't worked on it too much. I made some progress though, but not much more than what has been already written in my previous post.

I have the prototype mission, and it fully works, no bugs, no flaws - tested in MP on dedicated server.

The only problem is, i am short of imagination or creativeness, which means, i don't know which other vehicles should i use.

It's a game for up to 16 players so i need more of those "escape" vehicles.

It seemed odd to me, to use both the Camel and the Cessna, so i choose the Camel, then there is the V1, and that is all.

Only two vehicles. I could use more vehicles of the same type, but it doesn't feel right. My idea is that there should be one plane, one boat, one ...something, etc. No more than 1 plane even if the planes are different, and the same rule applies to the other vehicles too.

I desperately need more vehicles.

I want to use the German uboat for the next vehicle, but i don't know into which parts i should disassemble it. And i haven't asked the original addonmaker yet, because i don't want to bother him while i am not certain i will be able to use this addon.

Apart from that, the uboat is cool, i want it. It could be more detailed, but its nice anyway.

I'll tell you what:

i will put in there 4 Camels, or whatever i have, and release the mission. And we'll see what happens. More vehicles can be added anytime.

But i would use some help - in the form of ideas concerning the following things:

1. Respawns

How should i manage player respawns?

Instant? Base? Random? or to the map click location?

2. Vehicels to provide transportation on the island

What vehicles should be available for the players to use ON the island?

I am thinking of a Jeep with machinegun, slightly tweaked to make it faster.

The Jawa motorcycle could be useful.

What more?

And should i place those vehicles ranomly all over the island, or should they be preplaced in the editor? Should the vehicles respawn?

I think the best would be to place the vehicles into some predefined locations, and respawn them in case they got destroyed.

3. Which weapons?

Which weapons should be available to the players, and how should they be able to get them? from creates? random spawns? or by selecting them in a dialog form like in CTI?

ANYONE, PLEASE HELP.

I can do it all by myself, i don't need any help with scripting, modeling, or config. And i can also think up everything by myself - but it could be only better if you help me with that.

[SFG 1]

For vehicles you could make it look like the end of the cold war... so a bunch of abandonded vehicles from both sides laying around. Not randomly but at bases and stuff. Also for respawns i'd say have them about in the middle of the map and about 10 second wait. As for weapons what about using the same ammo crates from psyco slayer... and have them again at bases and hideouts that were abandonded.

For another thing to get off the island what about "FHA Frodo's G1 Ultralight Helicopter Pack V1.0 released" from ofp.info. Or just put a bunch around the island for fast and fun transport.. I think that works too.

[Commando84 0]

what about a boat too add some variety?

i remember that there was a jetpack released long time ago wich was fun to use, might put it in too if you want to.

[5133p39 16]

I will make two versions of this mission.

First will be a "normal" version, where only standard OFP:CWC & Resistance units and vehicles will be used (but they must be slightly modified, so it still won't be a "no-addons" version). It will be based on the "end of the cold war" theme as SFG suggested.

Second will be a "more fun" version, with special vehicles like Camel, V1, German U-boat (i am working on my own addon - type VII C), jetpack, etc.

It will feature also more fun elements, searching for parts and shooting each other is not enough

I am thinking about some random special items/weapons, maybe some bonuses dropped on the parachute, etc.

So, first thing first. Here goes the description of the First version:

"escape" vehicles

Mi-17, Su-25, Boat

UH60, Cessna, Mark II PBR

All vehicles will be placed in the mission editor.

parts

Each of the "escape" vehicles, will be missing three parts and the fuel (optional). All parts will be placed randomly at the mission start, the fuel will be available through the fuel truck which will be only one on the whole island, and will be placed randomly at one of the permanent vehicle locations (if you find it first, you can hide it from other players).

inland transport/assault vehicles

UAZ, Ural truck, BMP1 (nofloat), ZSU, T72, T80, US Jeep, 5Ttruck, M113 (nofloat), M113 Ambulance (nofloat), M60, M1A1 Abrams, T55, BMP, V3S, Skoda, Trabant, Motorcycle (did i forgot something?).

Some vehicles will be placed in the mission editor, preferably into the abandoned bases, and some (the armored ones) will be placed randomly at the mission start.

When destroyed, the vehicles will respawn (optional) on their original location, while the randomly placed ones will be again moved to a new random location.

weapons and ammo

There will be weapon and ammo crates at each vehicle location.

All standard CWC & Resistance weapons and ammo will be available.

mission start

Before the start, administrator will be able to choose whether the vehicels will respawn, whether the fuel will be missing in the "escape" vehicles, and how many "escape" vehicles will be available - this will allow to play the mission as:

DM - many esc.vehicles, any player can choose which vehicle he want's to use. Everybody is for himself, but you can still help each other if you want to (but the intention is to not).

TDM - players will split into a two or more teams, the number of teams doesn't matter, the mission scripting doesn't care about that, it's up to the players to make the agreement who is

with who. Set the number of "escape" vehicles to the number of teams (or less, if you want to fight for the vehicle).

When the mission start, all players starts at the same initiall location, without any weapons.

player respawns

Players will respawn on the parachute at the last respawn (or at the initial starting position in case of first respawn) and while in the air, they will be able to pick any available respawn location by clicking into map.

The respawn locations will be placed at each permanent vehicle location.

Player respawns with the same loadout he had when he died, except the secondary weapon.

What do you think about it?

Beta will be available tomorrow afternoon/evening.

[SFG 1]

Sounds good I think you should really push the idea that the soviets and nato left the island in a hurry because of maybe a nuclear bomb exploding and they cant stop it? Ahh that sounds corny maybe you can think of something but basically the idea is everyone left in a hurry so its sorta like cynobyl(sp?). Really freaky around.

[Connors 0]

zombies?

[5133p39 16]

no zombies

I have released the first alpha of the mission.

It was very boring when i was playing it alone - too much driving around, searching for parts, nothing more - i hope it wont be too bad when playing with other people, but i didn't tried yet.

There shouldn't be any bugs, but i was testing it only on my LOCAL dedicated server, so it is not 100%.

There are five "escape" vehicles, each is missing three parts, and fuel.

There is a fueltruck at one of the respawns (choosed randomly on mission start).

All vehicles except the "escape" ones, are respawning.

Player respawns with the weapons he had when he died.

While on parachute (when respawning), the player can change his respawn position by clicking into the map (there are 8 available respawns).

If you managed to repair some "escape" vehicle by attaching all missing parts, refuel it, and then move to the "escape here" marker position.

You can download the needed addon and the mission in one package (390 KB) from the filefront.com

But i am warning you - you will probably find this mission to be a boring one, bear in mind that it is an Alpha version, ok?

[rellikki 7]

Very nice. I like your idea very much. Can you add some script to the mission that makes the time go faster? I think it would add some atmosphere on it.

[5133p39 16]

Very nice. I like your idea very much. Can you add some script to the mission that makes the time go faster? I think it would add some atmosphere on it.

yes, i was thinking about it too

But how exactly should it be done?

To set different time of day after every XX minutes?

Or to skip few seconds after every two seconds, so the time would seems to go faster?

Or something else?

[rellikki 7]

Try this:

#loop

skiptime 0.1

~10

goto "loop"

The script will skip 10 minutes every 10 second. Of course, you can modify that script if you want.

[Placebo 29]

Hey man any updates on this? It looks like a great idea.

oh, really? Then you are the first one who says anything like that. And i thank you very much for such words - i was nearly about to stop the work completely.

I thought nobody is interested, so i didn't worked on it too much. I made some progress though, but not much more than what has been already written in my previous post.

I also read your first posts and thought it sounded like a great idea, original and fun to play.

I know it's difficult and frustrating but don't let yourself become disenchanted by lack of replies/feedback for missions in here, it seems that many people will download and play missions but few are willing or have the time to comment, people usually take the effort if they have something to complain about so take it as a compliment that you're doing something right

[5133p39 16]

Try this:

#loop

skiptime 0.1

~10

goto "loop"

The script will skip 10 minutes every 10 second. Of course, you can modify that script if you want.

ok, i'll do it so it will be optional feature.

I can also make the weather to be changing - if you want.

But what i need most, is to make the mission to be really fun.

The problem is, even the Kolgujev island is relatively big, and searching for the parts can be a long and maybe even frustrating process.

As i wrote before, i don't know what it's like when playing this mission with more people - i didn't tried yet, but i think most people will dislike it for it will be too boring for them.

It's little like the "Psycho Slayer" mission - do you know why there is not much people who plays it? because they think it's toooo booooring to drive through the whole Nogova while searching for JUST ONE enemy, and i must admit they have a point - but the fun in "Psycho Slayer" is aimed towards "the killer", that's the fun part of it

- i don't like to play as the killer, because sometimes i think i will get a heart attack. It's too scary for me even to drive around the island, not knowing where are the cops and that i can run into them just behind the next corner. But when you eventually meet them, and you manage to drive right through their provisory checkpoint, fooling them that you are just an AI, then you feel like you just won the first prize! At those times, i can't help myself and i can barely control the vehicle as i am laughing out loud. - but there are no killers in the "Escape from the island" mission, it's more like "Psycho Slayer" with only the cops :-((

But the idea isn't so bad, it needs just some little adjustments.

Maybe if i make it strictly a Team Deathmatch, each team will have its own "escape" vehicle, maybe some part to be shared by the two vehicles so you can mount it on both and thus forcing the teams to really confront each other?

The prototype mission seems to be working ok, so all it needs is to redefine the rules to make it really fun.

I really need help with this, because i think have just run out of ideas and imagination.

[5133p39 16]

I also read your first posts and thought it sounded like a great idea, original and fun to play.

I know it's difficult and frustrating but don't let yourself become disenchanted by lack of replies/feedback for missions in here, it seems that many people will download and play missions but few are willing or have the time to comment, people usually take the effort if they have something to complain about so take it as a compliment that you're doing something right

Wow, thanks, it means a lot for me to hear this from you

I'll try to not let myself lost my enthusiasm.

[icebreakr 3159]

Our team loves your mission and we had a lot of fun with it. Especially using FFUR new vehicles that are much faster than the original... there's nothing more cool than driving offroad fullspeed with Mitsibushi Pajero with 3 players/cops behind you and 2 more waiting for you 1km ahead to shot off your tires/engine

[5133p39 16]

nice to hear that

I am working on the ArmA version - maybe if you have ArmA, it could be even more fun, since in ArmA the physics is little better (you can push other cars out of the road, which could make car chases more exciting)