OFP co-op "game master" mod - possible?

[datter 0]

Here's what I want to do;

I'd like to run a coop multiplayer campaign which has say 5 to 10 players tasked with accomplishing various missions/tasks. The tricky part is that I want to act as a sort of game master while they're playing.

I'd like to be able to observe what the players are doing (perhaps from above or someplace) and command the enemy troops based on that... in real time. Say the players have to patrol from town A to town B. They might do it on foot, or they might make a convoy of trucks. Depending on what they do I might want to order different sorts of enemy to attack... or maybe have a helo overfly them. If they go overland instead of taking the road I'd like to be able to order my enemy troops right then and there to move to intercept them. So while they're playing regular co-op OFP I'm more of a game master playing the enemy forces almost from a realtime strategy point of view.

The idea behind this is basically having the players run through a coop mission normally, but have me as game-master being able to control the enemy forces in the area in order to shape the encounters into what I want.

Kind of like regular OFP with a neverwinter Nights dungeon master over seeing it.

Are there any mods that make something like this remotely possible? I can't imagine, but thought I'd ask. If not does anyone know of any way I might at least get some of this functionality in a coop game?

Thanks in advance.

datter

[5133p39 16]

It is possible, needs some scripting, but it can be done.

...or you can buy VBS

[datter 0]

I won't be buying VBS... and I figured it was possible somehow. Maybe I can ask the guys over at OFP Editing Center once it comes back online, unless anyone here has any suggestions.

Thanks,

datter

[General Barron 0]

It could be done, but it would take a lot of scripting. I don't think anything exactly like this has already been made.

An alternative would be to use Vektorboson's scripting console. Then you can literally do EVERYTHING on the fly, but of course you will need an unhealthy familiararity with the scripting language.

Your best bet for a pre-made solution might be my voting/admin console. Although it wasn't designed to be exactly what you are looking for, you should be able to use it to great effect.

BIS forum thread:

http://www.flashpoint1985.com/cgi-bin....e+admin

Since OFPEC is down, here's a temporary download link:

http://rapidshare.de/files/15425205/VA_console.zip.html

[XCess 0]

I'd recommend looking at the Chain Of Command engine. They built a system where could order a platoon or two around, but I'm not sure how in depth the control was. It's years old but they're site is still online (i think) not sure where though...

Also, I'm not sure if it was designed to work in MP, I've been an SP only sorta guy up until recently, and my mission editing is still limitted to sp.

Nice concept though, I'd certainly play it.

[General Barron 0]

I'd recommend looking at the Chain Of Command engine.

IIRC, the command engine only works in SP, and was never updated to be MP compatable. However, on OFPEC there was at least one MP-compatable multiple-squad control system (by Ronald Spiers I think...). Anyway, not much help of course, with OFPEC being down and all.

[Snake Man 407]

It is possible to use CoC Command Engine in MP. Read this to learn more.

[shinRaiden 0]

The problem there is that Vektorbosen's console is banned on many servers for the very reason that it's useful. A 'god' mode master console allowing a controller to place and control any sort of units, and do other sorts of arbitrary manipulations can also be used maliciously for abusive cheating. Even the ECP console is a problem as it allows you to inject whatever arbitrary scripting code you care to run. The problem isn't the functionality, it's the usage.

[General Barron 0]

The problem there is that Vektorbosen's console is banned on many servers for the very reason that it's useful. A 'god' mode master console allowing a controller to place and control any sort of units, and do other sorts of arbitrary manipulations can also be used maliciously for abusive cheating.

Well, if you are going to give someone 'gamemaster' power, you are going to have to trust them with 'godmode' no matter what--they are basically the same thing.

Anyway, I've also heard that the X-Cam console can be used for this sort of thing. I've never used it myself, but you should check it out. Link:

http://mapfact.net/include....tid=305

[-)rStrangelove 0]

I take it some guys getting together to play a live roleplaying OpF session will know each other and should be able to get along.

The more interesting questions concerning LRP would be these: (i think)

- when spawning units on the fly wouldn't some sort of dialog needed to give them simple commands and behaviour ? also: same dialog could be needed to spawn equipment directly into the list of the players.

- would it be fun to have some sort of dialog window ? players could talk to NPCs on behave on solving the mission. The gamemaster would type in the answers.

- how about saving simple skill values for every player and a dice dialog ? good to show if players succeed in special actions they want to undertake ('i want to dismount that M60 from the humvee with my engineer tools - am i successful ?'

[datter 0]

Quote[/b] ]- would it be fun to have some sort of dialog window ? players could talk to NPCs on behave on solving the mission. The gamemaster would type in the answers.

I had thought the exact same thing, but figured I'd keep my question more simplified at the outset.

A scenario;

Say you have an enemy base camp with a predefined force on site protecting it. Outside it's perimiter is a small local village that is regularly patrolled by the enemy forces. A small group of players is tasked with infiltrating the base camp and destroying the command center within, though they don't know for certain where it might be at any given moment within the camp... say it's truck mounted and moved regularly from place to place in the camp.

So the players decide to move up under cover of darkness and interrogate one of the villagers as to the whereabouts of the command center. Prior to loading the mission, the GameMaster (GM) will set the time of day based on the players decision to go under dark, and the mission starts.

Once on the ground the players manuever forwards towards the village, while the GM observes from high above. Since they have a ways to go before making the village he decides to send a patrol of two guys their way, so he redirect the waypoints of some relatively nearby enemy troops towards the players.

After they deal with the patrol the players reach the village, sending two players in to find someone to question. They enter a hut and find a man by himself. As they enter the GM clicks the villager... or a drop down... or whatever it might be... and gains 1st (or 3rd) person control of that villager. The players could then interrogate him by interacting with the character, now played by the GM via a real time chat. At some point the GM might decide to throw them a curveball and pull out a handgun forcing the players to kill him. The GM then reverts back to "God" view while the players regroup.

Of course the GM then figures that gunshots so near to the basecamp would be investigated and send out a patrol to check it out, and perhaps an overflight by a helo as well. The players won't know about that until they find out on their own though, so they move out away from the village towards the basecamp...

etc etc

If you ever played a properly run mp game of Neverwinter Nights run by a GM you'll know exactly the sort of thing I'm talking about here.

Something like this would be a great deal of fun I think, though the more I think about it the more I think it's a whole new game rather than an OFP mod.

datter