The Cause 2 (SP campaign Idea WIP)

[jasonnoguchi 11]

Jesus! Did you tweak the AI? How did you get them to behave so well in such a tight CQB environment??? And hey, nice and fast aiming there... somehow I can't aim as fast as you can :(

[comraderickey 10]

I played the Cause Campaign in ArmA and really liked it.I would to suggest some ideas of my own for ArmA II Russian Campaign.The Campaign should be a long one and not short like Cause I.

The campaign should be told from the perspective of several playable characters to give it an in-depth flavour.

Here are some of the characters i think will be great for protagonist role-

1.Pyotr Lugavoi- A Russian civilian who saw his family,relatives and friends killed by CDF and joined the ChDKZ to get his revenge.

2.Ibrahim Sokolov- A private in the Russian Army.Later promoted in the course of the campaign.

3.Leonid Arkashev- A chechen war-veteran.Commands a T-90 unit.

4.Erick Hanskel- Mi-24 pilot.Because being German-Russian and a jew he is often teased by his fellow airmen.However later on because of his courageous performance over the battlefield he gains the respect of his fellow comrades.

5.Arkady Pochenko- A newly joined Spetznatz Commando.

The campaign should be divided into several phases.Events should unfold in a realistic manner that ultimately results in war.

PHASE I-

The Russians strictly adhere to peacekeeping duties like active patrols,delivering food and aid to villages,preventing

conflict between the civilians and protecting the the Russian minorities especially.

It should include missions like Sokolov bringing civilians to Field Hospitals in a truck,delivering supplies to villages

and towns and so on.

PHASE II-

The Chernarussian Government declares that it would use also means to destroy the the ChDKZ and pacify the Russian areas.Signs defence pact with U.S which allows American forces to be stationed in the country. U.S assures Chernarus that once situation has stabilised Chernarus will be given NATO membership as U.S sees it as a valuable ally.Moscow becomes worried but does not want to escalate the situation.But it also opposes NATO expansion.Finally it approves terrorist operations inside

Chernarus to make the government weak and increases aid to ChDKZ.It should include missions like Lugavoi receiving training from Spetznatz,carrying bombings of government buildings and police stations,road side detonations to kill CDF forces,assasination of Chernarussian politicians etc.

PHASE III-

With the situation becoming bad to worse U.S sends troops and heavy military hardware to straighten up the backbone of CDF.Warns Russia of further interference.However Russia decides that it must act now before the Americans can dig in deep in Chernarus and turn the country in a Forward American Base.The Spetznatz is tasked with conducting sabotage missions in American bases while the ChDKZ infiltrates the CDF to bomb Army Facilities,Steal important documents,kill Senior CDF commanders etc.

PHASE IV-

Spetznatz and ChDKZ missions are very much succesfull.The U.S brings more forces to the region.Though Russia and ChDKZ blame the NAPA for attacks on U.S forces it does not take long for the Americans to find out the real perpetrators.Several ChDKZ bases are subjected to American air attacks and Russian bases also receive American fire.

Russia also brings additional reinforcements to the region.It should include missions like Hanskel transporting troops to Russian Bases,Arkashev taking part in tank excercises etc.

PHASE V-

CDF with U.S forces launch full attack on Russian minority areas.This prompts Russia to declare war on CDF and U.S. There is head on fighting between Russia and ChDKZ on one side and the CDF and U.S on the other.Sokolov, Hanskel and Arkashev take part in direct assault on the enemy while Lugavoi and Pochenko liberate Russian areas from CDF and American occupation and conduct special missions on the the enemy's flank.

PHASE VI(Final)-

American war materials are dangerously low.An American naval convoy is heading for Chernarus.Russia decides to capture Chernogorsk,Chernarus's capital to bring an end to the conflict.Remaining U.S forces and CDF fortify Chernogorsk.Russian forces liberate the surrounding areas of Cherogorsk.The honour of final push to Chernogorsk is given to the ChDKZ with Russian Forces in Support.

Edited December 19, 2009 by comraderickey

[rejenorst 18]

Hi comraderickey, you have some awesome ideas but I am really running short on time at the moment. The Cause 2 will most likely be 5 missions in length. I will make additional missions while I am overseas and then release a mission pack or a new campaign when I get back.

As it stands I have about 3 out of 5 nearing final completion.

[Hardhittaz 10]

I'm all for indoor keep it coming.

[comraderickey 10]

Thanks.Looking forward for Cause II

[rejenorst 18]

Jesus! Did you tweak the AI? How did you get them to behave so well in such a tight CQB environment??? And hey, nice and fast aiming there... somehow I can't aim as fast as you can :(

I didn't tweak much, just pulled the standard levers of the AI, I think the majority of problems people have with the AI is that they havn't experimented enough in testing what's the appropriate settings for which scenario.

The AI still has plenty of minor niggles for in what I am trying to do but having played against it and set it to a challenging level I am generally scared to show my back to the door.

I shoot fast because I remember all the places where I was killed in previous tests ;)

[jasonnoguchi 11]

^...oh! hahahahahha!

[sparks50 0]

Indoor combat is a nice change of pace.

[rejenorst 18]

Do you guys prefer units to move fast into the house or to move slowly but cover all angles?

When I set units onto combat inside they make more of an attempt to check the corners and door ways and will move cautiously, but of course slowly rather than storm the building.

[Njayjay 10]

I think the slow approach should be standard unless there are known tangos inside a room and surprise is needed.

EDIT: after viewing the video again it seems like they could use some speeding up.

Edited December 20, 2009 by Njayjay

[rejenorst 18]

AI won't run in buildings unfortunately :(

I am contemplating having a mixture of slow and fast. I will test this to see how it works ingame and try and come to a compromise on what comes closest to seeming decent. AI has a major problem of trying to shoot through concrete walls on the stairs at distant enemies, this is more evident when in combat mode :(

[froggyluv 2136]

AI won't run in buildings unfortunately :(

. AI has a major problem of trying to shoot through concrete walls on the stairs at distant enemies, this is more evident when in combat mode :(

Yep, I noticed this a long time ago -the material used in stairwells seems to be see-thru so both entities in the stairwell as well as outside will aim and shoot at each other. Seen many o' AT man kill himself this way.

Maybe you should send a repro to the buglist.

[maturin 12]

AI won't run in buildings unfortunately :(

I am contemplating having a mixture of slow and fast. I will test this to see how it works ingame and try and come to a compromise on what comes closest to seeming decent. AI has a major problem of trying to shoot through concrete walls on the stairs at distant enemies, this is more evident when in combat mode :(

If you could identify the type of walls that are see-through, would it be possible to place static objects hidden inside them (sandbags or other concrete walls) that do block LoS?

[rejenorst 18]

I havn't tried it, but I just might. Also do you guys prefer urban missions or rural missions?

[jasonnoguchi 11]

for me, it works as long as it is in the spirit of the Rejenorst storyline. :) like i said, The Cause 1 shined because of great story telling and voice acting, making it extremely entertaining.

[rejenorst 18]

Hi guys, unfortunately I have some bad news. I have been running heavily against time constraints and have been sitting at my pc trying to get at least 5 decent missions hammered out. I have about 5 days until my departure to the Phils in which case completion of TC2 will be delayed.

I kind of realize that given the time constraints and by my attempt at rushing to get things done I may be compromising on quality and so will attempt a different approach. I will try and do set piece recordings done in the next 5 days that I can mix and match for missions as I make them. So far I've done the majority of recordings for 3 missions. Its usually the cutscene's or any loud voice acting that is the problem as I just can't yell where I am staying in the Phils, (shoebox conditions).

There are at least 2 cut scenes I need to make which require loud voices and a bunch of generic yells that I would like to use for missions. if I can get these recorded over the next 5 days along with a series of cut and paste radio chatter for in missions I should be good and then can focus more on the storyline and making more than 5 missions while overseas. I'll still have my mic and preamp with me over there but won't be able to be dramatic in any sense haha so will do some narrating for some of the missions.

Cheers and sorry for the delay.

[Variable 322]

Hi guys, unfortunately I have some bad news. I have been running heavily against time constraints and have been sitting at my pc trying to get at least 5 decent missions hammered out. I have about 5 days until my departure to the Phils in which case completion of TC2 will be delayed.

I kind of realize that given the time constraints and by my attempt at rushing to get things done I may be compromising on quality and so will attempt a different approach. I will try and do set piece recordings done in the next 5 days that I can mix and match for missions as I make them. So far I've done the majority of recordings for 3 missions. Its usually the cutscene's or any loud voice acting that is the problem as I just can't yell where I am staying in the Phils, (shoebox conditions).

There are at least 2 cut scenes I need to make which require loud voices and a bunch of generic yells that I would like to use for missions. if I can get these recorded over the next 5 days along with a series of cut and paste radio chatter for in missions I should be good and then can focus more on the storyline and making more than 5 missions while overseas. I'll still have my mic and preamp with me over there but won't be able to be dramatic in any sense haha so will do some narrating for some of the missions.

Cheers and sorry for the delay.

Take your time, no rush. Although we wait eagerly to TC2, we want you to be pleased with the results. Thanks for the update!

[jasonnoguchi 11]

Always willing to wait for a good campaign. :) Isn't there a volcano waiting to erupt at the Phils?? You some geologist or something?

[rejenorst 18]

nah I am just studying there :)

[rejenorst 18]

http://i39.tinypic.com/xgcbq.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/t8urt1.jpg

http://i39.tinypic.com/amejox.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/2ytnzoh.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/21n4p6p.jpg

I've been working on and off on the missions when I've had a brake between assignments and exams. Given the release of patch 1.05 I have to edit the way the AI handles some of the waypoints in beta1 of the first mission I released a while ago. This is not a huge problem but I can see I have to play through everything after each patch heh...

Above are just some images of what I've been working on for the 2nd,3rd and 4th missions. Its been pretty hard to get Russian voices as the jump from English to Russian is pretty huge. I have however managed to get in contact to a Russian voice actor who has his own studio who is interested in doings some voices in return for some advertisement of his webpage, to which I have agreed and will need to get the script for the missions translated and voiced over. In the mean time I have to finish the missions, I am hoping for anywhere between 8-10 missions for the campaign.

[Variable 322]

Great to hear a progress update. Good luck with it!

[MetalMike 10]

Since I wasn't too in-tune with the custom mission community in the ArmA 1 days, I never played The Cause. But just from the comments and previews I've seen though, I'm definitely looking forward to this. Thanks for all you're doing man.

[Variable 322]

Since I wasn't too in-tune with the custom mission community in the ArmA 1 days, I never played The Cause. But just from the comments and previews I've seen though, I'm definitely looking forward to this. Thanks for all you're doing man.

The Cause 1 worths a reinstall of an obsolete game, I assure you...

[MetalMike 10]

The Cause 1 worths a reinstall of an obsolete game, I assure you...

I would be open to that, but I'm trying to conserve HD space. :\

[rejenorst 18]

I've pretty much fleshed out most of the missions, now I am just going through and trying to make each mission as much fun/feel right as possible and adding cut scenes. I still have a few weeks worth of work on my hands there but its getting there. The hardest part is not the scripting or anything but usually making something that feels right concept wise, is fun to play and has an optimal location while remaining in the frame of the storyline. The story and any attempt at realism can ultimately become more of a constraint sometimes hehe.

Anyway heres a vid with snippets taking from the last 2 missions I've been working on (heavy WIP), the final product of these two missions will probably be very different during gameplay when its done:

http://www.rejenorst.com/vids/TCC2PREV1.wmv

No voice acting added to these two missions yet.

Edited April 28, 2010 by Rejenorst