Ideas for editor missions?

[Njayjay 10]

Hi there, I'm wondering where you guys get ideas to play around in the editor? Do you just jump straight in and start improvising? I'm asking because I've seen people mention they rarely play outside the editor, but I when I'm in there I can't come up with anything interesting. The gameworld is so big, and so many options, I can't come up with anything concrete. What are some basic types of missions and scenarios to get me started? Do you guys copy ideas from other games or real life battles etc? What are some tips for putting together something quick and hi quality and start enjoying it right away? Peace

[wamingo 1]

I tend to go location scouting to create my next masterpiece... but I usually end up just flying around...

sorry, I got nothing.

edit: Although for a tip, maybe the best way to think up something original is to simply brainstorm and concoct a (short) story and even write the briefing before you create the mission. Write a longer story and you can make a set of missions.

I think location doesn't matter at all in reality. Pick location almost or entirely randomly because that creates better variation.

Edited August 27, 2009 by wamingo

[Fenrir 10]

Tell you the truth, i've started making like 5 missions and i keep making a new one :rolleyes: The only mission i've finished so far is a training map for my clan, and thats still in Beta :p

I guess this is due to the fact that, i'll see an area on the map i like, and try to think of a story behind it or an engagement that could happen there. But then i spot another one....and another....and another XD This games blessing and its curse is its size and flexibility.

e.g. That small, burnt out town south of guglovo. I saw that, and immideatly thought, assassination mission. Night time, cause thats the best time for assassination mission :) Then i thought, it could be a good place to say as a HQ for a battle taking place further south, and you play as guerillas, tasked to kill the officer to turn the tide of battle. A little extra was an enemy rearm point was stationed in Guglovo, which could be a secondary task to blow up.

Heck, you could use this idea yourself if you want :). to get you started. I placed a few units myself, but now i've already thought of, and started work on a new mission :rolleyes:

Sometimes i'll just place a Helo and fly around looking for places, and other time's i'll spot certain features during outher peoples missions, eg. enbankments on roads that could be used for a stealth/ambush mission.

[arthur666 10]

I have never played SP outside of the editor.

I'm a big fan of ambushes. Set up a convoy of trucks full of troops, then lie in wait with some satchel charges and MGs. Fun as the ambushers or ambushees.

Also, I have an urban patrol missions where my squad on foot gets ambushed from all sides and must fight their way out. Lots of random variables makes it very replayable.

Usually being outnumbered but with good air/artillery support is fun. I got this idea from something I saw on the military channel: A small spec-ops team is discovered by enemies, who call in hundreds of soldiers mostly in trucks with limited armor support. My 6 man team is in a good spot defensively(high ground) in the desert on Sarahni and has 2sniper rifles plus a MG. We must stay put and keep the enemies at bay until a Blackhawk picks us up, about 15 minutes. Two AH-1s show up and take out any heavy equipment the enemy throws at us, but my team stays busy picking off advancing soldiers. Sometimes we survive, sometimes not.

Man, I could go on and on... so I will.

Using the ACM, I set up a random war between the Insurgents and the Guerillas. Both are hostile to each other and my Force Recon team that must rescue two downed piolts 4km inland with no support. One of those pilots is too wounded to walk, so we have to go to them and patch him up, and bring them back to our boats hidden in the reeds. The only advantage we have is it's night. It took like 2 hours, but it was an adventure. Lots of enemy patrols to avoid, and I put lots of traffic on the roads so you didn't know if those headlights coming were a threat or just a farmer on the way to work. Didn't have to fire more than a few shots, but we were pursued by some angry groups of militants.

Can't wait to set aside enough time to play it again.

I feels like the missions I play the most are the ones that were easiest to make.

Edited August 27, 2009 by arthur666

[Njayjay 10]

One thing that doesn't seem so appealing to me about making my own missions is knowing where every unit is gonna be placed at, where the encounters take place etc. It's better to remain uncertain sometimes about these things for the sake of immersion.

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I have never played SP outside of the editor.

I'm a big fan of ambushes. Set up a convoy of trucks full of troops, then lie in wait with some satchel charges and MGs. Fun as the ambushers or ambushees.

Also, I have an urban patrol missions where my squad on foot gets ambushed from all sides and must fight their way out. Lots of random variables makes it very replayable.

Usually being outnumbered but with good air/artillery support is fun. I got this idea from something I saw on the military channel: A small spec-ops team is discovered by enemies, who call in hundreds of soldiers mostly in trucks with limited armor support. My 6 man team is in a good spot defensively(high ground) in the desert on Sarahni and has 2sniper rifles plus a MG. We must stay put and keep the enemies at bay until a Blackhawk picks us up, about 15 minutes. Two AH-1s show up and take out any heavy equipment the enemy throws at us, but my team stays busy picking off advancing soldiers. Sometimes we survive, sometimes not.

Man, I could go on and on... so I will.

Using the ACM, I set up a random war between the Insurgents and the Guerillas. Both are hostile to each other and my Force Recon team that must rescue two downed piolts 4km inland with no support. One of those pilots is too wounded to walk, so we have to go to them and patch him up, and bring them back to our boats hidden in the reeds. The only advantage we have is it's night. It took like 2 hours, but it was an adventure. Lots of enemy patrols to avoid, and I put lots of traffic on the roads so you didn't know if those headlights coming were a threat or just a farmer on the way to work. Didn't have to fire more than a few shots, but we were pursued by some angry groups of militants.

Can't wait to set aside enough time to play it again.

I feels like the missions I play the most are the ones that were easiest to make.

Those sound awesome could u upload these by any chance? Wanna check them out in the editor. Also anyone else posting in here if u have SP missions to share I'd love to check them out.

Edited August 27, 2009 by Njayjay

[kylania 568]

One thing that doesn't seem so appealing to me about making my own missions is knowing where every unit is gonna be placed at, where the encounters take place etc. It's better to remain uncertain sometimes about these things for the sake of immersion.

Place a few markers in random spots and group those with the enemy group. They'll spawn at one of them randomly.

[IndeedPete 1038]

Hm, when i make missions, the story is the first idea i have. If i got a story, i can make a mission out of it - the location is secondary. I got many ideas through movies, the original campaign or other user-made missions.

I'm currently working on a SP Campaign and the first step was to create a few characters with the right faces, names, models, equipment and a bit backround. Then came the "mission brainstorming". I thought about things that i ever wanted to implement into a mission. (E.g. player decisions wich influence the story/next mission). After i had gotten some ideas, i started working on my first mission - a small one which introduces the other characters and the story to the player. When i make a mission, i place at first all friendly units, create the objectives and run the mission. The enemies and some other stuff comes later. When i did all i wanted, i test the mission and look for bugs or try to balance it a bit more.

As i said before, a good idea is the most important to me. And i still got some deep inside my head. E.g. the mercenary-addOn which i saw here somewhere(or was it on armaholic?). I thought about a small SP or MP campaign(about six missions or less) where you play a mercenary who got the objective to find and rescue a woman who were kidnapped by paramilitary units. The first mission could be to secure a good location and establish a base camp there. In the second the player has to find some traces, talk to the civilians, looking for evidence and so on... Of yourse you can use this idea if it helps you. I'm busy enough with my campaign(I'm now working on the 9th mission and there's still alot of work to do :rolleyes: ).

[katdogfizzow 13]

Try this: Set up a heavily defended enemy base in a city or an airport. Use waypoints for trucks and cars to guard and use the urban patrol script for enemy soldiers.

Now.....

(1) try to rescue someone from there

(2)try to blow something up. i.e. a headquarters (like a large building or bridge)

(3) try to kill an enemy boss or leader on a search and destroy

(4) try to destoy certain defenses. i.e static or AA

(5) or eliminate enemy forces

(6) try to find documents or intel

(7) try to steal something...like a plane or helicopter

Use one or mix a combination with different time containts, weather, darkness, etc. There are endless possibilities with just these few scenarios. i.e now try to do the same tasks or different combination thereof without being detected....and I just blew your mind :p

The story will emerge....

[santafee 10]

I was allready starting a thread like that lol

So i cant offer much help at all.I do the same mistake,scrolling over the whole map to search for some cool locations and getting ideas,if i started a mission and tested it a bit i always find better locations and ideas and start new,wow those are annoying problems...:p

The worst is that u can use Sahrani now,i like it much more then cherna and damn...its much more bigger^^

guess thats a discipline thing...il try to write down a bigger story soon and try it with that.for now.........gl;-)

[arthur666 10]

Place a few markers in random spots and group those with the enemy group. They'll spawn at one of them randomly.

Really? I didn't know that! For units spawning in random locations, I just set the radius of the group leaders to a large area. I would love to be able to have units spawn in this village or that one, not just anywhere within a 1000m radius. Is that how it works? if I group 3 markers to one group, the group will spawn at one of them at random? Anything I need to type in the init field or anything?

Those sound awesome could u upload these by any chance? Wanna check them out in the editor. Also anyone else posting in here if u have SP missions to share I'd love to check them out.

When i get home I'll post one here. Not finished yet, no briefings or anything, but you can see how a novice mission builder does it.

Edited August 28, 2009 by arthur666

[IndeedPete 1038]

Really? I didn't know that! I would love to be able to have units spawn in this village or that one, not just anywhere within a 1000m radius. Is that how it works? if I group 3 markers to one group, the group will spawn at one of them at random? Anything I need to type in the init field or anything?

Nope, you just have to group the unitleader with the marker. It's a bit tricky because you can't see the marker while you ahve 'group' selected. :rolleyes:

[Fenrir 10]

Ummmm....does that work with players as well ? :p If so.....this could bring my mission to the next new level :D

Also, jayjay, when you place waypoints, you can change the radius of it, and so they'll still move in to thatr area, however it'll be bit more random, because they'll move anywhere in that radius.

Plus you've also got the probability bar, to decided what the chance of that unit even spawning is :)

[IndeedPete 1038]

Yes, it works with players as well.

And to create small random patrols you could also use the 'seek and destroy' waypoint.

[Njayjay 10]

So can you post your missions guys?