Basic How To's

[Chuikov]

Wonderful game, finally can perhaps retire Eric Young's Squad Assault!

My interest is really in creating scenarios. Nothing too complicated, but I am having trouble and can't seem to figure out some basics. Are there some more in depth tutorials or posts somewhere that will show me some AI instruction to make a scenario where the AI will attempt to capture three or so neutral flags?

I can place units, use the new UI flag placement tool, but Im getting some odd AI behavior such as only one squad attempting to capture it.

I can also sort of get some units to go after a "Point #1" but then some units don't, even if I set their movement to go after it. For example, on the AI's turn, I can see some units use their movement points but others have some long number with a "-" sign in front and I cross the map to find they are the ones not moving.

Anyway, if I could just make a map with three flags that need capturing, I would be in WW2 heaven.

The scripting bit makes me want to curl up in a corner and hide, but it seems like the new editor UI flag tool should do exactly what I need.

Thanks for making this game!

[pipfromslitherine]

Seeing units with negative APs is a bug for sure. I've never seen it happen before. It would certainly explain why they aren't moving! Have you made any other changes to the data in your campaign.

The plugin allows you to set the AI teams which will head for the closest un-owned AI point. All AI units default to team 0, and you can set teams using the AI data panel (choose the team and left click to set).

If you cannot get it to work still then if you can zip up and post it somewhere I can grab it and see what is going on. Negative APs are a bad thing

Cheers

Pip

[Chuikov]

I'm sure it must be something I'm doing as I haven't seen anyone else mention the issue, but all I have done is use the template AI files (.BAM, .BFI) in the example that was posted, "Template Campaign and Illustrated Tutorial." Haven't changed anything in those files except to put my name as per the instructions. I must be doing something dodgy though that I'm unaware of.


I think Ill design one more and see if I can get it to do what I want and send it if it doesn't. So, if all my units are, say, team 0, they will head for the nearest neutral flag, then the next nearest flag, etc? If I have three units designated AI team 1, 2 and 3 respectively and 3 neutral flags in front of them, each unit will go after the flag that it's closest to?

And what is the last number in that panel where you set the AI team number? There is the team number field, the AI aggression number field, the point to attack field, and then the last number, which always seems to just be "0" as far as I can tell in all the other scenarios Ive looked at. Just curious.

Thanks.

[pipfromslitherine]

Ah - well luckily for you, there is a much easier way

Remove all the BSFs from the tutorial, so you have just your map file. Then open the Plugins Dialog and enable the Victory Point plugin. You'll be able to set up the flags and AI teams in there. You don't need any other script files etc. I guess I need to update the tutorial!

The final number in the AI fields is used in the AI scripts, so can basically be anything.

Hope that helps

Pip

[Chuikov]

Suuu-weeeet.

To arms!

[junk2drive]

The final number in the AI fields is used in the AI scripts, so can basically be anything.

Could you explain more about this?

[pipfromslitherine]

IIRC it is not used. Basically you get 4 values. Index 0 is used as the destination in the current AI script, and in the editor. But values 1-3 could be used for anything (tracking long-term objectives, ranking targets, anything!). It's just the current AI doesn't use them for anything.

We exposed the 1 data value to make it simpler to integrate any custom AI with the editor.

Cheers

Pip