I'm a new forum member, and I'm happy to know that our community finally seems to be gaining interest in scenario design. For me, scenario design comes as a fun aspect of the game, allowing you to create alternate history scenarios that can be speculative and interesting. My only question is:
is there a guide on how to make a campaign?
I've been working myself to try and create one, as I've been looking through the data.cmp file and copying the test and manipulating it for myself.
Still, it feels complicated. Any help?
Thanks!
(Here's a preview of my newest installation: Attack on Hilo, a fictional counter attack by Allied forces on Hawaii after Japanese forces capture the islands)
OK, here are a few details (simplified) in the data.cmp file from my 41-42 campaign.
Setting up factions:
[ALLIANCE]
date = 1/4/1941
end = 8/5/1945
player = 0
alliance0 = germany, waffenss, kriegsmarine, italy
alliance1 = britain, usa, greece, yugoslavia, newzealand, australia
color0 = 50, 50, 50
color1 = 60, 80, 0
Core player:
[CORES]
wehrmacht = germany
List of scenarios. Note that you can add branching (Maleme, Rethimnon etc). 3-4-5 is probably not needed, but I've kept them in case I want to add an option to go directly from a specific result in Metaxas Line to one of the Crete scenarios.
Scenario map icons: the location, core, flag and arrow coordinates are found by holding down the AltGr key while moving the mouse pointer around the strategic map displayed before launching a specific scenario. Yes, it is pretty archaic... This is something you'll do after finishing everything else. Start the campaign, write down and enter/save coordinates. You'll probably need to restart the campaign a few times to get every coordinate correct. For later scenarios you can enter data, save the datas.cmp file, reload campaign, rinse & repeat.
Note that in the example the Yugoslav flag and the arrow end points will both be placed inside the location marker. This system makes for a faster process.
Results from left to right: major defeat, minor defeat, draw, minor victory, major victory.
Numbers: -2 means the campaign ends because the scenario is lost, 1 means any other result lead to Branch scenario 1 (Metaxas Line) as the next one to be played.
[Belgrade]
location = 1.27,-4.61
scenario = 0Belgrade
specs = germany, 5
result = -2,-2,1,1,1
core = wehrmacht 2.27,-4.37
flag = germany 1.13,-3.1
flag = germany -0.42,-2.8
flag = italy 0.68,-5.43
flag = yugoslavia 1.27,-4.61
arrow = 50,50,50 1.944,-4.448 1.27,-4.61
2) Could be various issues. Are there any calls to other files in 'event = ' ? If these files are missing you'll get a blank strategic map and the game hangs.
Example
[SCENARIO1]
location = 4.32,-1.91
scenario = tutorial1 Jp
result = -2,-2,-1,1,1
core = trainingCore 3.80,-2.96
flag = japan 4.98,-1.12
arrow = 100,120,0 3.96,-2.67 4.14,-2.31
event = event_intro_title, event_intro_text, event_intro
Of course make sure the scenario name is correct, like 'scenario = tutorial1 Jp'.
Also, I think the scenario header must be the same as in the Branch, like [SCENARIO1]
If these suggestions didn't nail it, zip and add your data.cmp file here.
If everything else fails, Horst will find the error
I'll look into it when I can. Thank you for the response!
Another question. What are the parameters when it comes to choosing the pictures for the Special Events in the Scenario Editor?
I uploaded the image into the folder for the scenario but when I run the scenario it shows up as a blank image.
@Erik: of course you did. Your Crete scenario is full of these special event popups. The only thing I truly like in such lengthy, huge scenarios.
@Harishima
Image filename: only the file name without png-extension is enough.
The event images don’t seem to appear when you test-run your scenario/campaign from the editor. You need to play the scenarios/campaigns from the main menu if you like to see the pictures. We all hope here this will be fixed one day.
When you start editing objectives, briefings, and such event popups, you'll also find these text-entries in the text_english.txt. It's somewhat more comfortable to edit text in this file outside the editor, but be careful that you won't overwrite your new text there by saving your scenario. After editing text directly in the file, you need to reload your scenario to make it show up in the game.
I was referring to the events in the data.cmp file. The use of those are not obvious.
There are of course plenty of event messages in the scenarios itself. They are easy to use.
