Order of Battle Scenario Editor

[johnrey]

All, I am new to OB and was looking at the Editor option. Is there a "Guide" for the Editor. I can make a map, and sort of understand the settings functions, but when I click on the helmet for "units" the only units I see are ships, planes, etc no tanks, no infantry, no artillery. How do you get units to place on the map? thanks!!

[bru888]

Follow the link in the opening post of this thread: Design & Modding Guides

[johnrey]

Bru, First, many thanks for the Scenario Design Editor Guide. I have been playing around with it, lots of trial and error, but your Guide is great! Two questions: (1) Is it possible to send you or other OoB fans links to these scenarios? I have done a few scenarios re-imagining the Cuban Missile Crisis, Bay of Pigs, Guantanamo, and am working-out how to link them with the Campaign Editor. Not sure if anyone would be interested.
(2) I can't get the image files to load, using Triggers, Pop-Ups, and the specs for the photos as indicated in the Guide. I am using 512 X 415 pixel size, for example, photo_kennedy.png. I even copied one of your photos from the Castle Itter scenario, put in the Bay of Pigs Scenario Folder, and the Pop Up message displays but with a blank box for the image. I must be missing something.
John

[bru888]

Hey John, thanks for the compliment about the scenario designing guide. When you are ready, there is another one dealing with campaign design - not sure if you saw that one yet.

Regarding sharing your custom work, there are a couple of ways to do so. One is more formal than the other.

First, the informal. I have seen guys just make a post either here or in the general topics forum that says, "I got this stuff I want to share. Here's a link" or "PM me for the link" (but don't post your e-mail address).

The formal way requires you to set up a permanent thread such as Erik's Singleplayer scenarios (we prefer this type of thread to be in Scenario Design). If you follow that link, you will see how Erik has all of his scenarios listed and linked in the opening post. Erik is responsible for maintaining his work in his Dropbox account and for making sure that the links stay current.

All of these scenarios are listed in the official Custom Single Player Scenarios thread. In every one of the posts therein which advertise these scenarios, it links back to the Erik's Singleplayer scenarios thread. The official thread is locked and, even though Erik is a forum moderator who could open it, other contributors are not and, early on, we discovered that it is better to link back to the modder's own threads for the download links rather than having them appear in the official thread. This way, the modder can maintain his own links.

How do you get listed in the Custom Single Player Scenarios thread? By first announcing your work in the Announce your Custom Scenarios and Campaigns here thread. Instructions as to how to do so are in the opening post of that thread. Notice that currently, Erik is announcing his new (multi-player) Operation Nordwind (1945) scenario. After a period of well-earned publicity in the announcements thread, his post will be moved to the official Custom Multiplayer Scenarios thread.

One other criterion: Your scenario or campaign needs to be out of beta. By that I mean it should be operable and in good shape. That doesn't mean no bug fixes and no further updates, however. You may have noticed the various version numbers tagged to Erik's scenarios.

Regarding your second question, know that when you are working with the scenario editor and you hit the "Launch scenario" button, for technical reasons the image does not display. If you start the scenario as normal from the game menu, however, it will show if you have the right format (PNG), have the image file in the scenario folder, and have an exact match of the file name to "Image Filename" in the Event Popup dialog window.

[bru888]

Regarding your second question, know that when you are working with the scenario editor and you hit the "Launch scenario" button, for technical reasons the image does not display. If you start the scenario as normal from the game menu, however, it will show if you have the right format (PNG), have the image file in the scenario folder, and have an exact match of the file name to "Image Filename" in the Event Popup dialog window.

I thought I had mentioned this in the manual and I did find it but it took a while! I should probably feature this more prominently in a re-write because it's a question that gets asked frequently.

Image0193.jpg (139.32 KiB) Viewed 3273 times

[Erik2]

Also, note that most graphics need to be a certain size or other (proportions) to display properly.
You can check the contents of the official campaigns/scenarios to get an idea.
Or ask Bru, I guess he has filed these official characteristics somewhere

And welcome to the wonderful world of OOB-design.

[Shards]

When you run a scenario from the editor, the games makes a temporary version of the scenario that's run, which is why your additional files don't show up.

(The aforementioned technical reason)

[johnrey]

Bru, all, thanks for quick replies. I will check out the various ways to post scenarios. They need some work. I did find the note about .PNG files not visible from within the Scenario Editor. When launching from player mode, all the photos work fine. John

[bru888]

Also, note that most graphics need to be a certain size or other (proportions) to display properly.
You can check the contents of the official campaigns/scenarios to get an idea.
Or ask Bru, I guess he has filed these official characteristics somewhere

I dug up my notes on this topic:

Optimal Image Sizes

If you canvass the official DLC, the optimal image sizes seem to be:

- Campaign introductory image 817 x 485 pixels

- Campaign background map 1967 x 1500 pixels

- Campaign mask tga files 512 x 390 pixels

- Campaign/Scenario event and outcome images 512 x 415 pixels

[johnrey]

All, I have been experimenting with the Scenario and Campaign Guides. I've got a Campaign of 2 scenarios that sets up an attack by terrorists on GITMO and Detention Center. In GITMO 2, the Marines and Commander must repel invaders and escape, and GITMO RESCUE, special forces must rescue Marines. It's 2010, not 1945. Marines vs. Red Team. They are pretty basic but I'd like to get feedback if it's worth sharing these by setting up formal thread. I've got a Dropbox and can share link if anyone is interested. I am a beginner!! thanks!! johnrey

[Admiral_Horthy]

Perhaps you want to create a Mod for this special era? You can make proper Cuba faction