Oficjalna Kampania Arabska

[McBenn]

I'm doing what I can but there has just been so many things lately (some of them I mentioned above) I simply haven't had the time. I'm really happy that you look forward to the next missions, but I hope you can forgive me that it takes time to plan, create and balance a mission. I have considered the possibility of splitting the workload so more people can work at the same time but the smallest possible element would be an entire mission (or perhaps the map / the coding).

[McBenn]

Surely took some time but finally mission 12a (Legion side) is complete.

[Antitheus]

Uprzedzając pytania: http://forum.stucuk.net/viewtopic.php?f=95&t=2225

Nice Work! I hadn't faced any bug in this mission. But I've got some questions about Arabian patrols algorithm.

• What are the consequences of destroying enemy bunker?
• When the Arabian patrols appear?
• Are they trying to pacify other survivors? (I entered the area with some mines on the road and Heike said "we're to late" and I'm just curious)

btw. Gensher's man could randomly place mines on the road (element of surprise) or the survivors could give player some quests.

[McBenn]

* What are the consequences of destroying enemy bunker?
In general nothing. The soldier/mortar inside will not move anywhere and the breastwork will never be rebuild.

* When the Arabian patrols appear?
Like ru12a and am12a there is a clear pattern in when the patrols appear, which kind of units spawn (humans or vehicles) and where they patrol to. The only randoms are unit attributes like speed and skills. But I dare say the pattern is a little more complicated than in ru12a and am12a

* Are they trying to pacify other survivors?
If you're too slow then yes, UPF will destroy the other survivors.

* Gensher's man could randomly place mines on the road
Hehe yeah but those mines would have to be "real" remotely controlled mines and not the type that blows up when you step on them (the mission is fair: Anyone, including UPF folks, activates such mines if they step on them). Since patrols enter and exit the map constantly such mines would have to be planted by the "static" guards (actually that's the case with the mines in front of the westernmost breastworks on the ground).

* The survivors could give player some quests.
You have something in mind?

[Antitheus]

* What are the consequences of destroying enemy bunker?
In general nothing. The soldier/mortar inside will not move anywhere and the breastwork will never be rebuild.

In my opinion, you could use the script from first Alliance mission (AM) - if any of the AM bunker is destroyed, there would be spawned some Am vehicles, which are going to pursue you.

* The survivors could give player some quests.
You have something in mind?

E.g. to kill hated UPF officer, to steal some technology, do defend the base until X is done etc. Imho it'll be a nice and useful addition to the mission.

[McBenn]

* Bunker
You don't think the mission is hard enough as it is? The only bunker(s) you would want to destroy is/are the one(s) blocking the escape area and every patrol gets around that point during their patrolling.

* Quests
I've been considering the idea but I can't come up with something useful. Can you be a little more elaborate?

[Antitheus]

• Playing this mission as 'beginner' is a little to easy (I didn't check the scripts and the map but I was able to easily slice the defenses). In my opinion some of the enemy soldiers could use the radio ("I'm under attack" or something). It'll have more sense if the mission would be shaped as 'hide and run' one - if you attack someone, you probably should take a cover or run, because of (some) consequences.
• Ok, I made some thinking:
  • Gensher captured Heike's friend. He's trying to provoke her by some mental plays. She can try to take over the hostages but Gensher's man fortified the area and placed some traps (mines mostly). It can be an alternative option - if you are to slow, you still can rescue your men (instead of instant kills from Gensher). But the player must choose if he want to rescue the guy (or group) at the expense of life of the others (your man or other unmet Legion soldiers)
  • You just met another group of survivors but during their escape, in the thick of battle, one man appeared to be missing (unskilled civilian like scientist). Heike can search for him but if she's to slow the civilian would be killed by feral animal or enemy soldiers.
  • Fellow Legion comrades captured enemy soldier, you have to defend the position until interrogation is over.

I think events which are forcing player to split his man (one group is searching for others and other one is doing the quest) are most suitable here.

[McBenn]

Isn't easy supposed to be... easy? Anyway, I think you're right about the UPF folks should use the radio if they spot the player. Seems more natural. I'm not sure if everyone should do it or it should be restricted to the breastwork guards (i.e. not the patrols), though. The called-in units could just be one vehicle (fast moving) moving to the position where the player was spotted - only one unit because then it won't be impossible for the player if he/she dosn't have time to hide and it makes sense you can only assemble one unit in a hurry.

Hmm yeah, not bad, not bad. I'm considering if you could combine some of those. Place a legion member in the norhternmost caves. She's trapped in there because it's actually a tiger's lair and the tiger is in another section of the case so she doesn't dare to move. After some time she uses the radio to call for help well aware that UPF can trace the signal. We can time the patrols such that the player is forced to split up his/her men to rescue both that soldier and all other survivors.
The only downside of this idea is that the mission will be shorter because it enables the player to rescue the Bodenhof-group and the Louis-group at almost the same time.

[Antitheus]

Isn't easy supposed to be... easy?

Yeah, but I think about a little challenge. If you gain at least one groups' support, you can easily pass any of the defenses. I would gladly enjoy some balance (e.g. stronger bunker guys or roadblocks). I can recall Alliance Am or Ru missions, which are often impossible to accomplish in the first run.

I would leave the thinking to you (I can throw some ideas but working in SAIL is easier said than done ).

[Antitheus]

I think, I figured how to solve "backups" problem. When you first engage the combat, they will send only few man. At the second encounter, they can send vehicles to patrol small area. But when player is too eager to attack Arabian positions (or patrols) they can send large party to hunt him down.

[McBenn]

I can recall Alliance Am or Ru missions, which are often impossible to accomplish in the first run.

Even on easy? Well ok maybe the difficulty should be pushed up a notch but that's gonna make medium a little harder as well.

I would leave the thinking to you (I can throw some ideas but working in SAIL is easier said than done ).

SAIL is almost never a problem. The problem here is that the map must undergo a good deal of adjustment to accomodate most of the proposed quests. But I think the tiger-idea will be feasible. At any rate I'll look into it.

I think, I figured how to solve "backups" problem. When you first engage the combat, they will send only few man. At the second encounter, they can send vehicles to patrol small area. But when player is too eager to attack Arabian positions (or patrols) they can send large party to hunt him down.

Out of curiosity: Did you assault patrols and destroy other breastworks than the one(s) you had to to get to the escape area? Anyway, that wasn't the idea and as such I frown a little on incremental backups.

[Antitheus]

I've destroyed almost every bunker and every patrol on the map and I was little surprised that no one is "responding" to my actions. I'm trying to play like a beta tester and find every possible way to accomplish the mission.
Or maybe a little time event? ("be quick" or something).

[McBenn]

The backups should mend that problem.
Ah all right, I see.
There kinda is a time event in that if you are too slow to find the Legion folks UPF will kill them. But yes after you have found them there is no time limit.

[Antitheus]

I mean something like: if a player is to slow, large Gensher's military squad appear and they're trying to hunt player down.

[McBenn]

We can make a timeout after which a number of patrols spawn simultaneously to patrol through the whole map.