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Author Topic: (Review Completed) [SP] Short Straight (Nam)  (Read 7896 times)

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Offline Dinger

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(Review Completed) [SP] Short Straight (Nam)
« on: 09 Dec 2002, 06:13:33 »
Here's the deal:
It should work in both SP and MP (coop).  The chatter you getting on the bottom of the screen I'll replace with sound files sometime soon.
The helos work, although occasionally you will get an incident on those formation landings.  In those cases, I have 4 backup helo to help extract them.
The landing, with the prepfire, the ARA barrage on the trees, the door gunners going cyclic, and a platoon running around hte LZ, is pretty CPU-intensive, but I speed things up very quickly thereafter.
In building it, I had a problem where it would trip the crash bug.  I cleaned it up with FPS improvements, and it doesn't show up more than once every 10 hours or so.
The Artillery Spotter calls in the mission when the heavy weaps start firing.
A few debug hooks are there (a hint you might see if a helo crashes or something)
So I'd appreciate some feedback on playability, timing, difficulty and any bugs


Oh well.  Seems it's 52.1 kb zipped.  PM me for a copy.

Edit: This mission has been reviewed and is available from the Missions Depot.
« Last Edit: 24 Dec 2010, 03:02:06 by Walter_E_Kurtz »
Dinger/Cfit

Offline ebud

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Re:Yet another AirCav/X-Ray/Helo NP2 mission
« Reply #1 on: 10 Dec 2002, 05:48:09 »
A very, very well done mission.
If you're in a war, instead of throwing a hand grenade at the enemy, throw one of those small pumpkins. Maybe it'll make everyone think how stupid war is, and while they are thinking, you can throw a real grenade at them.
Jack Handey

jb

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Re:Yet another AirCav/X-Ray/Helo NP2 mission
« Reply #2 on: 10 Dec 2002, 14:37:38 »
this is true ebud.

also quite realistic for ofp.

everything went well. ran smooth on my pc (900mhz).
i played three times.

first time: half way from the lz to the obj my team stopped and proceeded no farther...restart

second time: this time we got to the enemy area and started kicking ass. one wierd thing happened. after we got the "objective completed" message, i coulden't resist mounting one of those enemy heavy mg's and popping a few rounds. after i dismounted (my team was heading back to the lz), my team-leader kept ordering me back into the mg. and i had a wp "mount". is that supposed to be like that? i think not cause my team was still heading back to the lz and i was alone (no enemy either).

caught up with the team and got ambushed not far from the lz (nice touch). whipped ass then got a wp "join others" at the lz. waited around at the lz and got the message that dodge and buick were in bound. then it got a bit confusing. the helos landed and i boarded one. then charlie started attacking the parimeter of the lz so i dismounted and joined the fire-fight. i was still capping charlie when everyone else ran to the helos and mounted. i wasen't fast enough getting there and they ALL flew away!...reload.

this time i jumped in a helo and just waited. when we got to base the mission ended and my objectives were not checked off in the briefing. (see attached pic).

all in all, a really cool mission.

Offline ebud

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Re:Yet another AirCav/X-Ray/Helo NP2 mission
« Reply #3 on: 10 Dec 2002, 17:45:09 »
Yes, this one ranks up there on the realism scale, which puts it in the top 5 favorites for me.

I haven't had time to finish it though. The first time I was just trying to look around and figure out how he did everything. The second time, I just stayed in formation, and eventually got hit by one of the mortars, 3rd time I took out the mortars on the hill, but eventually a NVA recon troop took it over and again I was hit close to the clearing.

I did edit the darn thing and added that song from the barber shop at the beginning of FMJ.... you know the one. hehe, it adds quite a bit to the long intro :)

I might suggest if there is anyway to cut the sound at the beginning... so i don't hear the command to move being given. It kills the whole ambiance to hear that. I think a brief period of total silence would be more dramatic, then possibly have either some minimalist oriental flute play ( I tried it... very moody ) or play a period song such as the one I tried. If you do go the route of playing 60's music at the beginning, try to use something that is a bit fresher. Almost everything has been beat to death... even a recorded quote by LBJ or Nixon ( found both of them on Bearshare) adds more depth and emotion than Painted Black or Fortunate Son.

hehe, that's if you add music.

I really like the idea of using custom voices for the radio's in the end. In Soundforge you can really get some good radio filters, works wonders, especially with low quality voice recordings.

I think this one will be a winner. I cross my fingers hoping for more like this. Even at this beta stage it's better than 99% of the missions out there.

If you're in a war, instead of throwing a hand grenade at the enemy, throw one of those small pumpkins. Maybe it'll make everyone think how stupid war is, and while they are thinking, you can throw a real grenade at them.
Jack Handey

Jonstyle

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Re:Yet another AirCav/X-Ray/Helo NP2 mission
« Reply #4 on: 10 Dec 2002, 19:08:22 »
Could any of you please post it here?  Or send to my E-mail adress?  Thank you.  

Offline Dinger

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Re:Yet another AirCav/X-Ray/Helo NP2 mission
« Reply #5 on: 10 Dec 2002, 22:32:17 »
A. Sound at Beginning: In fact, the sound is cut out at the beginning; it just doesn't work for commands.  I think I can probably find a workaround if not a decent command.

B. Music: until I get the bugs out, sound and music aren't going to be in there.  The flute or something sounds like a pretty could idea.  Something soft and mellow (maybe two, three tones) before shellcam and the prepfire.

C. Sound: The hooks are in there for radio chatter (and MP).  I do plan on putting stuff in there.

D. Callsigns suck.  I'll have the helo extraction be a little clearer.

E. The last little attack on the LZ, I'll clean up so they attack with the rest of the group.

F. Your helo is the easternmost one.  I put an aircav skin on it to help you find it, but it disappears once the thing gets out of range.  I have scripting to allow you to board any helo, but once you're boarded, it doesn't check to see if you get out.  I also have the easternmost one take off as soon as you are on board (while the others are synched to peel off when loaded).  I'm thinking of fixing this by putting it back on automatic, and adding an action to do it manually.

G. ONce you board a vehicle without authorization, the "Get In" is an artifact of OFP, but one I certainly can fix with some scripting.

Thanks for the feedback folks.  Those who PM'd me, I'll do a little update, and get it out.

Dinger/Cfit

Offline Messiah

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Re:Yet another AirCav/X-Ray/Helo NP2 mission
« Reply #6 on: 11 Dec 2002, 00:27:21 »
dinger - as for the work around - there are 2 options

you can just cut the sound:

fademusic
fadesfx

etc

or do it the BIS way:

have the player in his own group at the start, then after ur mission intro then regroup to the squad.... works for me.
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Offline Dinger

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Re:Yet another AirCav/X-Ray/Helo NP2 mission
« Reply #7 on: 11 Dec 2002, 07:27:12 »
the mission starts with 0 fadesound 0.  It doesn't work.  Okay, group shenanigans, here we come!

Dinger

p.s. I'll get the latest build out to those who haven't seen it tonight.I may even put it up at the CoC website.

Dinger/Cfit

tsbardella

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Re:Yet another AirCav/X-Ray/Helo NP2 mission
« Reply #8 on: 11 Dec 2002, 23:42:45 »
I really enjoyed it, especially the intro and the landing at the LZ - very good, I have been waiting for this. It was really well done and beyond what I had expected.  I really like atmosphere in a mission, this was great.  By the way Dinger,  I enjoyed the work you did.

 I just played it one time by the book.  I did not have any real problems running the game but it did get a bit confusing once in the jungle. we went up the hill fought a bit came down and back to the lz then went back up the hill I guess to finish off a group of NVA?  then I had trouble mounting the chopper there is only one side you can enter I could put weapons in the chopper but not board, eventually it landed and I was able to board.

Also I would like to suggest starting off from the SF base.  I was really interested in how you would populate that base.  I know I have spent hours making it look real myself.

very good job, thanks a lot.

The Avon Lady

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Re:Yet another AirCav/X-Ray/Helo NP2 mission
« Reply #9 on: 12 Dec 2002, 09:11:30 »
Yes, lots of real feeling atmosphere here. Gets creepy in the jungle when you see someone flashing through the folliage somewhere ahead of you.

I haven't successfully completed the mission (yet). I took out the two mortar positions and then retreat back and then up the hill to crawl back down again.

At some point I reached a terrace and stopped behind a palm. POP! On shot from about 40 meters away ended it for me.

When viewing the kill cutscene, it appears to me that the AI can see very well through Ia Drang's folliage. I've sensed this in other NamPack2 misions I've played. Reminds me of similar problems in early OFP versions.

SelectThis and Ebud, if you're reading, I'd be curious whether you think this is true or not.

BTW, if I try restarting the mission, it starts at the point in mid field where the commander normally issues the HOLD FIRE command, except that with RESTART the HOLD FIRE command isn't issued and the squad just stands there, as someone reported above.

Please let me know of any new revisions to the mission. Why don't you attach it to your first post in the thread instead of emailing it out all the time.

Jonstyle

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Re:Yet another AirCav/X-Ray/Helo NP2 mission
« Reply #10 on: 12 Dec 2002, 14:41:05 »
I still havent got it :-\ :'(

BoNeCoLLeCToR

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Re:Yet another AirCav/X-Ray/Helo NP2 mission
« Reply #11 on: 12 Dec 2002, 18:48:00 »
It would be beter if you upload it in the beta corner of this site scroll down and upload it there m8 http://opflashpoint.org/betatest.php

BoNeCoLLeCToR

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Re:Yet another AirCav/X-Ray/Helo NP2 mission
« Reply #12 on: 12 Dec 2002, 18:48:56 »
You can upload there missions that are not greater than 2MB m8

Offline Dinger

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Re:Yet another AirCav/X-Ray/Helo NP2 mission
« Reply #13 on: 13 Dec 2002, 09:54:29 »
Thanks for the offer BC.
Okay, here's the update:

A) I thought I got all the bugs out, then I came here and saw the "Hold Fire" bug.  That's weird, but it could explain a few things.  I changed the savegame point, but I'll go back and check that.

B) The reason I'm not uploading here is because the maximum attachment size allowed is 50kb, and the zip file is 52 kb, and hence over the limit.  I kinda forgot that I could put it over in the CoC forums, and will do that for the next version.

C) As far as I know, AI and foliage is a bit of a problem, even for stock OFP; the Ia Drang Valley map with all the vegetation magnifies this effect.  My understanding is that SEB NP tries to offset this by making the AI crappy shots at long range.  I do know they went through a ton of work on this.
Play this mission enough, and you'll also figure out which plants have hit LODs that don't line up. (Cf. the bamboo of doom)

D) I made the helos put their skids on the for boarding.

E) group shenanigans are in effect.  I also made sure to give the SP player the most dramatic view in the helo (in my opinion, of course).

F) I tweaked the cutscenes and reduced the flying camera usage.

G) Radio chatter is still not in, but I have something close to the text ("script") in there.  Tell me what you think.  If you're inspired and think you can take one of the roles, let me know.

H) Starting at the SF base: yeah, that would be cool, but I'm lazy, and ill-disposed to making the SF base fully operational.

I) "Get In" mortar.  I tried an EH on the mortars/MGs to take care of it, but no go.  Just follow your leader anyway.  besides, those pits could be boobytrapped.

J) I tweaked some of the timings to make the progression of the game "tighter"

K)OBjective Completed now works.

L)Briefing/Notes are fixed.

M)Jonstyle, is the email in your profile current?  I thought I sent tit out.

OKay, I'll post to this thread tomorrow when I make sure everything works and put up the (hopefully) final beta over on the CoC forum site (forum.thechainofcommand.net).  Thanks again for your help on this.

-Dinger
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Offline Dinger

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Re:Yet another AirCav/X-Ray/Helo NP2 mission
« Reply #14 on: 13 Dec 2002, 22:26:14 »
Good catch on the "hanging around" thing.
I had the waypoints set to "Time", and evidently retry resets the clock, so they end up waiting a couple minutes after a retry.
It's fixed now.
Beta Version is at
forum.thechainofcommand.net
in the "Public Downloads" section.
Dinger/Cfit

mattmayhem

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Re:Yet another AirCav/X-Ray/Helo NP2 mission
« Reply #15 on: 18 Dec 2002, 23:57:12 »
Wow, fun mission, I LOVE the Arty !!! Anyways, i got to the part where we had killed all the enemy mortars and Mgs and most of my squad was dead and i was in charge of the remainder. When we arrived down at the LZ everything was FUBAR. My guys got killed fast and everything was falling apart, I was held out behind a rock on the north side of the LZ with some AI from another squad and Charile basically controled the entire LZ soon, the guys i were with were dead, I only had a 1911 and a few mags and the fire was so heavy and i was in danger of being overrun so i fled into the jungle, after several minutes and nobody came to get me i realized i'd been left behind and went back to the Lz to die a hers death hahaha...
What do you have to do to get rescued or get some support? Kill all the NVA?  :P

PFC_Mike

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Re:Yet another AirCav/X-Ray/Helo NP2 mission
« Reply #16 on: 30 Dec 2002, 07:12:36 »
Sorry, I can't seem to find the dl. Could you post a link?

PFC_Mike

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Re:Yet another AirCav/X-Ray/Helo NP2 mission
« Reply #17 on: 30 Dec 2002, 07:17:05 »
Sorry, I can't seem to find the dl. Could you post a link?

Offline Dinger

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Re:Yet another AirCav/X-Ray/Helo NP2 mission
« Reply #18 on: 30 Dec 2002, 15:22:11 »
forum.thechainofcommand.net
go to forum and select "public downloads"
It should be in there somewhere (short straight)
Dinger/Cfit

Offline ebud

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Re:Yet another AirCav/X-Ray/Helo NP2 mission
« Reply #19 on: 08 Jan 2003, 01:56:34 »
Dinger... do you think you'll ever get the voices in? Or should we just consider this the final version? Either way, it's still an amazing use of the units and scripting. I'm still amazed everytime I play it.
If you're in a war, instead of throwing a hand grenade at the enemy, throw one of those small pumpkins. Maybe it'll make everyone think how stupid war is, and while they are thinking, you can throw a real grenade at them.
Jack Handey

Offline Dinger

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Re:Yet another AirCav/X-Ray/Helo NP2 mission
« Reply #20 on: 08 Jan 2003, 03:18:25 »
I just got back from a painful holiday tour a few hours ago.  After I enjoy a steak and do some damage control, I'll put those voices in.  I've recorded about half of them.  They'll sound cheezy since I'm doing them all, but I hope to pull it off.  So stay tuned.
Weekend release is possible.
Dinger/Cfit

Offline Dinger

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Re:Yet another AirCav/X-Ray/Helo NP2 mission
« Reply #21 on: 10 Jan 2003, 06:52:21 »
Voices are in, along with some music ebud attached.  The extraction is kinda ugly, but I'm too sick of it to do anything more. It's 3 megs and looking for somewhere to host it.
of course, if someone plays it and wants to redo a voice or two, that'd be swell.
Dinger/Cfit

The Avon Lady

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Re:Yet another AirCav/X-Ray/Helo NP2 mission
« Reply #22 on: 10 Jan 2003, 07:22:42 »
It's 3 megs and looking for somewhere to host it.
I can host. Email me (address in sig) a URL where I can get it from.
« Last Edit: 10 Jan 2003, 07:23:21 by The Avon Lady »

Offline Dinger

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Re:Yet another AirCav/X-Ray/Helo NP2 mission
« Reply #23 on: 11 Jan 2003, 22:39:32 »
Thanks to the generosity of the Avon Lady, the release version is now available at:
http://www.filefront.com/?filepath=/theofpfaq/addons/OFPR_Mission_Shortstraight.zip
It's 2 megs long, includes an intro and a crappy little outro, some voices of dubious quality (Sorry, I'm not the greatest voice actor), a track that Ebud supplied, and plenty of rock and roll goodness.

Thanks to all who helped out.
Dinger


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The Avon Lady

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Re:Yet another AirCav/X-Ray/Helo NP2 mission
« Reply #24 on: 27 Jan 2003, 11:28:35 »
I love this mission but ....................................................................

I follow the commander to the area below the hill with the mortars. (BTW, he runs so fast that other AIs are constantly shouting WHERE ARE YOU?). We kill a few and loose a few there and then we back out, without achieving the first objective, which is neither checked green or ex-ed red.

Strolling our way through the jungle, we come across quite a few firefights, especially one good one with lots of action.

After that, we get the order to retreat back to the LZ. Getting there, our commander moves just north of the LZ and it's a good thing he did. Looking back at the LZ, there were Charlies all over the place and we were spotted.

I took one bullet and the rest of my squad was dead.

Unfortunately, that seems to be the end of the story. No evac. No way to get back to base. I'm a lost Joe! :'(

There should have been triggers to ex off the main first objective. We failed and we moved out.

In the second objective, if the trigger is to eliminate every last Charlie in the LZ, I just won't make it. There should be a trigger that checks if I'm the last one alive to call in the Hueys with their machine guns blaring to kill and chase off retreating enemies at the LZ and to let me be picked up and evacuated.

Then once back at base alone, I should be given the disciplinary hearing I deserve. ;D

Please don't stop improving this mission. It's got so much going for it. :)

Offline Dinger

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Re:Yet another AirCav/X-Ray/Helo NP2 mission
« Reply #25 on: 27 Jan 2003, 22:46:37 »
Oh crap, I figured it out, finally.
what happened was your commander got killed.
since I followed the "join group" way of getting rid of intro radio messages, when the CO gets killed, the group reverts to the old set of waypoints -- there are none, so they head back to their origin point (which means a stroll across the combat area).  That's also why you'renot seeing the X there (I think.... I should check that too).
as for the end: after LZ Albany one guy was cut off from his unit and injured.  He crawled the 16 miles and showed up at plei me several days later.  It's not nearly that bad for you; buck up, soldier!
Okay.  I'll see what I can do.  Maybe I'll park a helo in columbus if you can make it there.
 
Dinger/Cfit

The Avon Lady

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Re:Yet another AirCav/X-Ray/Helo NP2 mission
« Reply #26 on: 27 Jan 2003, 22:57:20 »
Quote
Okay.  I'll see what I can do.  Maybe I'll park a helo in columbus if you can make it there.
Thanks for the attention. :)