Missions… Missions...

Some more clarification needed on some info found in tuts guys…

DwnUndr, in your tutorial you give this:

[Zone]
nickname = Zone_RA01_destroy_vignette_01
shape = SPHERE
pos = -49703, 0, 70216
size = 10000
sort = 99.500000
vignette_type = open

You don’t give a mission type in there… no ‘mission_type’ line. I assume it’s not necessary for the typical lawful missions against unlawful. Either that, or it will be used for all types. Not sure. In other tutorials, and looking at destroy vignettes in existing systems, they all have a ‘mission_type’ line, be it “unlawful, lawful”, “lawful, unlawful” etc etc. You go on to say it is only needed when it’s missions ‘for’ unlawfuls (against lawfuls).

Then another oddity, is that in Lancer Solarus’ tutorial, he designates all zones to be included in the mission, by placing a mission eligible true statement in the appropriate zone. He did this in an ambient pop zone. I have never seen this done before, and you didn’t put it in your tutorial here, so is that not necessary? As I understand it, the missions will be chosen from a pool of ‘unlawfuls’ currently in the system so this makes that entry pointless, no?

I went through vanilla files and the only places I found “mission_eligible = true” was on patrol paths, and not pop/field zones. This is the excerpt from Lancer’s tut I am talking about:

In the zone where your factions are listed, add the following commands above the faction and encounter entries, this will enable the faction(s) to participate in the missions

mission_type = unlawful, lawful
vignette_type = open
mission_eligible = True 

I don’t see that ‘eligible’ requirement anywhere else, except for patrol paths, which I try to avoid anyway.

On the plus side, I learnt a few things from this, including what ‘Open’, ‘Field’, and ‘Exclusion’ are for (kinda self-explanatory really :P), and learnt about how factions are ‘pooled’ and various things about placement of vignettes etc, so it’s all good, if a little annoying

Nope.

Edit - Let me start again, lol

Came back to doing missions again today after a little break… and here is the deal.

I substituted the new factions for existing ones as per your suggestion Dwn. I made my base belong to liberty police and did the necessary in mbases to allow them to offer missions. I made a fresh lawful pool in the form of a new ambient pop (background) zone, full of a ton of vanilla criminals (corsairs, outcasts, mollys etc). I confirmed these first by flying around and noitcing they were indeed spawning in space as they should.

Then I went to the mission vendor in game and a couple of NPCs and they offered missions like they should. It seems to be pretty much only outcasts and corsairs though for some reason… I’m guessing this is because of the level of missions i’ve actually specified in mbases?!.. anyway that’s not critical. The point is this approach works… lawful missions against unlawful with vanilla factions.

Now I switched back to my original idea. My new order faction (lawful) as the base owners and only base faction, offering missions., and setting up an ambient pop zone that only contains my new nomad faction (unlawful). Nothing ever appears this way either at the mvendor or the bar NPCs. I decided to try it the other way… ie. Nomad owned base offering missions against my new order factions with their pimped out Anubis ships… and… this actually worked!!! Yes, I am indeed editing my char to be friendly and hostile accordingly with this. I’ve tried my characters each time too, to eliminate possible corruptions/conflicts and the like.

So that’s where I am at. I initially thought it was maybe a ship architecture or loadouts issue, but they all fly around and work properly outside of missions. Therefore, i’m asking again What would cause new factions (just my new nomad one now) to not show up for missions, but work every other way. I am truly at a loss… please help… I will upload ini’s if I have to… that will be tomorrow now. The only thing my new nomad group has that is different to all other factions is they have the wierd “nomad= true” line in their ships entry (which I’ve never understood, but tried with and without with no noticeable difference… perhaps this is story/script-related?!), and they don’t speak… they have no voice etc… could this be why? Help.

Cheers

I suspected so

Yes, here are the appropriate elements:

System .ini (Ew05) - Zone & Vignettes (yes I declared the encounter at the top):

[Zone]
nickname = Zone_Ew05_pop_ambient_01
pos = -178, 0, 178
rotate = 0, 0, 0
shape = SPHERE
size = 44707
comment = Ambient Pop
sort = 51
toughness = 4
density = 15
repop_time = 25
max_battle_size = 8
pop_type = Background
relief_time = 35
population_additive = false
faction_weight = new_n_grp, 20
encounter = area_nomads, 19, 1.000000
faction = new_n_grp, 1.000000

[Zone]
nickname = Zone_Ew05_destroy_vignette_01
pos = 23425, 0, -7867
shape = SPHERE
size = 10000
sort = 99.500000
vignette_type = open

[Zone]
nickname = Zone_Ew05_destroy_vignette_02
pos = 23425, 0, 19492
shape = SPHERE
size = 10000
sort = 99.500000
vignette_type = open

[Zone]
nickname = Zone_Ew05_destroy_vignette_03
pos = 15020, 0, -22173
shape = SPHERE
size = 10000
sort = 99.500000
vignette_type = open

[Zone]
nickname = Zone_Ew05_destroy_vignette_04
pos = 1073, 0, 19492
shape = SPHERE
size = 10000
sort = 99.500000
vignette_type = open

[Zone]
nickname = Zone_Ew05_destroy_vignette_05
pos = 178, 0, -17703
shape = SPHERE
size = 10000
sort = 99.500000
vignette_type = open

mBases.ini (for base giving the missions):

[MBase]
nickname = Ew05_01_Base
local_faction = nm_or_grp
diff = 17
msg_id_prefix = ignore

[MVendor]
num_offers = 3, 5

[BaseFaction]
faction = nm_or_grp
weight = 100
offers_missions = true
mission_type = DestroyMission, 38.983860, 73.051361, 100
npc = ew0501_001_m
npc = ew0501_006_m

[GF_NPC]
nickname = ew0501_006_m
body = pi_orillion_body
head = pi_pirate2_head
lefthand = benchmark_male_hand_left
righthand = benchmark_male_hand_right
individual_name = 524299
affiliation = nm_or_grp
voice = rvp131
misn = DestroyMission, 38.983860, 73.051361
room = bar

[GF_NPC]
nickname = ew0501_fix_bartender
body = pl_male1_peasant_body
head = pi_pirate1_head
lefthand = benchmark_male_hand_left
righthand = benchmark_male_hand_right
individual_name = 524298
affiliation = nm_or_grp
voice = rvp101

[GF_NPC]
nickname = ew0501_fix_ship
body = pl_male1_peasant_body
head = li_rockford_head
lefthand = benchmark_male_hand_left
righthand = benchmark_male_hand_right
individual_name = 524297
affiliation = nm_or_grp
voice = rvp101

[GF_NPC]
nickname = ew0501_fix_trader
body = pl_male1_peasant_body
head = br_brighton_head
lefthand = benchmark_male_hand_left
righthand = benchmark_male_hand_right
individual_name = 524296
affiliation = nm_or_grp
voice = rvp106

[GF_NPC]
nickname = ew0501_fix_weaponsdealer
body = pl_male1_peasant_body
head = ge_male3_head
lefthand = benchmark_male_hand_left
righthand = benchmark_male_hand_right
individual_name = 524295
affiliation = nm_or_grp
voice = rvp101

[GF_NPC]
nickname = ew0501_001_m
body = pi_orillion_body
head = ge_male1_head
lefthand = benchmark_male_hand_left
righthand = benchmark_male_hand_right
individual_name = 524294
affiliation = nm_or_grp
voice = rvp106
misn = DestroyMission, 38.983860, 73.051361
room = bar

[MRoom]
nickname = bar
character_density = 4
fixture = ew0501_fix_bartender, Zs/NPC/Bartender/01/A/Stand, scripts\vendors\li_host_fidget.thn, bartender

[MRoom]
nickname = Deck
character_density = 2
fixture = ew0501_fix_trader, Zs/NPC/Trader/01/A/Stand, scripts\vendors\li_commtrader_fidget.thn, trader
fixture = ew0501_fix_weaponsdealer, Zs/NPC/Equipment/01/A/Stand, scripts\vendors\li_equipdealer_fidget.thn, Equipment

[MRoom]
nickname = ShipDealer
character_density = 2
fixture = ew0501_fix_ship, Zs/NPC/Shipdealer/01/A/Stand, scripts\vendors\li_shipdealer_fidget.thn, ShipDealer

``` _**area_nomads.ini**_

[EncounterFormation]
ship_by_class = 1, 1, fighters ;spawn 1 ship for leader
pilot_job = nomad_leader_job ;this is present and ok
make_class = wanderer
ship_by_class = 3, 5, fighters, -2 ;and 3-5 for fighters at 2 levels under leader
pilot_job = nomad_fighter_job ;this is present and ok
make_class = wanderer
formation_by_class = fighters
behavior = wander
arrival = all
allow_simultaneous_creation = yes
zone_creation_distance = 0
times_to_create = infinite

[Creation]
permutation = 0, 7

_**faction_prop.ini:**_

[FactionProps] ;new nomad faction
affiliation = new_n_grp
legality = unlawful
nickname_plurality = plural
msg_id_prefix = ignore
jump_preference = any
npc_ship = Nomad_Gunboat ;all these npc ships are present
npc_ship = no_fighter_new_d19 ;narrowed ships to 1 for testing purposes
npc_ship = Nomad_Battleship
mc_costume = mc_fc
firstname_male = 458827, 458827
firstname_female = 458827, 458827
lastname = 458828, 458828
rank_desig = 459097, 459097, 459097, 10, 15
large_ship_desig = 459097
large_ship_names = 459097, 459097
formation_desig = 197808, 197820
formation = fighters, fighter_guild
formation = gunboats, gunboat_wall
formation = battleships, battleship_wall

_**Pilots_Population.ini:**_

[Pilot]
nickname = nomad_fighter_ace
gun_id = gun_fighter_ace_style_a
missile_id = missile_fighter_ace
evade_dodge_id = evade_dodge_fighter_chaos_hard
evade_break_id = evade_break_fighter_style_e
buzz_head_toward_id = buzz_head_toward_fighter_chaos
buzz_pass_by_id = buzz_pass_by_fighter_style_c
trail_id = trail_fighter_style_a
strafe_id = strafe_fighter_style_a
engine_kill_id = engine_kill_fighter_style_a
mine_id = mine_light_fighter_a
countermeasure_id = countermeasure_handicap_1
damage_reaction_id = damage_reaction_fighter_style_a
missile_reaction_id = missile_reaction_fighter_style_a
formation_id = formation_fighter_style_d
repair_id = repair_fighter_ace
job_id = defend_leader_job

_**npcships.ini:**_

[NPCShipArch]
nickname = no_fighter_new_d19
loadout = no_fighter_new ;this loadout is below (present)
level = d19 ;level 19 in encounters unless overridden by mission parameter
ship_archetype = no_fighter ;default game archetype
pilot = nomad_fighter_ace ;this is present and ok
state_graph = FIGHTER
npc_class = unlawful, FIGHTER, d13, d14, d15, d16, d17, d18, d19 ;I’ve tried these different ways… no luck

_**loadouts.ini (ship loadout):**_

[Loadout]
nickname = no_fighter_new
archetype = no_fighter ;standard vanilla ship
equip = nomad_engine ;all these equipment pieces are present and ok
equip = nomad_power
equip = nomad_scanner
equip = nomad_tractor
equip = nomad_thruster, HpThruster01
equip = new_nomad_laser01, HpWeapon01
equip = new_nomad_laser02, HpWeapon02
equip = new_nomad_laser03, HpWeapon03
equip = nomad_cmd_1, HpCM01
equip = nomad_mine_1, HpMine01
equip = nomad_cd_1, HpTorpedo01
equip = LargeWhiteSpecial, HpHeadlight01
equip = nomad_armour
cargo = ge_s_repair_01, 25

My weaponry is all present and correct in my weapon equip & good files for the above. I tested them all years ago :P Besides they appear ok in encounter zones outside of missions, so that must all be ok no?!

I think that's all the necessary files… but shout up if you need any more. All factions work... just not my nomad one, so I can't get lawful order missions against nomads working...grrr! ;D

Yeh, that ISN’T the problem. That’s just a typo I made this morning. The problem still stands with that how it should be.

So ROFLMAO somewhere else unless you’re going to be helpful.

He wasn’t… but if I was in his position, I wouldn’t have put ROFLMAO… that’s what isn’t fair, not my response (which wasn’t even intended to be offensive in any way)… any help with the matter at hand much appreciated
My bad guys

Hmm that is indeed interesting. I’ll give it a go. Not sure whether I tinkered with that before or not. We’ll see

EDIT - Although surely, this would mean that my nomads wouldn’t be showing up at all, which they are… just not in mvendor/characters…

Well i’ll defo give this another shot mate. Thanks for that. All this input is very much appreciated (<- i’m gonna need a new word soon, that last one is starting to lose all meaning, lol ;D)

Hmm… I updated my config with those changes, but still no difference. They show up in space, but not in the missions. Just out of curiosity, when you added the nomad faction in your mod, did you give them voices, ships (meaning different ships to the default no_fighter-type ones) etc? I know many mods have missions against the nomads, but I noticed all of them (at least all those I’ve seen) use different ships and they have voices. They are the only two differences I can see between what mine is doing and other mods. I’ve try a new ship setup and loadout later and see if that works to confirm this, and i’ve also update the above so I don’t get LOL’ed at again

That’s not what I meant. I know it won’t show at all without any ships That’s kinda obvious. I will do the substitution of other ships though. I’m sure the fighter naming is fine. After all, that’s all it is, a name.

In my faction prop file, I now have it set for various levels, not just 18 & 19, or whatever I have displayed above. And they will only be used in higher level missions anyway, which is set via mbases and the diff-to-money entries, so i’m sure i’ll be covered in that respect. As I understand it, encounters are set via the actual zone entries, while missions are set in mbases, either at the MVendor or a base faction NPC line. So even if I didn’t have a certain Dxx number defined (many mods just have the one difficulty of ship right?) and so it would just pick the closest match and alter the difficulty regardless of the assigned number.

In my encounters file, I have updated the fighter line(s) to be -1 behind the leader. That makes sense. So whatever difficulty he comes in at, they will be slightly less; For what little difference that may make at high levels anyway

I’m getting there. I think i’m really starting to understand the workings of these, and what lines actually seem to have no effect whatsoever. Nothing like superfluity to confuse your day huh! ;D Thanks for the input bud.