It has been a hard work !

[Stimo]

Our missions often depend on timing, and choosing good Delays is always difficult when you want to make IA a good opponent.

What makes a good opponent ? Synchronisation and planing are good clues.

Here is a generic script that intends to make missions design easier.

It has three purposes.

First : ordering several simultaneous actions using very little script, mostly copy/paste and form filling.

Second : if IA battle plan can be divided in 2 or more steps, it checks that step #1 is fully accomplished before ordering step #2, etc...

Third : it automatically controls everything about IA units movements : formations and attitudes (Position, Body & FireMode) while moving and when arrived on objective. It can use Points, Rects or Arrays as destinations.

This first version only deals with movements, but an area-attack trigger can be easily written using [Movement] as template.

So, how to use it ?

Your [init] trigger must include those lines amongst your own lines :

[init]

Set @@MovementNumber = 1

RunTrigger ( "Army_1_Step_1" ) //this will start the 1st serie of actions you planed for IA

//RunTrigger ( "Army_2_Step_1" )

...

//RunTrigger ( "Army_N_Step_1" ) //This script can control as many armies as you want

Halt

Those "steps", I mean the series of orders that have to be performed at the same time and all accomplished before starting the next serie are all built the same way :

Label Action3

Set @Group = "Group_1"

Set @InitialBodyMode = "Knee"

Set @InitialFireMode = "Hold"

Set @Point = "Point_1"

Set @Rect = "Rect_1"

Set @Array = "" //No array is used here

Set @Formation = "Wedge"

Set @Angle = 90

Set @FinalPositionMode = "Hold"

Set @FinalBodyMode = "Lay"

Set @FinalFireMode = "Free"

RunTriggerInstance ( "Movement" , @@MovementNumber , @Army , @Group , @InitialBodyMode , @InitialFireMode , @Point , @Rect , @Array , @Formation , @Angle , @FinalPositionMode , @FinalBodyMode , @FinalFireMode )

Add ( @@MovementNumber , 1 )

All you have to do is fill the variables with what you want, and add as many actions as you wish.

Of course, we need to add a little bit of code to make it work, but you don't have to pay interest to that. Just copy & paste as show in those examples.

-------------------------

[Army_1_Step_1]

// ARMY_1_STEP_1 - Check all variables looking like @@army_N_something

Set @Army = 1 //Please enter here the Army number

Set @@Army_1_Actions = 3 //Please enter here how many actions in this phase

SendMessage ( "ARMY_1_STEP_1 started" , 5000 )

Set @@Army_1_Actions_Completed = 0 //Don't change this

Label Action1

Set @Group = "Ger_Car_1" //required

Set @InitialBodyMode = "Knee" //facultative, leave "" if not used. Can be "Stay", "Knee" or "Lay", anything else will be considered as "Free".

Set @InitialFireMode = "Free" //required. Can be "Hold" or "Free", anything else will be considered as "Free".

Set @Point = "Ger_Car_1_1" //facultative, leave "" if not used

Set @Rect = "Ger_Car_1_1" //required : this Rect is used to check if Group reached its position. It should be at least a 10m square around the final destination point.

Set @Array = "" //facultative, leave "" if not used

Set @Formation = "Wedge" //facultative, leave "" if not used. Anything else than the regular formations will be considered as "Custom".

Set @Angle = 90 //facultative, leave "" if not used

Set @FinalPositionMode = "Hold" //facultative, leave "" if not used. Can be "Hold" or "Free", anything else will be considered as "Free".

Set @FinalBodyMode = "Knee" //facultative, leave "" if not used. Can be "Stay", "Knee" or "Lay", anything else will be considered as "Free".

Set @FinalFireMode = "Free" //facultative, leave "" if not used. Can be "Hold" or "Free", anything else will be considered as "Free".

RunTriggerInstance ( "Movement" , @@MovementNumber , @Army , @Group , @InitialBodyMode , @InitialFireMode , @Point , @Rect , @Array , @Formation , @Angle , @FinalPositionMode , @FinalBodyMode , @FinalFireMode ) //Don't change this

Add ( @@MovementNumber , 1 ) //Don't change this

Label Action2

Set @Group = "Ger_Flak_1" // you simply fill the form using your own names and modes

Set @InitialBodyMode = ""

Set @InitialFireMode = ""

Set @Point = "Ger_Flak_1" // the Flak truck will go to the point named "Ger_Flak_1"

Set @Rect = "Ger_Flak_1" // the script will watch when the flak truck reached the Rect named "Ger_Flak_1"

Set @Array = ""

Set @Formation = ""

Set @Angle = 90

Set @FinalPositionMode = "Hold"

Set @FinalBodyMode = ""

Set @FinalFireMode = "Free"

RunTriggerInstance ( "Movement" , @@MovementNumber , @Army , @Group , @InitialBodyMode , @InitialFireMode , @Point , @Rect , @Array , @Formation , @Angle , @FinalPositionMode , @FinalBodyMode , @FinalFireMode )

Add ( @@MovementNumber , 1 )

Label Action3

Set @Group = "Ger_Tank_1"

Set @InitialBodyMode = ""

Set @InitialFireMode = "Hold"

Set @Point = ""

Set @Rect = "Ger_Tank_1"

Set @Array = "Ger_Tank_1" //The tank will follow an array of waypoints named "Ger_Tank_1"

Set @Formation = ""

Set @Angle = 90

Set @FinalPositionMode = "Hold"

Set @FinalBodyMode = ""

Set @FinalFireMode = "Free"

RunTriggerInstance ( "Movement" , @@MovementNumber , @Army , @Group , @InitialBodyMode , @InitialFireMode , @Point , @Rect , @Array , @Formation , @Angle , @FinalPositionMode , @FinalBodyMode , @FinalFireMode )

Add ( @@MovementNumber , 1 )

Label Counts_Actions_Completed

If ( @@Army_1_Actions_Completed < @@Army_1_Actions ) Then

Delay ( 5000 )

Goto Counts_Actions_Completed

Else

RunTrigger ( "Army_1_Step_2" ) // The next serie of actions will start only when this one will be achieved

EndIf

Halt

-------------------------

At the same time, the 1st step for Army 2 will be running. It could look like this :

-------------------------

[Army_2_Step_1]

// ARMY_2_STEP_1 - Check all variables looking like @@army_N_something

Set @Army = 2 //Please enter here the Army number

Set @@Army_2_Actions = 3 //Please enter here how many actions in this phase

SendMessage ( "ARMY_2_STEP_1 started" , 5000 )

Set @@Army_2_Actions_Completed = 0 //Don't change this

Label Action1

Set @Group = "Fr_Inf_1"

Set @InitialBodyMode = "Knee"

Set @InitialFireMode = "Free"

Set @Point = "Fr_Inf_1"

Set @Rect = "Fr_Inf_1"

Set @Array = ""

Set @Formation = "Wedge"

Set @Angle = 270

Set @FinalPositionMode = "Hold"

Set @FinalBodyMode = "Lay"

Set @FinalFireMode = "Hold"

RunTriggerInstance ( "Movement" , @@MovementNumber , @Army , @Group , @InitialBodyMode , @InitialFireMode , @Point , @Rect , @Array , @Formation , @Angle , @FinalPositionMode , @FinalBodyMode , @FinalFireMode )

Add ( @@MovementNumber , 1 )

Label Action2

Set @Group = "Fr_Inf_2"

Set @InitialBodyMode = "Stay"

Set @InitialFireMode = "Free"

Set @Point = "Fr_Inf_2"

Set @Rect = "Fr_Inf_2"

Set @Array = ""

Set @Formation = "LineTankHuman"

Set @Angle = 270

Set @FinalPositionMode = "Hold"

Set @FinalBodyMode = "Knee"

Set @FinalFireMode = "Free"

RunTriggerInstance ( "Movement" , @@MovementNumber , @Army , @Group , @InitialBodyMode , @InitialFireMode , @Point , @Rect , @Array , @Formation , @Angle , @FinalPositionMode , @FinalBodyMode , @FinalFireMode )

Add ( @@MovementNumber , 1 )

Label Action3

Set @Group = "Fr_ArmCar_1"

Set @InitialBodyMode = ""

Set @InitialFireMode = "Free"

Set @Point = "Fr_ArmCar_1"

Set @Rect = "Fr_ArmCar_1"

Set @Array = ""

Set @Formation = ""

Set @Angle = 270

Set @FinalPositionMode = "Hold"

Set @FinalBodyMode = ""

Set @FinalFireMode = ""

RunTriggerInstance ( "Movement" , @@MovementNumber , @Army , @Group , @InitialBodyMode , @InitialFireMode , @Point , @Rect , @Array , @Formation , @Angle , @FinalPositionMode , @FinalBodyMode , @FinalFireMode )

Add ( @@MovementNumber , 1 )

Label Counts_Actions_Completed

If ( @@Army_2_Actions_Completed < @@Army_2_Actions ) Then

Delay ( 5000 )

Goto Counts_Actions_Completed

Else

RunTrigger ( "Army_2_Step_2" )

EndIf

Halt

-------------------------

The next step for army #1 can be like :

-------------------------

[Army_1_Step_2]

// ARMY_1_STEP_2 - Check all variables looking like @@army_N_something

Set @Army = 1 //Please enter here the Army number

Set @@Army_1_Actions = 1 //Please enter here how many actions in this phase

SendMessage ( "ARMY_1_STEP_2 started" , 5000 )

Set @@Army_1_Actions_Completed = 0 //Don't change this

Label Action1

Set @Group = "Ger_Car_1"

Set @InitialBodyMode = ""

Set @InitialFireMode = "Hold"

Set @Point = ""

Set @Rect = "Ger_Car_1_3" //The car will move to a Rect named "Ger_Car_1_3"

Set @Array = ""

Set @Formation = ""

Set @Angle = 90

Set @FinalPositionMode = "Hold"

Set @FinalBodyMode = ""

Set @FinalFireMode = "Free"

RunTriggerInstance ( "Movement" , @@MovementNumber , @Army , @Group , @InitialBodyMode , @InitialFireMode , @Point , @Rect , @Array , @Formation , @Angle , @FinalPositionMode , @FinalBodyMode , @FinalFireMode )

Add ( @@MovementNumber , 1 )

Label Counts_Actions_Completed

If ( @@Army_1_Actions_Completed < @@Army_1_Actions ) Then

Delay ( 5000 )

Goto Counts_Actions_Completed

Else

RunTrigger ( "Army_1_Step_3" )

EndIf

Halt

[Army_1_Step_3]

// ARMY_1_STEP_3 - Check all variables looking like @@army_N_something

SendMessage ( "You can program anything you want, it will only be ordered when step 2 is done." , 5000 )

Halt

-------------------------

For army #2 :

-------------------------

[Army_2_Step_2]

// ARMY_2_STEP_2 - Check all variables looking like @@army_N_something

Set @Army = 2 //Please enter here the Army number

Set @@Army_2_Actions = 1 //Please enter here how many actions in this phase

SendMessage ( "ARMY_2_STEP_2 started" , 5000 )

Set @@Army_2_Actions_Completed = 0 //Don't change this

Label Action1

Set @Group = "Fr_Inf_1"

Set @InitialBodyMode = "Lay"

Set @InitialFireMode = "Free"

Set @Point = "Fr_Inf_1_2"

Set @Rect = "Rect_Fr_Inf_1"

Set @Array = ""

Set @Formation = "Gather"

Set @Angle = 0

Set @FinalPositionMode = "Hold"

Set @FinalBodyMode = "Stay"

Set @FinalFireMode = "Free"

RunTriggerInstance ( "Movement" , @@MovementNumber , @Army , @Group , @InitialBodyMode , @InitialFireMode , @Point , @Rect , @Array , @Formation , @Angle , @FinalPositionMode , @FinalBodyMode , @FinalFireMode )

Add ( @@MovementNumber , 1 )

Label Counts_Actions_Completed

If ( @@Army_2_Actions_Completed < @@Army_2_Actions ) Then

Delay ( 5000 )

Goto Counts_Actions_Completed

Else

// RunTrigger ( "Army_2_Step_3" )

EndIf

Halt

-------------------------

The third step for army 1 :

[Army_1_Step_3]

// ARMY_1_STEP_3 - Check all variables looking like @@army_N_something

SendMessage ( "You can program anything you want, it will only be ordered when step 2 is done." , 5000 )

Halt

-------------------------

Of course, there's a big machinery to make it work. But you don't even have to read it. Just copy and past the next [Movement] trigger :

[Movement]

PARAM IN @Army

PARAM IN @Group

PARAM IN @InitialBodyMode

PARAM IN @InitialFireMode

PARAM IN @Point

PARAM IN @Rect

PARAM IN @Array

PARAM IN @Formation

PARAM IN @Angle

PARAM IN @FinalPositionMode

PARAM IN @FinalBodyMode

PARAM IN @FinalFireMode

SetWorkArmy ( Army , @Army )

PositionMode ( Group , @Group , Free )

If ( @InitialBodyMode = "Stay" ) Then

BodyMode ( Group , @Group , Stay )

Else

If ( @InitialBodyMode = "Knee" ) Then

BodyMode ( Group , @Group , Knee )

Else

If ( @InitialBodyMode = "Lay" ) Then

BodyMode ( Group , @Group , Lay )

Else

BodyMode ( Group , @Group , Free )

Endif

Endif

Endif

If ( @InitialFireMode = "Hold" ) Then

FireMode ( Group , @Group , Hold )

Else

FireMode ( Group , @Group , Free )

Endif

If ( @Formation = "Gather" ) then

SetGroupFormation ( @Group , Gather )

Else

If ( @Formation = "Wedge" ) then

SetGroupFormation ( @Group , Wedge )

Else

If ( @Formation = "TrenchFormation" ) then

SetGroupFormation ( @Group , TrenchFormation )

Else

If ( @Formation = "LineTankHuman" ) then

SetGroupFormation ( @Group , LineTankHuman )

Else

If ( @Formation = "Column" ) then

SetGroupFormation ( @Group , Column )

Else

If ( @Formation = "Disperse" ) then

SetGroupFormation ( @Group , Disperse )

Else

SetGroupFormation ( @Group , Custom )

EndIf

EndIf

EndIf

EndIf

EndIf

EndIf

If ( @Point != "" AND @Array = "" ) Then

RunCommand ( Group , @Group , Move , Point , @Point , Angle , @Angle )

Else

If ( @Array != "" AND @Point = "" ) Then

RunCommand ( Group , @Group , Move , Array , @Array , Angle , @Angle )

Else

RunCommand ( Group , @Group , Move , Rect , @Rect , Angle , @Angle )

Endif

Endif

Label Check

Delay ( 10000 )

//Sendmessage ( "Checking if unit has finished moving." , 5000 )

Set @Test = GetNUnitsInArea ( Group , @Group , All , @Rect , No_Panic )

If ( @Test = 0 ) then

Goto Check

Endif

//Sendmessage ( "Movement completed, adopting P, B & F modes" , 5000 )

If ( @Army = 1 ) Then

Add ( @@Army_1_Actions_Completed , 1 )

Else

If ( @Army = 2 ) Then

Add ( @@Army_2_Actions_Completed , 1 )

//Else

//If ( @Army = N ) Then

// Add ( @@Army_N_Actions_Completed , 1 )

//Endif

EndIf

EndIf

Delay ( 10000 )

If ( @FinalPositionMode = "Hold" ) Then

PositionMode ( Group , @Group , Hold )

Else

PositionMode ( Group , @Group , Free )

Endif

If ( @FinalBodyMode = "Stay" ) Then

BodyMode ( Group , @Group , Stay )

Else

If ( @FinalBodyMode = "Knee" ) Then

BodyMode ( Group , @Group , Knee )

Else

If ( @FinalBodyMode = "Lay" ) Then

BodyMode ( Group , @Group , Lay )

Else

BodyMode ( Group , @Group , Free )

Endif

Endif

Endif

If ( @FinalFireMode = "Hold" ) Then

FireMode ( Group , @Group , Hold )

Else

FireMode ( Group , @Group , Free )

Endif

Halt

I will upload my test mission ASAP, so you'll see Frankenstein walking.

I hope you'll find that mess usefull

PS, for Sneaksie or 1C :

I do wish a new version of the scripting system was planed, in which the following points would be made available

- For ... To ... Next

- Functions that use constants such as "Hold", "Free", "Knee" could use variables too. For example, BodyMode ( @Variable1 , @Variable2 , @Variable3 ) would be legal according to @Variable1 being set to Army, Group or Unit, etc...

- SendMessage and Goto could use variables as arguments

- Distance () could handle groups

- Variables names could be incremented by triggers themselves, ie they could create @Variable(1), @Variable(2)... @Variable(n)

- Triggers such as RunCommand returns a signal when their instructions are completed.

[bruce90]

Good post Stimo. Thanks.

[Tartari]

Thank you Stimo!

[Stimo]

You'll find my example here : http://www.battlefront.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=56&stc=1&d=1219783844

It's not a playable mission, just something to load in the game and look at.

You can also open it in the Editor to see how it's built.

You'll see, it's user friendly

In the mission, there are 2 armies : French and German.

1st step for germans : all vehicles move to different positions using points or arrays.

1st step for frenchs : squads and car move using various formations and modes.

When 1st step for german is achieved, 2nd starts and BMW moves to another place using a Rect.

When 1st french step is over, the central squad changes from Wedge to Gather while sneaking eastwards.

Please note that 2nd steps for french and german doesn't start at the same time, but when their previous steps are done.

3rd german step is just a SendMessage. It could be replaced by anything, like an attack order or a mortar barrage.

With this script, you will for example easily plan movements with stopped groups covering moving ones then switching, or be able to synchronize wide movements and artillery fires...

[Stimo]

A new version is ready. You'll find it here : http://perso.wanadoo.fr/stimo-online/Depot/Test_2.zip

I added those controls :

- a "safety exit" : it's a timer that will close active step and launch next one after it's obvious it lasted too long. This is to avoid game "running in round".

- a test that watches if all units are able to perform the orders they received. If one can't, it cancel its action and the script goes on with the others. So the mission won't be stopped because of an immobilized tank or a wasted squad.