XML/FLMM and Factions/Missions

Thu Dec 23, 2004 5:50 pm by Argh

Ok... I've run into another stumper.

I've put custom Factions into WOS Beta 1, that are implemented via FLMM. They work just fine- their ID strings and other stuff is working, too.

But they won't hand out Random Missions. I've changed Mbases.ini, so that it has sections like this one (the weight is set super-high for testing purposes):

[BaseFaction
faction = alliance_navy_grp
weight = 95
offers_missions = true
mission_type = DestroyMission, 0.000000, 0.112387, 100

I've also changed my System so that it has an appropriate Vignette Zone. Just for the record, I have previously tested using ELLIPSOID zones for Vignettes before, successfully.

[zone
nickname = zone_br07_destroy_vignette_1
pos = -1000, 5100, -80000
shape = ELLIPSOID
size = 10000, 5000, 10000
mission_type = unlawful, lawful
sort = 99.500000
vignette_type = open

Last but not least, I've set up the vignetteparams.ini with entries like this one (obviously, I just edited things here)

[DataNode
node_id = 337
Offer_group = alliance_navy_grp , gd_bh_grp, gd_gm_grp, gd_im_grp, gd_z_grp, co_alg_grp, co_be_grp, co_hsp_grp, co_ic_grp, co_khc_grp, co_kt_grp, co_me_grp, co_ni_grp, co_nws_grp, co_os_grp, co_rs_grp, co_shi_grp, co_ss_grp, co_ti_grp, co_vr_grp
offer_text = append, 327870, TARGET_FULL_NAME, 327871, TARGET_ZONE, singular, 327872, Hostile_group, plural, 327873, Hostile_group
offer_text = append, 328023, TARGET_FULL_NAME, 328024, TARGET_ZONE, singular, 328025, Hostile_group, plural, 328026, Hostile_group
offer_text = append, 328176, TARGET_FULL_NAME, 328177, TARGET_ZONE, singular, 328178, Hostile_group, plural, 328179, Hostile_group
child_node = 335

Now, according to everything I've read about this stuff, my Faction should now offer Random Missions against the Factions they don't like that are in the System... right? I mean, I have working Encounter Zones... the Vignette Zone clips into the Encounter Zone...

Soo... do I need a Patrol path to go there, or something? Am I missing some vital entry in an INI? I'm stumped...

Thu Dec 23, 2004 7:02 pm by NightHound

this maybe a dumb question, but do you have a population zone over lapping the vignette?

Fri Dec 24, 2004 9:59 pm by warzog

Couple of things...
1) The "Weight =" of all factions (at a given base) must total 100, whether 1 or 100 factions.
2) The last number of "Mission_Type =" must be the same as that faction's "weight =" number, and total 100 too.
3) I'm assuming that you have entries in InitialWorld, Empathy, Faction_Props, and the main NPCships.ini's, right?
--You CAN have your faction use ships already listed in NPCships.ini, by simply pointing to what you want them to use, in the Faction_Props.ini.
4) If nothing else works, try removing, or commenting out the "mission_type = unlawful, lawful" line in the system vignette.
--it'll make the zone open to EVERY faction, and EVERY type of mission.

Watch your 6!

Edited by - warzog on 12/24/2004 10:00:05 PM

Sun Dec 26, 2004 8:33 am by Argh

Hmm... I've done all of these things, and Random Missions still don't show up

I'm going to have to look through every entry (for the fourth or fifth time)... if I can't figure it out, I'll do another code dump for everybody to see.

Tue Dec 28, 2004 6:35 pm by Argh

Sigh.

Random Missions don't seem to be working for anybody, not just my new Factions. Would somebody be willing to explain why nobody's giving out Random Missions? I've set up my tests so that I have the appropriate game objects spawning, etc... no dice. This is getting really annoying

Wed Dec 29, 2004 5:00 am by warzog

What is your
[MVendor
num_offers = #,#
set to?
Is the Mission Vender working?
Do you have pop zones with your faction(s) enemies in them?
What kind of Encounter Parameters are in your system's ini files?

Watch your 6!

Edited by - warzog on 12/29/2004 5:24:14 AM

Wed Dec 29, 2004 6:34 am by eisfuerst

@Argh

Do you try this in single player or multiplayer ?
Never try to load a saved game, every time start a new one, even a new server and deleting the old account entries for multiplayer. This could solve a lot of trouble. I had add new factions too and they never attack each othewr and offer missions until i totaly start a new server. Maybe this helps ...

Wed Dec 29, 2004 7:34 am by Argh

Blaaargh. Now I'm getting the "too many players accessing the Job Board" error, even in SP. At least now I'm getting a different error

Ok, here's a typical Mbases.ini entry (at this point)
<pre><font size=1 face=Courier>
[MBase
nickname = Oceania_City_Base
local_faction = alliance_navy_grp
diff = 1
msg_id_prefix = ignore

[MVendor
num_offers = 1, 1

[BaseFaction
faction = alliance_navy_grp
weight = 100
offers_missions = true
mission_type = DestroyMission, 0.000000, 0.112387, 100
</font></pre>

Next, we have the test pop Zone, and the test Vignette Zones. I have set up more Vignette Zones than bases, as I seem to remember that was a necessary step. And yes, the the pop zone is working beautifully, even though it's a decidely non-standard zone (and I've tried switching it to ELLIPSOID with the same problems, so I'm pretty sure it's not the Zone, unless it's that pop_type entry??).

<pre><font size=1 face=Courier>
[zone
nickname = Zone_Br07_OCEANPOP
pos = -1262, 0, -79526
size = 200000, 1000, 200000
rotate = 0, 0, 0
shape = BOX
Music = music_oceanwaves
comment = . Oceania City Oceanpop
sort = 10
toughness = 1
density = 6
repop_time = 15
max_battle_size = 4
pop_type = major_tradelane
relief_time = 15
faction_weight = coalition_navy_grp, 25
faction_weight = alliance_navy_grp, 50
encounter = area_defend, 1, 1
faction = coalition_navy_grp, 0.5
faction = alliance_navy_grp, 0.5

[zone
nickname = zone_br07_destroy_vignette_1
pos = -1262, 0, -79526
size = 1000, 1000, 1000
rotate = 0, 0, 0
shape = ELLIPSOID
sort = 99.500000
vignette_type = open
</font></pre>

And lastly... the Mission Vendor works (i.e., it doesn't just pop up and disappear). It tells me that too many players are accessing the Job Board right now, though

Grrrrrrrrrrrr... I really, really want to get this working... it's totally driving me insane...

Wed Dec 29, 2004 3:45 pm by Anton

This post is kinda thinking out loud... please bear in mind that i've never made new factions and added missions that have worked for them (but want to if i ever get FLank done - the factions work fine btw, just missions same as Argh's problem).

1) All my RM vendors set like this :
mission_type = DestroyMission, 0.000000, 100.000000, <weight>

cos i want every level of mission at every vendor. works nicely and adds some extra challenge for new players.

2) There need to be 4+ mission zones within a certain radius of base offering to get any missions offered. too few mission zones and it won't work. can't remember this radius but think in newbie threads.

3) mission zones must be within a random population zone to function.

4) total of weight for every faction offering mission must equal 100 (no more or less or the rabbit explodes).

Tell me what's missing or wrong! It would be sooo nice to make this work!

+++ out of cheese error - redo from start +++

Xtreme Team Studios

Wed Dec 29, 2004 4:47 pm by Argh

I'll give that a shot... I'm fairly certain that my Zones meet all of the basic requirements in terms of collisions, etc... thanks guys, I'll get this solved yet, darnit

Thu Dec 30, 2004 11:02 pm by warzog

too many players are accessing the Job Board

When I got that message, it was because I didn't have the right kind(s) of vignette zones available.
For example:
A faction only gives out "Exclusion" missions, but there are no "Exclusion" zones.
Or, at the particular moment that you check the board, that's all they're offering.
I've had bases where I'd get that message 3 out of 4 visits, or 1 out of 4 visits, or even 4 out of 4 visits.
Depends on the faction's setup in the vignette_params.ini
(Which I've yet to figure out, fully.)

Watch your 6!

Fri Dec 31, 2004 4:58 am by eisfuerst

It's important to have at least one encounter in your system for a faction, your are hostile with. Otherwise you will never get a mission on the job board. So if you are hostile to the liberty rouges ... add an encounter with them. That was the reason in my new systems why random mission wasn't working.

Fri Dec 31, 2004 6:39 am by Argh

Hmmm.... I haven't tried the hostility route yet... perhaps that's the problem- I've been starting the player off Neutral with every one of the new Factions. That's going to throw a monkey-wrench into my design for gameplay, but I'll figure it out.

Sun Jan 02, 2005 7:21 am by Anton

I don't think the hostility is quite right there - hostility should be according to the faction offering the mission NOT the players rating

set neutral to outcasts and friendly to BH than go find missions in Om Alpha... This may be the problem in my missions too though (hope so).

+++ out of cheese error - redo from start +++

Xtreme Team Studios

Sun Jan 02, 2005 9:25 am by eisfuerst

Anton is right.

With "hostile" I meant that there must be an encounter in your system, the offering faction is hostile with.

But you only get jobs via the board, if your are at least neutral with the offering factions. Otherwise you got the message, that your status is too bad (I don't know the exact phrase)

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