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Hi,
I am new to this and an optimist. I managed to load up the 40k units and maps in Multiplayer but I like to play it in solo mode. I figured that that can not be too hard so I loaded up Fear and Loathing. Umm, I get nowhere...

Is it possible to open up an existing map and then put in units where you like them? It would be sooo much fun...

Best regards,
Nicklas.

If the units you are using are designed to replace standard Bungie units then you can just turn on the plugin and play solo and you will see the 'new' units.

If they are competely NEW units, the 'easiest' way to do what you are describing would be to use FEAR to change the MONS/UNIT tags so that when a standard unit has the tag for a warrior (ficticious ex: 'WARR') you would change that to some Warhammer 40k Unit code. Repeat for all the dozens on Myth units you want to replace. (some levels won't work if you replace for example a dwarf who can rebuild a world knot with a unit who can't, or a zerk who can pick up a magical item with a unit who can't)

Once you changed ALL the units you want to change you can test it by just playing solo (any changes you make in Fear will be made in your 'local' folder so YOU don't need to do anything or load anything to test your changes). When it's working exactly the way you want, you can then use Fear to build a plugin. Then save your local file to another name, and when you want to play Warhammer 40K just activate your Warhammer 40K Solo plugin.

There are lots more detailed map editing articles and stuff in the graveyard (articles) section of Mything.org, I think there's even one on changing units - which sounds like it is exactly what you are looking for. Also, read the FEAR documentation or browse a couple FEAR tutorials so you get the idea of how the app works. There should be links to the FEAR tutorials at mything.org, or I think the latest and greatest are here at projectmagma.net somewhere though I don't remember where.

Good luck with your project.


ps. You might want to ask Baak (http://orderofhpak.com/forums) nicely if he would have any interest in adding this to his list of unit conversions - he has a bunch of "Anywhere' plugins that let you play existing 3rd party non-standard Bungie unit sets on hundreds of third party maps (he already has created 'Anywhere' versions of the Wild West, Leggo, Aliens, Bushido, Marathon, WWII, etc unitsets). If you can con him into taking this project on, you will both save yourself a ton of work, and get a REALLY high quality product.

Hi Vinylrake!

Thanks for the info, I think I get it more or less. However, I think I was a bit unclear.

1. If I load the two (map and unit) plugins in single player and then keep shift depressed while clicking ok I still do not see a 40k map, just the ordinary maps. If I play a mission, it appears normal (not 40k).

2. If I start a multiplayer game I can by fiddling around with the settings get to choose one of the two 40k maps and then play (but since I am not connected to a server I will of course be the only one in the game).

3. What I want to do is pick a map (one of the 40k maps or any others) and deploy the enemy units from scratch and tell them what to do during the single player game. So I am not looking to replace the units in an existing mission, I want to create one by myself, but not the map.

By you mentioning Baak and his "Anywhere" plugins, are you saying that the above is not possible?

Thanks for replying,

Nicklas.

nlundberg wrote:Hi Vinylrake!

Heya!

nlundberg wrote:2. If I start a multiplayer game I can by fiddling around with the settings get to choose one of the two 40k maps and then play (but since I am not connected to a server I will of course be the only one in the game).

True. IF you connect to the mariusnet server you could play a Warhammer 40k map if other people have the same W40K plugins you do in their plugins folder(s) . (You probably know this - I mention it just in case you didn't)

nlundberg wrote:3. What I want to do is pick a map (one of the 40k maps or any others) and deploy the enemy units from scratch and tell them what to do during the single player game. So I am not looking to replace the units in an existing mission, I want to create one by myself, but not the map.

Ah... in that case you want to MAKE A MAP! w00t! Always good to have new maps and things to play Myth on.

Basically, at a very high level - conceptually - you have described the mapmaking process - at least in the example you give of wanting to use a multiplayer map as the basis of a solo map. I'll give a high level overview of the steps involved so you have an idea of what's involved then I'll point you to some really good mapmaking walkthroughs. ok?

Basically what you will need to do is:

1) Pick the map you want to use as the basis for your map. (It will be much simpler if you start with a Warhammer 40K map)

2) Using Untag (a free PC/Mac Mapmaking utility available at the Tain), 'dissassemble' the map into it's (editable) components (in Myth speak they are called 'tags' so the menu command is something like 'extract all tags')
Your tags will be extracted into your local folder.

[If you don't start with a Warhammer map, you will have save your local folder, then use Untag and extract all the WH40K tags from the unit plugin, then open up all the units in FEAR, write down their monster/unit tag 4 letter codes, then rename your local folder, and rename your saved WH40K local folder back to just 'local folder', then you'll have to merge the folders and later decide whether to include the units IN your map or have them require the plugin like the existing WH40K maps (I assume) do... etc....)]

3) Using LOATHING you will first delete all the units for the different teams that the multiplayer map uses, and any netgame objects like balls, flags, etc. Then you will add the new player (team) and enemy(team) units to the map, assign them to groups/platoons/squads and script the actions that you want them to do, and create the conditions for what constitutes winning and/losing the level. (e.g. If you need a dorf to complete the level and all your dorfs die you can add in logic so the level will end and display one of the 'you lost' screens, if the goal is for at least one player unit to reach a specific point on the map (say an escape tunnel) then you can code that win condition)

4) Then you will test it, and spend days/weeks fixing and enhancing things

5) If you are really ambitious you might add custom splash graphics or level text that scrolls at the beginning of your map or soundtrack or whatever.

6) When you are ready to share your creation with the world, you will use Fear to turn your modified local folder into a plugin that everyone can download to play your map.

Note 1: these aren't the ONLY useful articles, or the only place to find them, but these are some very useful ones and they are all available at the same place.

Note 2: If you have never edited a map before, I'd recommend going through one or more of the mapmaking walkthroughs and playing around with at least the unit related sections and the scripting so you get an idea of how Loathing works. There will be lots you don't need to know, but even skimming might lodge something in your brain that you will remember later when you run into it down the road.

Basic Map Editing/Creation:
http://mything.org/index.php?a=article- ... 0000000067 ** very good short overview - touches on just about every aspect of mapmaking/editing **
http://mything.org/index.php?a=article- ... 0000000399 ** detailed walkthrough **

"How to build a single-player Myth II map with Fear and Loathing" has a section on basic scripting that might be useful.

Scripting Specific Articles: (Ares' articles are quite good, the article called 'Simple Solo Map Scripting' appears to be a good short overview )

http://mything.org/index.php?a=article- ... =scripting


There are LOTS of other mapmaking articles at mything.org, just click the SB link under the Mapmaking Articles link in the graveyard sidebar.


caveat for existing mapmakers: I am aware I glossed over/skipped some things in the list of tasks, I was trying to keep it fairly simple and just mention the crucial bits.

To make a solo map you have to add scripting to it. Scripting is basically the AI for the map. VR already gave you some info and even links to tutorials. I never used tutorials, not that you shouldn't, but another way to learn is by studying and messing with the Myth 2 solo maps.

The latest version of Fear and Loathing can be found with the latest update. Just check the box when updating and they will be placed in there. If you are already updated but don't have the latest tools, you can run the update again.

Scripting is added through and seen in Loathing. So you can open one of the Myth 2 maps and check out the script. Mess with it and see what changes.

Thanks a lot for the help!

I have managed to place some units out and it has been a real mayhem so far. However, I would like to check the balance of the scenarios by having the computer to play two teams. Is that possible? It would also be interesting to have a third part in the solo games that disturbs the the two main players (you and the computer).

I do not understand how to name missions, and how to duplicate a mesh and make that into a new mission. All I am able to do is modify an existing one. Any suggestions?

Best,
N.

Open Fear go to that mesh tag right click duplicate and name it what you want. To name levels you need to make a string list tag with the name of the map. Then open the mesh tag and under "Map Description", select the string list tag with the name of it.

As I stated before, if you want the "computer" to attack you or do something, you need to create the script for that. Without scripting added, the computer is as smart as a Thrall.

As for the part about the computer versus two other teams... Well in a single player or cooperative map, all human players are on the same team. No way around it. But you can have two computer teams in a solo/coop map.