INCOMING!!!

[Zahael]

Hey everybody.  I was wondering if someone can help me.  I went over to the mission depo and looked for a script, but I was unfamiliar with them and not sure if they can help me.

I am looking for an artillery script that simulates incoming fire - so instead of an observer laying down the hate on a distant target, the player and his squad is the one under arty fire. Can anyone help or recommend anything?  The idea is that the arty fire is only softening fire, and doesn't inflict huige casualties.

Anyone help?

Zahael

[macguba]

The short answer is yes, an existing script can help you.   However, you will probably have to adapt it slightly.

"Softening up" is probably trickier .... artillery is devastating in OFP - that's partly why there is almost none in the official game - because there is no cover.   And we all know what happens to infantry caught in the open by an arty stonk.    So make it a very thin barrage.

[Black_Feather]

If a shell is camcreated about 1 metre below the surface you get a bang but they usually don't damage anything, give it a try.

[Zahael]

Any idea which script I should use?

[lone wolf]

I know a few scripts that have that effect.  It depends on exactly what you want to do. ;D

[Black_Feather]

Just check through the editors depot Zahael, there's a few in there just try them out untill you find one you want.

[Wolfrug]

the reason you can't see a certain offensive post is because yours truly has been flexing his fancy new sensoring powers of DOOM. :beat:

Naw, just seeing if that lil' thing worked...

Anyhow, Zahael, I suggest you go for the sound and smoke mirror effect really. Incoming shells screaming, explosions going off (only a few, mind), preferably somewhere relatively safe (like underground, or make 'em really low-yield). That's my suggestion, since, as macguba says, any kind of directed altillery will wreak havoc on your troops.

G'luck ;D

Wolfrug out.

[Zahael]

Thanks wolf rung.  Do you know a specific script that I could use?  I am not very good at scripting and am not sure how I would do all the things you recommend or how I would get the sound effects.  

Also, there are 25 artillery scripts in the arty section, and I am not real sure if any, from reading the description, would actually help me out.  Are there scripts that you were talking about that I could use?

Thanks

Zahael

[Wolfrug]

don't ask me about sounds   I've never been able to get any sounds working in my missions, it's one of them...things. Gah. As to actually finding them, well, that's a bit harder too. I can't honestly say I know any good "incoming shell" soundeffects, or even a place you could get them. Maybe if you search the net, or if someone happens to have one readily available.....?  :-\

But I'd suggest again, just download some of them scripts (they're not that big ;D) and see if maybe they'll solve your problems right off. Some of them (don't know which tho) are really customisable so you should be able to get the shells and density you want.  

Wolfrug out.

[macguba]

25?  blimey.    Only you know what you really want in your mission, so in the end of the day there is no real alternative to just trying a bunch of scripts and seeing which one does the trick.

I don't really know, but concentrate on the more recent ones.      As OFP has developed the community has evolved better techniques and BIS have introduced new commands.

What I can tell you is that my own mission Lookout! (available in the missions depot) uses an incoming arty script.    un-pbo it and have a look.      I can't remember who wrote it (they are credited in the readme) but its a very old script and, although it was magic at the time .... the key problem is that it uses an M2 to create the explosion.    It's much better to use an tank round like a HEAT120.   Check the ammo listing in Tutorials - References for the exact name.

You will need to vary that script since it provides a heavier density of fire than you want.     Try replacing the M2 with a shell and see what happens.      Even if you amend it make sure you give some credit to the original author.
   

[Zahael]

How do you unpbo a script?

[Zahael]

And in the addon CD REd Hammer, there was that mission where you had to drive a truck through a naval barrage.  That is the kind of the thing that I want.  The reason I used that one was that the incoming shell sounds were very cool.  Anybody know the ones I am talking about?

Zahael

[macguba]

Go to Ed Depot - Tools and get hold of Amalfi's un pbo 1.5.    You can un-pbo any mission or campaign with it, including the official ones.     You can then view the mission in the mission editor, once you have put the folder in the right place.

For the avoidance of doubt, you don't un-pbo a script - you un-pbo the mission.pbo file, which allows you to look at a script using any text editor, like Notepad.

So you can see exactly what BIS did.  I remember that barrage, it was very scary..... don't think it every got me though, I had a feeling that it was fixed so it didn't .... anyway, you can find out  

[Zahael]

Does anyone know how to get to that sound file that we are talking about?

[macguba]

un-pbo the mission - it must be in there somewhere.