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I've been searching around and have yet to figure out how to make a mission string in Nova. Does anyone know of a guide or tutorial for doing this? (And yes I have looked at the FAQ and NovaBible)
------------------ "En gris rumpa är fläsk, rök den och det blir skinka." (A pig butt is meat, smoke it and it becomes ham.) ~ Sweedish Translation
I'll be honest. Missions are easily the most difficult thing to make in a plug. Not only a single mission is complicated in itself, but when you want them to go one after another and you have to track down all the bits, it becomes a challenge. So, I recommand learning mission making at the end, when you're sure you understand everything else.
Are you at this point? If yes, good. I don't know of a mission-making tutorial, but such a thing is not easy to tutorialise, as every mission, and all the more so a mission string, is unique and depends what ou exactly want it to do, and making you learn simple cases won't get you far. That said, it's a good start. Let's start by a simple cargo mission from one point to another, that you can get as many times as you want (that way, you won't have to track down mission bits).
Firstly, have the Bible handy. I'll refer to it. Also notice that the fields may have different names depending on your plug editor.
Open your plug editor, create a new plug, create a new mďsn resource, give it a name that will be name the player will see in the mission list in the mission computer and his mission window, and give it an ID that does not make it interfere with the missions in the data files. We'll make the mission be available from Earth. Therefore, put 128 in the AvailStel (or something like that in your editor). Pay attention, only the first version of Earth has ID 128, it won't work with the others, that have other IDs, if ever you've finished a mission string (If ever you would want your mission be available from another point in particular, make your plug editor open the list of spöbs of the data files and put the ID of the planet you're interested in). Then, let's have it available only from the mission computer, it's a normal cargo mission, put 0 in the field AvailLoc. The record and skill of the pilot will be ignored, put 0 in the AvailRecord, and -1 in the availrating. What to put in AvailRandom depends how often you would like the mission to be available, put 100 (it's a percentage))so that you do not debug for hours. TravelStel is where you want the pilot to travel to make the mission. Let's make him go to Viking. Viking is a spöb with ID 157, put 157 in TravelStel. ReturnStel is where you want the pilot to go after he went to TravelStel (for debriefing, for instance). We don't want it, so put -1. Next, comes CargoType. It's actually just to give a name to what the pilot will ferry, nothing more. Put 1000 so that it's one of the 6 main cargo types at random. CargoQuantity is the mass of the cargo the pilot will ferry. If positive, will be the exact mass, if negative <=-2, will be the absoute value +/- 50% It will be taken at mission start, so as the Bible says, put 0 in PickupMode The same way, put 0 inDropoffMode. We don't want the cargo to be considered illegal, so leave ScanMask blank (or fill with 0es, or do not check any of the boxes, depends on the editor). PayVal: just some credits. 10,000 you put. We don't want any special ship, so put -1 in ShipCount, ShipGoal, ShipBehav, ShipNameID, ShipStart, and ShpSubtitle. CompGovt is the government that is thankful to (or mad at) you for having made the mission. Put 128 for the feds, and 10 in CompReward for the worthy deed of having ferried some cargo one jump away. There is no need for any briefing text, put -1 in BriefTest. Notice the text for mission offer is hard-linked to dësc ID 4000+Mďsn ID-128, create this dësc and put a recognisable text in it so that you can tell it's your mission. QuickBrief is the ID of the dësc resource containing the text that will be displayed when the pilot checks his mission list, when this particular mission is highlighted. Make it a brief reminder that this fcking cargo needs to go to Viking. Traditionnally given the value 6000+mďsn ID-128 We don't need any load cargo text. Put -1 in LoadCargText DumpCargoText should have the ID of the dësc containing the text to be displayed when that fcking cargo is offloaded at last and Viking. To releive the boredom, make one of the dockers slip on a banana. CompText, FailText and ShipDoneText should get -1 (guess why) Yes, we'll let the guy abort the mission. Put 1 in CanAbort. Let's put a time limit. Because. Put 30 in TimeLimit. If he can't make it in 30 days, he needs examination. We don't want any auxiliary ship either. Put -1 in AuxSjipCount, Dude, and Syst Check the Bible for an explanation of the different flags. Let's leave them unchecked, to 0, both sets. We're not racists about the ship types, so AvailShipType will get the value -1. RefuseText does not apply since we give it in the mission computer, give the value -1. Then we have a whole buch of mission bits expressions. We don't want our mission availability to depend on anything (i.e. it will be available from the beginning), nor we want our mission to trigger anything else, leave them all blank. Same thing for Require. The next three fields havelittle for now. Put 0, nothing, nothing, and 0. Save. Put the plug in the plugin folder. But before running Nova, make a pilotlog and debuglog. As there can be approximately ten power a zillion bazillion gazillion reasons for a mission not to work. Run Nova, start a new pilot, and check the mission computer for the mission. If it's there, good. If it isn't, check everything, especially the debuglog and pilotlog.
Now, to create a mission string, you basically set mission number n require a certain mission bit, let's call it bxxxx, that has been set by the previous mission. To that end, you put "bxxxx" in the AvailBits field. However, you also want it to allow the mission number n+1 on completion, and make mission n no longer available once done. To that end, put "byyyy" in the OnSuccess field, and add "& !byyyy" to "bxxxx" in the AvailBits field. The mission n+1 will require byyyy, and so on. For more information, see the section about mission bits, or rather now Nova Control Bits (ncbs) at the beginning of the Bible.
------------------ The (url="http://"https://secure.ambrosiasw.com/cgi-bin/store/hazel.cgi?action=serve&item;=breakdown.html&BREAKDOWN;_SKUID=1480")Ambrosia Mac CD(/url) with other registrations - 5$. Paying for (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/games/evn/")EV Nova(/url) as it's such a great game - 30$. The (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/games/evn/tshirts.html")1337 EV Nova T-shirt(/url)(url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/webboard/Forum25/HTML/000003.html#ZachaPedro05-18-200409:42AM") (/url) - 22$. The (url="http://"http://w00tware.ev-nova.net/")NovaTools(/url) by wOOtWare to tinker with your Nova - FREE! The feeling you're a Nova geek - priceless. There are things money can't buy or that are free, for everything else, there's indeed Mastercard.
(This message has been edited by Zacha Pedro (edited 06-05-2004).)
Wow, thanks a bunch. However, I'm using Nova Tools with ResEdit, and the mission window seems to be missing the "Mission Offer" field: (url="http://"http://everythingisrelative.com/ResEdit.jpg")Here(/url) Could it be somewhere else, or is there another OS9 based editor I could use?
Also, how do you know which mission bits Nova uses, and which are free for plugins?
Let me go get that.
Hum Um! Let me get that.
Default Scenario ncbs (from ResUsed_v1.06) 0 - 90, 96, 123 - 149, 152 - 170, 175, 178, 237, 275, 327, 330 - 335, 340, 341, 347 - 377, 415, 417, 422 - 446, 500, 502, 503, 509 - 513, 515 - 519, 600 - 613, 650 - 653, 666, 667, 677, 681, 749 - 753, 800 - 819, 838, 850 - 852, 995, 1000, 1100, 1300 - 1309, 1500 - 1502, 3000 - 3009, 3015, 3025, 3050, 3721, 3789, 4000, 4322, 4444, 5757 - 5765, 5770, 5999 - 6034, 6100 - 6106, 6137, 6200 - 6206, 6300 - 6302, 6666, 6723, 6724, 7777 - 7788, 7878 - 7880, 8338, 8339, 8444, 8888 - 8911, 9011 - 9015, 9111, 9200 - 9208, 9215, 9216, 9333, 9334, 9500, 9501, 9666, 9812, 9995, 9998, 9999
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Quote
Originally posted by Picquilarius: **Wow, thanks a bunch. However, I'm using Nova Tools with ResEdit, and the mission window seems to be missing the "Mission Offer" field: Here Could it be somewhere else, or is there another OS9 based editor I could use?
**
By the way, for your information, there is a prerelease version of the Bible available online, useful for quick online checks, (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/news/upcoming/novabible.html")here(/url).
NovaTools is just fine, it's how ATMOS mostly implemented the Nova scenario. You need to remember this: all plug editors technically do the same thing, and you can do any plug with them. But there are some interface differences, as well as some features like the possibility to edit some things such as images that you'd otherwise have to do in another program, as well as some little things such as NovaTools indicating which dësc is associated to the mission (in the top-left corner). The field for mission offering is here a popup menu, the top one in the upper-middle rectangle. You leave it as it is, as it says "mission computer". The Bible has been made with ResEdit template editing in mind (as was originally done in EV(O)), so you need to interpret some of the information it contains to see how it is implemented in a plug editor. Especially, fields with a few possible values, such as that one (it accepts just the values 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, check the Bilble), are often replaced by popup menus in plug editors, to make life easier. But a good plug editor cannot entirely replace the Bible, you need to be able at least to read this Holy Document (notice capitalisation) as it is the above all reference (for instance, for the values to give to modval for the different kind of modtypes in outfits).
By the way, it releived me to see a Mac Windows on the PC I'm stuck on. Thanks!
Originally posted by Zacha Pedro: The field for mission offering is here a popup menu, the top one in the upper-middle rectangle. You leave it as it is, as it says "mission computer". The Bible has been made with ResEdit template editing in mind (as was originally done in EV(O)), so you need to interpret some of the information it contains to see how it is implemented in a plug editor.
Oooooohhhhh, so Nova just looks at a particular dësc rescource for the "mission offer" text, that you dont get to choose. You actualy explained it the first time, but I was confused by it not being with all the other dësc fields. Once again, your help is greatly appreciated.
Ok, now I can make a single mission easily enough, but I still dont know how to link them with NCBs. How do you know which bit to use? Would someone be kind enough to walk me through a simple 2 mission string. I already have the missions set up, I just need some help filling in the "bit test" and "bit set" fields.
Originally posted by Picquilarius: **Ok, now I can make a single mission easily enough, but I still dont know how to link them with NCBs. How do you know which bit to use? Would someone be kind enough to walk me through a simple 2 mission string. I already have the missions set up, I just need some help filling in the "bit test" and "bit set" fields.
Mission 1: Available Viking: Mission BBS
Test: !96, (this means you cannot get the mission if b96 is set) Upon completion: b96 (when the mission is completed, bit96 is set, meaning you cannot do the mission again afterwards)
Mission 2: Available Viking: Mission BBS
Test: b96, !b97 (You have to have b96 set for this mission, so the previous mission must have been completed) (b97 cannot be set, so when it is set at the end of this mission, it cannot be repeated) Upon completion: b97
There you go, a 2 mission string. If in the first mission, you set: Test: !98, then you cannot have bit 98 to do the string. Let's go about setting that bit.
If you place in the Upon Failure section, b98, then failure would set b98. This would mean that the bit for Mission 2 would not be set, and Mission 1 would not be available, as b98 is set.
You can also use things like the Require fields in outfits. If an outfit requires: b99, then normally, it cannot be bought. If however, upon completion of Mission 2 it set b99, then you would then be able to buy the outfit. Or, you could use the "On Buy" outfit field, to make a mission available only when an outfit had been bought. Get the idea?
I hope I've been some help, I had to do this quickly. If you need any on the spot help, look me up on AIM sometime.
------------------ What if God smoked dope like us, drove a purple flowered hippie bus... (This message has been edited by GOD (edited 21-12-2012).)
(This message has been edited by FluffyWithTeeth (edited 06-08-2004).)
Cool, thats exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for the help.
Zacha, Fluffy, would you mind if I add information from your posts in this thread to my plugin developer's guide? I'm working on content myself, of course, but am always looking for new content to include, written by various developers. You will, of course, be credited for your work, and I would be happy to include any additional information you would like.
I'm obviously not profiting from this in any way, all information will be added solely for the benefit of the community as a whole. You can access the site (url="http://"http://www.evula.org/infernostudios/plugdev/")from here(/url), if you want, though most of the content is not currently uploaded; that's the reason I haven't officially released this publicly.
Thanks! ~ SpacePirate
------------------ Fear the SpacePirate, He made a (url="http://"http://www.evula.org/infernostudios/search.html")plug-in search page(/url)... And he'll board your ship! -mrxak .
No problem. Salvage anything you want. Even stuff I posted earlier or will post (unless explicitely told otherwise). Though I would like to warn you: even if your guide give tutorials and explain every field (as the webpage says), you should still teach people to read the Bible or at least parts of it as it's the ultimate reference, you can't replace it fully.
(This message has been edited by Zacha Pedro (edited 06-09-2004).)
Originally posted by Zacha Pedro: **No problem. Salvage anything you want. Even stuff I posted earlier or will post (unless explicitely told otherwise). Though I would like to warn you: even if your guide give tutorials and explain every field (as the webpage says), you should still teach people to read the Bible or at least parts of it as it's the ultimate reference, you can't replace it fully.
Excellent; thanks a lot. Don't worry, this is by no means supposed to be a "complete solution" to the developing problem, it is supposed to be an open resource to help get people into developing. For example, if a user does not understand a part of the bible, they can check the annotations I will have on the site. Like any walkthrough, it is supposed to give the user an idea of what to do, they are never supposed to do the work for them.
Though now that you mention it; I should probably link to the bible from that site...
~ SpacePirate
Fell free to use what I posted, though it's ridiculously simple stuff that should probably be rewritten. I was running low on caffeine at the time
Contact me on AIM sometime, and I'd be happy to help you write the guide.
------------------ What if God smoked dope like us, drove a purple flowered hippie bus...
(This message has been edited by GOD (edited 21-12-2012).)
Oh, and one last thing: use my "ten power a zillion bazillion gazillion" figure. Firstly, it's not that exxagerated for the number of reasons that can cause a mission not to work, second, if that does not impress people...
Fluffy, it should be added that in order to test for two (or more) things simultaneously, the b things should have & operators between them.
Originally posted by Zacha Pedro: **Fluffy, it should be added that in order to test for two (or more) things simultaneously, the b things should have & operators between them.
Whups, that's something I normally do naturally, so I didn't think about it.
And ,uh, EVula.com stole my mind
Ok, now I can make simple mission strings, but I had to complicate things. Is there any way to make a ship jump into the system the player's in once a bit is set? And then have it hail the player, and start a mission when the player hails back?
It looks like a pers can do all that, except it can only jump into a particular system, and I want it to sort of follow the player from system to system.
Uh, I'm use to thinking about these things, not explaining them, but I'll have a go. I don't have time to explain, so just do what I say (Also, I don't currently have a copy of EV:N, so all of this is rough from memory, you might be able to do it direct)
Mission1: Invisible, probably. Give it to them in a spaceport, without description or choice, and choose a test bit. They'll only get it if you want them to.
Mission ships(should be in bottom right) Përs: 500(random number for new one) Pull down menu: Follow player's ship
Create a new përs resource, number 500. (I can't remember right now, but one of these options will work)
There you go, that should do it. Just say if you need more help. We're friendly people
Originally posted by FluffyWithTeeth: **Uh, I'm use to thinking about these things, not explaining them, but I'll have a go. I don't have time to explain, so just do what I say;) (Also, I don't currently have a copy of EV:N, so all of this is rough from memory, you might be able to do it direct)
There you go, that should do it. Just say if you need more help. We're friendly people **
Thats sort of what I wanted to do, unfortunately it looks like mission ships can only be dudes and dudes can't give missions. The most it could do is follow the player and hail them I think. That would be ok if nothing else, but I was hoping to find some way of using a pers.
Originally posted by Picquilarius: **Thats sort of what I wanted to do, unfortunately it looks like mission ships can only be dudes and dudes can't give missions. The most it could do is follow the player and hail them I think. That would be ok if nothing else, but I was hoping to find some way of using a pers.
Hmm, seems you can't do that. You could always just create a përs with the correct availbit, and just make it appear alot. You could blame it not always appearing on hyperspacedelay, or something.