Worldbuilder or 3rd party · C&C Labs Forums

Welcome Guest! You can not login or register.

Gn_Custard
50.25% (Neutral)
Private Topic Starter

9 years ago

Hi All 😄

This is my first post so please be friendly 😎

I was just wondering if anybody has ever fiddled with the 3D map flyover mission intros: You know, the ones with a long taunt from your opponent general? Eg like GLA: "Ah! I see you spying on my base, General" etc. 😁

I have an old dream about making my own missions but never got to it, mainly because I was having a hard time comprehending all the parameters in Worldbuilder...

Can it be done in Worldbuilder, do you think? Or do I need a 3rd party software to do it?

-I suppose one would have to tell the camera to fly over specific parts of the map or something?

Wanna join the discussion?! Login to your C&C Labs Forums forum account . New Registrations are disabled.

Sponsor

zero hour mad map maker
50.25% (Neutral)
Colonel

9 years ago

Hello there Gn_Custard! I give you a very warm welcome to the C&C labs community! 😉 👍

Regarding your question, ALL of the map making for Generals is done in the World Builder. No 3rd party software required! 😁

Making a mission is quite complex, it's easier to start off making some skirmish maps if you're just beginning map making. However, I make missions all the time and they're my expertise. I made a map called Dr. Thrax's Toxic Revenge with all the features you are talking about. Taunts, camera intro's, special missions, etc. I know exactly what you're talking about ^_^.

Making good quality mission maps require high levels of scripting and if you want to make a mission that's well polished you'll have to know scripting almost to the degree of the programmers. HOWEVER, do NOT let me discourage you! Anyone can make mission maps that range from highly complex to simple. It all depends on what YOU want to make.

To get you started let me tell you how I began, just to give you some encouragement and an idea. 👍

As I said before when I first started creating in the World Builder I made small and simple skirmish maps. With very basic scripting and map techniques. After I made about 15+ skirmish maps I began wondering about mission maps. I dreamed (like you! =)) of making a Dr. Thrax mission in which he is stronger and tougher! (Since I thought the Dr. Thrax mission that was made by the game creators was very easy. I wanted him to be tough!) I rummaged through a lot of mission maps that were made by the creators and learned from them. Soon enough I made my own! It took a while though, to learn all the scripting and aspects of missioning, but I got it in the end. Hooray! 😂

Though when I made those mission maps that's before I came to C&C labs; so I didn't have any help xD. That just made it take longer haha.

Let me ask, are you familiar with making maps using World Builder? Or is this a first time experience for you? Also, to what degree is your knowledge of scripting, since scripting makes the intros, and AI/map function. 😄

I forgot how long I've been map making, eh I'd say a good 8 years. xD💀

Edited by user 9 years ago | Reason: Not specified

Ready for Anything! --- C&C Labs Staff , Maps Staff , Moderator

Gn_Custard
50.25% (Neutral)
Private Topic Starter

9 years ago

ZHMMM: I think your answer is the best I have ever received in any forum 😉 👍

I am a programmer and I have been making very simple skirmish maps too 😄 I have also modded Zero Hour to the point beyond recognition 😁 The naval vessels were a pain in the beginning especially with the locomotor object but I got my way in the end 😉 Changing bitmaps in the gui etc is pretty fun too.

Actually, I was hoping that I could start out with the original challenges, you know, like import them, edit them and then export.

I would change things like: map, camera flyover with the taunt in my own voice or Lo Wang's voice, if you know him (Shadow Warrior)? "Knock knock you FREAK! LO WANG in da house! HOOYAH!" 😁

Do you know, if it's possible to import an original challenge and have some fun with it ❓ ❓

Edited by user 9 years ago | Reason: Not specified

klingondragon
50.25% (Neutral)
General

9 years ago

Go to the installation order and open mapsZH.big (you may need to download finalbig first) then extract all the files. Edit the map as you would any other. Then either play them through the skirmish menu (by putting them in your documents' maps folder) or place them in the game's folder with a path matching the original (as seen in finalbig) to replace the missions outright.

My 'Create a New General' Tutorial

Gn_Custard
50.25% (Neutral)
Private Topic Starter

9 years ago

Originally Posted by: klingondragon

Yup, I have worked alot with FinalBig in the past. It's a great piece of software! when you finally get the bug-free version.

The details that I really need to know is: How to find and edit the challenge intros like the flyover of the enemy base while the audio is taunting me with the voice of a general -that is, if anybody has any experience in that area 😉

I don't think it's a skirmish per say: The final result should be accessed via "The Challenge Button".

It's been a while since I have fiddled with this. Maybe I should get back to you guys in a couple of days; then I can be more specific 😄

Edited by user 9 years ago | Reason: Not specified

klingondragon
50.25% (Neutral)
General

9 years ago

I didn't mean you play it as a skirmish. You can play single player missions through the skirmish interface by selecting a mission map from custom maps.

To edit the flyover and voiceovers you should have a look at the scripts. There will be a lot so it could take some time to find the right one. All the scripts are pretty self explanatory (IF condition THEN do this).

My 'Create a New General' Tutorial

zero hour mad map maker
50.25% (Neutral)
Colonel

9 years ago

Originally Posted by: Gn_Custard

Oh my gosh thank you haha 😮 😊 😁

Those are quite the achievements! I applaud you for your modding skills! I can't mod Zero Hour for the life of me LOL. Other games yes, but not Generals......

That's a great concept! In fact, when I made my Dr.Thrax map that's what I did xD Extracted the game's pre-built general challenges (pretty sure that's what a LOT of people did, but i digress!). What you need to do to accomplish this is as KlingonDragon stated is to open the maps.big file and find a general mission that you like. Then extract all those scripts and import them into your mission if you haven't already.

The flyover's/cinematic intros are very easy to edit and should be in the INTRO folder. The scripts look somethings like this:

*** IF ***
True.
*** THEN ***
Set Flag named '_GAME_ON' to FALSE
The world is revealed permanently for Player 'The_Player'.
Start letterbox mode (hide UI, add border).
Disable mouse and keyboard input.
Disable Script 'GC - VO Triggers (Generic)'.
Set timer '_CINE_TIMER' to expire in 1500 frames.
Set timer '_CINE_TIMER2' to expire in 2.00 seconds.
Position camera at Waypoint 'cm_Start1', zoom = 1.00(0.0 to 1.0), pitch = 1.00(1.0==default), looking towards Waypoint 'cm_Look1'.
'Taunts_Toxin009' plays, allowing overlap TRUE (true to allow, false to disallow).
Set the desired sound volume to 0.00%. (0-100)
Set the desired music volume to 80.00%. (0-100)

CINE_FirstMove

*** IF ***
Timer '_CINE_TIMER2' has expired.
*** THEN ***
Move camera to Waypoint 'cm_Pos1a' in 8.50 seconds, camera shutter 0.00 seconds, ease-in 2.00 seconds, ease-out 2.00 seconds.
Look towardWaypoint 'cm_Look1a' during the camera movement.
Set timer '_CINE_TIMER2' to expire in 9.00 seconds.
Set timer 'Audio_Taunt_Timer' to expire in 10.00 seconds.
Enable Script 'CINE_1a'.

If you found something along these lines you can change the camera by the one's that I bolded. To do that change the zoom/pitch/ease-in to your desired values and create new Waypoints for the camera to move to and new Waypoints for the camera to look at! Taunts are really fun, so go have fun with those 😁

Edited by user 9 years ago | Reason: Not specified

Ready for Anything! --- C&C Labs Staff , Maps Staff , Moderator

Gn_Custard
50.25% (Neutral)
Private Topic Starter

9 years ago

Originally Posted by: Zero Hour Mad Map Maker

You are a GEM! 😎 That is exactly what I was looking for 👍 👍

Mao would say: "You are very generous, General." You've just made my day! Thank you! 😀

-where is the *bow* smiley 😄

Edited by user 9 years ago | Reason: Not specified

Gn_Custard
50.25% (Neutral)
Private Topic Starter

9 years ago

Originally Posted by: klingondragon

Oh! I see 😄 I just didn't realise that mission maps could be played as a skirmish. In my mind they would probably conflict because normally missions are not supposed to let players change any parameters 😄

Still, I would like to know where one would tell the gui to put my missions under the "Challenge" button 😄

klingondragon
50.25% (Neutral)
General

9 years ago

#10

That depends, do you want to replace an existing mission or extend a campaign?

My 'Create a New General' Tutorial

Gn_Custard
50.25% (Neutral)
Private Topic Starter

9 years ago

#11

That depends, do you want to replace an existing mission or extend a campaign?

Originally Posted by: klingondragon

Ideally, I would leave the existing missions alone but add a new shield/seal on the world map in the challenge selection phase. As stated earlier, I would copy some elements and add new ones.

-Maybe even make some of the generals stronger like #2 has done.

Depending on how time consuming it will be, I might even shuffle them all around making them better/stronger 😉

Edited by user 9 years ago | Reason: Not specified

klingondragon
50.25% (Neutral)
General

9 years ago

#12

If you want to make a new challenge it could take some modding (including window modding).
You'd have to put the maps in the install folder (copy the path in the maps big) then modify the challenge ini file to create the new challenge.

My 'Create a New General' Tutorial

Gn_Custard
50.25% (Neutral)
Private Topic Starter

9 years ago

#13

Originally Posted by: klingondragon

Noted! Thank you 👍

Important Information: