Tips and Questions

[PZ]

Not sure, but can we create multiplayer missions? Would be fun to place some motor bikes and do some racing cross country together ;D ;D

Yes indeed - we can create multiplayer missions in which we play cooperatively.  We could for instance, and you mentioned, ride cross country and complete seek and assassinate missions.  The sky's the limit in this game.

[RedRaven]

WOW, what a totally useful page that will be, time and time again, cheers PZ.  :-X
Your a real goldmine of useful info ;D .

Can tell you just from looking down the page it will help with things havent even got round to considering yet, but knew would have to in due course, and now i already know. reference pages like that make the whole process alot quicker, and improve that learning curve.

[PZ]

My pleasure dke - the more quality information we have available, the quicker we'll all be up to speed and can create missions for all to enjoy.  Even if we create missions that only we ourselves like, we can post pics and movies for others to enjoy.  This is going to be cool. :-X

[PZ]

ARMA2 3D editor

Here's an interesting thing, not well documented.  If you press Alt - e while in the Main menu a 3D editor will open up in which you can place objects like you would in the normal editor, but now you see the actual 3D map.  It is very limited in function however, but you can get a sense of how the developers are thinking about 3D editing

[PZ]

Entering High Command mode

Press Ctrl - space to enter high command mode while you are in the game.  Even if you are not the high commander, you can control the battlefield.

[Art Blade]

ARMA2 3D editor

see topic 3D editor where you can post tips and questions regarding that 3DE.

[PZ]

More ARMA2 Editor FAQs

This link to another post with great answered questions regarding how to accomplish basic tasks in the editor.

FAQ link

PS: thanks for the redirect to the video  :-X

[Art Blade]

welcome :)

More ARMA2 Editor

For tips and questions around the 2D editor, please use the 2DE topic ;)

[PZ]

Call in Air and Artillery Strikes

Check this post for instructions on how to call in air strikes (and artillery strikes) by clicking on your in-game map

Call in strikes link

[PZ]

Delay the entry of a unit on the battlefield

Ever want to delay the entry of a helicopter onto the battlefield? This simple hint should do the trick.

EDIT: Just tried it (took all of 2 minutes to follow the simple directions) and it worked like a charm.  I had two marines in an AH fly from a small island offshore and attack the opposing forces.  It was fascinating to watch all the action  :-X

Delay unit entry link

[PZ]

Setting up a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle)

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is an uncrewed aircraft.  You will be controlling a MQ-9 reaper remotely from a command center on your base.  You'll be able to fly over enemy territory (day or night) and see exactly what they have using the camera on the UAV.

The Federal Aviation Administration has adopted the generic class unmanned aircraft system (UAS) originally introduced by the U.S. Navy to reflect the fact that these are not just aircraft, but systems, including ground stations and other elements.

Here is how to go about it (You don't need an airport because you'll be using it while it is already aloft.):

• Add a player to the map
  
• From the Air menu of your side add a MQ-9 to the map (with no waypoints).  In it's Special box, choose flying
• From the Empty --> Warfare buildings menu choose the UAV terminal that belongs to your side and place it wherever you want (it will appear like a radar vehicle).
• From the Modules menu (F7) choose UAV and place one on the map
  
• Synchronize (F5) the UAV module to the player, the UAV terminal, and the UAV (MQ-9).  You should see dark blue lines connecting the UAV module to the other three units if you have done it correctly.

That's it!  You can now use a remote control flying drone to spy on your "friends".  Now, to use the UAV in the game:

• Preview the mission and you'll be in the camera view of the UAV looking at the ground.  Use the mouse wheel to adjust the brightness for day vs. night.
• To change where the drone flys, open your map to see 4 red lines.  Simply click on the area you want to spy on and the UAV system will automatically fly a pattern around the area.
• If you want to change the default altitude at which the UAV flies, put this into the init box of the MQ-9 name_of_plane flyinheight 700 (where Name_of_plane is whatever name you choose to give it under it's properties and 700 means the altitude)
  

[PZ]

Camo Face Paint

How about camo face paint for you or whomever you choose?  Use this in the unit's init box:

this setFace "face04_camo4";

[Art Blade]

haha, that's a nice tip :)

[PZ]

Use your radio to call in a chopper attack

There is a relatively easy way to click your way through the editor to place a chopper, man it with a pilot and gunner, and then wait until you call them in to do an air strike with your radio.  Here is how to do it:

• Place an empty chopper on your map and name it something like ah1.
• Nearby, place a crew unit and type: this assignasdriver ah1 into it's init box.  Because this is the pilot, make him a Seargent (or something higher than a private).
  
• Next place a crew unit and type: this assignasgunner ah1 into it's init box.  This guy should be a lower rank.
  
• They should be automatically together (with a green line).  If not, then make it so.
  
• Create a Get in way point to the chopper.
• Create another way point (Move this time)where you want the chopper to wait for your radio signal.
  
• Create a trigger on the map, choose Activate by radio alpha and set the type to Switch. Click OK
  
• Next, synchronize (F5) from the trigger to the Move way point.

The crew will get in, start the chopper, move to the holding way point, and continue to the next way point (typically the Seek and destroy) when you call them on radio channel alpha. (type 0-0-1 to activate radio channel alpha)

EDIT: I assembled a mission where you can see this for yourself, and the best part is that it is editable.  Yes, that's right - follow the instructions to be able to open in in the ARMA2 editor just like any other user mission you can edit on your computer.  The mission utilizes the Utes map and does not require any addons.

Click here to go to the post

[PZ]

I was playing with my home grown mission in Porto again this evening and have set myself up with the Cheytac sniper rifle - interestingly, the Elias sound mod has put in the cocking the bolt sound that was absent in the "stock" game - really cool!