PMC Editing Wiki

This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong.
====== Campaign ======

Campaign is the most interesting part of Falcon 4, its really a dynamic, there is no scripted missions.

We have listed [[falcon4:campaign:files|Campaign files]] descriptions and functions.

See our dedicated tutorial for [[falcon4:campaign:pak|PAK areas]].

Now obsolete, but still online for reference [[falcon4:campaign:villageutil|Village Util]] tutorial.

[[falcon4:campaign:bridges|Bridges]] tutorial.

[[falcon4:campaign:links|Links]] tutorial.

[[falcon4:campaign:trigger|Trigger]] reference. Different [[falcon4:campaign:triggertime|starting time]] of war.

[[falcon4:campaign:tacan|TACAN]] reference.

[[falcon4:campaign:groundunits|Ground units]] reference.

[[falcon4:campaign:kneemap|Kneemap]] reference.

Check out well known [[falcon4:campaign:pmckoreacampaigns|PMC Korean Campaigns]] TCL example campaigns.

[[falcon4:campaign:strings|Strings.wch]] file usage.

[[falcon4:campaign:names|Campaign Names]] and descriptions.

====== Campaign Tutorial ======

First you need map bitmap for this theater, which you can make with [[falcon4:tools:terrainview|Terrainview]] **Operations -> Save Bitmap** (or you can use [[falcon4:tools:cate|CATE]]). This bitmap should only have features of Airports and Cities, but its up to you how flooded you want it to be... Second you need .THR file, to create theater file (.THR) use [[falcon4:tools:theatermaker|PathMaker]] util.

In [[falcon4:tools:tacedit|Tacedit]] you cannot create fresh new save0.cam file (We prefer save0.cam as its the default campaign you get into the screen when you click campaign icon), you need to take the korean save0.cam and delete every object from it. Then you can add stuff what you want. Here is how it should be done:

Start Tacedit, select save0.cam (original Korea), delete every objective/unit by going into the Object List and with Edit menu choose Delete All, go to Units and with Edit menu choose again Delete All. Then go to Campaign menu and with Edit menu choose again Delete All. There is also boxes: Theater, Senario and Saved Name - change Theater to whatever you are currently doing, like for example "Vietnam". Also you need to change Location -> Theater X and Thr Y according to your theater size, like:

Theater X/Y: 1024 == 64 segments (falcon 4 default).\\
Theater X/Y: 2048 == 128 segments.\\
Theater X/Y: 4096 == 256 segments.\\

After you have changed Theater name and Theater sizes (if needed) you need to click Apply button in the lower right corner. Then Save and exit tacedit. 

Restart tacedit and select same save0.cam file, which now is totally clean. select Campaign and see if Theater is really "Vietnam" and Location -> Theater X/Y's are like you changed them. Now you can start to add objectives and units.

This point load your theaters map with "Load Background Bitmap" icon, and get ready to import your new object .CSV file. The Objectives .CSV file is created with [[falcon4:tools:dem2terrain|Dem2Terrain]] util when you created the initial theater.L2 terrain file. Read more about creating .CSV object file with [[falcon4:campaign:villageutil|Village Util]] from TDF's but be adviced that using village util is //OLD METHOD// and today we use dem2terrain objective csv file with TCL scripts which create the additional objectives around [[falcon4:campaign:pak|PAK]] cities. There is no tutorial for TCL script usage, but download the [[http://tactical.nekromantix.com/f4/downloads/PMC.Korea.Campaigns.rar|PMC Korean Campaigns]] with the TCL scripts, its rather easy to understand how to create simple campaign with them.

Click Objectives -> Import Objectives and select the correct .CSV file. Ok now you have lot of objects in the map, check Object List menu to see if the names came out right. If the Objective section shows lot of numbers, then something is wrong. There should be clear names or at least "NoName" entries. If everything is ok, click save, now be careful... Tacedit asks you a Save Theater Strings As, where you need to select the path (this is the folder where your save0.cam file is) and give a filename excatly like it was in the Campaign -> Theater slot, which in our example case was "Vietnam", so you need to type File name: Vietnam - and click Save. Next exit tacedit and restart it loading save0.cam.

Go to the Map View and you'll should see lot of objects (this can vary depending what kind of theater are you building). First thing you need to do is change the teams, this works with mouse dragging a box around the objects in the screen. You'll get Objective Operation menu, there are the Current Owner and Orig Owner edit boxes. Change the both of them to 2 then click the Set Viewed button. Voila as you see the objects changed to blue color, this means they are now ROK (the good guys). Use this method to "color" the whole friendly territory. Now do the same thing for enemies, select enemy territory and change the "Current Owner" and "Orig Owner" to number 6. You should see the color to turn sort of olive green.

Now that you've edited the teams I suggest you click save, exit and restart tacedit (again, to be safe). Lets continue, now go to the Map View and use Objectives -> Remove Bad Links. Then use Objectives -> Check Objectives. Next you need to use Objectives -> Auto Flag Objectives.

Now we will include Priority cities, (please view our [[falcon4:campaign:pak|PAK]] tutorial for details)\\
Select View -> View Objectives -> None.\\
Select View -> View Objectives -> Cities.\\
Select View -> Show Primary.\\
Select View -> Show Links.\\
Select View -> Show Parent Links.\\
You should see only the cities in the map view at this point. Which citys come to priority city is you to you. Ok double click some city and change its Priority to 81 or above and click OK, now there should be purple "target" ring over the city, continue adding these Priority 81 or above cities all over the map not too far apart. After priority cities are added, select Objectives -> Reset Parents and then click (just one click, no double click) to any (dont matter which) object and you will see the parent links drawn as green lines. These green line areas are the PAK areas where you can concentrate your firepower in the campaign.

Next we will add links which the ground units use for movement. This section we will also cover more deeply later. Press the Show Links button, then select View -> View Objectives -> View All. Now choose Edit -> Link Mode. Now zoom into two closest objects of opposing sides (blue and olive green), draw a line between these objects. You'll get prompted by THR filename, this should be the .THR file you have already created with PathMaker. After you click Open it starts to process the Path, now this can take few moments. When its done, you will see the black line between the objects. Now again click save and exit tacedit.

Restart tacedit with save0.cam and add two squadrons, one team 2 and one for the team 6 (ROK and DPRK by default).

====== Triggers ======

Next the save0.tri file; Its the event triggers, you need to remove everything except these lines:\\

<code>
#TOTAL_EVENTS 1
#SET_TEMPO 150
#ENDINIT

#IF_CAMPAIGN_DAY G 30
#PLAY_MOVIE 115
#DO_EVENT 1
#END_GAME 1
#ENDIF

#ENDSCRIPT
</code>

Now your campaign run until you reach 30 days. We want this file to be clean because default korean triggers would most likely effect your personal campaign operation. (We'll get back to trigger file lateron).

Complete list of triggers in [[falcon4:campaign:trigger|Trigger]] page.


====== Links ======

Objectives (ground targets like cities, factories etc) are linked together so ground units can move. More details check [[falcon4:campaign:links|Links]] page.


====== Ground Units ======

More information about ground units can be found [[falcon4:campaign:groundunits|here]].

====== Carrier Squadrons ======

Carrier battle groups and squadrons to them can be easily placed with TCL scripts.
Insert Navy unit, place it to a good spot. Take a note of its ID and coordinates. Next add a squadron, click any airbase available (no matter which one), then at Squadron Page at the slot Airbase Id you will need to type the Carrier's ID. Next is Unit Properties where you'll add name (squadron number) and finally in Base Object you need to insert X / Y coordinates of the Carrier. Done, clik OK. Now your squadron will appear in the carrier without leaving nasty "ghost" to the airbase.

====== Air tasks ======

Air tasks are missions that the campaign engine tasks, these missions are one time only, after the flight/package lands it does not exists in the air tasks anymore. For example these could be BARCAPS (default stuff in korean campain) to keep enemy aircrafts from entering into friendly territory. Maybe AWACS in safe area or if your new theater has requirement for TANKER maintain station over the ocean, then air tasks came in handy. 

You'll find them from Teams -> Country -> Air Tasks. These are country/team specific. Since we really cannot provide any direct example, we just try to explain what these slots do. First you must click the Teams page, then select appropriate country/team and then press Air Tasks button. Now you are in the "Air Tasks" menu. There are some edit boxes and numbers, never mind these. Look the window which is labeled "Tasks" and double click first of the "Req" numbers. Now you are in Mission Requests menu where we make the actual sortie specifications. There are lot of settings and numbers here, but we only list these ones that are important.

Request ID - The objective ID number.\\
PAK - The PAK number where the objective belongs.\\
X and Y - The coordinates for actual sortie location.\\
Mission - Mission type, BARCAP, Tanker, Strike, HAVCAP etc.\\
Roe Check - Rules of Engagement for the sortie.

Lets assume you have theater that needs air refuel over the ocean. Now usually the campaign engine does not give you what you need. So look the area where you want to tanker to orbit, mark down the X/Y coordinates, then search for closest PAK city and mark down its Objective ID. Now in the Mission Requests window write the Objective ID into Request ID slot, write the PAK number into PAK slot and then the X/Y coordinates of your favourite tanker station into the X and Y slots. Now select the drop down menu of Mission into Tanker and Roe Check into none. Click OK and you are done. Start the campaign and your tanker squadron will get tasked into orbiting those coordinates you wrote into the X and Y slots. Very nice.

There is however limited number of Air Tasks that can be assigned, we have tried to add several days worth of air tasks for tankers in ODS theater according to the historical tanker stations. But the tanker air tasks disappeared from the campaign save0.cam file after few minutes running the campaign. Test it out to find suitable air tasks to your theater.

Sorry about this tutorial, this suck, we will be improving this. If you have any ideas /comments/ suggestions, please post to our forums.
PMC Editing Wiki

User Tools

Site Tools

Page Tools
