Campaign - Protected Files

[IckyATLAS]

Even if you distribute a campaign for free, can you protect the files so that the campaign can only be played. Like having just a runtime version.

 

[No601_Swallow]

I don't know of any way to do this. Personally, if I post up a mission (and I haven't for a few months but hopefully will soon), I regard it as "published" and out in the public domain. If someone uses a mission like of mine as a template to build on, or uses groups that I've developed, I - again, personally - would think that's fine, although some credit would be nice.

 

I like to think we mission builders are a more honourable sort than the riff-raff in the "general discussion" lobby.

[Habu]

5 hours ago, IckyATLAS said:

Even if you distribute a campaign for free, can you protect the files so that the campaign can only be played. Like having just a runtime version.

 

I don't thing so.

[LLv34_Temuri]

Please upvote
 

 

[No601_Swallow]

Temuri, I understand your point, but I think it's more important for mission builders to be able to learn from each other. If, in MP situations, people want to cheat by analysing mission files, that destroys the sim and destroys any reason for playing it. I have faith (?) that we simmers are better than that!

[IckyATLAS]

2 hours ago, No601_Swallow said:

Temuri, I understand your point, but I think it's more important for mission builders to be able to learn from each other. If, in MP situations, people want to cheat by analysing mission files, that destroys the sim and destroys any reason for playing it. I have faith (?) that we simmers are better than that!

 

Hmmm ..... faith (?)

[JimTM]

3 hours ago, No601_Swallow said:

Temuri, I understand your point, but I think it's more important for mission builders to be able to learn from each other. If, in MP situations, people want to cheat by analysing mission files, that destroys the sim and destroys any reason for playing it. I have faith (?) that we simmers are better than that!

 

Perhaps online campaign builders can opt to post sample versions of their missions with different ground force placements. 

[WWDriftwood]

I raise a similar question to one of my squad members as I learn the Mission Editor. What is ME etiquette?

 

Can't PW protect missions to keep them from being viewed/edited, so it's open to anyone. And might be other reasons to PW protect a mission file.

 

I’m pulling mechanics/logic from ME sample missions, other missions, using videos and instructions while always referencing the ME manual. Now I still have to edit test and end up manipulating the logic, etc.

 

Do I add a credit to the bottom of a briefing to the list of folks who helped me create this? What do I put in the Author box?

 

If it’s literally bits and pieces I would assume credit in the briefing.

 

If it’s someone mission/creation and you simply make small adjustments for yourself, I would assume you don’t publish it without permission. Yet if you put it on a public server and someone fly’s it, they have the mission and can open it in ME.

 

But I like the fact you can analyses any mission you fly to learn from or use/edit if you like etc. But I wouldn’t publish it on a forum as your own mission.

 

As far as looking at a mission purposely before you fly it to find the enemy, only thing I can think is if you plan on using it, never publish the final version prior to publicly launching it on a server. Just need to be honorable pilots, I guess.

 

Might be nice to have an option to PW protect missions preventing edits and viewing. But I think that would take away from the open editing of mission for the purpose of enticing more people to create missions if always used. Not to mentions more Dev headaches and coding for maintaining and countering work arounds people come up with to bypass any permission. Slippery slope.

 

Thanks to all the mission’s mechanics and logic I’ve been able to view and follow it’s sped up my learning. Only about 900 more hours and I'll be good to go. ;-) 

 

People to thank,

WWSittingDuck helped a huge amount in describing behaviors and quirks not found on the web and being able to view his edits and discuss.

Jim, Coconut, Pat Wilson, Vander, etc. anything I could go through.

 

I'm trying to create groups that have enough random behavior I can't predict what/when/where stuff happens even though I created the groups/mission, Can't do that with everything though. 

Fun stuff... learning this is a long row to hoe 

[LLv34_Temuri]

7 hours ago, No601_Swallow said:

I have faith (?) that we simmers are better than that!

I have experience that says they aren't.

 

I do agree with your point about learning from others, and I'd say the .mission files would fill that need.

[Alonzo]

Personally I try to design a map so that even if you were the map designer (me!) you could not get an unfair advantage. I suspect I have not entirely succeeded, because I know how the targets are set up and what will trigger "objective destroyed" but I don't think it gives me that much of an advantage. Maybe I am 20% more efficient than someone else. But to make up for it I tend to dive into the ground or get shot by AAA so my advantage is nullified... ?

 

Seriously though Combat Box has several maps with a random order for the mechanics. So I don't know which things will happen first, and that negates my advantage also.

[Jaegermeister]

On 9/23/2019 at 9:40 AM, IckyATLAS said:

Even if you distribute a campaign for free, can you protect the files so that the campaign can only be played. Like having just a runtime version.

 

 

From dev diary 142;

 

If you want to sell your campaign:

 

1. Make sure you don't give mission files to anyone who can distribute them for free.

2. Make sure your campaign is good enough and other players would pay money for it. 1CGS reserves the right to not sell every Campaign produced.

3. Contact Producer Jason Williams via personal message (https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/user/13-jason_williams/), preferably even before starting the work on the campaign and reach an agreement on all the details required for selling it.

4. Copy protected campaign can be created just like a free one, but requires mandatory testing in cooperation with our team, protecting mission files and adding it to our account system.

5. Copy protected campaign can be distributed like a free one (an separate installer containing protected mission files instead of unprotected ones) or can be included in official updates (this depends on agreement between campaign author and our Producer).

6. All payware Campaigns must be sold through our online store. 

 

So yes, you can have the devs protect it and host it, but you will have to talk them into taking the time to do it. My understanding is that they are not taking any more campaigns to host at the moment. That may change after BoBP release.

[jollyjack]

I really appreciate the Campaign or Single Mission makers who put their sometimes large amount of work up for free. JadeM, Trip, to name just two. Heroes IMO.

By looking at what they've come up with i learned a lot, but alas i am a beginner. Just got my first freshly made tester up, and behold, at least the plane is flyable now.

 

PS Just converted 'Butcher in the Mountains' to 3.1002 in FMB. Wow never realized the Kuban had such nice mountain grounds incorporated.

[Gambit21]

1 hour ago, jollyjack said:

Wow never realized the Kuban had such nice mountain grounds incorporated.

 

It often takes more than 5 minutes to fly to them.

 

[jollyjack]

Just tried Butcher in the Mountains Rainy day, views, shootouts, obstacles in the runway on take off, getting above the clouds, all within 2 minutes it seems after take off. And i always wonder who's firing at who on the ground some times;  A close fly by did not show details:

 

 

[IckyATLAS]

On 9/28/2019 at 2:56 PM, Jaegermeister said:

 

From dev diary 142;

 

If you want to sell your campaign:

 

1. Make sure you don't give mission files to anyone who can distribute them for free.

2. Make sure your campaign is good enough and other players would pay money for it. 1CGS reserves the right to not sell every Campaign produced.

3. Contact Producer Jason Williams via personal message (https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/user/13-jason_williams/), preferably even before starting the work on the campaign and reach an agreement on all the details required for selling it.

4. Copy protected campaign can be created just like a free one, but requires mandatory testing in cooperation with our team, protecting mission files and adding it to our account system.

5. Copy protected campaign can be distributed like a free one (an separate installer containing protected mission files instead of unprotected ones) or can be included in official updates (this depends on agreement between campaign author and our Producer).

6. All payware Campaigns must be sold through our online store. 

 

So yes, you can have the devs protect it and host it, but you will have to talk them into taking the time to do it. My understanding is that they are not taking any more campaigns to host at the moment. That may change after BoBP release.

You are right, Jason did not answer my call for a scripted Kuban campaign.

I was late for sure, but mastering the MB is a large task. At least I am now ready for BoBp.