JKC wrestles w/EZ Script

[JKCarrier]

Having trouble with a Mini-Mod (which will eventually be a campaign). Here's the script:

Code Select Expand

Story: Homecoming

#----------
Encounter: Crime Alley Reunion
Type: Alliance
Minions: thug_with_gun, thug_with_bat
Allies: liberty_lad
Next: If Allies Lost: Not Another Dead Robin
Next: If Allies Saved: Every Cop A Criminal

Alert Cutscene:
Set lighting to night
Red arrow on Ally
Hero says, "sounds like a fight going on over there. i'd better investigate!"

Start Cutscene:
Remove arrow on Ally
Cinematic camera on Ally to Minion
Minion turns to Ally
Minion says, "gotham belongs to us now, boy wonder! without the bat, you're nothing!"
Ally turns to Minion
Ally says, "we'll see about that, punk!"
Hero says, "robin! i'd better go help him!"

Allies Saved Cutscene:
Cinematic camera on Hero to Ally
Ally turns to Hero
Ally says, "batgirl! am i glad to see a friendly face around here!"
Hero turns to Ally
Hero says, "what's going on? the national guard has the whole city cordoned off."
Ally says, "i just got here myself. i came as soon as i heard about batman's disappearance."
Ally says, "the streets are crawling with criminals, and no sign of the cops."
#----------

#----------
Encounter: Not Another Dead Robin
Type: Cutscene
Next: Lose
Set Lighting to red alert
Camera on Hero
Hero plays animation stunned
Hero says, "oh no! they got robin!"
#----------

#----------
Encounter: Every Cop A Criminal
Type: Interrogation
Minions: cop_crooked
Next: Divide and Conquer

Alert Cutscene:
Set lighting to night
Red arrow on Minion
Hero says, "police headquarters is nearby. maybe my dad the commissioner can fill us in."

Start Cutscene:
Remove arrow on Minion
Cinematic camera on Minion to Ally
Minion turns to Ally
Minion plays animation melee_idle
Minion says, "stop right there! you're under arrest!"
Ally turns to Minion
Ally says, "are you crazy? don't you know who we are?"
Hero turns to Minion
Hero says, "step aside. we have to see commissioner gordon."
Minion turns to Hero
Minion says, "gordon don't work here no more. and our orders are to arrest anyone who's out after curfew."
Minion says, "get 'em, boys!"

Interrogation Cutscene:
Hero walks to Minion
Ally walks to Minion
Cinematic camera on Hero to minion
Hero says, "all right, talk! what happened to commissioner gordon?"
Minion turns to Hero
Minion says, "they shipped him off to the funny farm. arkham asylum."
Hero says, "arkham? what?"
Minion says, "guess the stress finally got to the old geezer, heh heh."
Camera on Ally
Ally says, "wait a minute, i know you!"
Ally says, "stinky framingham! you're no cop! i put you away for armed robbery last year!"
Camera on Minion
Minion says, "there's been a regime change in gotham, punk."
Minion says, "thanks to mayor chesterfield, i'm legit now, and you two are just illegal vigilantes!"
#----------

#----------
Encounter: Divide and Conquer
Type: Cutscene
Play Transition
Set Lighting to sunrise
Cinematic camera on Ally to Hero
Hero turns to Ally
Ally turns to Hero
Hero says, "batman missing? dad locked away in arkham? criminals as cops?"
Ally says, "has this whole town gone crazy?"
Camera on Hero
Hero says, "i'm heading up to arkham. i've got to find out what happened to dad."
Camera on Ally
Ally says, "ok. i'll head over to the batcave, try and get a lead on batman's whereabouts."
Cinematic camera on Hero to Ally
Hero says, "we'll meet back here tonight and compare notes. good luck!"
#----------

(I'm using Blackbird and Liberty Lad as placeholders for you-know-who and you-know-who.  )
The first encounter goes off without a hitch, but neither of the next two encounters will trigger:
If the Ally dies, the mission immediately ends, instead of going to the "Not Another Dead Robin" encounter.
If the Ally is saved, the "Allies Saved" cutscene plays, but then the "Every Cop A Criminal" encounter never starts.
Help?

[BentonGrey]

Hey JKC, welcome to the joys of EZScript!   Here are a few pointers.  First off, you'll probably want to post in the Scripting area, you'll likely get more replies by EZScripter veterans.  Now, I haven't gone through this script really closely yet (I'll try to give it a better look this afternoon), but I have noticed a few things that might help you out.  First off, you're using Hero instead of names or numbers.  I'd suggest calling the actual names, as it helps EZScript not get confused.  If not, then do use numbers, so that you won't have things get too jumbled (Hero1, Hero2, etc.).  Also, make sure to leave a blank line after each encounter, before the #-----.  Also, I see you're missing a Start Cutscene: (or Alert Cutscene, or whatever) entry in your Not another dead robin encounter.  That is probably why it isn't playing.  In the Cop one, you'll want a Villain instead of a minion.  EZScript doesn't like interrogating minions.  I'd also encourage you to call it specifically, Villain1, so that EZScript won't get confused.

[AfghanAnt]

Ah I love your ezscripts. Thanks for this one. Are you old ones available anywhere? I lost them when I got a new puter.

[JKCarrier]

Oops, sorry about posting in the wrong section. If a mod could move this over to "scripting", that'd be swell.

Benton: Thanks, I will try making those changes.

AA: You can get the "Party Peril" mini-mod here:
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/jkcfreedomforcestuff5
This one I'm working on now is somewhat more serious, but should be pretty strange...

[BentonGrey]

Not the wrong section per se, JKC, just that you might get more responses in Scripting.  

I've gone over it again, and I see that you also need a cutscene start in Divide and Conquer as well.  "Start Custscene:" or whatever.

[JKCarrier]

Those fixes did the trick, Benton! Everything's triggering correctly now. Thanks! 

Now on to the next mission... stay tuned for more dumb questions... 

[BentonGrey]

No problem man!  I've had more than my share of maddening little errors like that, so I'm happy to help.  Heaven knows M25 and Empithee both had to work hard enough to straighten me out!

[M25]

I have an EZ script editor very close to completion that will help to point out problems.  I'll add 'missing cutscene name' to the list.

[BentonGrey]

Wow...that's the coolest thing ever M!  That would save SOOO much time!

[Podmark]

That does sound useful M25. Another reason I should try out easy script.

[stumpy]

Oops, sorry about posting in the wrong section. If a mod could move this over to "scripting", that'd be swell.

Done. 

[JKCarrier]

Still working on the mod... M25's awesome script editor has been keeping me out of trouble so far  but I've run into a snag I can't figure out.

Here's the script (still using generic templates as placeholders for characters to be filled in later, and I've removed most of the dialogue to make it easier to read):

Code Select Expand

Story: Strictly Business

#----------

Encounter: Run The Gauntlet
Type: Fight
Minions: legionnaire
Next: Ruby's Revenge

Alert Cutscene:
Cinematic Camera on liberty_lad to sky_king
liberty_lad says, "doesn't look like anything in the mansion has been disturbed."
Red Arrow on Minion1

Start Cutscene:
Cinematic Camera on sky_king to Minion1
sky_king says, "hold on... did that armor just move?"
liberty_lad says, "must be your imagination."
Minion1 plays animation power
sky_king says, "my imagination, my foot! look out!"

End Cutscene:
Cinematic Camera on sky_king to liberty_lad
sky_king says, "wayne sure has some interesting security!"
liberty_lad says, "this wasn't bruce's doing. alfred would never stand for turning priceless antiques into killer robots!"
liberty_lad says, "let's keep looking."

#----------

Encounter: Ruby's Revenge
Type: Chat
Allies: bacchite_red
Villains: thug_with_bat, thug_with_gun, thug_with_grenade
Next: Ruby's Retreat

Alert Cutscene:
Cinematic Camera on liberty_lad to sky_king
liberty_lad says, "i hear someone in the study."
Red arrow on thug_with_bat

Start Cutscene:
Cinematic Camera on liberty_lad to bacchite_red
bacchite_red says, "how unbelievably rude. doesn't anyone knock anymore?"
liberty_lad says, "ruby ryder! you're bruce wayne's biggest business rival. what are you doing here?"
bacchite_red says, "you're starting to bore me, teen wonder. and since you and your hairy friend are trespassing, i'm perfectly within my rights to have you ejected...forcefully."
bacchite_red says, "enough, already! get 'em, boys!"

Chat Cutscene:
Cinematic Camera on liberty_lad to bacchite_red
bacchite_red says, "<sigh> that's what i get for hiring the handicapped. you realize you still have nothing to arrest me for? this is all strictly business."
sky_king says, "i'm afraid she has a point."
liberty_lad says, "maybe, but i still..."

#----------

Encounter: Ruby's Retreat
Type: Remove Ally
Allies: bacchite_red
Next: Gentleman's Gentleman

Start Cutscene:
bank_manager says telepathically, "i say! is someone out there? i could use a spot of assistance here!"
sky_king says, "that voice sounds familiar."
liberty_lad says, "alfred!"

#----------

Encounter: Gentleman's Gentleman
Type: Rescue Caged
Allies: bank_manager
Next: End

Alert Cutscene:
Red arrow on bank_manager
Camera on liberty_lad
liberty_lad says, "it's coming from the next room. hang on, alfred!"

Start Cutscene:
Camera on bank_manager
liberty_lad says, "there he is!"
sky_king says, "we'll have you free in a jiffy, mr. alfred."

End Cutscene:
liberty_lad walks to bank_manager
Cinematic camera on liberty_lad to bank_manager
bank_manager turns to liberty_lad
bank_manager says, "thank goodness you've returned, master robin! things are in a dreadful state!"


In the "Ruby's Revenge" encounter, I wanted the head badguy (bacchite_red) to be in the scene, and be interrogate-able, but not actually take part in the fight. So I set her up as an Ally and made it a Chat Encounter. Then I have "Ruby's Retreat", a Remove Ally Encounter, to get rid of her. All that plays out fine, but then the next encounter, "Gentleman's Gentleman", never starts. Where am I messing up? Is there a better way to accomplish what I'm trying to do?

[BentonGrey]

Hmm, on a quick read through I'm not seeing anything out of the ordinary.  I'll try and give it a closer reading tomorrow.

[M25]

bank_manager is not a part of FFvTTR, so that may be the problem.

It does play for me, but I had to add the bank_manager.

At any rate, you don't need the Remove Ally encounter.  It is used to remove named allies that follow you around, not regular allies that are only a part of a single encounter.  EZ script will remove the chat character automatically.

[JKCarrier]

bank_manager is not a part of FFvTTR

Aha, that's probably it. Looking at FFEdit, there is a template for him in my main FFX3 folder (which has all kinds of add-on clutter in it), but not in the "clean" install I did for my mod folder. I'll swap it out for something else.

At any rate, you don't need the Remove Ally encounter.

Even better. Thanks!

[M25]

You can change the dat files directory in the configuration window (under the Panels menu) to the actual mod folder you are using and it will point out when a character is missing.

[BentonGrey]

D'oh!  You know, I noticed that, but I thought that he was probably someone JKC had added in.  You know what they say about assumptions.

[JKCarrier]

A question about "Examine" encounters: I notice that after you've clicked on the object, it disappears a few seconds later. Is there a way to make the object stay around?

[M25]

If you give an object or character a name, then they won't be culled when the encounter is over.

Objects: crate named bob

[JKCarrier]

Great, thanks! Can't have that giant penny disappearing from the Batcave. 

[JKCarrier]

So, playing the demo for "Arkham Asylum" put me in the mood to work on this again.  A couple questions:

1) How do you get your mission objectives to show up on the "Objectives" tab? I've got them called out in my script, e.g.:

Code Select Expand

Encounter: Every Cop A Criminal
Type: Interrogation
Marker: policestation
Villains: cop_crooked
Minions: cop_crooked
Primary Objective: "defeat the crooked cops!"
Next: Divide and Conquer

and I used the EZ Script Editor to generate the captions (and FFEdit to generate the language DATs). All the dialogue and talking heads stuff works, but the Objectives are blank. Is there something else I need to do?

2) Is there a way to get rid of that initial cut scene when you start a new campaign (the animated one that recaps the first game)?

Thanks!

[Previsionary]

2. You can't completely remove the opening cutscene like you could in FF1, but Lunarman made a simple fix for that sometime ago. Find it here: http://thedod.freedomforceforever.com/

[John Jr.]

Another Mod? Great!
The only thing I saw missing was the prestige and xp values to your objective.
Maybe something like this works:
Primary Objective: "Defeat the crooked cops" for 200 prestige and 10 xp
Hope it helps!

[JKCarrier]

Previsionary - I'm getting a "Error 403 - Forbidden" when I try to follow that link.

John Jr. - Aha! That did the trick. Thanks! I wondered why there were prestige awards in the Legion mod, when they weren't actually levelling up (great mod, by the way). 

[John Jr.]

Previsionary - I'm getting a "Error 403 - Forbidden" when I try to follow that link.

John Jr. - Aha! That did the trick. Thanks! I wondered why there were prestige awards in the Legion mod, when they weren't actually levelling up (great mod, by the way).  

I'm glad you liked the Mod, JK. I will use more of your creations in part 2 (i love your  70's Supergirl!).
I'm receiving the "Error 403 - Forbidden" message too, but I have the files you need. I'll send it to you.

[JKCarrier]

Got the start files, thanks John!

[John Jr.]

You're welcome, JK.
Good luck with the Mod!

[JKCarrier]

I'm having trouble setting up a "Heist" encounter. The encounter itself seems to work, but neither the "Item Lost" nor the "Item Recovered" cutscenes play. As soon as I beat the enemies (or they escape), it just jumps immediately to the next encounter. Here's the script:

Code Select Expand

#----------

Encounter: Z Marks the Spot
Type: Heist
Villains: mafioso
Minions: thug_with_bat, thug_with_gun
Item: zorro
Marker: museum1
Primary Objective: "recover the stolen painting!" for 1 prestige and 1 xp
Next: Crime Alley Reunion

Alert Cutscene:
Set lighting to night
Camera on jeweler1 zoom 1000 heading 180
narrator says, "night in gotham city."
narrator says, "normally, the masked crimefighter known as batman patrols these streets..."
Camera on batgirl zoom 0 heading 45
narrator says, "...but tonight a different figure lurks on the rooftops."
batgirl says, "it's been over a week now since anyone's seen batman. OR bruce wayne."
batgirl says, "if anyone can take care of himself, it's the caped crusader."
batgirl says, "but i can't help feeling that something is seriously wrong."
Play sound alarm_readyroom at batgirl
batgirl turns to Villain1
batgirl says, "an alarm! sounds like it's coming from the gotham museum."
Red Arrow on Villain1

Start Cutscene:
Remove Arrow on mafioso
Cinematic Camera on Minion1 to Villain1
Minion1 says, "no cops, no batman...this is the life!"
Villain1 turns to Minion1
Villain1 says, "shaddup and grab dat pitchur for the boss!"
Cinematic Camera on batgirl to Villain1
batgirl turns to Villain1
batgirl says, "i'm happy you boys have an appreciation for fine art..."
batgirl says, "...but that doesn't mean you can take it home with you!"
Villain1 turns to batgirl
Villain1 says, "crud! it's the bat-dame! grab the merch and run!"

Item Recovered Cutscene:
Cinematic Camera on batgirl
batgirl says, "wait...this isn't a painting, it's an old movie poster!"
batgirl says, "'the mark of zorro'."
batgirl says, "out of all the pieces in the museum, why steal this?"

Item Lost Cutscene:
Cinematic Camera on batgirl
batgirl says, "they got away!"
batgirl says, "(sigh) all that time in washington playing congresswoman has made me rusty."
batgirl says, "i'm glad robin wasn't here to see that. he'd never let me hear the end of it!"

#----------

[M25]

It may be a bug in EZ script.  As a work around, you can put a Cutscene encounter in between Z Marks the Spot and Crime Alley Reunion

Z Marks the Spot
Next: if Item Lost: Painting Lost
Next: if Item Recovered: Painting Recovered

...

Painting Lost
Type: Cutscene
Next: Crime Alley Reunion
Start Cutscene
<the item lost cutscene>

Painting Recovered
Type: Cutscene
Next: Crime Alley Reunion
Start Cutscene
<item recovered cutscene>

[JKCarrier]

As a work around, you can put a Cutscene encounter in between Z Marks the Spot and Crime Alley Reunion

That worked! Thanks!