How to created a template

How to make a template

Use IL2 PF/FB Full Mission Builder (FMB). All tanks and vehicles, both moving and static are supported within the template. The thing to remember though, is balance. You don't want to over do it, nor do you want an empty field of battle. You are free to plot any chiefs that you want to move in pre-determined routes in the campaign. For example; 5 hrs of plotted movement will equate to 5 hours real time in the campaign (an hour plotted for 5 separate hour long missions). However, simple ground movement is supporting in the MP and Scorched Earth v2.0beta http://home.swiftdsl.com.au/%7E4Shades/SE_FAQ.htm 12 sur 16 28/06/2005 13:50 DCS, so you don't actually need to plot movement for ground/sea objects in the template. Just be aware that simple ground movement takes no notice of terrain features, objects ordered to move in the MP will follow their routes literally using straight lines through towns, across rivers etc. The same applies for sea units. Note that carrier air operations are not yet supported. To re-iterate, with SE2.0 there is NO NEED to build templates with all ground movement specified up front. SE2.0 fully supports dynamic air, sea and ground movement at the commanders' whims. SE campaigns are now open-ended! Please note, scenery is supported and will now take effect! Feel free to place trees, buildings wherever you like to add atmosphere. They will be placed in each successive SE mission file, but their damage state will NOT be tracked. Two BIG things to note about putting aircraft in the template are: Give ALL your desired aircraft units AIR STARTS with a few waypoints directing them to LAND at their intended deployment airbases. Once the template is loaded, all planes will be at their designated landing bases. NEVER use flight numbers in the 4th Staffel/Squadron/Daitai of any Gruppe/Regiment/Kokutai when you assign squadrons to your flights in the template. SE uses the 4th Staffel/Squadron/Daitai of all Gruppen/Regiments/Kokutai for internal routing, so if you take one of these names, errors may occur. For example, IV_JG7_13 is OK (means IV/JG7 Staffel 2 Schwarm 4) but IV_JG7_31 is BAD (means IV/JG7 Staffel 4 Schwarm 2). Another new feature is the in-template support for campaign objectives. Template builders can now specify what campaign objectives each side will get. The objectives can be put inside the .properties file alongside the standard template .mis file. Put your general campaign background/context text inside the <ARMY NONE> tag (both sides can read the contents of this tag in the MP); then put your Allied campaign objectives inside the <ARMY RED> tag (only visible to Allied commanders in the MP) and your Axis objectives inside the <ARMY BLUE> tag for the Axis commanders to read. The template then is contained in TWO files, e.g "myTemplate.mis" and "myTemplate.properties". Of course, the host can alter campaign objectives at any time as he/she sees fit, using the MP "Manage Campaign" facility. Close both <ARMY RED> and <ARMY BLUE> tags with </ARMY>. _ _ Initializing a Template The Scorched Earth team will endeavour to offer a single test template per supported map. Presently there are 9 maps that are supported in 2.0beta; these are Ardennes, Crimea, Kuban, L'vov, New Guinea, Normandy, Prokhorovka, Stalingrad and Tunis. For example sake, we will talk about the Normandy template. The Normandy template mission is Normandy_1944.mis. To load this template is EASY - just start your DCS, make sure the DB is clean (DCS: File: Flush Database), then enter your desired host name and theatre name. Where it says HOST, make up a unique HOST system name. For example SE_YourName? or SE_YourLocation? or whatever you want. Then there is a theatre name, this is meant to distinguish your campaign, so use something catchy. The screenshot above shows this common naming convention. The Host Name is used as a prefix for missions created by this DCS PC. The Theatre Name is used to designate a single campaign. Then hit the "Initialize Campaign" button. This will bring up a file dialog box that you can use to find the Normandy_1944.mis file and hit OK. The DCS will then process the template file and load the database with the initial settings. I told you it was easy. You will see something like the following... all ready to build the next mission (this is where you start creating orders with the MP). Scorched Earth v2.0beta http://home.swiftdsl.com.au/%7E4Shades/SE_FAQ.htm 13 sur 16 28/06/2005 13:50