Transporting Units/etc from map to map / Campaign Editor

1,431 posts
Germany (NRW/Detmold)
joined 2004-05-05

#12004-06-23

Transporting Units/etc from map to map / Campaign Editor

This will be an example for a two map long campaign where the hero and the player's money is transported. The campaign is uploaded on this site, here's the quick-link:
http://www.wc3sear.ch/?p=Maps&ID=9634
You can extract the maps from the campaign by opening the campaign in the campaign editor, right-click on the map and "extract map".
Important: When creating game-caches, labels, variables and all that stuff, remember NOT to put any spaces in their names. E.g. "OneMoreVariable" is a valid name, while "One More Variable" is not. As far as I know WE doesn't allow to put spaces while naming variables anyway. However, that doesn't fit for games-caches or the labels/categories used in a cache. WE won't tell you that there's a problem, it just won't work.

On our first map, we create these variables:

http://img15.exs.cx/img15/9328/CPN_tut_map01_variables.jpg

Then, we create following triggers:

http://img15.exs.cx/img15/6147/CPN_tut_map01_trigger01.jpg
http://img15.exs.cx/img15/294/CPN_tut_map01_trigger02.jpg
http://img15.exs.cx/img15/4793/CPN_tut_map01_trigger03.jpg
http://img15.exs.cx/img15/3488/CPN_tut_map01_trigger04.jpg

In the second map we need these triggers:

http://img15.exs.cx/img15/9499/CPN_tut_map02trigger01.jpg
http://img15.exs.cx/img15/6708/CPN_tut_map02trigger02a.jpg
http://img15.exs.cx/img15/9029/CPN_tut_map02trigger03a.jpg

OK. Now we open the Campaign Editor:

http://img14.exs.cx/img14/580/CPN_tut_01open_cpn_editor.jpg

Now it should look this way:

http://img15.exs.cx/img15/3681/CPN_tut_02_cpn_editor.jpg

I called my campaign "Unit Transport". Now, we select "Unit Transport" in "map files" and right-click on it. There's the option "add map":

http://img15.exs.cx/img15/4537/CPN_tut_04add_map01.jpg

There, we select our first map:

http://img15.exs.cx/img15/3808/CPN_tut_03add_map02.jpg

The Campaign editor checks now if there's any trigger inside the map which gives information about the following map (Game - Set next level) and shows the path

http://img15.exs.cx/img15/8581/CPN_tut_05map_added.jpg

Now we right-click on that path and add the second map.

http://img15.exs.cx/img15/1439/CPN_tut_06second_map.jpg

After doing so, we click "Loading Screen" (upper panel, atm we are in "General"). There, we right-click on the white field

http://img15.exs.cx/img15/6407/CPN_tut_07add_button.jpg

Now we add an button. It's important for the first map that we mark "Visible (first time campaign is loaded)". "Title" is for the name in the campaign menu, here I called it "UnitTransportButton1

http://img15.exs.cx/img15/9184/CPN_tut_08button01.jpg

We add a second button concerning to our second map. There we don't mark "Visible", else the players could chose every map right from beginning

http://img15.exs.cx/img15/6517/CPN_tut_09button02.jpg

Looking at "General", it should be like this:

http://img15.exs.cx/img15/2804/CPN_tut_10finished2.jpg

Now we add one small action in the first map by right-clicking on the map choosing "Edit Map". This will just change the file integrated in the campaign, the original map-file (the one you created before importing them in the campaign editor) won't be changed. If you do your changes in the original map-file, you'll have to replace the map in campaign editor by right-clicking and choosing "Replace Map".

http://img15.exs.cx/img15/5220/CPN_tut_map01_triggerButton.jpg

For further information, use the demo campaign that comes with TFT. All I know about game-caches, cinematics or else I learned from that campaign. Most of the triggers there are well explained and show various ways of how to play with game-caches.

PM me if you find any mistakes in this tutorial

Vegito

228 posts
USA, California
joined 2004-06-20

#22004-09-09

good job

matt75

82 posts
Philippines
joined 2004-05-09

#32004-09-12

Thanks man!! That helped me for my campaign.

KaosX

1 posts
joined 2004-10-09

#42004-10-10

hello there, this tutorial was amazing but there is something that i need to know(if possible):

Do you know how to link map, in a way i can go back to the last map(like a submap, where do you go to make a quest and them returns to the main map).

if you know plz post here, and thx for reading.

DarkShadow

1,431 posts
Germany (NRW/Detmold)
joined 2004-05-05

#52004-10-12

Hm, that is MUCH harder. Can't really help though I never made a multiple-map rpg or else, but I can give you an idea:

You need sth like a trigger that, when it runs, stores all necessary information (discovered area, fallen enemies, quests, destroyed buildings,...) in a game cache and then loads the submap. After leaving the submap, you load the main map and change everything via triggers using the game cache information so it almost looks like you left it when entering the submap. Darky used sth with save game/load game triggers in RotD, but I'm not really sure how he did everything (though it doesn't work for me)

orcfan32

334 posts
Computer 24\7
joined 2004-07-03

#62004-10-12

To DarkShadow: Thank-you for someone finally writing this tutorial, it was VERY easy to understand. I am hoping to see more tutorials written by you, and you are guaranteed that I will read them. 5000/10 - Great job, DarkShadow!

StrateRecord3

25 posts
New Zealand!
joined 2004-10-09

#72004-10-14

campaigns only?

Can you do this awesome function in normal maps? It would be awesome! (but i doubt it)

DarkShadow

1,431 posts
Germany (NRW/Detmold)
joined 2004-05-05

#82004-10-14

You mean normal singleplayer maps? Yes, you can. Some patches (and TFT) ago this was the only way to create a campaign, but you have to care in which folders you place the maps. Only problem is multiplayer: Game Caches are deleted after you left a B.Net/LAN-game, what makes them useless for multiplayer.

Modeler

460 posts
joined 2004-08-27

#92004-10-19

...

Ty, very clear tutorial, not one flaw, and i look for flaws

Touji-za-nai

3 posts
NewYork
joined 2004-11-24

#102005-03-09

AHHHH NOOO!!!!! You CAN use Game Cache in Multiplayer!!!!!!!

ahhhhh i must know how u do it!?!??! EVER QUEST, NIGHT OF THE DEAD, V QUEST, RESEDINT EVIL, DARK DEEDS, They all have game caches, How elsew would u b able to save ur unit/values and load him up again in a diff game?!?! PLZZZ I MUST KNOW!!!!!!

-=Emergenzy=-

372 posts
joined 2004-07-02

#112005-03-16

No these map did't have game cache, cuz you cant use game cache in multiplayer maps.
These map use a save/load system.

There is a link below where you can download my save/load code 5, where you can learn how to create a save/load system.

DarthMora

20 posts
The Dark Pit of The Black Abyss
joined 2004-12-01

#122005-03-18

its ok only 1 problem tho,when u path where the maps load from do u load them from=C:\Program Files\Warcraft3\Maps\My Maps\Turtorial or does it already lookin wc3 OR is it on the desktop specify this!!!plus dont even make these kinds of things theres no hope ur just making fake crap that shouldnt even be told

Cosmonaut

71 posts
Australia
joined 2004-12-29

#132005-03-31

HELP PLEASE my computer wont load some of the tutorial. Is there anywhere where i can download the turtorial or something

Cosmonaut

71 posts
Australia
joined 2004-12-29

#142005-03-31

LOL it loaded dont worry anybody

<PMM>TerranUp16

131 posts
joined 2005-04-04

#152005-10-05

Just a quick tip here: DO NOT USE SPACES for any of your names (names of the variable, names of the category, names of the cache, etc...).

Also, the WCIII Demo Campaign is quite helpful as well (that demonstrates the process used for heroes; it also supplies triggers to check if anything is in the cache).