Home » MODDING HQ 1.13 » v1.13 Idea Incubation Lab » Helicopter repair and refuel
| Helicopter repair and refuel[message #329091]
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Thu, 19 December 2013 20:20 
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 anv |
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Messages:258
Registered:March 2013 |
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Helicopter Repair
Buggler informed me that there exist Waldo Zimmer's lines and NPC script entries suggesting that he was supposed to be able to repair helicopter, but it wasn't handled in code.
Now, if WALDO_CAN_REPAIR_HELICOPTER is TRUE, helicopter is damaged and safely landed in the same sector Waldo is in (usually Drassen airport), you can speak to him directly, and he'll offer to conduct necessary repairs.
Repair takes time - while it's in progress you can't use helicopter. Time depends on amount of damage, but may vary randomly by few hours.
Cost of repair is dependent on damage too, but if WALDO_SUBSEQUENT_REPAIRS_COST_INCREASE is TRUE, it also increases with subsequent repairs - to simulate available parts scarcity and prevent exploiting.
Also, if WALDO_OFFERS_REPAIR_IN_STRATEGIC is TRUE, and you've met him before, Waldo will offer repair himself as soon as damaged heli lands in his sector. If Silent Skyrider option is set in options screen, only message box prompt will be shown (Silent Waldo?).
More specific settings kept in Helicopter_Settings.INI (costs, time, etc.).
Damaged Skyrider won't fly
Normally, after taking the second hit Skyrider automatically returns to base - but then immediately after touching ground he can fly again like nothing happened. Now, if SERIOUSLY_DAMAGED_SKYRIDER_WONT_FLY is TRUE, he will refuse to fly until you perform repairs.
Alternative Helicopter Fuel System
There exist commented sections in code suggesting that helicopter's range was supposed to be limited.
Now, if ALTERNATIVE_HELICOPTER_FUEL_SYSTEM is TRUE:
- Helicopter can fly up to 25 sectors (by default). It does include way back! Now taking Estoni is important, or you won't reach Meduna and Grumm.
- Every sector helicopter flies through uses up 1 fuel unit.
- Hovering uses up fuel just like flying (you can fly for hours between sectors, but 10 minutes in the same place and you have to come back? I call bullshit, Bullock.). By default hovering for 10 minutes equals fuel needed for flying through 1 sector. Time of hovering is additive, meaning you'll still use 1 fuel unit if you hover for 5 minutes in one sector and for 5 in another.
- Hovering costs money - less than travel though - HELICOPTER_HOVER_COST_ON_GREEN_TILE, HELICOPTER_HOVER_COST_ON_RED_TILE.
- Helicopter refuels automatically when landed at base, for free (let's say price is included in Skyrider bill).
- Refuel isn't instant. Time of refuel scales with amount of fuel used up. If tank is completely empty, you'll need 30 minutes to fully refill. If you're in hurry, you can fly away before it's finished, but you'll have proportionally less fuel (and less range).
Specific values customizable in Helicopter_Settings.INI.
Pay Skyrider in base only
If HELICOPTER_PAY_SKYRIDER_IN_BASE is TRUE, Skyrider will charge you for entire journey only after safe return to base. I mean - he says "I'll be looking to get paid when the trip's over", right?
Skyrider charges for return to base
If HELICOPTER_RETURN_TO_BASE_IS_NOT_FREE is TRUE, automatic return to base costs money too. Normally, if you order Skyrider to return by selecting airport as destination point he charges you, but if he gets seriously hit or out of fuel and returns on his own, he doesn't - so players usually exploit it by ordering him to hover until he runs out. Not anymore.
Passengers getting hit
Helicopter isn't exactly armored transporter, so when it gets hit and HELICOPTER_PASSENGERS_CAN_GET_HIT is TRUE, there's a chance puny meatbags inside get hurt too. By default only few scratches will happen, but it might be enough to require medical attention for passenger and throw player's plans into turmoil.
Message box before kicking people out
Normally when running out of fuel, Skyrider automatically kicks passengers out. If HELICOPTER_ASK_BEFORE_KICKING_PASSENGERS_OUT is TRUE, you'll get message box with option to leave passengers in. It doesn't extend to kicking people out when you owe him money though. (Idea sto... ehrm, borrowed from Night Ops).
Externalised vanilla values
HELICOPTER_TIME_DELAY_FOR_HOVER_WAIT, HELICOPTER_TIME_DELAY_FOR_HOVER_WAIT_TOO_LONG, HELICOPTER_SAM_SITE_ACCURACY -> Helicopter_Settings.INI. Cause why not.
Backwards compatibility
As far as I know.
Credits
Buggler - ideas, balancing, testing, feedback
Download
Files + diff
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| Re: Helicopter repair and refuel[message #329092]
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Thu, 19 December 2013 21:09 
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| Flugente |
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Messages:3509
Registered:April 2009
Location: Germany |
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Very nice one! :ok:
Though I fear my campaigns will take significantly longer now^^
Edit: Will commit later. Currently my builds are full of stuff I need to commit prior.
You could also announce this on the Portal Page....
Edit 2: Committed in r6695 and GameDir r1897.
[Updated on: Fri, 20 December 2013 00:23] by Moderator Report message to a moderator
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| Re: Helicopter repair and refuel[message #329153]
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Sat, 21 December 2013 18:59
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| anv |
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Messages:258
Registered:March 2013 |
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@Taro: That was the original design, to let Skyrider land in any sector with appropriate terrain and display helicopter graphics (basing on externalised helicopter sites feature) on ground, but it's put on hold till it's possible to use helicopter graphics even on maps with tilesets not containing it - similar problem as with fortifications. I was especially thinking of actual "get to the choppah while it's under fire" EVACS instead of boring "in strategic change assignment to helicopter" EVACS.
@Maalstroom: There no reason why some full-conversion mod that already overwrites default maps with its own couldn't change strategic map dimensions, and it shouldn't even be particularly hard. Problem with collecting maps floating around and extending already existing strategic map with them, even assuming tilesets compatibility, is that they're not necessarily work fine together. Sector maps have to reflect strategic map and follow common logical guidelines - cities where the cities are, roads, forests, mountains, jungle here, tundra there, otherwise it makes no sense. I'd rather see well-crafted big maps in place of vanilla ones.
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| Re: Helicopter repair and refuel[message #330305]
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Tue, 04 February 2014 13:41
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| Martjs |
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Messages:10
Registered:August 2007
Location: Portugal |
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Ok, Flugente and Silversurfer :
I understand your concern about a "jammer".
It may create an unbalance on the game, since, it will able you (theoretically speaking) to fly anywhere. But, a computer is something very hard to get at the beginning of the game. I think you just can buy it at Balime. Much like the x-ray detector. Balime is a very hard city to maintain. it is constantly menaced by the queen troops and mostly by Elite one's.
Another thing is that Skyrider still makes you pay the entering on a danger zone.
Thirdly, the idea of JMich sounds very reasonable, although I think the proportions somewhat hard.
The last time I played I attacked Orta by helicopter, in a paratrooper manner. The helicopter was hit only just before getting to Orta. Meaning that sometimes it would be logical to protect the Helicopter.
Also, we could "give the helicotper "life" like the robot. It would be possible to repair it by highly skilled technicians, like Barry, but just on a airport.
What we might gain form this is the ability to do some critical strike opp's.
It is a bit like the Ambushes that the Queen teams are able to do us in some areas.
If the game turns unattractive, I don't know.
I don't feel it will make it easier.
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