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Operation Flashpoint
If there's any game I currently obsess over, it's Operation Flashpoint. It's a FPS tactical shooter, with an impressive terrain engine. The game uses a series of large islands for its scenarios, and infantry, armor, and air units are all available. The game focuses mostly on infantry combat, however. Like every other game I've obsessed over, I've gotten into editing the game.Missions: Hot Extraction
Local download link is here. I began work on this mission based on suggestions by some Something Awful goons that I have been playing with. They wanted more multiplayer missions involving helicopters and infantry. I came up with a mission that we've been fiddling with for awhile now. I've decided that it has some rough spots, but it's workable enough to run right consistently -- given you know a few things ahead of time.Summary
A helicopter carrying some infantry has been shot down somewhere in the southern half of Kolgujev island. A combat search and rescue helicopter has been prepared in US- occupied territory on a small island north of Kolgujev. The CSAR helicopter must rendezvous with the downed crew, extract them, and return them to base.What makes the mission so difficult is randomization. The crash site is random each time the mission runs. It could be out in the woods somewhere. I didn't use preset positions -- I just set up the downed squad to show up somewhere in a general region. They will, however, all spawn together. Furthermore, the type of enemies you'll run into will vary, and they way they'll behave is somewhat randomized as well. You could play the mission once, and run into nobody; play it again and get overwhelmed.
I hope you can appreciate how difficult it's been to test the mission, but I estimate at least over 50 hours of multiplayer testing has been done, above all the testing I've done myself on two personal machines.
I'd like to warn you that the mission is very hard. The folks I play with and I don't beat it too often. After talking to them, it seems most people like it that way, and think most of the challenge is just in the randomization. I've done some things to soften it up, but it's still pretty tought. Just wanted to warn you now and let you know I'm not trying to flaunt my Internet geming e-penis.
Requirements
- Operation Flashpoint: Resistance version 1.96 or higher. I use some scripting commands only available in the newer releases. Patch yourself up if you are using a stock copy of the game.
- Ballistic Addon Studios (BAS) Blackhawk addon. Here's a download link from GotFlashpoint. You'll likely have this addon if you've collected addons before. Sadly, I only use this addon for the wreck. Using a default Blackhawk as a wreck casues it to wobble its way out of any forest in which it may spawn.
- Fortress-ofp's Bunker Pack 5. I use the mgpos.pbo for fortified machine gun checkpoints. There's a link to this pack on ofp.info. If that ever fails, look on the Internet for bunkerpack5b.zip.
- JAM Magazines. Here's a download link from GotFlashpoint. This is also common for addon collectors. It provides a universal ammunition format for addon makers, but I use it for other reasons: RPGs that the AI will fire at aircraft and infantry, along with a more interesting list of weapons. It allows the Soviet troops to take pot shots at the CSAR helicopter with RPGs.
- Street Lamps. OFP Info has a copy of this PBO. I used it for illuminating the checkpoints at night. The default lamps don't actually illuminate ground when activated.
Let me know if there seems to be a problem with missing addons. I have a huge list here, and I can't really tell when I'm looking at a default addon and something that most people actually don't have.
You'll need a multiplayer host and at least two people to play. One person must pilot the CSAR helicopter and another must lead the downed squad. The mission will quit if these conditions aren't met. I recommend playing with at least 7 people -- that's about the number where I found it possible to win fairly frequently. Once you have 12 people, the mission becomes a lot easier.
Known Issues
- In veteran mode, the downed squad initially doesn't know where it is, but spotted enemies will still appear on the map. This makes it possible to determine where you are without actively looking.
- Some of the enemy reserve vehicles don't reinforce the checkpoints when they are attacked.
- There are some performance considerations from the number of units involved. This is a main reason the next version would be a rewrite. Better coordination of smaller troops could be just as effective and reduce the server load. Be glad I took out the enemy helicopter in the beginning.
- Debriefs don't always show up on all computers.
- When the CSAR is shot down, the mission tends to end very quickly -- before people have a chance to figure out what just happened.
- Same could be true of the downed squad, but it usually takes longer for the whole squad to die out.
- As mentioned before, the mission is very hard. There's been mixed views on making it easier. The old attempts at making the mission easier resulted in a mission where the squad would run around without encountering enemies. In a game, that's rather boring.
Special Thanks
Much thanks to the people at the Operation Flashpoint Editing Center (OFPEC) forums for their support. This was my first real mission, and I ran into all kinds of strange problems.As mentioned before, the Something Awful forum goons were the first to suggest this mission, and have been very patient in playtesting it.
Finally, thinks to General Barron for his formation script. I use it to spread out the Soviet search party across wide, staggered line formations.