Project: class based respawn a`la bf1942

[Morpheus1024]

Hi,

Recently i`ve worked on some kind of bf1942-style fun maps (along with a new island inspired by the upcoming bf2 zatar wetlands map )
For this map i am coding a script frame which handles respawn, capturing flags/control zones, ordering artillery/close air support etc.
Unfortunately there occured some problems with the respawning script. As the player chooses his class before game start, it seems to be impossible to change it during the current game. As a workaround, i`ve simulated most classes through the use of the according class equipment, e.g. m60 for the machinegunner, m21 for the sniper etc.
The main problem are the special classes: officer, medic, sniper... As the leadership ability (bird perspective, giving orders to ai) of the officer is transferable, that could be scripted, as well as giving the officer class some kind of pda like equipment to call in support/airstrikes/artillery barrage etc.
Problem with the medic class is that he is the only one able to heal others... is it possible to script that ability to a non-medic class (only temporarily)? Maybe depending on some kind of medical equipment? The problem with the sniper class is only visual, as i think a sniper should retain his guille suit... a normal soldier class with a sniper rifle does not really make him a sniper, doesn`t it?
Is there any possibility to change models or textures in-game? Or any workaround?

Second part are the icons used on the map... as i planned to use a whole new bunch of realistic tactical symbols i`ve created them according to nato standards. The problem is, that the occurence of the map icons is somewhat unpredictable... each unit has a fixed icon in its config.bin entry, but i`ve not worked out when exactly these icons occur... sometimes only the 'unknown' icon appears, sometimes there appears a red tank with a time attached (which should mark a sighted enemy tank at time X)...
Is there any way to control the use of this icons? It would be fine if i could script the behaviour, as this would leave me some more options to implement, like e.g. an surveillance radar, which tracks positions of vehicles/aircraft as radar blips. Additionally i would be able to change the icons according to the current equipment, so i would get the right symbols for the right class, even if i couldn`t change the class to ofp engine restrictions...
Unfortunately my first test with this showed up some more difficulties... the standard icons (as in the config.bin) has to be disbabled (meaning to be directed to an empty picture, so being 'invisible&#39, to prevent any interference with the scripted marker icons, as these would be laid upon the normal icons by my script.... The disadvantage is, that the icons would be invisible also in editor mode... mybe i would have to configs, one for editing, one for gaming...
The next problem occurs with the need to get information about known enemies. To show only detected enemy forces i have to test the 'knows about' variable, so that only sighted enemy forces icons are presented on that sides map (in the according colour, red for enemy troops, blue for own troops)...
When testing the knows about variable , i found out, that it didn`t work for players... ai soldiers knows about X value increased in a nearly linear scale, but for a player it remains almost at 0, increasing nearly instantly to the max. value, but only if the enemy is about 10 meters away....
Any suggestions for this problem?

O.k., long post & many questions, but if anybody has a clue to solve some of this problems or have any workaround for some of this ideas, please let me know


Greetings,

Morpheus1024

[Placebo]

You can find some info about healing which may help here, I found it by searching for "heal", always handy to try a search yourself first

As for your map icons I don't know but you can check out these NATO map marking symbols and see if they help

[.granQ.]

looking kinda for same thing, for me biggest problem so far is making the respawn dialog (since i never made any dialog).

just started on my mission and thinking making it like a counter strike merge with battle field but with ofp "gameplay"