@ PrplPplEater
First, you're a lucky one having the 2 kinds of computer. I'm mostly on a Mac but I have now a PC at work, and already gave a couple of shots at the AoM PC version, and.. got so depressed right away since it's quite different, like AoM hasn't been written the same way at all for PC and Mac. I have to redo an entire scenario, almost, from playtesting it onto my new, but work related, PC machine...
Anyway, triggers are... okay, and a lot easier than they first appear to be. I thought I would never play with it... and now I do! Sometimes...
You can always have AoM do whatever you want it to. Almost...
So I will speak for Vanilla only! 1) Cinematics: ( some advices have to be credited to The Vandhaal , check on her links in my signature. ) Avoid the lag:
A) Use small maps as much as possible: Better to make a campaign with 10 small maps... than one stupidly heavy scenario on one single huge map... as I did.
B) Keep your map as empty as possible: Cinematic Blocks instead of units and buildings.
First place a unit or a building how and where you want it to be, to make sure it's gonna
- face the right direction ( = heading )
- belong to the player of your choice.
then at the very beginning of your scenario fire an immediate and high priority trigger with a " Change Unit Type " effect for these selected! units and buildings into a Cinematic Block.
Further on, at the very moment you need it to show on the map... and a bit earlier sometimes... fire an immediate and high priority trigger with a reverse " Change Unit Type " effect into what it was before. That works even for buildings and units stucked, compiled? in each others.
C) Try having your cinematics looking towards the outside of the map:
Where there is nothing heavy. I hate doing this... but it's worthed.
D) Don't use to low view angles such as 0 to 10,even minus, such as -10:
I hate doing this... and I don't! But it's my choice. I can't compromise on everything.[Edit part, how could I have forgotten this! It's the most important! And I have only been doing it for the last 2 months! So, here we go:
E) Use Ghost Armies: They don't weight on the gameplay as long as they haven't been triggerly fired! Also, as soon as you don't need units... and they are still alive, just fire them... back to the Cinematic Blocks where they belong! Easily done with... Ghost Armies! Edited!] 2) A way to modify health:
There is an effect: " Set Current Hp " for the health stuff, which you could even " loop " if you need it.
Or have this unit " reborn ", with its full health again ( " Change Unit Type " effect, to itself, and only if you feel like, over and over, meaning you could even set it on a loop or depending on special conditions of your scenario needs. ) That could give a very interesting result by the way sometimes, depending on the unit such as... 3) A way to modify attack:
All I know of is using loads of specific relics, and stack them into 1 or more temples.
Chamale, another Mac user, mentionned you could use this amazing " Set Tech Status " effect, even multiple times, by selecting the appropriate " Attack " technic you're looking for. I never tried it since, but it never worked with me before. The problem is it won't show into the " Status " box when! you come back to it for checking after having been working on another trigger. But he said it doesn' matter. I tried that, long time ago, and didn't succeed! Definitely worth trying anyway... as always! 4) The whole AI thing:
A)Keep it simple! unless you have specific needs:
Editor >>> Scenario >>> Player Data:
Hit the AI button next to the player of you choice, scroll the newly opened AoM/directory window, select! " aomdefaultai.xs ", and click " Open " ( but don't double click on aomdefaultai ).
Set all involved players to either " CPU " ( computer controlled ) or " Human ".
The " Human " player has to be the one you selected within the " Place objects " window!
B)The difficulty level you choose when you start playing a scenario, from " Easy " to " Titan ". Very important!!!!!!!! This is where the AI is really gonna get involved. Basically, " Easy " is gonna make you stay alive, and " Titan "... won't.[This message has been edited by jml (edited 07-11-2006 @ 04:33 PM).]