StealthyDeath
12-28-2004, 9:19 PM
Note: If this FAQ is not comprehensive enough, you can visit the Mapping FAQ on Starcraft.org, which is quite extensive itself.
http://www.starcraft.org/maps/MappingFAQ
If you're a newbie mapper, one thing I recommend you do is check out StarCraft X-tra Editor. This program can do a little more than the usual StarCraft Campaign can do. Also available are StarForge and SCMDraft, which are both advanced map editors. If you find you can't do certain things with your editor, try a different editor. One of these editors is likely to be able to do what you want. You can find download links to a lot of programs by going to the StarCraft Mapping and Modding Resource Guide (http://www.warboards.org/showthread.php?t=9407).
Mapping
General Mapping
What is a SCUM? by BSTRhino
SCUMS stands for StarCraft User Maps or StarCraft Use Map Settings. When people refer to SCUMS, they're talking about StarCraft maps.
Where do I download...? by BSTRhino
There are a number of places you can find mapping programs. The main one at Warboards.org is the StarCraft Mapping and Modding Resource Guide (http://www.warboards.org/showthread.php?t=9407).
I tried to open a map, but I just get "StarCraft was unable to open [...]. Please make sure that the file is a valid Starcraft data file." by BSTRhino
This map has been protected with a special program so that no one can open it in an editor. This is to protect the map from being changed and redistributed under a different author on Battle.net, an action which is known as stealing maps. If you are interested in learning how specific parts of the map was done, the best thing to do is, first see if the answer to your question is in this FAQ, then maybe try contacting the author or asking on the forums.
I heard there's some unprotecting program! Where can I get it? by Nahotnoj
You can't get it. Don't go around asking for it, it will only cause mistrust and is against the forum rules as well.
What does SCXE stand for? by BSTRhino
SCXE stands for StarCraft X-tra Editor, you can download it from the StarCraft Mapping and Modding Resource Guide (http://www.warboards.org/showthread.php?t=9407).
Which map editor is the best? by UED77
There is no single answer. Those who give you one are either inexperienced or too biased. SCMDraft is probably the best tool for terraining, but it lacks triggers. For that, use either StarEdit or SCXE. Starforge should be your choice if you either wish to manipulate triggers as if they were plain text, or if you would like to place units that snap to a customizable grid. You can even enter the coordinates in the unit dialog to move the unit to another place.
'How do I...?' Questions regarding terrain, things on it, and other aesthetics of map making.
How to do I make terrain which has straight edges? by StealthyDeath
Here in the map making world, we call this square terrain. To make it, download SCMDraft 2 or StarForge. You can find the links to these programs in the StarCraft Mapping and Modding Resource Guide (http://www.warboards.org/showthread.php?t=9407).
How do I make it so lots of SCVs can mine one mineral like in the fastest map? by BSTRhino
It looks like one mineral, but actually it's lots of minerals stacked on top of each other in the same place. You can stack things like that using an advanced editor like StarForge or SCMDraft.
How do I change players colors? by StealthyDeath
Get StarForge, GUEdit or the SCMToolkit. StarForge is done in the Player Settings menu, GUEdit has a button to it and the SCMToolkit has an option to select it. Note that a StarEdit based editor, including SCXE, will reset the colors back to the original colors when you open the map in one of those editors.
How do you place broodlings that never die? by BSTRhino
Use the 'Create Units' trigger action to create the broodling, and it will have 0 energy. 'Create Units with Properties' does not work. Using other actions on the broodling, such as 'Modify Unit Hit Point' will cause the energy to reset allowing it to die.
How do you place lurker eggs that never die? by BSTRhino
Give them the apple of life. Just kidding. Use an editor like StarCraft Xtra Editor to place the lurker egg, and it will last forever.
How do I make cloaked bunkers buildable like in Tower D? by hidiho2
Get X-tra editor 2.6/2.5, available here: StarCraft Mapping and Modding Resource Guide (http://www.warboards.org/showthread.php?t=9407)
Next, do the following to achieve the effect in Tower D.
Locations you need to create:
-Supply follow (Only needs to be big enough to fit one supply depot. Doesn't matter where this is placed.)
-SCV Wait (This is an area on an island where SCVs can be temporarily moved to. It needs to be large enough to hold all the SCVs from all the players.)
Players: (Players you want it to happen for)
Conditions:
-Current player commands at least 1 Supply Depot.
Actions:
-Center location Supply follow on Supply Depot for (Player you want it to happen for).
Players: (Players you want it to happen for)
Conditions: Current player commands at least 1 Supply Depot
Actions:
-Remove 1 Supply Depot at Anywhere
-Create 1 Bunker at Supply follow
-Teleport (move) all SCV for (Player you want it to happen for) to SCV Wait
-Wait 50 milliseconds
-Create 3 Marine at Supply Follow
-Execute AI Script Enter closest bunker at Supply follow
-Wait 200 milliseconds
-Disable doodad state for Terran Bunker At Supply follow
How do I create Invisible Bunkers? by StealthyDeath
After you load your bunkers, use the 'Move Units' action to move the bunker somewhere else. The bunker will still fire as if it were in its original position, while the bunker itself will be where you moved it to. You can only move one bunker to one location. So you'll have to have a location for each bunker or have a moving location.
How to I make Pylonless Buildings? by StealthyDeath
Use the Set Doodad State action on the building you want to activate:
Actions:
Enable doodad state for (Protoss Building) for player at 'location'.
You'll have to add a preserve trigger because it will disable itself sometimes. This only works on 1 of the same building at a time. Each same building you want to enable must have a location of their own.
How to I get glowing wireframes? by StealthyDeath
Download StarForge. Go to Units Settings > (Unit you want to use). In the First HP box put 2 and in the second one put 1. There are other combinations for different glows, but this is the commonly used one. Glowing wireframes are generally used if the unit is invincible. The second HP box is the HP the unit will have in the game.
'How do I...?' Questions regarding triggering functionality
I can't figure out how to get computer players to build/mine, all the computer does is sit there! by hidiho2
To make the computer do stuff, first, create a location around its base. Then make a basic AI Script command:
Players:
-(Your computer player)
Conditions:
-Always
Actions:
-Run AI Script: Run (AI Script) at (Your location)
You can choose a range of the AI scripts you want. If you don't know what to choose for AI Script, select Terran/Zerg/Protoss Custom Level, depending on what race your computer is. Look in your StarCraft help for full details on which AI Script does what.
How do you control shared vision? by BSTRhino
Using the AI scripts that are have names starting with 'Shared Vision ON' and 'Shared Vision OFF' you can modify the shared vision state between players. Just use a 'run AI script' action to get it to work.
How do you make hyper triggers? by hidiho2
Hyper triggers let you process triggers faster, which means you can have more complicated triggers that don't take as much time. Hyper triggers can only be used on player who does not have any wait commands. It's pretty easy, simply make a trigger for a single player that does not have any other wait commands this trigger: Wait 0 milliseconds and copy it until it fills the whole thing (you'll end up with 64 wait 0 commands), then delete one and put Preserve trigger. Save that trigger, then copy the whole trigger three times. This will ensure you have speedy hyper triggers throughout the game.
Remember, when you're using hyper triggers and you find your map isn't doing what you want, it might possibly be because you're using a 'wait' command for the player who has the hyper triggers. Sometimes wait commands get in conflict with the hyper triggers and cause a trigger to wait a very long time instead of what you set it to. There are other methods of waiting if you find your waiting essential.
How do I remove a map revealer with triggers? by AqoTrooper
StarCraft doesn't let you remove specific map revealers with the 'remove units at location' command, you can only remove all the map revealers on the map at once. If you still want to remove specific map revealers than create a location over every map revealer and when you remove them recreate the map revealers where you want the sight to stay. Another roundabout method is to use other units such as observers and dark templars to provide vision.
How do I have players start with a fixed location in a melee map? by Akuma
Go to Forces menu and uncheck 'Randomize Start Locations' for all four forces.
How do you make units roam around randomly? by BSTRhino
Use the Junk Yard Dog AI script.
Conditions:
Always
Actions:
Execute AI script 'Set Unit Order To: Junk Yard Dog (Roam around)' at 'location'.
Units roaming will roam the entire map, not just the location specified.
How do you make the computer nuke? by StealthyDeath
The computer must have both a loaded nuke silo and a ghost. The computer should also be allied to all players because they will auto target any enemy units and ignore the location specified to nuke, when the AI script 'Al Nuke Here' is executed.
This trigger will load the nuke silos.
Conditions:
Always
Actions:
Execute AI script 'BW Terran 2-A Fill Silos With Nuke (Type 1)' at '(Location where nuke silos are located)'.
This trigger will tell the ghost to nuke that location.
Conditions:
Always
Actions:
Execute AI script 'AI Nuke Here' at 'Location to Nuke'.
How do you open/close doors? by UED77
Use the "Set Doodad State" action.
DISABLE: Opens the door, disregarding its initial state.
ENABLE: Closes the door, disregarding its initial state.
TOGGLE: Changes doodad state to the opposite of its initial state. ***USAGE NOT RECOMMENDED***
However, using these commands alone will cause doors to be very buggy. To make sure doors actually work as they are supposed to, use switches. Switches are 1-bit values you can set to be 0 or 1 (cleared or set). All switches are initially cleared. Because of this, there are two separate, albeit similar approches to doing this.
If you have a door that is initially CLOSED, here's what you should do:
Notice the symbols: ‹unspecified variable› ; «specified variable»
TRIGGER: Closing the door
CONDITIONS:‹player› brings ‹quantity› ‹unit› to ‹location›
‹switch› is «set»
ACTIONS:«Enable» doodad state for ‹door› for «All Players» at ‹location›
«Clear» ‹switch›
Preserve Trigger
TRIGGER: Opening the door
CONDITIONS:‹player› brings ‹quantity› ‹unit› to ‹location›
‹switch› is «cleared»
ACTIONS:«Disable» doodad state for ‹door› for «All Players» at ‹location›
«Set» ‹switch›
Preserve Trigger
==================================================
If you have a door that is initially OPEN, here's what you should do:
TRIGGER: Closing the door
CONDITIONS:‹player› brings ‹quantity› ‹unit› to ‹location›
‹switch› is «cleared»
ACTIONS:«Enable» doodad state for ‹door› for «All Players» at ‹location›
«Set» ‹switch›
Preserve Trigger
TRIGGER: Opening the door
CONDITIONS:‹player› brings ‹quantity› ‹unit› to ‹location›
‹switch› is «set»
ACTIONS:«Disable» doodad state for ‹door› for «All Players» at ‹location›
«Clear» ‹switch›
Preserve Trigger
==================================================
Because all switches are initially cleared, you should always SET the switch in the trigger that reverses the doodad state. If the door is open, you should SET the switch while you close it. If it is closed, you should set it when you open it. This will guarantee the flawless operation of doors.
How do I protect my map? by UED77
There are several map protectors at your disposal. Probably the best, most widely recommended, and most widely used one is ProEdit.
Be sure to save a backup copy of each map you are trying to protect so you don't accidentally protect any unfinished maps.
How do I place doors, traps, guns, or other installation-specific doodads on other tilesets? by StealthyDeath
Use an editor besides the regular campaign editor. Links can be found at StarCraft Mapping and Modding Resource Guide (http://www.warboards.org/showthread.php?t=9407) thread.
How do I ally computers with a human player? by UED77
How do I pit two computers against each other?
Use the "Set Ally Status" action. The owner of the trigger will be the one affected by the trigger. For example, there is a P1 human, and a P2 computer, and you want to ally them. A trigger owned by P1 saying "Set alliance status: Set P2 to ally" will cause P1 to treat P2 as an ally. However, this trigger has not specified any special behavior for P2, so P2 will still attack P1's units. To make sure an alliance is two-way (which it usually should be), make sure to use the appropriate triggers for all affected players.
Likewise, this can be used to force two otherwise allied computer players to attack each other. You just have to set them to be enemies, not allies.
[more info {possibly research} on "Allied Victory" needed]
How do I open/close a floor hatch? by UED77
See "How do I open/close doors".
Whenever I use the "Victory" trigger, I lose by UED77
This is a trigger that will execute for the player that owns it. It should always be executed for your player. Whenever Victory is executed, all players who do not share allied victory status with the victorious player will be defeated.
How can I change unit names? by StealthyDeath
Open up your editor and go to Scenario > Unit and Hero Settings. Select the unit you want changed, uncheck Use Default in the Custom Name box.
How to make SCMDraft 2 to have trigger editing capabillities? by Basan
There is a program called TrigEdit Beta (http://www.staredit.net/index.php?download=781) and it allows SCMDraft users 2 to create triggers with the same syntax StarForge uses.
How do I have a unit blinded when the game starts? by StealthyDeath
A medic will automatically blind any enemy unit that has HP of 81 or higher. This has been tested and will always work.
How do I add locations? by AgoTrooper
Right click the map and choose in Layers > Locations or change it in the menu bar where it says Layers. Resizing can be done by moving the white boxes around the location. Moving can be done by clicking and dragging the location. To change a location's name double click on it or press "enter" while having that location selected.
In some RPGs, units don't say anything when click, how do I do that? by AgoTrooper
Conditions:
Always
Actions:
Mute all non-trigger unit sounds for current player.
Preserve Trigger.
Without the Preserve trigger, the unit sounds will come back after you have saved the game and reloaded it later on.
Modding
Help! The Starcraft MPQs are full of unknowns! by UED77
Get UED77's listfile from Starcraft.org StarCraft Mapping and Modding Resource Guide (http://www.warboards.org/showthread.php?t=9407), and save it in your WinMPQ folder. Now, open WinMPQ, select 'Options...' from the menu, then go to the 'File Lists' tab and 'Add Listfile...'. Now select UED77's listfile which you just downloaded. Now open an MPQ and you'll find a lot of the ~unknown files are now gone, and there are useful names instead.
WinMPQ gives me this error: "Cannot load or register MSCOMCTL.OCX" by StealthyDeath
Download and install the Microsoft Common Controls from Staredit.net (http://www.staredit.net/index.php?download=368).
How do you use MemGraft? by hidiho2
Theres a great tutorial here: http://www.smempire.org/tutorials/trainablecivilians.php
I can't get my custom with MemGraft modifications to work! It says: Cannot find custom\mgpatch.mgd! by hidiho2
If you're having trouble running a mod with MemGraft, make sure you change in the "misc" tab so that the patch_rt is \name-of-your-mpq.mpq and have the name of the mpq the same thing without the \. Make sure you name the .mgd mgpatch.mgd and put it in your mpq as custom\mgpatch.mgd.
How do I change the Title Screen? by UED77
The actual background images are "glue\title\title.pcx" in both StarDat and BrooDat.mpq. You will need a good graphics program to edit those.
The copyright info and miscellaneous text that show up on the title screen are specified in StarDat.mpq\rez\TitleDlg.bin.
You will need Shadowflare's BinEdit for this. Download
(http://shadowflare.gameproc.com/cgi-bin/download.cgi?BinEdit.zip)
How do I change unit sounds? by StealthyDeath
Use Arsenal Zero. Decompile a units.dat and listed for each unit is this.
Ready Sound=275
What Sound Start=287
What Sound End=290
Piss Sound Start=280
Piss Sound End=286
Yes Sound Start=291
Yes Sound End=294
To figure out the number just open at the file, sfxdata.tbl, in the BrooDat.mpq and look at the number at the top.
The MPQs file size is too large for no reason. by StealthyDeath
Open it in WinMPQ and press the Compact button. The reason is the file was never erased completely from the MPQ. The file itself may not exist, but the data from it still does until you press the compact button, which will erase the unused data.
Why does my custom crash? by BSTRhino
One common problem is a unit has a sight range > 11.
http://www.starcraft.org/maps/MappingFAQ
If you're a newbie mapper, one thing I recommend you do is check out StarCraft X-tra Editor. This program can do a little more than the usual StarCraft Campaign can do. Also available are StarForge and SCMDraft, which are both advanced map editors. If you find you can't do certain things with your editor, try a different editor. One of these editors is likely to be able to do what you want. You can find download links to a lot of programs by going to the StarCraft Mapping and Modding Resource Guide (http://www.warboards.org/showthread.php?t=9407).
Mapping
General Mapping
What is a SCUM? by BSTRhino
SCUMS stands for StarCraft User Maps or StarCraft Use Map Settings. When people refer to SCUMS, they're talking about StarCraft maps.
Where do I download...? by BSTRhino
There are a number of places you can find mapping programs. The main one at Warboards.org is the StarCraft Mapping and Modding Resource Guide (http://www.warboards.org/showthread.php?t=9407).
I tried to open a map, but I just get "StarCraft was unable to open [...]. Please make sure that the file is a valid Starcraft data file." by BSTRhino
This map has been protected with a special program so that no one can open it in an editor. This is to protect the map from being changed and redistributed under a different author on Battle.net, an action which is known as stealing maps. If you are interested in learning how specific parts of the map was done, the best thing to do is, first see if the answer to your question is in this FAQ, then maybe try contacting the author or asking on the forums.
I heard there's some unprotecting program! Where can I get it? by Nahotnoj
You can't get it. Don't go around asking for it, it will only cause mistrust and is against the forum rules as well.
What does SCXE stand for? by BSTRhino
SCXE stands for StarCraft X-tra Editor, you can download it from the StarCraft Mapping and Modding Resource Guide (http://www.warboards.org/showthread.php?t=9407).
Which map editor is the best? by UED77
There is no single answer. Those who give you one are either inexperienced or too biased. SCMDraft is probably the best tool for terraining, but it lacks triggers. For that, use either StarEdit or SCXE. Starforge should be your choice if you either wish to manipulate triggers as if they were plain text, or if you would like to place units that snap to a customizable grid. You can even enter the coordinates in the unit dialog to move the unit to another place.
'How do I...?' Questions regarding terrain, things on it, and other aesthetics of map making.
How to do I make terrain which has straight edges? by StealthyDeath
Here in the map making world, we call this square terrain. To make it, download SCMDraft 2 or StarForge. You can find the links to these programs in the StarCraft Mapping and Modding Resource Guide (http://www.warboards.org/showthread.php?t=9407).
How do I make it so lots of SCVs can mine one mineral like in the fastest map? by BSTRhino
It looks like one mineral, but actually it's lots of minerals stacked on top of each other in the same place. You can stack things like that using an advanced editor like StarForge or SCMDraft.
How do I change players colors? by StealthyDeath
Get StarForge, GUEdit or the SCMToolkit. StarForge is done in the Player Settings menu, GUEdit has a button to it and the SCMToolkit has an option to select it. Note that a StarEdit based editor, including SCXE, will reset the colors back to the original colors when you open the map in one of those editors.
How do you place broodlings that never die? by BSTRhino
Use the 'Create Units' trigger action to create the broodling, and it will have 0 energy. 'Create Units with Properties' does not work. Using other actions on the broodling, such as 'Modify Unit Hit Point' will cause the energy to reset allowing it to die.
How do you place lurker eggs that never die? by BSTRhino
Give them the apple of life. Just kidding. Use an editor like StarCraft Xtra Editor to place the lurker egg, and it will last forever.
How do I make cloaked bunkers buildable like in Tower D? by hidiho2
Get X-tra editor 2.6/2.5, available here: StarCraft Mapping and Modding Resource Guide (http://www.warboards.org/showthread.php?t=9407)
Next, do the following to achieve the effect in Tower D.
Locations you need to create:
-Supply follow (Only needs to be big enough to fit one supply depot. Doesn't matter where this is placed.)
-SCV Wait (This is an area on an island where SCVs can be temporarily moved to. It needs to be large enough to hold all the SCVs from all the players.)
Players: (Players you want it to happen for)
Conditions:
-Current player commands at least 1 Supply Depot.
Actions:
-Center location Supply follow on Supply Depot for (Player you want it to happen for).
Players: (Players you want it to happen for)
Conditions: Current player commands at least 1 Supply Depot
Actions:
-Remove 1 Supply Depot at Anywhere
-Create 1 Bunker at Supply follow
-Teleport (move) all SCV for (Player you want it to happen for) to SCV Wait
-Wait 50 milliseconds
-Create 3 Marine at Supply Follow
-Execute AI Script Enter closest bunker at Supply follow
-Wait 200 milliseconds
-Disable doodad state for Terran Bunker At Supply follow
How do I create Invisible Bunkers? by StealthyDeath
After you load your bunkers, use the 'Move Units' action to move the bunker somewhere else. The bunker will still fire as if it were in its original position, while the bunker itself will be where you moved it to. You can only move one bunker to one location. So you'll have to have a location for each bunker or have a moving location.
How to I make Pylonless Buildings? by StealthyDeath
Use the Set Doodad State action on the building you want to activate:
Actions:
Enable doodad state for (Protoss Building) for player at 'location'.
You'll have to add a preserve trigger because it will disable itself sometimes. This only works on 1 of the same building at a time. Each same building you want to enable must have a location of their own.
How to I get glowing wireframes? by StealthyDeath
Download StarForge. Go to Units Settings > (Unit you want to use). In the First HP box put 2 and in the second one put 1. There are other combinations for different glows, but this is the commonly used one. Glowing wireframes are generally used if the unit is invincible. The second HP box is the HP the unit will have in the game.
'How do I...?' Questions regarding triggering functionality
I can't figure out how to get computer players to build/mine, all the computer does is sit there! by hidiho2
To make the computer do stuff, first, create a location around its base. Then make a basic AI Script command:
Players:
-(Your computer player)
Conditions:
-Always
Actions:
-Run AI Script: Run (AI Script) at (Your location)
You can choose a range of the AI scripts you want. If you don't know what to choose for AI Script, select Terran/Zerg/Protoss Custom Level, depending on what race your computer is. Look in your StarCraft help for full details on which AI Script does what.
How do you control shared vision? by BSTRhino
Using the AI scripts that are have names starting with 'Shared Vision ON' and 'Shared Vision OFF' you can modify the shared vision state between players. Just use a 'run AI script' action to get it to work.
How do you make hyper triggers? by hidiho2
Hyper triggers let you process triggers faster, which means you can have more complicated triggers that don't take as much time. Hyper triggers can only be used on player who does not have any wait commands. It's pretty easy, simply make a trigger for a single player that does not have any other wait commands this trigger: Wait 0 milliseconds and copy it until it fills the whole thing (you'll end up with 64 wait 0 commands), then delete one and put Preserve trigger. Save that trigger, then copy the whole trigger three times. This will ensure you have speedy hyper triggers throughout the game.
Remember, when you're using hyper triggers and you find your map isn't doing what you want, it might possibly be because you're using a 'wait' command for the player who has the hyper triggers. Sometimes wait commands get in conflict with the hyper triggers and cause a trigger to wait a very long time instead of what you set it to. There are other methods of waiting if you find your waiting essential.
How do I remove a map revealer with triggers? by AqoTrooper
StarCraft doesn't let you remove specific map revealers with the 'remove units at location' command, you can only remove all the map revealers on the map at once. If you still want to remove specific map revealers than create a location over every map revealer and when you remove them recreate the map revealers where you want the sight to stay. Another roundabout method is to use other units such as observers and dark templars to provide vision.
How do I have players start with a fixed location in a melee map? by Akuma
Go to Forces menu and uncheck 'Randomize Start Locations' for all four forces.
How do you make units roam around randomly? by BSTRhino
Use the Junk Yard Dog AI script.
Conditions:
Always
Actions:
Execute AI script 'Set Unit Order To: Junk Yard Dog (Roam around)' at 'location'.
Units roaming will roam the entire map, not just the location specified.
How do you make the computer nuke? by StealthyDeath
The computer must have both a loaded nuke silo and a ghost. The computer should also be allied to all players because they will auto target any enemy units and ignore the location specified to nuke, when the AI script 'Al Nuke Here' is executed.
This trigger will load the nuke silos.
Conditions:
Always
Actions:
Execute AI script 'BW Terran 2-A Fill Silos With Nuke (Type 1)' at '(Location where nuke silos are located)'.
This trigger will tell the ghost to nuke that location.
Conditions:
Always
Actions:
Execute AI script 'AI Nuke Here' at 'Location to Nuke'.
How do you open/close doors? by UED77
Use the "Set Doodad State" action.
DISABLE: Opens the door, disregarding its initial state.
ENABLE: Closes the door, disregarding its initial state.
TOGGLE: Changes doodad state to the opposite of its initial state. ***USAGE NOT RECOMMENDED***
However, using these commands alone will cause doors to be very buggy. To make sure doors actually work as they are supposed to, use switches. Switches are 1-bit values you can set to be 0 or 1 (cleared or set). All switches are initially cleared. Because of this, there are two separate, albeit similar approches to doing this.
If you have a door that is initially CLOSED, here's what you should do:
Notice the symbols: ‹unspecified variable› ; «specified variable»
TRIGGER: Closing the door
CONDITIONS:‹player› brings ‹quantity› ‹unit› to ‹location›
‹switch› is «set»
ACTIONS:«Enable» doodad state for ‹door› for «All Players» at ‹location›
«Clear» ‹switch›
Preserve Trigger
TRIGGER: Opening the door
CONDITIONS:‹player› brings ‹quantity› ‹unit› to ‹location›
‹switch› is «cleared»
ACTIONS:«Disable» doodad state for ‹door› for «All Players» at ‹location›
«Set» ‹switch›
Preserve Trigger
==================================================
If you have a door that is initially OPEN, here's what you should do:
TRIGGER: Closing the door
CONDITIONS:‹player› brings ‹quantity› ‹unit› to ‹location›
‹switch› is «cleared»
ACTIONS:«Enable» doodad state for ‹door› for «All Players» at ‹location›
«Set» ‹switch›
Preserve Trigger
TRIGGER: Opening the door
CONDITIONS:‹player› brings ‹quantity› ‹unit› to ‹location›
‹switch› is «set»
ACTIONS:«Disable» doodad state for ‹door› for «All Players» at ‹location›
«Clear» ‹switch›
Preserve Trigger
==================================================
Because all switches are initially cleared, you should always SET the switch in the trigger that reverses the doodad state. If the door is open, you should SET the switch while you close it. If it is closed, you should set it when you open it. This will guarantee the flawless operation of doors.
How do I protect my map? by UED77
There are several map protectors at your disposal. Probably the best, most widely recommended, and most widely used one is ProEdit.
Be sure to save a backup copy of each map you are trying to protect so you don't accidentally protect any unfinished maps.
How do I place doors, traps, guns, or other installation-specific doodads on other tilesets? by StealthyDeath
Use an editor besides the regular campaign editor. Links can be found at StarCraft Mapping and Modding Resource Guide (http://www.warboards.org/showthread.php?t=9407) thread.
How do I ally computers with a human player? by UED77
How do I pit two computers against each other?
Use the "Set Ally Status" action. The owner of the trigger will be the one affected by the trigger. For example, there is a P1 human, and a P2 computer, and you want to ally them. A trigger owned by P1 saying "Set alliance status: Set P2 to ally" will cause P1 to treat P2 as an ally. However, this trigger has not specified any special behavior for P2, so P2 will still attack P1's units. To make sure an alliance is two-way (which it usually should be), make sure to use the appropriate triggers for all affected players.
Likewise, this can be used to force two otherwise allied computer players to attack each other. You just have to set them to be enemies, not allies.
[more info {possibly research} on "Allied Victory" needed]
How do I open/close a floor hatch? by UED77
See "How do I open/close doors".
Whenever I use the "Victory" trigger, I lose by UED77
This is a trigger that will execute for the player that owns it. It should always be executed for your player. Whenever Victory is executed, all players who do not share allied victory status with the victorious player will be defeated.
How can I change unit names? by StealthyDeath
Open up your editor and go to Scenario > Unit and Hero Settings. Select the unit you want changed, uncheck Use Default in the Custom Name box.
How to make SCMDraft 2 to have trigger editing capabillities? by Basan
There is a program called TrigEdit Beta (http://www.staredit.net/index.php?download=781) and it allows SCMDraft users 2 to create triggers with the same syntax StarForge uses.
How do I have a unit blinded when the game starts? by StealthyDeath
A medic will automatically blind any enemy unit that has HP of 81 or higher. This has been tested and will always work.
How do I add locations? by AgoTrooper
Right click the map and choose in Layers > Locations or change it in the menu bar where it says Layers. Resizing can be done by moving the white boxes around the location. Moving can be done by clicking and dragging the location. To change a location's name double click on it or press "enter" while having that location selected.
In some RPGs, units don't say anything when click, how do I do that? by AgoTrooper
Conditions:
Always
Actions:
Mute all non-trigger unit sounds for current player.
Preserve Trigger.
Without the Preserve trigger, the unit sounds will come back after you have saved the game and reloaded it later on.
Modding
Help! The Starcraft MPQs are full of unknowns! by UED77
Get UED77's listfile from Starcraft.org StarCraft Mapping and Modding Resource Guide (http://www.warboards.org/showthread.php?t=9407), and save it in your WinMPQ folder. Now, open WinMPQ, select 'Options...' from the menu, then go to the 'File Lists' tab and 'Add Listfile...'. Now select UED77's listfile which you just downloaded. Now open an MPQ and you'll find a lot of the ~unknown files are now gone, and there are useful names instead.
WinMPQ gives me this error: "Cannot load or register MSCOMCTL.OCX" by StealthyDeath
Download and install the Microsoft Common Controls from Staredit.net (http://www.staredit.net/index.php?download=368).
How do you use MemGraft? by hidiho2
Theres a great tutorial here: http://www.smempire.org/tutorials/trainablecivilians.php
I can't get my custom with MemGraft modifications to work! It says: Cannot find custom\mgpatch.mgd! by hidiho2
If you're having trouble running a mod with MemGraft, make sure you change in the "misc" tab so that the patch_rt is \name-of-your-mpq.mpq and have the name of the mpq the same thing without the \. Make sure you name the .mgd mgpatch.mgd and put it in your mpq as custom\mgpatch.mgd.
How do I change the Title Screen? by UED77
The actual background images are "glue\title\title.pcx" in both StarDat and BrooDat.mpq. You will need a good graphics program to edit those.
The copyright info and miscellaneous text that show up on the title screen are specified in StarDat.mpq\rez\TitleDlg.bin.
You will need Shadowflare's BinEdit for this. Download
(http://shadowflare.gameproc.com/cgi-bin/download.cgi?BinEdit.zip)
How do I change unit sounds? by StealthyDeath
Use Arsenal Zero. Decompile a units.dat and listed for each unit is this.
Ready Sound=275
What Sound Start=287
What Sound End=290
Piss Sound Start=280
Piss Sound End=286
Yes Sound Start=291
Yes Sound End=294
To figure out the number just open at the file, sfxdata.tbl, in the BrooDat.mpq and look at the number at the top.
The MPQs file size is too large for no reason. by StealthyDeath
Open it in WinMPQ and press the Compact button. The reason is the file was never erased completely from the MPQ. The file itself may not exist, but the data from it still does until you press the compact button, which will erase the unused data.
Why does my custom crash? by BSTRhino
One common problem is a unit has a sight range > 11.