VSTR support in MOH:AA:SH

[blasney]

Well, we have all been waiting for this. MOH:AA:SH now supports VSTR's. Well... not fully it seems.

In my config, I have this:

[code:1]set d1 "set g_gametype 2 ; set sv_team_spawn_interval 0 ; map dm/mp_malta_dm ; nextmap vstr d1a"
set d1a "restart ; nextmap vstr d2"
set d2 "set g_gametype 5 ; set sv_team_spawn_interval 15 ; map obj/mp_druckkammern_tow ; nextmap vstr d2a"
set d2a "restart ; nextmap vstr d1"

vstr d1[/code:1]

In the console I can type "vstr d1" or "vstr d2" and it works perfecty -- it switches gametype and loads the map in the string. However, when the server is finished with one of the lines and prepares to move on to the nextmap, it crashes with an "unknown format" error.

Type "nextmap" in the console and it says, "next map is "vstr d1a"" just like it should, but it will NOT work. It seems to me that it is looking for a map called vstr and not finding it so it crashes.

Every other Q3 game I have worked with supports setting nextmap to "vstr x". Why would EA add back in the vstr support for this if they weren't going to use it right? Or am I just missing something?

[blasney]

Well, with the full version we are a bit further along. Now when it tries to load the nextmap you get:

recursive error after: Couldn't load maps/vstr d1a.bsp


These are the lines in my server.cfg file:

set d1 "set g_gametype 2; set sv_team_spawn_interval 0; map dm/MP_Stadt_DM; set nextmap vstr d1a"
set d1a "restart; set nextmap vstr d2"
set d2 "set g_gametype 5; set sv_team_spawn_interval 5; map obj/mp_druckkammern_tow; set nextmap vstr d2a"
set d2a "restart; set nextmap vstr d3"
set d3 "set g_gametype 2; set sv_team_spawn_interval 0; map dm/MP_Brest_DM; set nextmap vstr d3a"
set d3a "restart; set nextmap vstr d4"
set d4 "set g_gametype 5; set sv_team_spawn_interval 5; map obj/MP_Ardennes_TOW; set nextmap vstr d4a"
set d4a "restart; set nextmap vstr d1"

Any ideas? Anyone? Beuller? Beuller?...

[Cshelton]

We'll fix the VSTR command and parsing in a patch or two. It is our intention to make it work like it should.

Chris

[blasney]

Thanks for the info. I am glad to see it is working more then iut did in MOH 1.11 ;)

Great job, btw!

[Mr_nStuff]

Cool... While on the subject.. Can someone confirm these things so I'm up to date..

nextmap is a global variable?

So if I went..:
set nextmap obj/obj_team2
it would load the V2 map after the current map automatically?

I thought nextmap was a command that simply went to the next map in the maplist. But it's not like that huh? Are you guys saying that nextmap is a variable that is called on after each map automatically?

So we have to wait for this VSTR to work eh? We can not use aliases or the EXEC command?

Something like this wont work?
set nextmap "exec map1.cfg"

map1.cfg
set g_gametype 2
set sv_team_spawn_interval 0
map dm/MP_Stadt_DM
set nextmap "exec map2.cfg"

This wont work huh?
Probably gonna say, "recursive error after: Couldn't load maps/exec map1.cfg.bsp"

Makes me think the problem is with the nextmap variable and not the vstr command. Dunno. But it looks like the nextmap only supports names that are in the maps/ directory and end with .bsp.. IE: maps/dm/MP_Stadt_DM.bsp.. So how is vstr ever going to fix that? I know what vstr is.. But nextmap is what it is.. Dunno though. Maybe all we need is a global variable that is called on at the end of each map. Sounds like we all wish nextmap was that variable but it's not. Or is it? Doesn't seem like it is. I'm confused..

I will be really happy when I can get my server to make any and all adjustments I want before loading the next map. Would be great!

So when this is working.. Maybe the vote in the callvote.cfg
"Next Map" "nextmap" nochoices
will work properly?

And please explain why your samples contain the restart function in them.

But most importantly.. Explain the nextmap variable or whatever it is. Is this really summoned at the end of each map? What happens when it's empty? Does It revert to the maplist instead? What is the power of the nextmap thingy??

Are you guys saying that VSTR is suppose to be so powerfull that it literally tells the nextmap to forget about the maps/ and .bsp junk, and just do what is in the following variable instead?

Thanks!

[sonicspinner]

Hi peeps!
what is exactly this VSTR????
what does it doo?

thanx!

[Mr_nStuff]

identifies the attached command as a variable sting

IE (bind X vstr "doThis; doThat; ect")

[code:1]Same as (alias Stuff "doThis; doThat; ect")
(bind X Stuff)[/code:1]

Not sure how this works with the nextmap though. Not sure how the nextmap works exactly. Sounds like it might be the answer to all my dreams come next patch or two.or is that year or two.

:o

[blasney]

I am not sure what the true deffination of "vstr" is, but I take it to mean "Variable String," that is a variable which contains a string of commands within one cvar.

First you define a single variable, in my config those variables are "d1" "d1a" "d2" "d2a" etc. The command "vstr d1a" command tells the system to parse out each part of varialbe "d1a" seperate as a string of commands.

So here is what happens with other Q3 based games that suppor it (i.e. RtCW, JK2, Q3) when you execute the vstr command:

First set your variable. I use "d1" but it could be called "red" "yellow" or "blue".

[code:1]
set d1 "set g_gametype 2; set sv_team_spawn_interval 0; map dm/MP_Stadt_DM; set nextmap vstr d1a"
[/code:1]

When this variable is called, it does 4 individual things: first, sets the gametype to 2 (Team DeathMatch), sets the respawn interval to 0 (no one likes to wait in tdm, it lowers their kill count), then it calls the map MP_Stadt_DM, and finally tells the system to set the nextmap variable to "vstr d1a".

Before loading the nextmap in the "sv_maplist" cvar, the system looks toi the "nextmap" cvar -- if it is NULL (or blank) it loads the map in the sv_maplist after the current map. If the nextmap cvar contains a map name, it loads it. If it contains a "vstr" it executes the commands within that variable (remember, we are talking about how Q3, JK2, etc work, and how it should work with MOH).

Now that I have set my nextmap cvar to "vstr d1a" it executes the commands in that string:

[code:1]
set d1a "restart; set nextmap vstr d2"
[/code:1]

It restarts the current map (MP_Stadt_DM) and sets the nextmap cvar to d2.

[code:1]
set d2 "set g_gametype 5; set sv_team_spawn_interval 15; map obj/mp_druckkammern_tow; set nextmap vstr d2a"
[/code:1]

When executed it sets my gametype to 5 (Tug-of-War), my respawn interval to 15, starts the drukkermmern map, and my sets my nextmap variable to vstr d2a.

[code:1]
set d2a "restart; set nextmap vstr d1"
[/code:1]

Restarts the drukkermern map then sets my nextmap to vstr d1, creating a loop. My server will now switch between incompatible gametypes (TDM and ToW) and load maps in the order I want and change the respawn delay. All without user intervention.

Vstr's are a great tool when they work, and I am glad that EA is adding support in, and personally cannot wait for them to be fully operational.

[Mr_nStuff]

Well i'm making my map list right now then. It's about 16 maps big and inclused TDM, RB, TOW, and OBJ gametypes.. With a 20 minute timelimit. Were talking 5 hours of game play before the rotation loops.

Hurry up EA! Jeez..

[blasney]

Agredd Mr_nStuff. I have been waiting for this for a year now -- I have wanted to mix TDM Stalingrad, RB Remagen, and Obj V2 since the game came out. And now we should be able to add in ToW, a great time will be had by all!

[Mr_nStuff]

And yes.. If there is a certain someone I don't want on the server while The Bridge map is loading.. I can add a line to kick him in the variable for that map. lol

No but seriously.. I never cared about this before.. Because we just used Objective maps and a few DM maps set at roundbased on MOHAA.. But now we have the whole TOW.. And some of the DM maps are just so much fun now in TDM mode.. IE: MP_Unterseite_DM

And check this out.. When this is working.. I can bring back the ability to vote on gametypes/maps on our server. And have a nextmap vote in the menu.. w00t!

Right now I modified the vote menu.. You can only vote clientkick and enable/disable FF... I love it.. When the FF vote passes..it actually changes the name of our server to show whether FF is on or off.. haha.

[blasney]

That pretty impressive, but if a wiley user knows what they are doing they can still call a vote for something you have disabled through the console. We ended up killing voting altogather cause we came into our server one too many time with realism on, ff off, the health timer messed up, etc, etc etc.

[HankScorpio]

And with vstr we'd be able to reset those vote items during map change.

[Mr_nStuff]

Hmm.. You can vote on things that are not on the menu? Sounds like a job for Cshelton... Your not suppose to be able to call votes or change server settings if these things aren't allowed. Your basically telling me that when vote is enabled.. People can even call a vote to change your rconpassword? Because I know I can add such a thing to the menu. But it's not on the menu right now, but you say people can call votes that aren't on the menu.. Scarey stuff..

[InvictuZ]

Hmm.. You can vote on things that are not on the menu? Sounds like a job for Cshelton... Your not suppose to be able to call votes or change server settings if these things aren't allowed. Your basically telling me that when vote is enabled.. People can even call a vote to change your rconpassword? Because I know I can add such a thing to the menu. But it's not on the menu right now, but you say people can call votes that aren't on the menu.. Scarey stuff..

Thats correct Stuff. We found out that even if we turn voting off altogether... People can still call votes thru the console. It seems that all the voting cvars are still active EVEN while being off. All that the set g_allowvote cvar in the server config does is controll weather or not the user gets a graphical menu for voting. Even while off you can still call a vote in the console.....

P.S. I thank you guys for working hard on this issue, it would be a great thing to be able to rotate map types and not have to worry about everyone getting kicked to spec. We really wanted to be able to rotate ToW & OBJ maps together. Hopefully they will give us that in the patch, but you can't be too sure of it.

[blasney]

Well, the 2.11 patch was released, set it up on my server, and its a no go. VSTR still doesn't work. :-( I hope EA plans on putting out another patch... I'm very disappointed...

[thejerk]

You're not the only one... XGameServers says the CPU usage hasn't changed much and when my server gets over 16 you can feel it. And I hear the "butt-sliding" still occurs (tho I didn't see it).

[Mr_nStuff]

:butt-sliding" can be removed with a mod.. pretty sure. haven't investigated further yet.