UPS-Courier

Post by **Eric Walch** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 4:01 pm

I proudly announce the birth of a new OXP.:

<< --------------- Universe Parcel Shipment - courier (version 1.0) --------------- >>

This OXP adds several random mission that run simultaneously. There could be up to 4 missions simultaneously active. The first sets of missions that are offered are mainly various transport missions. After you ran enough transport missions, a series of combat jobs is offered, but the main focus of the OXP stays at friendly transports. See the missions as a more advanced version of the Passenger/Cargo contracts that are offered if you press F8-F8. Unlike most mission OXP's that offer a story that is only run once, this OXP will continuely offer random missions, but with a low probability of appearing. You will get an end-message when the last type of regular combat mission has successfully ended and nothing new has to be expected. There could however still come small variations on existing ones. The OXP itself never ends as long as it stays in the AddOns folder of Oolite.

Download here: UPS-Courier

EDIT: redirected above link to download page with always latest version.

Rxke · Post by **Rxke** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 5:35 pm

Congratulations!

this might turn out to be one of the future 'essential' OXP's to add some variety.

Edit: odd, the file doesn't load, only redirects me too OosatII....

Cmdr Wyvern · Post by **Cmdr Wyvern** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 6:35 pm

I don't think Oosat is being updated anymore.

Eric, try uploading to the wiki, or failing that, to a personal webspace or file hosting server.

Post by **Eric Walch** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:31 pm

this might turn out to be one of the future 'essential' OXP's to add some variety.

Edit: odd, the file doesn't load, only redirects me too OosatII....

Big mistake. Was my fist upload and I just copied another example from the wiki but that pointed to another board. I uploaded it at EliteWiki. This link below is now right. But download not starts automated it just points you to the right page. On pressing download it starts.

I also changed the link in the first message. It works but if someone knows how it should be done better, say it.

Download link to latest version: UPS-Courier

Cmdr Wyvern · Post by **Cmdr Wyvern** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:41 pm

Nice.

I remember a similar feature in Frontiers, random missions to run packages to systems a jump or two away. Often you'd run into some ruffian along the way that didn't want the package delivered, and would try to shoot you down.
Best thing is the packages took up no cargo space. (Probably a box you stuffed under your pilot's seat.)

LittleBear · Post by **LittleBear** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:53 pm

Nice!

In terms of Wikifing it, have a look at the OXP page here:-

http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/OXP

I'm trying to keep this page up to date by having links to all OXPs here.

If you look at the page for eg Thargoid Wars, its faily easy to have a Wiki Page for the OXP. Just make a page called Eg UPS Version 1.0. Add a bit of text describing it. Add the catagory (missions). Then add a link the page on the OXP page in the table and the list of catagories. The only trouble with the way it is ATM is that as the Wiki page you've done has no links anywhere else, someone whos looking at the Wiki won't know the page is there.

JensAyton · Post by **JensAyton** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 9:09 pm

The direct download link is http://wiki.alioth.net/images/9/91/UPS-courier_v1.0.zip. The Wiki syntax is [[Media:UPS-courier_v1.0.zip]].

TGHC · Post by **TGHC** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 10:16 pm

Nice one Eric. Thankyou.

Post by **Eric Walch** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 7:20 am

The direct download link is http://wiki.alioth.net/images/9/91/UPS-courier_v1.0.zip. The Wiki syntax is [[Media:UPS-courier_v1.0.zip]].

Thanks. I figured it out also. The two previous links are corrected now. Download starts now on its own.

Post by **Eric Walch** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 4:10 pm

Today I uploaded an update of the UPS-courier.OXP. It is just one mining mission that was added and strong improvement of an other mission.

Main reason for uploading is that local variables are not working well under 1.70 with ships script actions. That means that several barrel scooping missions don't work anymore under 1.70.

The update should work with version 1.65 and with 1.70

For 1.70 users there is an extra OXP that should be installed that corrects a 1.70 scanning bug. It probably can be removed again with the next Oolite update.

Download page: UPS-Courier

Post by **Eric Walch** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 4:10 pm

Today I uploaded version 1.2 of the UPS-courier.OXP. It is just one mining mission that was added and strong improvement of an other mission.

Main reason for uploading is that local variables are not working well under 1.70 with ships script actions. That means that several barrel scooping missions don't work anymore under 1.70.

The update should work with version 1.65 and with 1.70

For 1.70 users there is an extra OXP that should be installed that corrects a 1.70 scanning bug. It probably can be removed again with the next Oolite update.

Download page: UPS-Courier

Post by **Eric Walch** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 9:49 pm

New update of UPS courier with a minor update with big consequences.

The past weeks I have been restructuring the code of UPS to make it even less time consuming than it already was. In this process I stumbled over a bug I probably introduced in version 1.1.3:

In that version I introduced a new mission and instead of resetting that mission appropriate, I was constantly resetting all missions in the container series. This resulted in that none of the container missions were offered anymore. (These were the combat missions in the OXP).

Go to download page: UPS-Courier 1.2.1

For users of Oolite 1.70, I also added an extra OXP that corrects a bug with miners under 1.70. It will only load under 1.70. So people constantly switching between version 1.65 and 1.70 can leave it in place.

davcefai · Post by **davcefai** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 6:35 pm

I have a problem with the container mission.

I have been sent to Geteanan in G4 to find a python and capture the recruits. The mission has been offered 2 or 3 times. Each time Geteanan gets marked on the map with a green square but this vanishes as soon as I use the map for anything else.

The mission does not appear on the F5-F5 screen.

Surprisingly it was first offered at the same time as I was asked to take some secret documents to another planet. (It's the mission where I then have to take these docs to a solar oservatory and recover some black boxes).

Anyway, I reached Geteanan, lasered every python in sight - twice - but did not find the recruits.

The mission seems to have been (at least partially) saved:

Code: Select all

<key>mission_ups_blackbox</key>
	<string>FINISHED</string>
	<key>mission_ups_c1count</key>
	<string>0</string>
	<key>mission_ups_c2count</key>
	<string>0</string>
	<key>mission_ups_ccount</key>
	<string>2</string>
	<key>mission_ups_container</key>
	<string>LOGGING</string>
	<key>mission_ups_container_award</key>
	<string>0</string>
	<key>mission_ups_container_count</key>
	<string>0</string>
	<key>mission_ups_cplanet</key>
	<string>48</string>
	<key>mission_ups_cplanetname</key>
	<string>Usraqu</string>
	<key>mission_ups_dcount</key>
	<string>13</string>
	<key>mission_ups_difference</key>
	<string>-68</string>
	<key>mission_ups_docs</key>
	<string>NOT_NOW</string>
	<key>mission_ups_dplanet</key>
	<string>117</string>
	<key>mission_ups_ecount</key>
	<string>1</string>
	<key>mission_ups_galaxy</key>
	<string>3</string>
	<key>mission_ups_galcop_punishment</key>
	<string>0</string>
	<key>mission_ups_parcel</key>
	<string>LOGGING</string>
	<key>mission_ups_pcount</key>
	<string>11</string>
	<key>mission_ups_planet</key>
	<string>0</string>
	<key>mission_ups_planetname</key>    +++++++++++++++
	<string>Geteanan</string> +++++++++++++++++
	<key>mission_ups_pplanet</key>
	<string>167</string>
	<key>mission_ups_pplanetname</key>
	<string>Arceonre</string>
	<key>mission_ups_ptimerstart</key>
	<string>2085984</string>
	<key>mission_ups_scount</key>
	<string>3</string>
	<key>mission_ups_slaverescue</key>
	<string>YES</string>
	<key>mission_ups_slaves</key>
	<string>NO</string>
	<key>mission_ups_slcount</key>
	<string>0</string>
	<key>mission_ups_slplanet</key>
	<string>1</string>
	<key>mission_ups_slplanetname</key>
	<string>Qubeor</string>
	<key>mission_ups_splanet</key>
	<string>117</string>
	<key>mission_ups_splanetname</key>
	<string>Biabi</string>
	<key>mission_ups_sun</key>
	<string>NOT_NOW</string>
	<key>mission_ups_sunbase</key>
	<string>YES</string>
	<key>mission_ups_timerstart</key>
	<string>2085997</string>

Help appreciated.

Post by **Eric Walch** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 9:26 pm

davcefai, next parameters are the key parameters for this mission.

Code: Select all

   <key>mission_ups_container</key> 
   <string>LOGGING</string> 
   <key>mission_ups_planetname</key>    +++++++++++++++ 
   <string>Geteanan</string> +++++++++++++++++ 
   <key>mission_ups_cplanet</key> 
   <string>48</string> 
   <key>mission_ups_timerstart</key> 
   <string>2085997</string>
   <key>mission_ups_c1count</key> 
   <string>0</string>

First a short explanation how this mission is offered. For a script it is not possible to get a planet name from any planet except the one you are in. With the first mission (boa) I just generate a random number and send the player to the system with a number. I didn't find this very satisfactory so for later missions I used an other approach. For a lot of missions, the script waits until it enters a suitable system, stores the essential parameters and waits some time for offering the mission.

In your case "mission_ups_container = LOGGING" means he has selected a system (Geteanan, nr: 48) and waits until at least 8 days after star-date 2085997 to offer the mission. The mission is offered on any government >3 and your legal status <3.

mission_ups_c1count is how often you fulfilled this particular mission.

I have been sent to Geteanan in G4 to find a python and capture the recruits. The mission has been offered 2 or 3 times. Each time Geteanan gets marked on the map with a green square but this vanishes as soon as I use the map for anything else.

That of the green square I don't get. Missions are only marked with a red X as far I know. It does on the mac, but I assume on all other systems.

However, it is a bug I introduced in version 1.2.1. There I changed some code in a way, this particular mission never reaches the YES/NO evaluation. The mission is not set and you keep getting the offer.

Solution.
1) accept this offer with any older version of this OXP. After that you can proceed with the new one.

or

2) change LOGGING into SEARCHING2 This will not set the mission destination on the f6-f6 and the f5-f5 screen but the ship will be there.

or

3) download the newest version I just uploaded at: UPS-Courier

This new version also increases your overall transport ranking for the "cargo contracts" on fulfilling an UPS transport. Further I try to avoid a bug of oolite 1.70. Deploy escorts does not work under 1.70. The boa mission was not able to send his escorts under 1.70, I now added a group attack command in the script to bypass this 1.70 bug. The ship waiting for you in Geteanan has also escorts. This ship runs on a standard pirateAI. That AI is already using a "groupAttack" command and is able to send the escorts after the player.

btw: I also see your ups_parcel is LOGGING. Expect a nasty mission offer from this side soon.
I also see you completed 2 boa missions. After the 4th boa mission the boas become stronger. After 9 boa missions they can even have cloaking or q-bombs aboard. This weekend I have been fighting all those boa versions.

Surprisingly it was first offered at the same time as I was asked to take some secret documents to another planet.

Yes you can even have 3 offering at the same time. This is the kind of behaviour that started me thinking about mission-clash code. I had to build it in to protect my own missions, but by now it is build in most oxp's.

davcefai · Post by **davcefai** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 5:41 am

You're a good man Commander Walch!

Looking forward to my upcoming flights.