RJ Wattenhofer

Tech writing, 3D model building and game design.

March 18, 2024

ARMA 2 | ARTICLES & TUTORIALS

Instructional material on creating and
managing missions & campaigns

GAME PLATFORM: ARMA 2

CREATING MULTIPLAYER MISSIONS

This tutorial will show you how to add content to the seven ArmA 2 maps included with the game. In addition, you will be shown how to import third-party content into your map project from sites such as ArmAHolic and OFPEC.

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arma 2 interface 01

Get additional useful code snippets from the Code Design Potpourri page!


VPN SETUP

This is a step-by-step tutorial on playing Arma 2 with your friends via a VPN. The person hosting the server (i.e. Server Computer) can play the game while simultaneously running the server, all from the same computer. Tunngle is used as the example LAN proxy but all of the principles apply to both Hamachi and Evolve.

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tunngle logo 01

CREATE A MISSION SPLASH SCREEN

This lesson explains how to create a custom splash screen that will display while your mission loads for your players. Details will be provided on downloading the proper software to convert your image into the correct file format and linking it to the game.

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arma 2 mission intro splash screen

Mission designers: Pistols / Handguns and Rifles Class Names page!


DETONATE ON TRIGGER: IED

An improvised explosive device (IED) is a bomb created and utilized in a way that circumvents conventional military action. This tutorial will show you how to utilize them in-game.

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arma 2 ieds

SPAWNING SOLDIERS WITH TIMERS

In regard to the technique presented in this article, the word 'Spawn' is a misnomer. A more accurate term would be 'Reveal'. This is because the soldiers we are creating with timers are placed on the map in advance and temporarily hidden from view, whereas an actual spawned unit does not exist on the map and is created during game play.

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arma 2 spawning soldiers

BIS_fnc_spawnGroup: Spawning Pre-made Groups in your mission!


IMPLEMENTING LOOPING WAYPOINTS

Waypoints are used to move ArmA 2 soldiers and/or vehicle from one point to another point on the game map. Waypoints add more realism to your mission by making otherwise stationary units mobile. This tutorial will step you through the process of setting up looping waypoints, which will allow your units to return to their starting point and then repeat their journey over and over.

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arma 2 looping waypoints

ADDING MISSION TASKS

Mission tasks provide objectives for your players to achieve while exploring your map. It is a way to structure your mission with clearly defined goals that will heighten gameplay. Each mission has a theme that umbrellas all tasks. You can create a mission theme that will be viewable in-game by the players.

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arma 2 mission tasks

ADDING MAPS TO THE EDITOR

For demonstration purposes, this tutorial will utilize Fallujah, one of the most popular ArmA 2 maps, which was created by Shezan74. You will learn how to install and run a map in the ArmA 2 Editor in less than ten minutes.

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arma 2 adding maps to the editor

LOADOUT CODES FOR UNITS

A loadout is a predefined set of items to be carried into battle that will help a player achieve a specific goal. For example, an ArmA 2 US Army rifleman's standard loadout consists of an Mk16 Holo, eight magazines of ammo, four frag grenades and a pair of nightvision goggles. This article contains all the code you need to customize your own loadouts.

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arma 2 m16a4 rifle

MAKING AN INTRO (CAMERA)

This will give you a basic overview of running the ArmA 2 Editor camera to create an intro. There are a myriad of things you can do and I encourage you to experiment. Keep in mind that the camera is not capturing video footage; it is recording viewing positions. You could easily move your intro to another map and it would run but would appear entirely different.

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arma 2 making a camera intro

THE CONSTRUCTION INTERFACE

Setting up the Construction Interface (COIN) is a three step process. In this lesson you will learn how to give your players the ability to shop for and buy field supplies.

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arma 2 construction interface

SPAWNING FRIENDS & ENEMIES

This quick lesson will provide you with the necessary code to setup triggered spawnpoints in your mission. The customizable BLUFOR (West) and OPFOR (East) scripts can be easily customized, allowing for any number and type of units to spawn.

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arma 2 spawnpoint setup

UTILIZING THE LHD AIRCRAFT CARRIER

This will outline the steps to create, spawn and populate the ArmA 2 aircraft carrier using two different methods. You will also learn how to fill the ship with crewmen, aircrafts and supplies. Information is also provided on a steerable version of the ship plus adding the USS Nimitz to your navy.

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arma 2 lhd aircraft carrier setup

HOW TO BLOW UP BUILDINGS

Methods are illustrated for blowing up hard-coded map objects and other items in ArmA 2. We will cover using triggers, creating clickable detonators and setting off chain reactions useful for such structures as bridges.

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arma 2 how to blow up buildings

SPAWNING GROUPS

You can find every code required to spawn groups of soldiers using BIS_fnc_spawnGroup. The factions consist of West, East, Resistance and United Nations.

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arma 2 code screenshot

SPAWNING WITH FOR LOOPS

Here is a script that will spawn and then respawn mission units over and over. Simply copy and paste the code into a new .sqf file then follow the instructions for customization.

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arma 2 spawning units with for loops

MISSION FOLDER ORGANIZATION

The mission folder is divided between individual files placed in the directory root and folders that contain additional files which perform similar functions.

All code and files presented in this tutorial can be downloaded as a package by clicking the 'Download mission files' button located in the upper right-hand corner of the article page.

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arma 2 file initialization structure

ATTACH MARKER TO PLAYER

This article will teach you how to attach a marker to a player that will then follow the player across the map. It will also provide some sample scripts which will enable you to create enemy groups that spawn and re-spawn at set intervals and then subsequently pursue the player.

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arma 2 marker attached to player


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