Create a PowerStruggle Map

From CryWiki

In this tutorial we will focus on the key elements of a PowerStruggle multiplayer map. PowerStruggle maps requires some extra prefabs to facilitate a fun and teamwork orientated game. General level creation in Sandbox 2 will not be discussed. To create a PowerStruggle map, we are going to setup prefabs and spectator points.

Forward

Always keep in mind that your map has to not only look good, but also plays well. It is very important that players after a short time playing the map understand what they're suppose to do. Otherwise your level will only be played once or twice until the player gets bored of it. But this is just experience. You will learn that after you have created some maps and you will understand what is important for multiplayer level design.

Prerequisites

1. Working map

Creating a Basic Level

2. Loaded PS Prefabs

To load the prefabs, o Open the Database View and go into the Prefab Library. Once there open the buildings_mp.xml. Now close this window and go back. Click on the rollup bar at Prefabs and you can load every prefab you need out of the prefab library. All the required prefabs can be found in the Prefab library.

PowerStruggle Prefabs

Add them as necessary to your map. If you have no idea what the prefabs represent, please read PowerStruggle vs Instant Action

Neutral prefabs

Neutral Prefabs can be captured and recaptured by both teams. These prefabs are not used for bases. Objects which are normally neutral objects are the Prototype Factory, Small Prototype Factory, Spawn Bunker, Vehicle Factory, Air Factory, Naval Factory.

Team prefabs

Team prefabs(NK/US) cannot be captured by a team. This objects belong to a special team and are normally used in the homebase of this team. Objects which normally belongs to a team are the barracks and the headquater. If you want to build own Spawnbuildings you need to change the TeamName in the Entity Properties. Use black for US spawnbuilding and tan for NK spawnbuildings.

Alien prefabs

Alien Prefabs are all kind of Alien Energy Sites. There are different types of Enegery Sites in the game. There is a small and a large Energy Site. If a team captured the large Energy Site they will get 250 Prestige Points. For a small Energy Site they only get 100 Prestige Points.

Spectators

Last but not least you also need to place Spectator Points in your map. These can be found in the Entity section in the Multiplayer directory. The icon for the spectator point is the same you have for the spawn points. It is a small player icon.

Export to engine

After you have done everything you can export your map to engine. Go to File&rarrExport to Engine or just press Ctrl+E. After that save your level and leave the editor. You are now ready to setup the XML file.

Setting up the XML file

First of all make sure your map is saved in the PS directory. These can be found in the Multiplayer folder which is located in “Crysis\Game\Levels”. After that go into your level folder and create a .xml file. Copy the following text into it.

<MetaData> 
<Gamerules MP2="PowerStruggle"/> <br>
<LoadingScreens screen1="mapname_Loading.dds"/> 
<HeaderText text="mapname"/> 
<DescriptionText text="Write a short info text about your map here"/> 
<Display Name="mapname"/> 
</MetaData>

Here's what it means:

Gamerules

Here you can set the gamemode your map is done for. If your map is supporting more than one gametype just continue with MP3, MP4 and so on. The possible gamerules are "InstantAction" and "PowerStruggle".

Loading Screen

This will set the loading screen for your map.

Header Text

Should be the map's name. This will be displayed on top of the loading screen.

Description Text

The description of your map. Write a short description about your map. This can also be a short story about your map.

Display Name

This name will be displayed in the server browser.

Minimap

If you want to add a minimap to your level you also need to add the following line to your mapname.xml file:

<MiniMap Filename="mapname.dds" startX=" " startY=" " endX=" " endY=" " mapRadius=" "/>  

After you have done that you can save that file. Now you can start your game and can run your map in the game.