Conducting Off-Maps

Planning an Off-Map

The first step to every off-map is finding a solid, compelling idea for your event - one that aligns with the map you have selected to go to. Off-maps can be anything from your standard rebel event to zombies attacking the ISD causing a Defcon 1. If your event plans to use any Props / Dupes, set them up in advance on the map in single-player mode - this ensures that when the server switches to your selected map, the actual event runs smoothly.

Once you have your idea, make an event ping. Try to include photos of the map, a good description, and a way that lets players know it is an off map. If your Off-Map is a mega event, be sure to submit your Mega Event document to SGM+ for approval.

Now that you have your idea and event-ping done, it’s time to get Actors for your event. During off-maps, actors will be the key to your event since the lag will make NPC’s not feasible the majority of the time. You’ll want to have all your actors in the event TS3 as well as let them know the basic outline of the event.

Beginning your Off-Map

When beginning your off-map, it’ll start while on the ship. You’ll get on your ISB position(Model + Name) and fly into the ISD to brief them. The following format may be used to request landing permission over comms.

[ISB / NAME / 5626] Requesting landing in MHB to provide a mission.

Once on the ship, you will be greeted by someone in Naval (If you are not you can request someone to come). After your ID is checked you will proceed up to the bridge meeting room to give them the details.

The details you give them do not have to be all-encompassing and can be brief. An example is the following

“We’re requesting your ISDs assistance to attack a rebel base on Mygeeto, not much is known about it besides the fact it is heavily fortified and has valuable intel”

After this is complete a public debrief will be held, this will be hosted by the RP commanding officer to inform the troops of any details and assign a ground command.

Once, the Ships have left MHB you will change the map by doing !menu -> Maps -> the map you wish -> Force Change

Once loaded in, make sure everyone is spawning in the right spot (if not ask Admin+ to set it) and that they are grouping up. This is the point where you set up your actors from before. Bring them to the area of the map where they will be stationed and give them their weapons and remind them of their task they need to accomplish (can be as simple as killing the imperials).

Some players may take a longer time to load the map as it is their first time, so wait about 10 minutes after you loaded in minimum to start the event. It is also important not to take too long in preparation as the server may begin to lose population due to boredom. To expedite this prep time, preload as much as you can into the advanced duplicator tool before you load the map. If you are unsure if it's been too long or too short to start the event do not hesitate to reach out to ground command for a pulse on the playerbase’s preparedness.

The two structures which are key to include for each off map are a prison box, and if possible, a gating mechanism. The prison box is meant for an Admin+ to set the jail location in, and the gating system (which is often just a simple prop block) is intended to control the population so they do not interfere with you whilst you prep the map.

During your Off-Map

During your off-map, your tasks will be to monitor and adjust for lag (net_graph 4 can be extremely useful for that). Monitoring your actors and making sure they are doing what they are supposed to is key as well.

The majority of what you’re doing in this phase is making sure that things go smoothly and according to plan while adjusting accordingly.

Ending your Off-Map

When an off-map is ready to end is up to you to gauge the length and the player’s enjoyment. When you feel the event is ready to end you can relay this information to the ground command, or have the event come to a natural end (i.e. All the rebels die.) The SF will fly ITTs to get the troops off the planet, and you will change the map using !menu as you did to get on this map. The map you should change to is rp_star_destroyer_glv3.

Once back on the ship, a debrief will be hosted. You can choose if you wish to show up to this or not, it is preferred that you do. Nothing much will be said here other than a brief recap of the event.