Draft Introduction ~ (ShotMagnet ~ 01/31/04)

 

Steel Beasts is seen by many as the premiere modern armored warfare simulation, and it would be hard to argue otherwise. One very good reason for this is the mission editor. This feature allows a player, any player to construct scenarios from nothing more than a set of maps, and some standardized unit types.

Given only that, anyone can create any modern engagement involving the vehicles modeled in the game. A player can also recreate realistic training scenarios. Gunnery exercises, small-and medium-size unit drills, map-reading exercises, etc, can all be accurately modeled. Customized and customizable maps can be generated using the Map Editor to recreate environments diverse environments, from a patch of plain desert to the middle of city.

Building a scenario is not insurmountably difficult, but it can be challenging. Steel Beasts has existed for the better part of four years, and routinely there are questions posted in the SB.com Scenario Design forum asking relatively simple questions about scenario design. Some of the difficulties stem from the fact that the game continues to attract new players, and even for ‘old hands’ who have done it all there is still the lure of making something new. Some of the difficulties derive from the fact that while the editors (Map and Mission) are not difficult to use, they contain a wealth of features that take some familiarization to use efficiently.

It’s for this reason, then, that we bring you the Steel Beasts Scenario Designer’s Guide. It is our hope that within these pages anyone wanting to build a scenario, or wanting to sharpen one’s skills at making a scenario, will find the answers they are looking for here. Building a mission for Steel Beasts can be more rewarding than actually playing the game. This guide will show you how to do it well.

Without further ado, then...