Examining Ambulance.Xtbl

[Unapologetic Miscreant]

Ambulance.xtbl has no cts file. That is because there is no
set coordinate locations. Since you can start the activity
almost anywhere that you can drive an ambulance there is no
way to predetermine where you will activate the diversion.
That means that all your location information is located in
the xtbl.

What we have instead of fixed coordinates is distance information.

<Level>
                <Min_Distance>150</Min_Distance>
                <Time_Bonus>60</Time_Bonus>
                <Cash_Reward>50</Cash_Reward>
                <Victims>1</Victims>
                <Vehicles>1</Vehicles>
                </Level>

This tells us that the minimum distance that the patient can be from us
and it gives us 60 secs (1 Minute) to reach them. It awards us 50 dollars
for completing the level, there is only 1 patient and that there will be
only 1 vehicle involved.

As the levels progress the distance, the number of victims and vehicles
will increase as well as your cash reward.

<Level>
                <Min_Distance>200</Min_Distance>
                <Time_Bonus>70</Time_Bonus>
                <Cash_Reward>100</Cash_Reward>
                <Victims>2</Victims>
                <Vehicles>1</Vehicles>
                </Level>
            <Level>

There are 10 levels required to pass to diversion and earn the rewards.
(There are two of them. Shock paddles and a customized ambulance.)

<Total_Charge_Needed>100</Total_Charge_Needed>
        <Ambulance_Exit_Timeout>30</Ambulance_Exit_Timeout>
        <Charge_Lost_Per_Second>5</Charge_Lost_Per_Second>
        <Starting_Time>120</Starting_Time>
        <In_Range_Of_Accident_Distance>50</In_Range_Of_Accident_Distance>
        <In_Range_Of_Victim_Distance>1</In_Range_Of_Victim_Distance>
        <Required_Combo_Accuracy>0.97</Required_Combo_Accuracy>
        <Shock_Paddles_Charged_Timeout>5.0</Shock_Paddles_Charged_Timeout>
        <Maximum_Combo_Time_For_Charge>0.75</Maximum_Combo_Time_For_Charge>
        <Base_Charge_Per_Stick_Combo>15</Base_Charge_Per_Stick_Combo>
        <Unlockable_Name_1>Diversion_Ambulance1</Unlockable_Name_1>
        <Base_Charge_Per_CPR_Stick_Combo>35</Base_Charge_Per_CPR_Stick_Combo>
        <Unlockable_Name_2>Diversion_Ambulance2</Unlockable_Name_2>

Total charge is how much charge your shock paddles must have to resuscitate the
patient.

Ambulance Exit Timeout is how much time you have to return to the ambulance.

Starting Time How much time do you have to reach your first patient

In range of accident distance How close are you to the accident. If you are too far
away from the accident a return to the ambulance countdown will start.

In range of victims distance - How close are you to the victims

Most of the above deals with charging your shock paddles and how long it will take to do
so.

The next part deals with which vehicles should not be used for the accidents.

<Vehicle_Exclusion>
                <Name>sp_ambulance01</Name>
                </Vehicle_Exclusion>
            <Vehicle_Exclusion>
                <Name>sp_charterbus02</Name>
                </Vehicle_Exclusion>
            <Vehicle_Exclusion>
                <Name>sp_combine</Name>
                </Vehicle_Exclusion>
            <Vehicle_Exclusion>
                <Name>sp_novelty01</Name>
                </Vehicle_Exclusion>
            <Vehicle_Exclusion>
                <Name>sp_ufo01</Name>
                </Vehicle_Exclusion>
            <Vehicle_Exclusion>
                <Name>truck_2dr_construct01</Name>
                </Vehicle_Exclusion>
            <Vehicle_Exclusion>
                <Name>car_2dr_exolux01</Name>
                </Vehicle_Exclusion>
            <Vehicle_Exclusion>
                <Name>truck_2dr_armored01</Name>
                </Vehicle_Exclusion>
            <Vehicle_Exclusion>
                <Name>truck_2dr_fire01</Name>
                </Vehicle_Exclusion>
            </Vehicle_Exclusions>

====================================================
The following is supposition.

I have been thinking about how to add an outfit change to a diversion
but so far I have been unsuccessful in my experimentation.

I am personally not interested in releasing the mod I am discussing
but I am curious if it is possible to do.

Here is what I am thinking:

1.) The mission trigger would have to be moved from the
'R3' button to a mission marker.

2.) A CTS file would have to be created with the coordinates which would
have to be defined.

(Unfortunately this would necessitate localizing the mission to just one area.
Although it could change positions between levels, like the Drug Trafficking
missions do.)

3.) It would require breaking the levels up by redistributing the amount of
patients per level.

4.) A cutscene would probably need to be scripted, or perhaps another
cutscene repurposed.

(After that cutscene ended and the player is "redrawn"
they would be wearing the proper costume.)

It shouldn't be hard to move the "mission" variables because they are already
in an xtbl friendly format.

This is just a very basic outline that omits several things but it is mainly just
a Flow Chart of sorts to demonstrate the basic idea.

I know it should be in possible in theory, but I am unsure if the limitations
of the game engine would allow it.

I am curious if anyone has any input or opinion on the matter.