Scenario & Triggers
A Scenario map is a custom, objective-driven mission. Instead of ending on plain annihilation like a Skirmish map, its victory and defeat are decided by the map’s triggers. This page describes what it is like to play a scenario and what triggers can do. To build one, see Scenario authoring in the Map Editor.
The Trigger System
Scenario maps are driven by a trigger system, inspired by StarCraft and WarCraft map triggers. The author defines two things:
- Zones — rectangular or round regions of the map.
- Triggers — a set of Conditions that, when all true, fire a list of Actions in order.
When every Condition on a trigger is satisfied, its Actions run one after another. This is how a scenario turns “survive a timer” or “hold a zone” into real win and loss rules.
Conditions
A trigger fires only when all of its Conditions are true. Conditions include:
- A unit enters a zone.
- A timer is running or has finished.
- You have at least N of a unit or building.
- A resource reaches an amount.
- A specific (tagged) unit dies.
- Another trigger has fired.
- A storm starts or ends, or enters a zone.
- A counter reaches a value.
- Always (always true).
Actions
When a trigger fires, it runs its Actions in order. Actions include:
- Show a message or dialogue.
- Set or complete an objective.
- Spawn units.
- Order an attack-move.
- Give resources.
- Reveal part of the map.
- Pan the camera.
- Conjure a weather storm at a zone.
- Start, pause, resume, or adjust named countdown timers.
- Set or change integer counters.
- Show the kill tally.
- Declare victory or defeat.
- Enable or disable another trigger.
Timers, Counters, and Kill Counts
Scenarios support multiple named timers at once and integer counters, so an author can track several independent things in one mission. They also support kill-count objectives:
- Reach N kills.
- Reach N kills of a specific type.
- Reach a number of kills within a time limit.
Example: The First Crease
The built-in tutorial, “The First Crease,” is an authored scenario. It uses exactly these triggers to teach the basics through scripted objectives — a good demonstration of what the system can do.