How does one make a "Scenario"?

[Mars90000000]

I have this KSP challenge in mind, which involves several ships within a same mission. To make it easier for everyone to have the same ships in the same locations, it would be ideal to make it a scenario that players can download.

My question is, suppose I have a new mission, with all the ships launched and in place, how do I save it to have it in a scenario mode? I'm sure I missed a lot of key aspects and you know it better, so ask them if something isn't clear.

So.... how do?

[Johnno]

I poked around briefly to test this just now (as I was curious as well). It seems that it's as easy as making a new savegame, launch the ships etc, then copy/move the persistent.sfs file into /scenarios and rename it. Open it up and you can add a description, also the Title = will have the name of your savegame with (sandbox) after it, remove (sandbox) and rename it to whatever you want it to be named.

That's all there is to it.

1. Create save (persistent.sfs)

2. Move it to /scenarios

3. Rename the file (whateveryouwant.sfs)

4. Open it and change Title = (remove (sandbox) )

5. Change Description = (add fancy challenge text?)

6. Save changes

7. ???

8. Profit

[Mars90000000]

I thought it would be harder than that. I shall try this out.

Also, if anyone know... Suppose I make everything out of stock and no mods/plugins, but a lower version of the game... would the scenario work on a later version provided the parts are still existent? Even though the persistent file itself is that of a lower version of the game? What about if its from the same version as the current version but a different patch?

Thanks again.

[Rhomphaia]

Scenarios from before 0.21 won't work, and the in game converter doesn't run on them.

You could just provide the save as a save so up to date players can run the converter on it, not sure how well it works though.

Edited August 20, 2013 by Rhomphaia

[Spyritdragon]

Wait wait, since when do we have a save file converter?

[Rhomphaia]

Wait wait, since when do we have a save file converter?

Since .21 was released

* This new version is incompatible with SFS (savegame) files from previous versions. However, we now have a system that will allow you to upgrade these incompatible files if possible.

If you try to load a save from an old version it will give you the option to attempt to convert it to the new format or delete it.

Not sure how successful the attempts are, since I only ever tried it on saves with no manned flights in progress (The crew roster was the major cause of save incompatibility)

If you try to run and old scenario though you don't get the option, it simply won't load, and then neither will any other save until you quit and restart KSP.

[Spyritdragon]

Are there any differences in the craft files themselves?

I.e. would i be able to nick a few crafts from my old savefiles and plug them into my new one?

[Rhomphaia]

Craft files are compatible between versions. Of course the changes to the SAS system may cause problems (you may need to stick some extra batteries on them to keep them flying but they will load fine)