About NIS: The NIS tool is used to create non-interactive sequences, or 'cutscenes'. It consists of a timeline and an actor placement window in which the user can create an entire scripted sequence. NIS is tricky for first time users, but once you get used to the tools, the job becomes easier. After completing this tutorial, you will have created a simple NIS in which a rifleman will shoot at a grenadier and kill him.
To start, simply drop open a new map. Never mind the dimensions, we'll use 256x256/256x256
-Select the NIS tool, which is labeled NIS
-Under NIS File create a new file, it'll ask you for specifics for FPS and length, just use the defaults.
-You should now have everything set to begin building your first NIS. On the right hand menu you'll see a heck of a lot of buttons, but worry most about TIMELINE, and AUTOKEY, which we will use for this movie.
-Hit Place on Right Click on the bottom menu, and drop a rifleman(under races/allies/soldiers/ grab the guy who isn't in a specific folder for both) and a grenadier (races/axis/soldiers/whermacht again not in the specific 'wehrmacht' folder) at a respectable distance.
-Your first obstacle is probably rotating one of the men, so hit R and turn him 180 degrees to face his enemy
-Bring up your timeline...it's time to start the dirty work!
-You'll notice our two actors are there, click the plus sign, then animation on the rifleman
-Hit INSERT after clicking on a parallel keyframe (directly in line with the animation header)
-On the dropdown list under state, select m1_garand visible
-Hit ADD on the left of the dropdown boxes, then on the right menu, hit add again to bring the same menu up. Under state, add both 'Locomotion' and 'Rifle_State' when those are added check the right menu again, and select 'Stand_Slow' for locomotion, and 'Aim' for rifle_state'
-Perform a similar operation on our grenadier, equipping him with a k98, make him Stand_Stop or Kneel_Stop depending on what you feel like.
OK, our soldiers are equipped and ready to shoot at each other! Now it's time to make our rifleman charge the grenadier. This part is easier than the last! With autokey enabled, type 50 in the play box and hit ENTER. Move the rifleman (M brings up XYZ movement) halfway to the grenadier.
Hit the rewind to beginning button, and see your movie start to take shape. Play it! Your rifleman should walk towards the grenadier.
At this point it's time to choose who wins or loses. If you want your grenadier to win, simply reverse these instructions and forget about movement.
-Return to our uber timeline. Type 50 in the play box and hit enter again, scroll until you see the green highlight, and click one frame before under animation (for the rifleman) hit insert to create a new keyframe at frame 49. Add a locomotion state. Set it to stand_stop to stop our at exactly frame 50. Insert a keyframe on frame 50 (green box should surround it if you've typed it in the play menu and hit enter). Insert a new keyframe, and add a rifle_state.
Set the rifle_state to fire. At precisely frame 50 the rifleman will stop and fire a round. If he's lined up with the grenadier it'd look silly to see him standing unscathed! So at frame 50 under animation for our grenadier, we will insert a new keyframe. Add the event _Death. Play the move and relish in your success. The rifleman will fire at the grenadier and he will die.
If you want, you can smooth the speed of movement for your rifleman (which if you end up making a guy turn in the future you'll want) by selecting the Position/Rotation(Transform) dropdown under your actor and then PositionXYZ. Hit CURVE EDITOR in the top menu then drag a box over all the dots. Hit the Smooth button and you're set.
NIS can be created on ANY map, so let the shooting scenes BEGIN.
