Panduhh

Work started on Arma 3 Epoch in late 2013, and today there are now AAA game titles and other mods with odd and sometimes striking similarities to Epoch. If we had as much of an impact as it seems we did, I am glad to have had some effect regardless of how insignificant.
I think what most people don't realize, is just how much time it takes to make something new and creative as well as to support it. When the popularity of a mod increases so does the required workload as do expectations and hype. This often actually demands more time than is possible for any mere hobby. 
This is where the "Official Servers" thing came from. As I needed a way to deal with the ever growing workload by attempting to isolate a few communities I could more closely engage to find and fix issues faster. Given what happened it actually seemed to work against us.
More servers does not necessarily equal a healthy mod. Since we don't have a vested interest in the server counts it really makes no difference how many servers there are at any given time. EpochMod.com generates just about enough ad revenue to pay for the web hosting and all donations go towards supporting the project long term and other development costs are currently covered thanks to: (Vilayer, GTX, Survival Servers, and Nitrado) providing us with dedicated servers for free.
What is needed is, more players. Any game or mod needs a constant influx of new players to be considered healthy. With more and more work going into the project the hope is to attract more players from making the project better. Then when others think the time is right, we need their help to spread the word and by then hopefully the media will do an article about us (cough "PC Gamer"). 
I have been releasing mods since 2003, starting with Battlefield 1942 series and have spent almost 4 years developing mods for Arma 2 and 3. Over the years I have seen similar patterns repeat in regards to this topic with every game (yes even AAA titles) or mod that has ever been created. Some games or mods "hype train" don't even last two weeks and as they say, everything good must come to an end. I still think we have been a success considering we are just a mod for a game. 
Hopefully this post will help clear up some questions as this is starting to feel like ground hogs day. 

A concerned Epoch fan posted info on both of the Epoch subreddits about some Australian kid who's making a plugin for Rust and launching a server next month using the Epoch name and (from a what I saw in the official video) many of its concepts. As the Epoch crew doesn't often post on reddit and I couldn't find a ready way to PM you guys, I thought you all might want to know what's going on so you can deal with any possible shenanigans.
[snip]

A concerned Epoch fan posted info on both of the Epoch subreddits about some Australian kid who's making a plugin for Rust and launching a server next month using the Epoch name and (from a what I saw in the official video) many of its concepts. As the Epoch crew doesn't often post on reddit and I couldn't find a ready way to PM you guys, I thought you all might want to know what's going on so you can deal with any possible shenanigans.
[snip]

Thanks for letting us know, I will handle this issue privately as to not give this any further undue attention.
 

I can't speak for everyone. But people come and go. Depends on what the player is wanting to play. Arma is a rare beast with so many different play styles. But I don't see the Arma being ditched at all. In fact Arma is becoming so much easier for people to make it their game. Especially with Eden, Steam workshop, and the mod/server integration it will be easier for the average gamer to play. But I can tell you as far as Epoch is concerned. It's going to be around.  And I'm going to quote Awol, (Hope you don't mind Awol)
"X,Y,Z mod doesn't matter to me in the long run I'm still all in to take the Epoch gamemode to feature complete and make the custom map and other goodies for 0.6-1.0. Doing anything worth while takes time"
Support these guys.

https://github.com/EpochModTeam/Epoch/blob/experimental/Changelogs/0.3.7.0.txt 

We do have plans of recoding the admin panel so it is easier to customize. Some parts of the spawn menu are static and could easily be made into a config instead. I will try to get this done for the next patch 0.3.5.

In Epoch there is the debug menu which is opened by pressing Tab key. 
If you are the server owner there is a script which can be added so you can have an on screen status bar as described in OP : Here

See this script for how to download the client files from steam workshop and the server files from github on linux:
http://epochmod.com/forum/index.php?/topic/37199-linux-server-fully-automatically-installation/ 

http://dev.arma3.com/post/spotrep-00047

UPDATE!
As requested: option to disable/enable removal of AI bodies has been added as well as the option to disable/enable removal of launchers from AI's body when they die.

It has been nearly one year since the initial test release of Arma 3: Epoch and I want to thank you all for your support! Just to give a quick run down on what is happening with the mod and team.

The Epoch Dev Team has also recently grown as we welcome three new team members. 
Raymix: will be working on UI and coding aspects of the mod. SteamPunkGears: will be new creating 3d models for custom epoch items. Richie: will be working on map support as well as assist the development process. We are also proud to announce that Sequisha is working with Bohemia Interactive on the new Tanoa terrain and wish him luck. Tanoa looks to be a quality terrain that we certainly look forward to supporting in Epoch.

In the next patches leading up to 0.4 large framework changes will be made so we can prep the open world Epoch sandbox gamemode code for public release. This also means that Epoch Mod will soon become more compatible with other mods because the Epoch sandbox gamemode code will then run purely from the server/mission file.

Epoch "Server" Framework project: 
Code functions that make it easier to use our callExtension calls. Full callExtension calls documentation and DLL source code. Epoch public github will accept improvements and bug fixes. Epoch "Sandbox" Gamemode project: (Requires: Epoch Server)
This is the core of the Epoch gamemode and will contain most all sqf and fsm client/server code needed for the current Epoch sandbox gamemode minus what is already in Epoch Server. The core of the gamemode code will exist purely in the mission file and will allow server admins full control over what code is running. This will allow even more freedom for server admins to customize there server. Epoch public github will accept improvements and bug fixes.  
The Epoch mod will still contain all the same great assets (models, textures, and icons, configs, code, etc.) and new custom creations will still be added as they are made ready by our content creators. What this all means, is that other mods (like wasteland, KOTH, etc.) will soon be able run @Epoch mod along side their own mods to use for example our female characters without our current gamemode code getting in the way. Alternatively, you may also soon see other mods using our Epoch "Server" framework to power totally new mods and gamemodes in the future. The Epoch "Sandbox" gamemode will be even more developed as this change will allow us to deliver faster updates and work closer with the community regarding fixes and improvements. The goal is to have all of this fully in place before 0.5 so that our team can start the work on our new custom terrain and other great additions planned for 1.0.




 

BI did indeed buy the rights to Dayz and all code, so they released Dayz SA and have now banned any use of Dayz code in A3
So zombies are allowed, you just have to write the code yoursef, Dayz code can only be used on A2

I put in the coordinates for Altis into the HeliCrashes.sqf file inside the PBO, repacked it and the script worked fine.
 
From OP:
Map center points, thank you Aale and San :)
Chernarus:    [6968.66, 324.481, 8345.91]
Altis:              [14939.9, 0.0534991, 15083.3]
Bornholm:      [10058.3, 117.542, 9015.85]
Stratis:           [4031.66, 110.605, 4222.18]
Taviana          [12800,0,12800]

FYI, in line 18 of the Helicrashes.sqf file there is a spelling error for the Navid: should be "MMG_01_hex_ARCO_LP_F" instead of "MMG_01_hex_ACRO_LP_F".

FYI, in line 18 of the Helicrashes.sqf file there is a spelling error for the Navid: should be "MMG_01_hex_ARCO_LP_F" instead of "MMG_01_hex_ACRO_LP_F".

The same holds true for any script.  Any script can go into any folder in the mission file, as long as all other scripts that need that information know where to find it.  Different admins each have their own ideas about organization.  Personally, I like to put everything in its own folder.  Everything that's not native to Epoch goes into 'addons'.  From there it breaks down further into specific scripts, like 'Status_Bar', 'Welcome Messages', 'Ammo_Fix', etc.  The only exceptions to that would be something like R3F, where there's dozens of files all getting called from all over the place.  It's just too much work to try to change them all and then risk something obscure not working right when you least expect it.  But for the most part, you just have to make sure that if there are scripts calling other scripts that you update the paths to where those files actually reside.  

I disagree.  The smoke from these can be seen from almost 2k away.  Half the fun of these is going looking for them.  If you put a marker on the map that will just spoil it.  Plus, if you have markers all over the map for these, markers for AI missions, plant spawns, loot containers on the coast.....when you pull up the map it's just going to get cluttered and look like ass.  Just my 2 cents.  

The function in the server pbo is not used anymore as the code was moved to a Epoch Event as mentioned on the changelog:
[Added] Weather code migrated into an Epoch Event and code moved to settings pbo. ChangeWeather.sqf
https://github.com/EpochModTeam/Epoch/blob/master/Sources/epoch_server_settings/EpochEvents/ChangeWeather.sqf

The arma launcher is fine for me or pick your favorite launcher and stick with it, each have their own pros and cons.

This ^^

A3 launcher downloads are named differently.
ie @epoch031

Where as if you download from here you get @epoch.

I suggest the best alternative. STEAM WORKSHOP

Just subscribe and it will download as well as update when new updates are released.

The Epoch GitHub repository will show you the changes without even having to download anything.

We all have updated many times over the past months.
We all love updates RIGHT?

Well sometimes these Epoch updates have quite a bit that are different from the last.

1. download the full Epoch_Server_Install pack from github or from the main page here at EpochMod.Com (links below)

Github - https://github.com/EpochModTeam/Epoch
EpochMod - http://epochmod.com/and goto downloads-server
As well as http://epochmod.com/and goto downloads-client

Or use the steam workshop for Client files.

Both the @epochHive as well as the @epoch folders must be updated on each incremental update.
So if you currently run Epoch 0.3.0.4, you must update both @folders mentioned above with the newest downloads for Epoch 0.3.1!

2. Backup the working set that you have on your server.

I generally will do a copy paste of my entire server folder and rename it adding the old version number. For example my back now will be EpochServerAltis0304. Then I will rename the @folders to @EpochHive0304 and @Epoch0304. This allows for you to make sure you don't screw up your old install before getting the newest updates to work and provides you with a way to do WinMerge's or manual merges without fault all while retaining your old setup and not interfering with your players on your LIVE server

3. Prepare for your update

I cant stress this enough: READ, READ and READ some more.
Make sure you know whats been updated and understand, not only to be able to perform the update with ease but also so that you are educated enough to explain to your players What changed and How it will effect them as players in your community.

There are several places you can go for this information
http://epochmod.com/forum/index.php?/forum/43-announcements/

or directly to todays current 0.3.1 update changelog notes on github
https://github.com/EpochModTeam/Epoch/pull/339/files

4. Start your updating process

Now I take my newly downloaded @folders and move them into the EpochServerAltis0304 folder.
You will have 2 folders for the EpochHive to work from. Keeping the newest updated files as your base for your update.
I like to use Notepad++ "move to other view" so that I have a side by side view of the 0.3.0.4(old) and the 0.3.1(new) files.
Again remember that the 0.3.1 files are going to be the base and the 0.3.0.4 files will provide you with your current settings that will be moved into the newest 0.3.1 files.

Then your mission file udpates. Prepare the mission file the same way as above, renaming the old epoch.Altis to epoch.Altis0304 and moving the updated epoch.Altis. Again allowing you to have a smooth update by comparing your old files to the new updated files and adding your settings to the newest updated files.

For those that are newer to the process this will make your update process smooth allowing you zero probability of screwing up your current LIVE build and allowing you to test your update until its perfect before making it LIVE.

I hope that this will help out you newbies out there get your servers updated properly without too much spilled blood, sweat and tears!

ENJOY

The M-900 class is C_Heli_Light_01_civil_EPOCH it has 18 random textures and is already setup to use our texture persistence system for vehicles so there is no need for the other classes.