Entered
When the player enters a sector the goal is met.
Sighted
When the player sights a thing, the goal is met.
Touched
When the player touches a surface, the goal is met.
Damaged
When the player damages a thing, the goal is met.
Activated
When the player activates a switch, the goal is met.
Killed
When the player kills a thing, the goal is met.

Other messages may trigger it, but the above are most common.

Here is an example goals.cog that uses four different messages:

# Generic Goals Script # (c) 1998 Code Alliance symbols message entered message sighted message activated message killed sector goal0sector0 thing SightedThing thing DeadGuy switch TriggerSwitch int done0=0 local int done1=0 local int done2=0 local int done3=0 local end # ======================================================================================== code entered: if((!done0) && (GetSenderRef() == goal0sector0) // when the specified sector is entered //and if it has not been entered yet, then do : { SendMessageEx(GetMasterCOG(), user0, 0, 0, 0, 0); //sends goal 1 to the master cog... done0 = 1; //keep it from happening again Return; } Return; # ........................................................................................ sighted: if (!done1) && (GetSenderRef() == SightedThing) // Make sure it is the correct thing. { SendMessageEx(GetMasterCOG(), user0, 1, 0, 0, 0); // Send objective 2 done1 = 1; } Return; # ........................................................................................ activated: if (!done2) && (GetSenderRef() == TriggerSwitch) // Is it the right switch? { SendMessageEx(GetMasterCOG(), user0, 2, 0, 0, 0); // Send objective 3 done2 = 1; } Return; # ........................................................................................ killed: if(!done3) && (GetSenderRef() == DeadGuy) // Did the right guy die? { SendMessageEx(GetMasterCOG(), user0, 3, 0, 0, 0); // Send objective 4 done3 = 1; } Return; end

Take note at the IF Statements for every message. They do a simple check to make sure that the correct thing hasn't happend yet and that the occurence is for the correct sector, surface, etc..

As you can see, this cog is pretty simple to understand, granted you know the correct cog functions.

# Generic Master Cog File for goals

# (c) 1998 Code Alliance

# ========================================================================================



symbols

message         startup

message         user0



int             player           local



sound           goalsnd=Accomplish1.wav   local

end

# ========================================================================================

code

startup:

   SetMasterCOG(GetSelfCOG());

   player = GetLocalPlayerThing();

      // Goals

   SetInv(player, 99, 1000);  // These next 5 lines set up the needed goals on the objective

      // screen at startup  

      // Display at startup of level.

   SetGoalFlags(player, 0, 1);

   SetGoalFlags(player, 1, 1);

   SetGoalFlags(player, 2, 1);

   SetGoalFlags(player, 3, 1);

Return;

# ........................................................................................

     // The user0 message waits for a message from the goals.cog, nothing will happen

     // in this message until goals.cog tells it to happen.

user0:

   jkPrintUNIString(player, 350);     //prints "mission objective reached"

   if(GetParam(0) == 0)       // If the parameter for goal 1 is met

   {

      PlaySoundThing(goalsnd, player, 1.0, -1, -1, 0); //plays sound

      SetGoalFlags(player, 0, 2);   //Sets goal one as accomplished.

      Print("YourMessage");   //Print the message  if you want one 

      Return;

   }

   if(GetParam(0) == 1) // If goal 2 is met

   {

      PlaySoundThing(goalsnd, player, 1.0, -1, -1, 0);

      SetGoalFlags(player, 1, 2); 

      Print("YourMessage);    

      Return;

   }

   if(GetParam(0) == 2) //Goal Three

   {

     SetGoalFlags(player, 2, 2);

	 PlaySoundThing(goalsnd, player, 1.0, -1, -1, 0);

     Print("YourMessage);      

    }

	 if(GetParam(0) == 3) //Goal Four

   {

      SetGoalFlags(player, 3, 2);

      PlaySoundThing(goalsnd, player, 1.0, -1, -1, 0);

      Print("YourMessage);

      // Wait a bit before level ends

      Sleep(4.0);

      jkEndLevel(1);

      Return;

   }

   Return;

# ........................................................................................

end

As you can see, the master cog pretty much acts as a relay between the goals.cog and the cogstrings.uni .

If you would like to have a "hidden" objective (I.E. Not known until another objective is met), simply do not add the SetGoalFlags(player, GoalNumber, 1); line for your goal. Place it inside of the if(GetParam(0) == 0) function. This will have it display the next goal only after completing the preceding one.