Best practices using WML events

[Viliam]

I tried to re-organize the EventWML wiki page, and add many examples (approximately one for each event type). I looked in official scenarios to find the "best practices" on using events. And I found that different campaigns/authors do some things differently.

So I want to ask whether these different ways are just matter of taste, or is there some advantage in doing it one way as opposed to another?

Putting new units on the map:
"EI", "SotBE" -- in PRESTART event
"TDH" -- in START event
"HTTT" -- in SIDE tag

Recalling units:
"SotBE", "TDH" -- in PRESTART event
"EI", "HTTT" -- in START event

[toms]

I´m not sure right now, but I think units placed in the start event can be seen appearing on the map while prestart and side units already are there.

[turin]

The three different ways of putting new units on the map are just a matter of personal preference (although doing it in the [side] tag does save one line - you don't have to specify the unit's side).


When recalling units, putting it in prestart will make them start out on the map, putting it in start will make them fade in, like when you recruit a unit.

[toms]

Turin, but there is a key fade_in= in the single unit WML. Does it fade in anyway or only if this is set to yes?

[bruno]

You should probably use [side] when possible. You may need to use prestart events if you are doing something dynamic based on the recall list. You would only use start events if you wanted the player to see the units appear.

[joshudson]

Turin, but there is a key fade_in= in the single unit WML. Does it fade in anyway or only if this is set to yes?

If you are using this in the prestart event, no. The prestart events take place before the map is drawn.