Creating a new campaign map

**edyzmedieval** · 08-01-2005, 14:29

Very difficult question. This is mainly for the Byzantium Total War mod.

I have created a campaign map for the mod. I just selected the area I wanted, using the HiRes map, and then I copied it. Created a blank image and I pasted the selected part of the map.

Now, I have parts of Sicily, Naples, Black Sea.....
I want to develop the map, because nobody wants to help, or are already committed. So it's up to me to do the map.

How do I use the LMM?! How to I draw the province borders?! How do I name the new borders?!

Also, do I have to edit the all the files that complement the campaign map?!

More questions coming soon, have to think as I explore the forests of MTW Modding.

Eddy

P.S.: Any other ideas to create a map?! I was thinking of using another map, not the magnified MTW map.

**VikingHorde** · 08-01-2005, 16:52

Originally Posted by edyzmedieval

Very difficult question. This is mainly for the Byzantium Total War mod.

I have created a campaign map for the mod. I just selected the area I wanted, using the HiRes map, and then I copied it. Created a blank image and I pasted the selected part of the map.

Now, I have parts of Sicily, Naples, Black Sea.....
I want to develop the map, because nobody wants to help, or are already committed. So it's up to me to do the map.

How do I use the LMM?! How to I draw the province borders?! How do I name the new borders?!

Sounds like a cool project. I did not use LMM to edit my campaign map, I did it all manually (Draw the provinces, edit border info in startpos files, ect.). LMM is not an easy programe to use IMO (maybe im just stupid ;-) ), so if I should make a new map, then I would properly do it manually.

Originally Posted by edyzmedieval

Also, do I have to edit the all the files that complement the campaign map?!

I belive so. If you make the campaign like the viking era (addon mod), then you will need to edit all files that the vking era also has. My mod is an overwrite mod, so I edtted all files that has something to do with the early, high and late campaign.

**edyzmedieval** · 08-01-2005, 17:10

Thanks VH!!! Check the link to my mod, which I started with King Henry V:
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=49841

And what did you use to draw manually the borders?! Paint Shop Pro?!
Too bad I have to modify all the text files, it's a loooot of work.

And BTW, you're not stupid

Those who make such awesome mods aren't stupid....

**barocca** · 08-01-2005, 17:11

LMM has all the documentation needed in the download,

follow one of the examples step by step,

(Rome TW campaign maps are based on a very very VERY similar principle which is the guts of LMM - i dont think that is a co-incidence, we think they used the same principle when they made the original shogun and medieval maps, either that or they adopted wellies ideas (which were opensource) and rome reads the "reference files" on the fly)

basically you take your map of provinces,
outline them in the colour specified in LMM,
put a single dot for cities, another for ports and another for the "landing area" where all the units cluster,
(the colours for these are explained in the documentation)

then run your scribbled on map through LMM and voila, a working campaign map with a basic startpos script (to get you started)

you will make one or two mistakes on your map to begin with, a broken outline on a province border, that sort of thing,
check the reference files LMM also produces, that will help you find your bugs.

(when you check the reference files, have a look at Rome's map setup, and you will see what i mean about VERY similar!!)

hundreds (literally) of hours went into making and testing LMM and it works quite well.

B.

**edyzmedieval** · 08-01-2005, 17:19

Barocca,

You're a genius!!! Thanks very very much!!!!

Can't wait to implement the map. Installed a fresh VI on my PC, for this.

**Monkwarrior** · 08-01-2005, 21:47

Yeah, as barocca says, LMM is very useful for campaign maps.
I used it for Reconquista and it was quite easy. I remember that I took the base map, draw a single line for borders (some kind of pink color), deleted the background and run the script.
The hardest work was to fill the startpos file, with all the properties of borders, regions and so on.
I strongly recommend the use of LMM and... Good luck!

**edyzmedieval** · 08-02-2005, 08:01

I'm using LMM now. I think it's the best tool. Just read the FAQ, and then I'll start.

Oh well, can't wait to start. Hopefully I'll recruit some other members to help me, because I'll take a loooot of time to create the script.

**EatYerGreens** · 10-10-2005, 04:55

Originally Posted by barocca

put a single dot for cities, another for ports and another for the "landing area" where all the units cluster,
(the colours for these are explained in the documentation)

Just out of curiosity, is it allowable to have more than one of these 'landing areas' you described. The thing where your own agents get hidden behind the other faction's army stacks is annoying.

Yes, I know you can press 'X' to de-clutter the map but, for purely aesthetic reasons, it would be nice if agents and armies would form separate clusters.

Under certain circumstances, it's next to impossible to launch a mission on an enemy agent because they are too tightly tucked behind an army stack and no amount of panning will help to get at them. (Frustration makes me forget about the X key, every time!!)

Recently I noticed how an army stack in Isle De France was positioned so close to the castle that his 5 stars were rendered invisible (2 stacks were present at the time). Only by clicking on the base of the stack and reviewing the units panel was his command rating apparent. Ability to tidy things like that up would be great, so thanks for bringing this to my attention.

I'm not doing any modding yet but the urge to experiment will get the better of me soon