Map making driving me mad

[Meneldil]

Bwian, have you tried editing descr_terrain ? If the dimensions entries are not the same as your region map size, it will ctd before loading the campaign.

[Bwian]

The map size is fine...I didn't change it at all. I am going to make use of the map template file, and work back from the simplest case. I will let you guys know how I get on.

This is about the only bit of RTW modding I haven't been able to get right, and I won't let it beat me! If I can manage animations, I can do maps! Now...back to work

[Bwian]

Hooray for the mapping template!

Thanks to this, I have got to the root of my problem. Or, actually, problems.

On one side, I had some errors in the code, which using the minimalist approach of the kit, I was able to eliminate.

On the other side, I had some bad things happening with my map tga due to some poor choices in the Photoshop Options. There was a bit of colour 'blurring' happening as a result of saving with wrong options which I thought I had set correctly. I opened up the map in the kit, saved it, and what worked before now caused a CTD. I messed around with the options and got a version that I had saved in working order. THEN I re-applied my changes to create the map I had originally, and now it works!

Still lots of work to do, since I turned all the ground to sea, and have yet to find out if I have enough land to do the business. Also, I think the regions I have are now a little on the small side. The map co-ords might need a bit of alteration. Currently the map is 255x156. I might make it a little shorter, and longer. I am assuming there is no problem with the actual sizes..... If there isn't, I will crop some areas od sea top and bottom, and then scale up some.

Anyway....I now have something that looks roughly right and WORKS!

[Bwian]

Awwww..crap.

The map works..sort of, but it hasn't got enough land-mass to work properly in RTW. In order to make it work, I had to add a LOAD of extra 'dummy' land.

One thing I wondered though....

presumably, it isn't a question of how much land I have...or how much sea...but it looks like the ratio that matters. I am guessing this since very big and very small maps are possible.

Anybody know what the magic ratio is ?

[Atheist_Peace]

Im not sure, but may i ask what map you are trying to make?

[Bwian]

Sure...it's just a 'test piece' really, before I have a go at making Hyborea for my Conan project.

After the news that Sengoku Jidai was going to be ditching the SP campaign, I thought I would have a go at making a map of Japan for some pseudo Shogun mucking about I wasn't going to bother makign new units, but instead wanted to just try and make a map I could use. Sadly...the islands are a BAD layout for the purpose. It's long, banana shaped...and awkward to fit onto a 'rectangle' of map without having a whole pile of sea. It gets worse if you try to include Hokkaido....which I haven't.

I am going to have to trim down the edging a lot and re-shape the northern end a little and see if that helps. I may be able to swing it if I am very careful...but only trial and error will confirm if I can achieve a realistic mix.

If that works, then there are one or 2 other maps I want to do...

First off...Hyperborea. Lovely and simple....lots of land...very little need for blocks of sea....Nice.

Second....I want to do the Elric map. Melnibone as the Senate...