Using the WarOnline.Net
Map Editor
1. Choosing a background image for your
map
First thing you need is to choose
a background image for your map. You will find all available
images inside the editor directory. They differ in size and
look. Try around!
2. Editor Tools
Type Button - Click this button
to switch between the different types:
- Type 1 : Mountain/Forest Objects and Monsters.
- Type 2 : Building Objects - Caslte, resource
buildings, roads, resources.
Clear Button : Clicking this
button removes the currently selected object and returns to
the default yellow select square. Clicking on any object already
placed on the map while in this state deletes the map-object.
Data Button : Clicking this button
opens a large text area responsible for loading/saving map
data. Clicking the Data button again closes the text area
without any action taking place.
When the text area opens, it
will show a stream of text-data that represents the current
map contents (if there is any). Clicking the LOAD button will
remove all map objects and use the data in the text area to
re-populate the map.
3. About placing objects
Placing objects is very simpel.
Just left-click on an object in the Editor Tools. Now this
object is selected and can be placed all over the map. Make
sure that you don't place stuff on water or the black void!
You should try not to use too many trees, mountains, buildings,
piles and mines! The more you place, the more players will
have to load!
Never overlap objects like roads
or rivers. This would cause errors and your map won't work.
Try to build in a wise way! plan your map before you start
the editor!
Do you plan to map for a big
campaign, or just for a quick battle or skirmish? This is
an essential question! E.g. you should not use a huge background
image for a 6 Player skirmish map! Players would probably
not be able to reach each other in time!
4. Your first Starting
Point
Starting points are important.
For every player you will need to place one Castle. Every
player should be able to overtake a Wood Mill, a Mine and
a Quarry after at turn 1. Gold Mines and Gem Ponds should
be rare and hidden.
I think we should start with
our first map. Open mapeditor_map.txt with Notepad and replace
whatever with the following: map=map34. Then open the
Map Editor (mapeditor.htm). Now you should see something like
this:
You can navigate through the
map by left-clicking the terrain. Hold the mouse button and
move your mouse. Wow! It works! :) Move a bit down and choose
a Castle from the map objects. Place the castle somewhere
on the green. Then add some Roads and resource buildings (a
Mine, a Wood Mill and a Quarry). Use the Clear button to erase
objects. Now you have something like this:
You did the first important step. You added everything
you need for a simple Starting Point. Now add another three
of them. Be creative! Make sure that all Starting Points are
balanced!
5. Preparing for war
You set up all four starting points? Nice. Now
we want to give your players a reason to kill each other!
:) Here's what I have, hope that yours look similar:
You can see four fields of darker
green. We want to place some gold and gems there. Start with
a Gold Mine, followed by a Gem Pond and so on. Only one building
per field. Now place a Gold Mine in every of the four dark
white areas in the middle. Finally place a Tower in the center
of the map. Now it should look like this:
6. Terrain - Be careful!
Adding terrain to a map is one
of the most difficult things IMO. You have to balance the
whole map with trees, mountains, barbarians and piles. And
don't forget: We want to have a good looking map with enough
free land to build and battle! I can't tell you how you should
do this. And I don't want to. You have to decide.
After finishing your map, you
probably want to send it in for review. Therefore click on
"Data". Copy everything and paste it to an empty
file within Notepad. Save it. I think it would be a good idea
to give your map an expressive name like pinafore_4pl_map11_skirmish.txt
or something. Now you are ready to send your map to Requiem. |
