Question on Maps

[SATANS PAWN]

Is Aran the only map that does not have computer players allready stuck in the game? Every other map that I start has computer players allready in there. I would like to play a map that is bigger than Aran and >I< pick the RACES that are in the game and not have extra ones in there. The only other map thats a good size that doesnt have preset rules and computer players in there is Inland, but its a wrap around.

Map Editor,
I loaded Inland, turned off Wrap Around, saved it under a differnt name. It doesnt show up though on pick a game to play. How do I get this map to play ?

How do you get/change trees and terain on the map editor? Do I need to buy photo/paint shop or what ever its called ?

This game has every thing, except one thing, a random map generator. It seems, the maps that came with the game are for some one elses style of play.

[Targa]

Originally posted by SATANS PAWN:
Is Aran the only map that does not have computer players allready stuck in the game? Every other map that I start has computer players allready in there.

Any map that doesn't have a yellow star next to it will allow you to do this (star denotes 'scenario' with other races pre-chosen).

Map Editor,
I loaded Inland, turned off Wrap Around, saved it under a differnt name. It doesnt show up though on pick a game to play. How do I get this map to play ?

No idea why this didn't work. You could always load "inland.map" (found in dominions2/maps dir) in a text editor, delete #wraparound and save it under another name.

How do you get/change trees and terain on the map editor? Do I need to buy photo/paint shop or what ever its called ?

The in-game map editor is not built for changing the graphics. Yes, you'd need to use a graphics program to make your own, or you can download and teach yourself how to use GIMP (a free graphics program).

This game has every thing, except one thing, a random map generator. It seems, the maps that came with the game are for some one elses style of play.

It has two random map generators. DomMap, which you can find here:
http://www.ont.com/~keldon/dommap.html

And PhilD's Version, which Gandalf Parker runs to provide randomly generated maps every day. You can find them here:
http://www.techno-mage.com/~dominion...humbnails.html
http://www.techno-mage.com/~dominion...s2/RandomMaps/

You can also download player-made maps at Illwinter's site, here:
http://www.illwinter.com/dom2/maps.html

Edit: I noticed that you said, "It doesn't show up on 'pick a game to play'." I figured that was just a slip in terminology, but just to be precise: Your non-wraparound Version won't show up on "pick a game to play", but rather under "create a new game\\\choose map".

[ February 14, 2004, 14:36: Message edited by: Targa ]

[Gandalf Parker]

Is Aran the only map that does not have computer players allready stuck in the game? Every other map that I start has computer players allready in there. I would like to play a map that is bigger than Aran and >I< pick the RACES that are in the game and not have extra ones in there.

Orania doesnt, although Orania War does.

The only other map thats a good size that doesnt have preset rules and computer players in there is Inland, but its a wrap around.

I dont like wraparound either but its been so long since I played the original map set that I dont remember which ones do or dont.

Map Editor,
I loaded Inland, turned off Wrap Around, saved it under a differnt name. It doesnt show up though on pick a game to play. How do I get this map to play ?

That doesnt work so well. The "wraparound" only changes whether you can scroll the map past the borders. The neighbor commands decide if armies can move tht way. Those are usually way to hard to bother editing. But if it doesnt show up on the choices then Id ask, did you change the dom2title line to something else? Did you save the map file back ask just ascii text? (it seems to automatically skip anything it cant read properly)

How do you get/change trees and terain on the map editor? Do I need to buy photo/paint shop or what ever its called ?

You dont have to buy anything but you will probably have to get something. The paint program that came with your operating system can be used but you might have to download a program to convert the images in and out of the TGA image format. The devs themselves use a free (but very powerful) paint program called GIMP but its not easy to learn. There are various other options.

This game has every thing, except one thing, a random map generator. It seems, the maps that came with the game are for some one elses style of play.

There is one but its a 3rd party one being worked on by some of the players who can do C code. The results are playable, but kindof ugly. Good for really large maps though since making those manually would take forever.

There are also other generators such as the ones that come with GIMP which make prettier images but take more work to turn them into maps for the game.

Since you mention other games... could you maybe check them to see if any can create maps that are kindof close to what we use? I keep thinking that there HAS to be one in my collection that can make maps for this game with some simple conVersions. Or that we can at least steal good trees, mountains, water from. I hate the idea of just diving into my collection (Im highly allergic to dust and since Dom1 those things have just sat there)

[Endoperez]

Wasn't Keldon's generator for Dominions 1 only?

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally posted by Endoperez:
Wasn't Keldon's generator for Dominions 1 only?

Keldons was the original code. And he has a Version which will run in Windows. But yes the maps wont work in Dom2 without editing.

The link for the DomMap generator for Dom2 should actually point to PhilD's site since he has made the latest updates.
http://duchon.philippe.free.fr/dom2/
but until someone compiles it for windows its a linux Version only (raw c code)

[ February 14, 2004, 15:26: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

[SATANS PAWN]

Well, I down loaded Map generater but it doesnt work. If theres a Dominions 3, they should add a random map generator. Click generate random map, then click another button to play it. Some thing that a non computer tech can use. Age of wonders, Warlords, Heroes of might and magic, these games you just click a button and theres a map made. Click another button to play it.

Same thing with the map editor. All those games you just click a button, next thing ya know, your in the map editor with every thing there to make a map.

Dominions 2 blows those games away with depth and game play, but I wish it had random maps to play and a editor.

I'll go back and try to figure out how to get rid of the wrap around on Inland. I like the size of it for how many computer players I want to play against. Also, theres not much water. I would rather make my own, Oh well.

I dont like most of those maps at Illwinter. Theres only 2 that catch my eye. World Map and that latest one, I think by Targa. I'll try those, when all else fails.

Thanx every one for the quick replys and info.

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally posted by SATANS PAWN:
Well, I down loaded Map generater but it doesnt work. If theres a Dominions 3, they should add a random map generator. Click generate random map, then click another button to play it. Some thing that a non computer tech can use. Age of wonders, Warlords, Heroes of might and magic, these games you just click a button and theres a map made. Click another button to play it.

Same thing with the map editor. All those games you just click a button, next thing ya know, your in the map editor with every thing there to make a map.

Heehee I dont think those games are 2 guys in the garage in their spare time.

I dont like most of those maps at Illwinter. Theres only 2 that catch my eye. World Map and that latest one, I think by Targa. I'll try those, when all else fails.

We will get a random mapper done eventually but many things (tutorials, documentation, random map generator) will happen alot quicker if its done by us. The devs can stay working on the game.

If you want to try the map generator I do create a batch of fresh maps every day. They are ugly but playable. At the moment I only make really really big ones because thats the only way it will happen. Very nice (and smaller) maps are being done by others here.
http://www.techno-mage.com/~dominion...humbnails.html

[Tiltowait]

Originally posted by SATANS PAWN:

I'll go back and try to figure out how to get rid of the wrap around on Inland.

1. Open Inland.map with wordpad (located in the dominions2/maps directory, right-click on it and select Open With, then choose wordpad.)
2. Scroll down past the description and delete the line #wraparound
3. Click File-Save and Ok to the subsquient warning.
4. Create a new game (it will not affect existing games, you must create a new one after making the above change) and play.

The reason it was not working for you is because whenever the map editor saves a .map file, it replaces the map title with 'A map with xxx provinces'.