Map Creation Guide

[Jazzepi]

Can anyone point me to a good tutorial on making maps for Dominions 3? My understanding is that there's two files, one determines the layout of the provinces, and the other is the image of the map itself. I'm just looking for a simple set of instructions on how to edit the image file to change something while at the same time editing the province location file so that everything jives properly.

I'd like to host 3-4 new games, but I always stumble trying to generate the maps. The random generator takes forever and a day. I'd like to be able to take one of those random maps, and poke it around to get it looking nice.

Alternatively, if anyone is interested in making some maps to specification (nothing fancy required), that'd be great.

Jazzepi

[Aezeal]

just use a program that can edit the files.. nothing more is needed. Of course if you edit BORDERS (which I guess you want else there is not much point) then the text file will need to be changed.. and that... will be ... annoying.

[llamabeast]

Yeah, the image file is either an rgb or a tga. Both can be edited by GIMP or many other graphics programs. You can poke around with it in any way you want. The only thing that Dominions looks at is the single pure white pixel in the centre of each province. So if you edit it you must be sure (a) not to obliterate any of the white pixels, or (b) add any pure white to the image.

I believe that Dominions numbers the provinces simply based on the locations of the white pixels. The other file (a .map) file then contains information on how the provinces are connected, as well as things like province names and terrain. You can open the .map file in notepad or any other text editor (not Word though!).

[Jazzepi]

That makes sense. I looked at the connection profile in the map. I guess there's no easy way to create new provinces? That's what I was really going for. I'd like to be able to carve up the sea areas the game gives and have just the right amount of provinces for the sea nations.

Jazzepi

[llamabeast]

I _think_ if you create a new image, Dominions is able to guess the connections. I'm not sure how you make it do that though.

[LDiCesare]

In the map editor tool you can ue a guess connections button (or whatever the name) but the game will definitely get them all wrong, you're better off doing all by hand even though it's painful.
Adding provinces is just adding a white pixel on the map and then rehashing all the links. There's a province inserted command but I never understood how it works.

[Aezeal]

yeah what that command does is a mystery to me.. doesn't seem to do what it should do in any comprehensible way

[Endoperez]

IIRC the guess feature looks for red borders to make the guess.

Depending on how you do the map, it might be possible to have capital dots on one layer, borders on another, and very bright red borders for the guessing algorithm. Save a temporary TGA with just the capitals and the borders, and see if it goes better. It might not; haven't used the tool myself.

[Aezeal]

yeah the few maps I did I used a pic

then I drew borders in bright red and put dots in it.

it works pretty well if you don't use to much strange shapes and all.. I figure with only squares it would work very well.

But still... adjusting a pre made randomized map won't be easy

[PashaDawg]

Jazzepi said:
Alternatively, if anyone is interested in making some maps to specification (nothing fancy required), that'd be great.

Jazzepi

I am a map making fool. Depending on the circumstances, I'd certainly be open to drawing a map to specifications.