Utility: new Battle Simulator map

[Gandalf Parker]

I was testing something (castle ownership) and realized that I had not made the new version of my BattleSim public.
So from the Utilities link on www.Dom3Minions.com ....

This is a better version of my Battle Simulator map. BattleSim_v3.zip
Its a very tiny 10 province map providing the variety of terrains. Editing the ascii text file of BattleSim_v3.map makes it easy to set two nations next to each other with specific armies so that you can test tactics or how the game does things. And then you can either quickly easily start another game with the same settings to see if the results are the same, or edit the .map file to some small change to see if that makes a difference.

[Gandalf Parker]

Here is a link to a quicky-reference list of map commands.
http://www.dom3minions.com/docs/map_qref.txt

There is a very complete file in the dominions3/doc directory on your machine
(thank-you Edi for the great work on that)

[WraithLord]

Can you please give a quick and dirty tutorial of how to use your map for say simulating MA ULM vs. Abysia and set like two huge armies one for each side?
Is it possible to control research levels for allowing mages to cast until certain level in certain schools?
Is it possible to assign items to mages?

TIA,
WL

[Gandalf Parker]

Sure. I wont do like others and tell you its simple and read the manual.
Id rather show you that its simple.
Insert this into the BattleSim .map file:
(stuff after - is just comments and can be left out)

#specstart 31 4 - start Ulm in mountains
#specstart 37 10 - start Abysia in nearby mountains
#land 8 - wipe out the nearby swamp

#setland 4 - say where the next lines are for
#owner 31
#commander 114 - additional Commander of Ulm
#units 20 67 - 20 infantry of Ulm to him
#units 20 79 - 20 Pikeneers to him
#units 20 67 - 20 infantry of Ulm to him
#units 20 79 - 20 Pikeneers to him
#commander 113- Lord Guardian
#additem "Pendant of Luck"
#units 20 66 - 10 Guardians assigned to him


#setland 10 - say where the next lines are for
#owner 37
#commander 119 - additional Warlord
#units 20 81 - 20 infantry of type 81 to him
#units 20 82 - 20 infantry of type 82 to him
#units 20 81 - 20 infantry of type 81 to him
#units 20 82 - 20 infantry of type 82 to him
#commander 214 - Beast Trainer
#additem "Pendant of Luck"
#units 10 213 - 10 Salamanders assigned to him

Now start a game with that map, join as Ulm and Abysia.
Set the formations and scripts. Then have both armies meet in the nearby swamp
(I cleared out the local defense so you can see just those two battle).

Now start a new game with the same map, change formations, do it again.

Or edit the .map for new items or new troops, start a game and do it again.

[Gandalf Parker]

I got the nation numbers off this list...
http://www.dom3minions.com/docs/nations.txt

I got the unit IDs by starting a game. Examine a unit then hit Shift-I to see the ID numbers screen.

Or you can use Edi's great database. or Ballbarians online Dom3Reference

[WraithLord]

Wow. Very helpful answer indeed. I'll start experimenting with your sim.
Thank you for sharing this.

[Gandalf Parker]

Here is an example of what Ive been using to try pinning down the #owner command, and how it works for setting inside and outside defenders

#description "play Arco and I suggest a water or cave nation as AI."
#scenario

#land 7 - wipe the cave
#population 1000 - set its pop to 1000
#specstart 12 7 - start Agartha there
#allowedplayer 0 - allow Arcos
#allowedplayer 12 - allow Agartha
#specstart 0 6 - start Arcos in the farmland
computerplayer 24 4
computerplayer 23 4

#setland 5 - in wasteland
#owner 25 - Independents
#defence 111 - high PD
#commander 135 - chalice knight
#units 16 111 - Hypaspist

#setland 5 - in wasteland again
#owner 24 - Special Monsters
#fort 21 - put a weak castle
#commander 19 - hvy cavalry knight
#units 12 12 - gladiators
#defence 15 - set PD

[archaeolept]

thanks gandalf - great stuff.

[Kojusoki]

awesome!

[Agusti]

Great stuff! Thank you.

But one question. I quote: Is it possible to control research levels for allowing mages to cast until certain level in certain schools?

How can I do that? Le'ts guess I want to put a Golem in the simulator and order it to cast Body Ethereal + Luck + Astral Shield. How can I do it? When I play this scenario the researching levels are always below level one.

Thanks.