Small Map Details

[Dextry]

I'm having trouble making small details in the maps for example, if I was making an island around the edges are all squared off in the grid panals. How do I get it to where I can make smaller details in the map?

Also how do I get the map that I make to be used in the H2H arena?

[NHawk]

Originally posted by Dextry
I'm having trouble making small details in the maps for example, if I was making an island around the edges are all squared off in the grid panals. How do I get it to where I can make smaller details in the map?

It's hard to understand what you mean without a screen shot.

If you mean your island is something like this...


But you want it more like this....


It's all in the texture tiles. You need to work with them.

[Raptor]

Dextry, you cannot use smaller details (tiles) to make your island more detailed. You can make your own tiles so it is a puzzle, like on midway.

to get your map usable in h2h. open it up in terrain editor, file>build; then open up your terrain file under aheditor, look for the your .res file, copy/cut it and paste it under aceshigh>terrains directory. then you are able to host it so others can download it.

[NHawk]

Originally posted by Raptor01
Dextry, you cannot use smaller details (tiles) to make your island more detailed. You can make your own tiles so it is a puzzle, like on midway.

Agreed, to a point. You are limited to modifying the 21 original tiles. You can't increase the number. However, you can make the "Shore" tiles much closer to being realistic.

And, depending on how detailed you want to get you can modify some of the objects in the terrain editor and place them over a  texture tile for high detailed areas. Nuttz demonstated this several times. Just don't plan on a map using that trick to ever making it into the MA, etc.

This may be changing in AH2, I'm not sure. But the tree cover Ah2 appears to be a texture "floating" above the terrain GL as Nuttz suggested many many moons ago.

[Dextry]

Thanks for the replies I messed with the map maker a bit more and see that it has pretty good detail, but I ran into another problem how do you upload the your map to the clipboard map?

[NHawk]

Originally posted by Dextry
Thanks for the replies I messed with the map maker a bit more and see that it has pretty good detail, but I ran into another problem how do you upload the your map to the clipboard map?

1) Create a folder called texsrc in your terrain's folder.
2) Fire up the terrain editor and use Make Map
3) Edit the map.bmp that is now in your terrain's folder with any graphics program and reduce colors to 256k/8bit.
4) Save that reduced color bitmap in the texsrc folder you created in step 1. Name the .bmp the SAME NAME AS YOUR TERRAIN.
5) Fire up terrain editor and build your terrain.
6) Copy your terrain to the AH/terrains folder. The map will now be on your clipboard in AH when you load the terrain.

[Dextry]

Thanks alot NHawk worked great... <>

[BenDover]

And for your next question: "How do I stop the colours going funny"
I recomend using irfan view

[Dextry]

well the "colours" came out fine on the clipboard map but now when I log onto the map in offline mode it only stays open for about 15 seconds then aces high shuts down??  guess I'll make a new map only took me about 3 hours to make that lol

[NHawk]

Originally posted by Dextry
well the "colours" came out fine on the clipboard map but now when I log onto the map in offline mode it only stays open for about 15 seconds then aces high shuts down??  guess I'll make a new map only took me about 3 hours to make that lol

Some things to check...

Make sure the name of you terrain is 8 characters long with no spaces and that they are all small characters. A name like MyMap is not acceptable (I don't think it is at least.).

If you edited ANY of the textures or skins, make sure they are all 256 color 8 bit .bmps.

Sometimes, an incomplete map will load and then AH will just vanish without an error. Incomplete meaning a side missing, a HQ missing, etc. Just re-start AH and go offline. The map should automatically load without a problem.

And, "colours" is how most everyone except the US spells "colors". That extra "u" makes it more colourful.

[BenDover]

3 hours isn't a long time to make a map.
Colour is the correct spelling
ALL images must be in 256 colour mode
The name can not be longer that 8 alphanumeric characters, that means no spaces or periods (that'll be dots'.'), or other special characters. Capitals are OK


Always remember to run the object report (under the object) before building.
Always Save, Exit, and Restart the TE before building...otherwise some crazy watermelon can happen.

[Dextry]

sorry for my dumb Americanism..lol but I've nerver messed with such a edgy program. The map I was making seems to have a few errors on it like 2 towers on one field( though I don't know how that happened) and lots of objects on the grid lines.Do you have to have zero errors to have a map that works right?

I know 3 hours is not a long time to work on a map but it was just a 64 mile map. Thanks for all the help.

[BenDover]

Objects on gridlines aren't too much of a problem, as long as its only a bit that goes over the grid line.

Things you should pay attention to most are missing countries, missing HQs, missing map rooms and towers, and map rooms with their collision property enabled. Objects not on flat surfaces should also be avoided.

[NHawk]

In "Terrain Window Options", check the "Grid" and "Snap" boxes. DO NOT change snap spacing from default. Then be sure to place fields in the center of the grid. This will stop all problems with items on grid lines.

[United]

Originally posted by BenDover
Objects on gridlines aren't too much of a problem, as long as its only a bit that goes over the grid line.

Things you should pay attention to most are missing countries, missing HQs, missing map rooms and towers, and map rooms with their collision property enabled. Objects not on flat surfaces should also be avoided.

On field A1 there is automatically 2 towers put in.  To get rid of one, select that field and look in the list of objects in the scroll down menu.  you will see something like TWR00 and TWR01.   Delete TWR00 and you should be fine. (I know for a fact its not called TWRXX, but its something like that)