Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Terrain Editor => Topic started by: croduh on June 10, 2006, 06:21:06 AM
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Ok, so i have started doing a MA map my self. Every suggestions is welcome.
First, is 256 size ok for a MA map?
Below is a CB map, I haven't started doing anything until i know the terrain itself is ok. 3 countries would be divided like this:
(http://i6.tinypic.com/13z2uk2.jpg)
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Here's what I see...
Top left can only attack top right by sea.
Bottom can only attack top right by sea.
Top Right can attack both top left and bottom by sea.
Large front for top left to bottom.
Small front from top right to top left.
Small front from top right to bottom.
Perhaps move the land mass so each country can attack each country by sea.
Equalize the fronts between each country.
And yes, a 256 mile map is OK for the MA.
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I see.
Moving on to next project.Thx;)
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How about this one?
(http://i6.tinypic.com/13z4le1.jpg)
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You’ve gotten farther than I have. I can’t figure out that terrain editor at all. LOL. Good luck. :confused:
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duh,
that 2nd map could be very well balanced, but it depends a lot on how you place the bases.
One country might end with e.g. 4-base wide front and other with 2-base wide front. If you use island to overcome that possible problem you could be clear.
IMHO it is always good to look at the base layout without land or water/map to check the balance issues.
Making a triple pie on a square area is not always easy. I would begin with drawing a circle and defining its center, then defining equal 120 deg pies and placing HQ somewhere at the back (at the circle) at about equal distance from eachother and from the circle center.
That is how I have been trying to pre-plan a MA map :)
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Originally posted by BlauK
duh,
that 2nd map could be very well balanced, but it depends a lot on how you place the bases.
I am posting here so i would get info on placing them well:)
-Yes i was actually having in mind what you said about circle.I'll defiantly do it that way when i see if the terrain itself is ok.
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I just thought that a triangle or hexagon (with HQs at corners) might work even better. The circle always either leaves too much empty area outside, or if larger, leaves some unequal sections out from inside.
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Possible hq locations:
(http://i5.tinypic.com/13zad7p.jpg)
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Excellent 2nd choice. :)
Only thing I would do is move the bottom HQ farther south around the 10,5-11,6 corner.
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Ok, so we have terrain and hqs solved.Moving to the hardest part.I'll try to keep some distance between fields(1 in each sector max).Maybe put some closer vechile fields on country borders.
What about FT island?
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Big problem.
Made the map using mapmaker.Guess what.It's flat.Whole map.
I guess i'll have to manually add soem hills.
And is there a quicker way of randomizing terrain tiles or do i ahve to select tiles and cick on randomize....
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Originally posted by duh
Big problem.
Made the map using mapmaker.Guess what.It's flat.Whole map.
I guess i'll have to manually add soem hills.
And is there a quicker way of randomizing terrain tiles or do i ahve to select tiles and cick on randomize....
Well, I know what I would do for the hills, but I have no idea what software packages you have.
If it was me, I'd generate a terrain with either Terragen or World Machine, take the water areas from your current map and blend them into the terrain. Then just clean up the shore lines.
So far as terrain textures, you can use randomize to do the entire terrain at once by starting the editor, DO NOT click on any part of the terrain and click randomize. The problem with that is you wind up with farms on the sides of hills. Then there's either MachNix's tile setter or my tile setter will do the entire terrain at once mostly without the farm problem.
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I have terragen (but don't know how to use it) and tile setter.I'll see what i will do with the hills.
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Made a terrain using Terragen. Don't know how to import ito TE.
Saved the file with .ter extension but don't know where to put it?
I saw an option in tile setter but it does nothing?
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Originally posted by duh
Made a terrain using Terragen. Don't know how to import ito TE.
Saved the file with .ter extension but don't know where to put it?
I saw an option in tile setter but it does nothing?
The .ter file has to be the same name as your terrain and in the same folder. Select the .elv and .typ files in the windows then click "Find Units". Once you've set your elevations click "Set Elevation".
A note here to make things a little faster for you. Export your existing terrain before using terragen. Move it to a safe place. Import your terragen terrain into the TE and then export that. Then with photoshop or paint shop select and copy the water area from your original map and paste it into the terragen map. Then import it back into the TE. Now all you have to do is clean up the shore lines.
Boy I hope that made sense. ;)
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What i first tried - exported bmp from TE, imported it unchanged, only set the max alt to 20000- got very nice hills.
I'll try what u said now and decide what looks better.
EDIT: When using method i first did, even water is at alt, when i set it to 0 alt, hard hills at coastline.Do i have to manually fix all the coastline (2 years of work).
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There's nothing wrong with hard hills (cliffs?) on the coastline. The only places you would need to sculpt are where you have bases that are capturable by sea. So, it's not as bad as you think.
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But it is kinda wierd taht everywhere around the lake are 500 feet hills
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A couple of tips:
You can use a smudge tool to carve cayons into the bitmap of that coast. That'll break it up and provide some good cayon fighting.
Keep notes on you favorite altitude setting because you'll export and re-import a lot. I often export the elevation file and then copy and paste my favorite terrain parts into the more boring areas of the terrain. Here the smudge tool helps again to smooth out the sharp edges.
Oh and if your water is still not zero, let TE fix it, export the bitmap and do the touch up. While working with the bitmap is fastest, it leave things you have to fix in the TE.
Also on your maps that are less then 512x512, be sure to paint all the areas beyond the clipboard map to solid black before you import back into TE. Otherwise you'll have water not zero or worse, Tilesetter will set land tiles there adding up to 1.5 MB to the map size.
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After huge fight with my PS here is what i have come to - a little bit changed elevations ( using terragen ), copy - pasted lake.
(http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/2327/aaaa8ae.th.jpg) (http://img234.imageshack.us/my.php?image=aaaa8ae.jpg)
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duh,
just remember that higher altitude area always has more advantage. It is easier to defend it and it is easier to attack from it ;)
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Here is a bit changed map.
Decided to change countries too.This are the hqs positions.
And thoe mountains really aren't high - 3-4k
(http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/3174/aaaa9ae.jpg)
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I might move the SW country's HQ to 8,5,9
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Im glad I found this thread
I have a few good map ideas but no clue how to generate the terrains (with hills, etc)
Can you guys toss out some links/suggestions for such software that can do so?
The main arena needs some new maps badly...so I figured Id revive some of my old ideas and give map making a whirl
Thanks in advance
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There are multiple ways of creating terrains(hills...)
You can use the program called "mapmaker". Do a search on the forums for that program.
You can draw you own grayscale map in photoshop or any other pic editor. White areas will be the highest hills and black areas will be the groun level.Different tones of grey represent different altitudes. THen you can use an option in TE to import that picture you made.
You can also use a program called "Terragen" wich automatically generates hills etc.
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You can also use World Machine.
I use a combination of World Machine and Terragen. On occasion I use true elevations with Map Maker.
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How do u even work the editor? i just downloaded it and i dont know how to run it.
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Useing the Mapmaker program is the best way, the program it self is small the files that are required are HUGE, read your post that I responded to then we can get you going w/the other programs that work well w/ the terrain editor.
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Originally posted by mamba2
How do u even work the editor? i just downloaded it and i dont know how to run it.
Tutorial: http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=182825