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From little things, big things grow!

 
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From little things, big things grow! - 6/2/2008 5:40:06 PM   
Stridor


Posts: 5074
Joined: 9/8/2007
Status: offline 		Hi guys,

Thought I would clue you in on a project I have been working on.

A map editor.

You don't need MS3D or blender or max or tutorials or nuttin. Just my program and a paint editor and you can start making your own maps in minutes.

No knowledge or learning curve required!

What should happen (I am still in development but all the mind bending 3D per vertex math for the program is done - i.e. the hard part ) is that you will edit your own heightmap (which is like a topographic map) in your favorite paint editor and then import it into my program. Using an eyedropper you will select two points on the heightmap which represent real heights (eg hill 212 + sea level). Water will be added automatically for all areas under sea level. You also will be able to select a skymap, which season the map should represent (summer / winter), lighting conditions, etc and of course give your map a name. Then press the Go! button. Approx 1 - 2 minutes later dependng on the speed of your processor, you should have a new map which comes preloaded with base textures and masks. All you will need do then is draw on your masks and then add bling in the scenedit program.

Here is a *very* *very* early development screenshot. I still haven't done the walls code yet but the main terrain mesh and water were generated automatically from the heightmap shown. Hopefully I can get this out to you guys in the near future. There is still a lot to be done, but I wanted to let you all know that soon PCK will have a full map editor to complete the editor suite.






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RE: From little things, big things grow! - 6/2/2008 5:48:21 PM   
Bil H


Posts: 1972
Joined: 4/24/2003
From: Richmond Virginia
Status: offline 		Amazing John!

(in reply to Stridor)
Post #: 2
RE: From little things, big things grow! - 6/2/2008 6:37:47 PM   
RyanCrierie


Posts: 1067
Joined: 10/14/2005
Status: offline 		YES!!!!!

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RE: From little things, big things grow! - 6/2/2008 7:02:36 PM   
z1812


Posts: 972
Joined: 9/1/2004
From: Toronto Ontario
Status: offline 		Hi Stridor,

Thanks for all of your work. I hope the finished product is extremely easy to use........for everyone. When I hear, "then you can start adding your masks" it makes me worried about it being too much work in terms of time and skill for us ordinary people to use.

Regards John

(in reply to Stridor)
Post #: 4
RE: From little things, big things grow! - 6/2/2008 8:34:56 PM   
Cougar_DK


Posts: 430
Joined: 5/3/2005
From: Denmark
Status: offline 		Wauuuuu very impressive Stridor, you are a true master of tools! 

But not really sure I'm going to like that map editor, it will give me a lot more work, keeping the MOD overview list up-to-date


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Post #: 5
RE: From little things, big things grow! - 6/2/2008 9:05:15 PM   
SAF_Biffa


Posts: 131
Joined: 4/16/2008
From: Wiltshire
Status: offline 		Stridor rocks.

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Post #: 6
RE: From little things, big things grow! - 6/2/2008 9:05:49 PM   
RyanCrierie


Posts: 1067
Joined: 10/14/2005
Status: offline 		By the way, you can generate height maps from real world map data using MICRODEM:

Page I wrote on using it with Steel Panthers WW2/MBT

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Post #: 7
RE: From little things, big things grow! - 6/3/2008 1:24:17 AM   
Stridor


Posts: 5074
Joined: 9/8/2007
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: z1812

Hi Stridor,

Thanks for all of your work. I hope the finished product is extremely easy to use........for everyone. When I hear, "then you can start adding your masks" it makes me worried about it being too much work in terms of time and skill for us ordinary people to use.

Regards John


John

"Masks" are just the graphic elements overlaid on top of one another.

They will be named so you just draw (in black and white they automatically get "coloured/textured" ) what you want on each mask name.

For example

Road_Mask: If there are any raods on your map draw them on there.
Fields_Mask: Any fields? draw them here
Forrest_Mask: Any ....
etc

I have seen your work on the PzIII mods. If you can do that, you can definately do a map.

Regards

S.

(in reply to z1812)
Post #: 8
RE: From little things, big things grow! - 6/3/2008 2:34:54 AM   
benpark


Posts: 3736
Joined: 8/12/2002
From: New Haven, CT
Status: offline 		Holy cripes!

I've been busy, and never got that map I started completely finished. Looks like things will get hopping once this gets done.

Amazing. Thanks for doing this!


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Post #: 9
RE: From little things, big things grow! - 6/3/2008 2:57:45 AM   
Rick

 

Posts: 11600
Joined: 4/20/2000
Status: offline 		Very impressive - Maybe I'll stop struggling with the walls in Blender now!

Thanks!
Rick

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Post #: 10
RE: From little things, big things grow! - 6/3/2008 5:56:00 AM   
Stridor


Posts: 5074
Joined: 9/8/2007
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Rick

Very impressive - Maybe I'll stop struggling with the walls in Blender now!

Thanks!
Rick



Yeah, this won't replace blender or MS3D for doing new tanks or buildings, but for doing maps I think you may as well not bother with blender or MS3D once this comes out as it will be much much faster, way way more accurate and far far easier

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Post #: 11
RE: From little things, big things grow! - 6/3/2008 2:59:05 PM   
Mad Russian


Posts: 10238
Joined: 3/16/2008
From: Texas
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Stridor


quote:

ORIGINAL: Rick

Very impressive - Maybe I'll stop struggling with the walls in Blender now!

Thanks!
Rick



Yeah, this won't replace blender or MS3D for doing new tanks or buildings, but for doing maps I think you may as well not bother with blender or MS3D once this comes out as it will be much much faster, way way more accurate and far far easier



Now your finally starting to talk my language.

I have Paintshop Pro 8 and all the books I could buy on it but it's just sit there all this time. May be time to dust off the material and look at actually using it besides using it to just crop my grandkids pictures......


MR

< Message edited by Mad Russian -- 6/3/2008 3:00:02 PM >

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Post #: 12
RE: From little things, big things grow! - 6/3/2008 3:14:05 PM   
Stridor


Posts: 5074
Joined: 9/8/2007
Status: offline 		Just to give you a taste on how things are progressing.

Dynamic water & hill levels

More to come ...








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Post #: 13
RE: From little things, big things grow! - 6/3/2008 4:19:37 PM   
z1812


Posts: 972
Joined: 9/1/2004
From: Toronto Ontario
Status: offline 		Hi Stridor,

Thanks for your reply. I like making maps. I do hope the editor will be as straight forward as you feel it will be.

Games such as Combat Mission and Steel Panthers have been immensely successful, and have enjoyed great longevity. In large part because of the ease of use of the map and scenario editors. One need only look at the amount of user created scenarios made for these games.


quote:

ORIGINAL: Stridor

I have seen your work on the PzIII mods. If you can do that, you can definately do a map.

Regards

S.



Thanks for your kind words about my mod making. HoweverI hope a map will not be anywhere near as much work as they were.


regards John




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Post #: 14
RE: From little things, big things grow! - 6/3/2008 4:56:44 PM   
Prince of Eckmühl


Posts: 2448
Joined: 6/25/2006
From: Texas
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Stridor

Hi guys,

Thought I would clue you in on a project I have been working on.

A map editor.f your processor, you should have a new map which comes preloaded with base textures and masks. All you will need do then is draw on your masks and then add bling in the scenedit program.

Here is a *very* *very* early development screenshot. I still haven't done the walls code yet but the main terrain mesh and water were generated automatically from the heightmap shown. Hopefully I can get this out to you guys in the near future. There is still a lot to be done, but I wanted to let you all know that soon PCK will have a full map editor to complete the editor suite.


Dude, I sure hope that you're on the payroll!

PoE (aka ivanmoe)

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Post #: 15
RE: From little things, big things grow! - 6/4/2008 1:25:24 AM   
RyanCrierie


Posts: 1067
Joined: 10/14/2005
Status: offline 		I think you all know what this image is of




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Post #: 16
RE: From little things, big things grow! - 6/4/2008 5:35:54 AM   
Mad Russian


Posts: 10238
Joined: 3/16/2008
From: Texas
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: RyanCrierie

I think you all know what this image is of





One of Stridor's eyes after an all night session of putting together the new map editor....when he should have been

Good Hunting.

MR

(in reply to RyanCrierie)
Post #: 17
RE: From little things, big things grow! - 6/4/2008 6:37:22 AM   
433tom

 

Posts: 27
Joined: 4/28/2008
Status: offline 		My Hero!

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Post #: 18
RE: From little things, big things grow! - 6/4/2008 11:13:35 AM   
SAF_Biffa


Posts: 131
Joined: 4/16/2008
From: Wiltshire
Status: offline 		Rofl! Nice one, poor Stridor

I think the replay value of this tool will be huge, it'll mean a lot more maps a lot quicker so we're gonna need a lot more new terrain. Hopefully it'll also mean a lot more people can dabble with mods especially combined with all of the editors, it's going to be amazing, can't wait.

Stridor =

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Post #: 19
RE: From little things, big things grow! - 6/4/2008 11:13:45 AM   
Stridor


Posts: 5074
Joined: 9/8/2007
Status: offline 		More mind bending maths.

But coming along.

Now walls work well and so does water. Water "walls" not prevously in the game. Beach landing maps now possible. Plodding away ...

Hopefully I can get forrest painting in at some stage. That will save alot of time as populating forrests is time consuming.




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Post #: 20
RE: From little things, big things grow! - 6/4/2008 12:16:40 PM   
RyanCrierie


Posts: 1067
Joined: 10/14/2005
Status: offline 		Awesome man! You're going to make PzK really awesome! Campaigns Awesome!

How big is each generated map BTW, and how compressable are they?

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Post #: 21
RE: From little things, big things grow! - 6/4/2008 12:22:26 PM   
RyanCrierie


Posts: 1067
Joined: 10/14/2005
Status: offline
quote:

One of Stridor's eyes after an all night session of putting together the new map editor


A lot of these roads werent there in 1864; this is a modern 2000s~ TIGER GIS overlay of maps in Gettysburg, PA.

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Post #: 22
RE: From little things, big things grow! - 6/4/2008 12:38:23 PM   
Stridor


Posts: 5074
Joined: 9/8/2007
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: RyanCrierie

Awesome man! You're going to make PzK really awesome! Campaigns Awesome!

How big is each generated map BTW, and how compressable are they?


Map ~ 750Kb
Compresses to ~120Kb

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Post #: 23
RE: From little things, big things grow! - 6/4/2008 12:48:53 PM   
RyanCrierie


Posts: 1067
Joined: 10/14/2005
Status: offline 		So yes, It should be possible to have 3 MB map packs with about 20~ maps each now. I think really, the one thing you need to do next is some sort of template maker, so that they can be used in random campaigns or battles.

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Post #: 24
RE: From little things, big things grow! - 6/4/2008 2:27:47 PM   
Mraah

 

Posts: 1084
Joined: 2/20/2008
Status: offline 		Stridor,

Wicked awesome!! Please keep up the great work!!

The less time folks spend modding the better!

Appreciate ya!

Rob

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Post #: 25
RE: From little things, big things grow! - 6/4/2008 3:15:12 PM   
Mad Russian


Posts: 10238
Joined: 3/16/2008
From: Texas
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Stridor


quote:

ORIGINAL: RyanCrierie

Awesome man! You're going to make PzK really awesome! Campaigns Awesome!

How big is each generated map BTW, and how compressable are they?


Map ~ 750Kb
Compresses to ~120Kb



Are these at present 1km x 1km or are you expanding the map size at the same time?

Good Hunting.

MR

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Post #: 26
RE: From little things, big things grow! - 6/4/2008 4:00:48 PM   
Stridor


Posts: 5074
Joined: 9/8/2007
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Mad Russian


quote:

ORIGINAL: Stridor


quote:

ORIGINAL: RyanCrierie

Awesome man! You're going to make PzK really awesome! Campaigns Awesome!

How big is each generated map BTW, and how compressable are they?


Map ~ 750Kb
Compresses to ~120Kb



Are these at present 1km x 1km or are you expanding the map size at the same time?

Good Hunting.

MR


The map maker can make maps greater than 1km x 1km and the PCK engine can render them. However the rules set which is also coded stipulates a 1kmx1km play area. This will change for the next game but not for PCK

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Post #: 27
RE: From little things, big things grow! - 6/4/2008 6:43:09 PM   
Rick

 

Posts: 11600
Joined: 4/20/2000
Status: offline 		This will be quite a bonus for this release. I wasn't expecting a map-maker until the next release. Thanks Stridor! No wonder you you decided to take a brak from your tutorials! If you need any help testing or anything, let me (or any of us I'm sure) know.

Rick

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Post #: 28
RE: From little things, big things grow! - 6/5/2008 6:48:55 AM   
Stridor


Posts: 5074
Joined: 9/8/2007
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Rick

This will be quite a bonus for this release. I wasn't expecting a map-maker until the next release. Thanks Stridor! No wonder you you decided to take a brak from your tutorials! If you need any help testing or anything, let me (or any of us I'm sure) know.

Rick



Yes the map maker will make all my old tutorials obsolete, but in a good way.

Imagine making a pretty good (read functional) map in about 1-2 hours as opposed to days or weeks the old way .

That is the plan.

Of course if you wanted a map with full bling (eg trenches, dead bodies, tractors, animals, wood, barrels, etc, etc) then you will still need to get your hands dirty in scenedit and place them. So there is still room for master map makers who want full attention to detail, but anyone should be able to knock up a functional rural map pretty quickly (1-2 hours perhaps less).

Regards

S.

P.S. Still so much work to do, ATM working on autogen of forrests ...

(in reply to Rick)
Post #: 29
RE: From little things, big things grow! - 6/5/2008 6:56:50 AM   
bardolph


Posts: 13
Joined: 4/15/2008
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: RyanCrierie

quote:

One of Stridor's eyes after an all night session of putting together the new map editor


A lot of these roads werent there in 1864; this is a modern 2000s~ TIGER GIS overlay of maps in Gettysburg, PA.


I thought it was Gburg, but the extra roads threw me off a bit I must admit.

Here is G.K. Warren's 1876 map:Map



< Message edited by bardolph -- 6/5/2008 7:04:25 AM >

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Post #: 30
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