My Maps

[22sec]

I will upload my first map, albeit a draft version shortly. Below is a screenshot from in game.

[22sec]

The only thing I have not figured out is how to get the in-game map value editor to recognize roads.

DRAFT VERSION

http://www.mediafire.com/download/mu59w ... Rasorf.zip

[cbelva]

Nice [&o]

[cbelva]

ORIGINAL: 21SEC

The only thing I have not figured out is how to get the in-game map value editor to recognize roads.

DRAFT VERSION

http://www.mediafire.com/download/mu59w ... Rasorf.zip

You can't -- at least not yet. If there is one issue that I think would make us beta tester say "oops!" this is it. We didn't catch that there is no manual way to code roads onto the map. If you are using the map tiles and graphics that the game is made with it should do it automatically. I pointed this out to Rob a few days ago that there was no manual way to code roads. He is working on that now and hopefully we will have it for the first patch.

"OOPS!"

[cbelva]

21Sec,
 
I downloaded your map and check the terrain in the editor. 99% of your roads were automatically coded for you. You may want to manual check your elevation levels. Some seem to be coded wrong. You may want to check how the game maps were coded for clear terrain. We didn't give clear terrain a 1 because even level terrain can have feature that partial block los/lof. However, it is your map and most of us will code based on our personal taste. One more thing, the 1/2 hexes at the top have a weird coloration to them (yellows, orange, and green). I do like the map.

[22sec]

ORIGINAL: cbelva

21Sec,

I downloaded your map and check the terrain in the editor. 99% of your roads were automatically coded for you. You may want to manual check your elevation levels. Some seem to be coded wrong. You may want to check how the game maps were coded for clear terrain. We didn't give clear terrain a 1 because even level terrain can have feature that partial block los/lof. However, it is your map and most of us will code based on our personal taste. One more thing, the 1/2 hexes at the top have a weird coloration to them (yellows, orange, and green). I do like the map.

I will double check the elevation. I chose 1 for clear terrain because if you look at photos from this part of Germany when there is no obvious terrain feature, the line of sight is can be quite far.

I forgot to delete the background image in HexDraw, so what you are seeing is the png image exported from Global Mapper that I used to make the map. It'll be gone in the final version.

[cbelva]

I heard from Rob, road can now be manually coded onto our maps. We should see it in the patch.

[cbelva]

One more thing I noticed with your map. The hexes are off center due to their size being off. If you l compare the cursor in the map editor (it is the shape and size of the hex and shows their correct alignment as you move it across you map you will see what I mean. As you move to the right and down the hexes become more pronounce in their misalignment. I had this problem in the first map I built. The correct size for each hex is (according to Capn Darwin) is 64 hexes in height. I hope this helps. I had to go back and resize my map so that the hexes were 64 in height.  

[22sec]

Yep I caught that as well. I wanted to get the map loaded in the game, and decided for the time being, that I could live with it until the final version.

[22sec]

Following some play testing, and some work on a map located near Braunschweig, I think I may implement elevation changes based on 25 meter differences. The Rasdorf map was created using elevation changes every 75 meters. I just feel it doesnt capture or allow players to makrr accurate use of the ground. I can do it easy enough with Global Mapper. It'll just be a matter of building and the map, and seeing how the game plays. Stay tuned...

[22sec]

It's been a busy week, but I have been playing around with some different ideas. I think I have settled on 50 meters per elevation. It has a good balance between capturing real world terrain without being too difficult to create.

I'm also trying out some different design philosophies, including no hexes on the map. Still a lot of work to do, but wanted to share an image of my latest concept map.

[Mad Russian]

Looks interesting. I've been toying with using actual Google Earth shots to create the map. Not sure how well that will show elevations. For visual impact it's GREAT!!

Good Hunting.

MR

[22sec]

If I can tighten up the graphics I really think I will go with this style. I have different ideas for woods, roads, and fields.

It skips HexDraw entirely, and the Map Value editor did a good job of populating the correct elevations. It took less than a hour to add the level 6 through 9 elevations.

[Mad Russian]

It looks good and it would be interesting to play on a map without a hex grid.

Good Hunting.

MR

[cbelva]

I have been waiting for someone to realize that you could just draw a map and get it to work in the game. You could take actual maps with contours etc, scale it to the game, and the game would use them. You could use a road map. You could draw a map by hand, scan it, scale it and place it in the game. There is no set graphics which makes the maps very easy to mod. And it make for some interesting possibilities about what you could do with this game.

BTW, when I first started playtesting in July 2012 the first scenario I played used a screen shot from Google Earth as the map. it worked quite well. Hard to see some terrain like elevation, but it worked.

[22sec]

I've pondered using topo maps I have on file of Germany. I think it is quicker though, using the available data and Global Mapper to create maps. My hurdle now is to get the graphics to work an look decent. The great thing is this game's longevity. Just now scratching the surface of what could possibly be done in regards to map making.

By the way, that particular map was huge. About twice the depth of the maps currently in the game.[:D]

[22sec]

I forgot I had building data - problem solved for how to do buildings. I will post some screenshots before the evening is over.

[22sec]

Still trying to work out how to do forested areas.

[22sec]

Good progress. Below is a small, quick battle in the outskirts of Wolfsburg.

[LoneWulf63]

ORIGINAL: Mad Russian

Looks interesting. I've been toying with using actual Google Earth shots to create the map. Not sure how well that will show elevations. For visual impact it's GREAT!!

Good Hunting.

MR

I make maps for JTCS using Google Earth and US Army 1:50000 topo maps. Its a bit of a job but the end results look fantastic. Since I do not own Flashpoint: Red Storm yet, I don't know if you can do the same with its map editor. Chris.