Excellent software for mapmakers

[DominionsFan]

Campaign Cartographer 3 (http://www.profantasy.com/cc3/)

[Morkilus]

Cool, I had an old version of that, and totally forgot about it. I personally like the cartoony maps and Lutes maps, but the fractal mapper is way fun to play with.

[NTJedi]

That software costs more than the Dominions3 game. Anyone know of some free mapmaking software ?

Yes I already have GIMP.

[Gandalf Parker]

Gimp actually generates some decent terrain. I was going to make a map off of it but I was too lazy http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif
Check the attachment for one example

Taking a GIMP map into the maptool in Dom3 might be fun to do though.

[DominionsFan]

Morkilus said:
Cool, I had an old version of that, and totally forgot about it. I personally like the cartoony maps and Lutes maps, but the fractal mapper is way fun to play with.




Yeah those are the best for Dominions.
Take a look at this CC3 map screenie:


http://www.profantasy.com/cc3/images/gallery/gallery07.jpg

..and you can make even better then this easily with it. I might buy CC3 to generate maps.

[DominionsFan]

NTJedi said:
That software costs more than the Dominions3 game. Anyone know of some free mapmaking software ?

Yes I already have GIMP.



This one is free:

Autorealm (http://autorealm.sourceforge.net/index.php)

[Daynarr]

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/shock.gif

Nice looking map. Nice tool I must say. Too bad about price.

[Gandalf Parker]

I still think that if I dig thru my old OLD games that I can find one that does really nice random map generation and a full-screen view that I can capture.

[DominionsFan]

Gandalf Parker said:
I still think that if I dig thru my old OLD games that I can find one that does really nice random map generation and a full-screen view that I can capture.




Hm....yes but which game? I cannot think of any in-game mapmaker what would be good to make Dominions 3. maps...well maybe the Heroes of Might and Magic 3 mapmaker. It is 2d based. 2 screenshots:

http://hommworld.grantpalin.com/Homm3/Screenshots/ExploringTheLand3_large.jpg

http://www.gameweb.gr/images/screenshots/scr_1_222_772000.jpg

[Gandalf Parker]

That wouldnt be bad. Screen capture it, remove all pure white (255,255,255), add province lines and one pure white dot to each province, save it in a format that Dom3 can "see", use the dom3 map editor to add terrain values and set who is neighbor of who...

It would offer some very interesting icons to expand on. Edit that province to match why there is a tower or treasure or monster there. That would be way cool.

[DominionsFan]

Gandalf Parker said:
That wouldnt be bad. Screen capture it, remove all pure white (255,255,255), add province lines and one pure white dot to each province, save it in a format that Dom3 can "see", use the dom3 map editor to add terrain values and set who is neighbor of who...

It would offer some very interesting icons to expand on. Edit that province to match why there is a tower or treasure or monster there. That would be way cool.



Yeap, actually this map editor might be very good to make maps. Hm....my elder brother bought HoMM 3. & Armageddon's Blade expansion long time ago. Hopefully he can find the game somewhere in his house.

[Frostmourne27]

What about the CivIV map editor? you could only do terrain probably, but it can make very cool looking worlds, and you can zoom out far enough to take a screenshot that might look ok. Not too sure though, since I haven't played Civ in quite a while.

[Gandalf Parker]

They all will only do terrain. Only DomMap (for Dom2) and the Dom3 map generator will create a .map file for full play. But interesting scenery is what we have in mind. We can take it into the Dom3 map editor to get a .map file for it.
(well, someone can. Im too lazy)

[DominionsFan]

Frostmourne27 said:
What about the CivIV map editor? you could only do terrain probably, but it can make very cool looking worlds, and you can zoom out far enough to take a screenshot that might look ok. Not too sure though, since I haven't played Civ in quite a while.



Yeah I was thinking about this game also. Anyways now I am trying to get HoMM III. from my brother. I think that map editor would be perfect, especially if someone ccould edit [photoshop] the created maps a bit. I will surely give it a try.

[Cainehill]

Hmmm - I wonder what version of Campaign Cartographer I have, since they have an upgrade offer for as far back as V2....

[Cainehill]

NTJedi said:
That software costs more than the Dominions3 game. Anyone know of some free mapmaking software ?




It does? Dom3 : $54.95. CC3 (given that they still only have the Early Adopter, $44.95 for download only, $51.95 for download plus CD/hardcopy) seems a little cheaper. Then again, it's only a tool and not a game.

[Agrajag]

You could also use the HoMM II map editor and random map generator, if you can't get the HoMM III one.
(I also suppose that if you intend to buy it, HoMM II will be cheaper than getting HoMM III Complete).

And besides, all the Hardcore HoMMers know that HoMM II is the best game, while HoMM III is merely the most popular one.

BTW, you could also use the Warlords: Battlecry II/III map editor, it has nice blending effects and quite large tiles.

[DominionsFan]

Cainehill said:

Hmmm - I wonder what version of Campaign Cartographer I have, since they have an upgrade offer for as far back as V2....



Hopefully you will upgrade/buy CC3, so that more players will create cool maps. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif I plan to buy it, but first I want to take a look at the HoMM 3. editor, it looks decent also.

[NTJedi]

Agrajag said:
You could also use the HoMM II map editor and random map generator, if you can't get the HoMM III one.

...

BTW, you could also use the Warlords: Battlecry II/III map editor, it has nice blending effects and quite large tiles.



I actually have the map generators/editors for Heroes_III:Complete, Civilization_4, Warlords:Battlecry_III and AgeofWonders:ShadowMagic.
Using GIMP I'm thinking the best images from each can be merged into one map.

What's everyones opinion for the best way to capture the complete map image from these games?

[DominionsFan]

NTJedi said:

Agrajag said:
You could also use the HoMM II map editor and random map generator, if you can't get the HoMM III one.

...

BTW, you could also use the Warlords: Battlecry II/III map editor, it has nice blending effects and quite large tiles.



I actually have the map generators/editors for Heroes_III:Complete, Civilization_4, Warlords:Battlecry_III and AgeofWonders:ShadowMagic.
Using GIMP I'm thinking the best images from each can be merged into one map.

What's everyones opinion for the best way to capture the complete map image from these games?




Well I have Corel X3, and it contains Corel Capture X3, and it is an awesome screenshot maker. If you dont have any screen capturing utility, maybe the old Windows Print Screen could work very well? .. but I am unsure about it.

PS. Can you make a "basic" map in HoMM 3 [land,seas,trees,mountains], and upload it to imageshack? I would like to see it. If its possible make a 1280x1024 screenshot about it at least. Thanks in advance. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[NTJedi]

DominionsFAN said:
PS. Can you make a "basic" map in HoMM 3 [land,seas,trees,mountains], and upload it to imageshack? I would like to see it. If its possible make a 1280x1024 screenshot about it at least. Thanks in advance. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif



Unfortunately I'm out of town and at work and not returning home for 5 days... I'm sure one of the others here have an installation of Heroes_3 which can provide the map.

[Gandalf Parker]

If its not a format that can be converted then I usually just try for a full screen view and use alt-PrintScreen to capture it. Then I open a paint program and paste it in. Some might require multiple grabs then paste them together in a paint program.

[DominionsFan]

NTJedi said:

DominionsFAN said:
PS. Can you make a "basic" map in HoMM 3 [land,seas,trees,mountains], and upload it to imageshack? I would like to see it. If its possible make a 1280x1024 screenshot about it at least. Thanks in advance. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif



Unfortunately I'm out of town and at work and not returning home for 5 days... I'm sure one of the others here have an installation of Heroes_3 which can provide the map.



Ah I see. hopefully I will have HoMM3 by then. My brother will loan it to me...if he will find it in his comp room somewhere. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

PS. Have you guys noticed, that it takes a long time for us to find the CD/DVD of our old games? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Ballbarian]

Somebody may have already considered this, but Age of Kings and Age of Mythology allow you to take full map screen captures by hitting CNTRL+ALT+F12. I am not a practiced AOM map maker, but here is a thumbnail of a small test that I have been working on.
http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/uploads/444728-AOM_Dom_thumb.JPG

With AOM you can use the random map generator and then delete all objects of a given type that do not fit a Dom map quite easily. For this one, I created a blank one player map and just fiddled around with terrain and object placement, captured the map, opened the jpg in Gimp, scaled it to 1/4 and saved as tga. Now I need to replace white pixels and figure out how to make some easy borders that won't look to ugly. Somebody with a real knack for AOM map editing should be able to do some really awesome maps. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

Previously I had looked at using Age of Wonders, but piecing all of the screen shots together is too tedious for me. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Frostmourne27]

Previously I had looked at using Age of Wonders, but piecing all of the screen shots together is too tedious for me.


But you can zoom out in Age of Wonders... Or can you not zoom out far enough?
BTW: I think gandalf's right, no matter how good our pictures are, the maps are only as good as their .map files are. I know almost nothing about the sort of scripting that would be needed, and am just wondering, how easy would it be to do a script to make .map files. Could you maybe have it generate areas based on sudden colour fluctuations? Since water is usaully blue, and grass green, that might work most of the time wouldn't it? Then put a white pizel in center of each area? Something like that would make .map file generation much easier, since it would just be special sites, scenario stuffs, and the odd problem fix.

[NTJedi]

Frostmourne27 said:
BTW: I think gandalf's right, no matter how good our pictures are, the maps are only as good as their .map files are. I know almost nothing about the sort of scripting that would be needed, and am just wondering, how easy would it be to do a script to make .map files.



Yes the .map files will provide 85% of the starting game fun... I estimate 15% goes towards map appearance. If Illwinter included events into the .map editing manual then map makers will be able to provide so much more for multiplayer and especially singleplayer. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif
If no events then hopefully Dominions_4 will introduce them.

[DominionsFan]

Ballbarian said:
Somebody may have already considered this, but Age of Kings and Age of Mythology allow you to take full map screen captures by hitting CNTRL+ALT+F12. I am not a practiced AOM map maker, but here is a thumbnail of a small test that I have been working on.
http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/uploads/444728-AOM_Dom_thumb.JPG

With AOM you can use the random map generator and then delete all objects of a given type that do not fit a Dom map quite easily. For this one, I created a blank one player map and just fiddled around with terrain and object placement, captured the map, opened the jpg in Gimp, scaled it to 1/4 and saved as tga. Now I need to replace white pixels and figure out how to make some easy borders that won't look to ugly. Somebody with a real knack for AOM map editing should be able to do some really awesome maps. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

Previously I had looked at using Age of Wonders, but piecing all of the screen shots together is too tedious for me. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif



Hm not bad, however this isn't 2d. I think we gotta use a 2d based map editor. 3d based overland maps are just not good for Dominions. Well imho at least. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Nerfix]

Well, I don't know. It could look cool.

Could.

Hmmm...perhaps I'll try to make something out of that map...

[Ballbarian]

I finished border and pixel placement last night. Finished the map file this morning, but now don't have time to upload it. Either this afternoon or tonight after work will post finished product in Dom2 map forum. Will also make the base image available (before I drew on it) if you would like.

[Nerfix]

Ok then.

[Gandalf Parker]

I dont see why a 3d map would work as long as the heights dont hide a province behind it.

And technically, Dominions doesnt need borders to be drawn on the map. Just the white pixels. Whether you can travel from one province to another isnt decided by the image, its decided by the neighbor commands. A line of "#neighbor 4 126" would allow travel whether they are near each other on the map or not. (which opens some interesting possiblities)

[Ballbarian]

Uploaded completed (and untested!) map for anyone interested. It was just a test, so nothing fancy.

Aomdom - 125 provinces (http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=444929&page=0&view=collap sed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1&vc=1#Post444929)

[Gandalf Parker]

for a test it looks very nice. Good choice of colors. I like how the province lines goes behind things like trees.

[Morkilus]

You guys and your fancy graphics cards and cellular phones. I'm going to use Dwarf Fortress screenshots to make my Dom3 maps.

http://www.bay12games.com/dwarves/screens/world_gen.html

[DominionsFan]

Morkilus said:
You guys and your fancy graphics cards and cellular phones. I'm going to use Dwarf Fortress screenshots to make my Dom3 maps.

http://www.bay12games.com/dwarves/screens/world_gen.html



http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[DominionsFan]

Ballbarian said:
Uploaded completed (and untested!) map for anyone interested. It was just a test, so nothing fancy.

Aomdom - 125 provinces (http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=444929&page=0&view=collap sed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1&vc=1#Post444929)




Hm this map looks good actually. You were using the AoM map editor? Anyways I still don't have HoMM 3. because my brother couldn't find it yet. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Injured.gif

[Nerfix]

It's a great map. Since Dominions 3 supports aplha channel you could make the black background transparent...

[Ballbarian]

@ Gandalf
Thanks, I liked how the effect turned out too.

@ Morkilus
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

@ DominionsFan
More specifically, Age of Mythology with the Titans expansion. It has a powerful map editor with a lot of nice features. Just wish they would have included some mountain objects so that it wasn't such a challenge to create them. I didn't really like how they turned out in my test run, but they are looking better in my current project.

@ Nerfix
Thanks for checking it out. When I saw Gandalf's random map upload was in rgb format I hoped it was to support transparency. Should be able to create some neat effects with that. As far as the black space in the corners, I was trying to think of an interesting use for them. Considered filling one corner with a simple map key and just filling the other with some thematic low profile images. I never seem to have as much time as I have ideas.

[Ballbarian]

Here is a thumb of a slightly larger map that I am working on now:
http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/uploads/445361-AOM_Dom_thumb_2.JPG
Hoping to see some from others soon... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Endoperez]

Ballbarian said:Should be able to create some neat effects with that. As far as the black space in the corners, I was trying to think of an interesting use for them. Considered filling one corner with a simple map key and just filling the other with some thematic low profile images. I never seem to have as much time as I have ideas.



The background picture is just a the same wooden one as in Dom2, but because it could be replaced in Dom2, it should be possible to replace it in Dom3... Underworld, or old parchment with various strange creatures and islands in it, etc etc could work well.

The Dom3 RMG make seas slightly transparent, so that will and does work. I'm not sure if it happens always or if it was based on the setting I chose.

[DominionsFan]

Ballbarian said:
Here is a thumb of a slightly larger map that I am working on now:
http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/uploads/445361-AOM_Dom_thumb_2.JPG
Hoping to see some from others soon... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif



Looks good! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif
Well, I still don't have HoMM 3. My bro just couldn't find it in his house. He says that it must be in his other house what is in Austria. He will go there on the weekend, so on the next week I can try out the HoMM 3. editor.

[Agrajag]

ZOMG!
I just downloaded the latest HoMM 5 patch, and got the Map Editor, and while it will still be piecework to make a dom map out of it - boy does it look great!
At the end of the post is an editor made screenshot, it doesn't look very pretty because I just drew big sqaures of different terrain types, and the angle is Pi/2 because I was too lazy to fiddle with the camera (the map obviously looks much better in a different angle), but keep in mind that that thin strip of black stuff (the thinnest strip of color viewable) is 2 map tiles big, so you can get great detail.
Not only that, but it saves the map in .tga, so no need for conversion.
(The map is obviously resized, it was ~4200*3200 originally, it is also severely cropped, you can see about half the territory of the map)

HERE BE SCREENSHOTS (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/Shvarme/Dommapreview.jpg) (You wouldn't believe how long it took me to get this hosted. Damned Image Shack and slow Photobucket!)

EDIT: Now this is a much prettier looking map I made specifically for you folks (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/Shvarme/domtest.jpg)
Its the smallest map size available in the map editor (so I wouldn't have to work hard to make it), it is resized from 5104*3552, and showcases some of the nicer things available. There are still a few faults (mainly due to my lame screenshots positioning skills), but it is much prettier than the previous one, and shows that the HoMM 5 map editor is aa prime candidate for Dom maps in my opinion.

[DominionsFan]

Hm I don't know. I prefer 2d maps for Dominions. Actually the AoM map editor's 3d maps can be ok, but this HoMM5 map screenshot...well I don't like it too much, but maybe its just me. If there would be a way to make it 2d looking..that would be awesome.

[DominionsFan]

Gandalf, you will love this. I've found a gem. The game is called Kohan: Ahriman's Gift, and the map editor of the game is fantastic. Look at these screenshots. These would be perfect for Doms 3. maps. The game is old, so it will be hard to find but its not impossible.

http://www.gamingbliss.com/games/unsorted/kohanahrimansgift.jpg

http://games.gamespy.com/artwork/20010618_215654_kohanexpax1.jpg

http://kohan.strategyplanet.gamespy.com/kag/images/ahriman/06.jpg

http://kohan.strategyplanet.gamespy.com/kag/images/ahriman/07.jpg

http://kohan.strategyplanet.gamespy.com/kag/images/ahriman/03.jpg

[Gandalf Parker]

I have Kohan (someplace). I may have to dig it up

[Morkilus]

Cool, Venus Flytraps! I have Kohan but forgot to install it, because I was too busy with Dom2. Maybe I'll get to it tonight... OOOH MY DWARFS IS STARVING NEVERMIND

[DominionsFan]

Guys, if you install Kohan...please make a testmap with mountains, hills, water, sand and obstacles. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

[DominionsFan]

I think that this map editor would be excellent also.
There are like 7 terrain types + water, trees, mountains, buildings and various other stuff to place.

Screenshot:

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/6172/exra7.jpg

[Ballbarian]

The Kohan maps look well suited to Dominions.

For anyone interested, I have uploaded another Age of Mythology map to the Dom2 map forums:
AomOrc post here. (http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=446496&page=0&view=collap sed&sb=5&o=&fpart=&vc=1)

[DominionsFan]

Very nice map.
I also think that the Kohan map editor is a must have to make Doms 3. maps. I've just bought Kohan: Ahriman's Gift from Ebay. Hopefully I can get my hands on it on this week. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

[Gandalf Parker]

Its seems abit squarish in the way it does its tiles. I suppose that could be smoothed out abit in a paint program.

Im thinking I might prefer to take things from the image and use it to add some variety to Dom3 generated maps.

[DominionsFan]

Gandalf Parker said:
Its seems abit squarish in the way it does its tiles. I suppose that could be smoothed out abit in a paint program.

Im thinking I might prefer to take things from the image and use it to add some variety to Dom3 generated maps.



It takes minutes to correct those tiles with Adobe Photoshop or Corel. In fact paint programs are excellent to improve the quality of the generated terrains/maps, regardless of what editor did we used to make them.

[DominionsFan]

Okay, I've made a test with the Kohan map editor.
I've also added test borders.

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/834/new2fg3.jpg


I think that it looks good.

[DominionsFan]

Yet another one.

http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/3700/new1hh9.jpg

[DominionsFan]

..and one more. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif
Sadly this is Kohan Immortal Sovereigns, not the expansion, so I dont have snow mountains in the editor for example.

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/244/new10lo9.jpg

[DominionsFan]

Age of Wonders 2. Shadow Magic editor. I knew that I bought this game, and I've found it finally.

Test screenie with test borders. I've also added a small hill, you can see it on the right side of the mountains below the border. [The AoW editor doesnt contains hills so I had to draw it.] I've also modified some parts of the screenie already, because the AoW editor maps are a bit pixelated.

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/1491/new11kz1.jpg


This is definitely looking awesome to make Doms 3. maps, however a decent pain program is needed to rise the quality of the maps.

PS. Gandalf if you manage to take a look at these screenies...what do you think, which editor is better to make maps? Kohan or AoW2?. Personally I cannot decide it. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/stupid.gif

[Gandalf Parker]

There is never a best, only pros and cons.

We can certainly use some maps done by any generator. You are proving that. I like the variety for things like tree types and wasteland. I like special icons like a skull mountain or a sorcerors tower that a special province can be built around. I like that they will allow creating continent-style maps, temperature zone maps with jungles in the middle and snow at top and bottom, and also maps that can be wrapped.

On the other hand.. The mountains need abit squashed. Especially in the Kohan maps. They are great barriers but they dont look like livable provinces to me.

They might also be abit to visualy busy for good play. A person might want to create two versions. A jpg for web display, and a tga or rpg version that is globally softened in a paint program so that map features are a soft background impression that wont get in the way of seeing the game graphics while you play. A soft "impression" of mountains and forest and swamp in the background that the game plays on top of.

Gandalf Parker

[DominionsFan]

Gandalf Parker said:
There is never a best, only pros and cons.

We can certainly use some maps done by any generator. You are proving that. I like the variety for things like tree types and wasteland. I like special icons like a skull mountain or a sorcerors tower that a special province can be built around. I like that they will allow creating continent-style maps, temperature zone maps with jungles in the middle and snow at top and bottom, and also maps that can be wrapped.

On the other hand.. The mountains need abit squashed. Especially in the Kohan maps. They are great barriers but they dont look like livable provinces to me.

They might also be abit to visualy busy for good play. A person might want to create two versions. A jpg for web display, and a tga or rpg version that is globally softened in a paint program so that map features are a soft background impression that wont get in the way of seeing the game graphics while you play. A soft "impression" of mountains and forest and swamp in the background that the game plays on top of.

Gandalf Parker




Indeed, I had the same feeling about those Kohan maps. Provinces don't look like provinces actually. I think that the mountains in Kohan are too big. Actually these things can be solved, however overall imho the AoW 2 editor is better to make Doms 3. maps.

Anyways I still say that the best would be to create 2d maps, not isometric maps.
That would be the best for dominions. Take a look at this awesome overland screenshot Gandalf. IF we could make overland maps like this.....but it is impossible sadly. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Injured.gif

http://www.thg.ru/game/20040430/images/map.jpg

[Gandalf Parker]

Yep those are great.
Well there are more games we can dig thru http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[DominionsFan]

Gandalf, I've found the perfect map editor to make Doms 3. maps. [at least I hope so]
My friend will introduce it to me today afternoon. I've already seen 2 screenshots from that editor and imho that will be the best.
Sadly I don't have that game, but my friend does, so I will be able to make screenies today.
Stay tuned. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

[DominionsFan]

Ok finally I had a chance to check out this map editor what I've mentioned. I guess this will be perfect.
The editor contains more then 1800(!!!!!) different tiles, so these 2 screenshots are just a small presentation of the capabilities of the editor.
[It is not that easy to make maps, because you must place all tiles 1 by 1 and they must be in the perfect place, but it is worth of it, since you can make wonderful maps this way. I've made this overland image in like 1.5 hours.]
These 2 images were photoshopped 1 time so far, but it is only a simple plastic effect, because the images are looking better this way. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif
If you want to see the original image, just ask and I will post it too. [It is looking very good also, but I just love the plastic effects on the images. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif]
I had to post this image in 2 parts, because it was too big.
I will definitely use this map editor to make Doms 3. maps for our MP games here, but of course I will share them with all of you on these forum as well.
So Gandalf, what do you think about this map editor? Here are the screenies:

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/8272/scr1kq4.jpg

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/1897/scr2rd5.jpg

[DominionsFan]

Okay I decided to post the original screenie #2. This is the original image, without photoshop effect[s].
So originally, the map is looking like this, when you save it in the map editor.
I guess you can see the difference, the photoshopped one looks better imho. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif


http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/2957/scr2noplasticfx5.jpg

[Gandalf Parker]

You are right. Thats an excellent result.

But again, Im wondering if its too good. You might have to fade and fuzz it into a background image in order to play on it.

[DominionsFan]

Gandalf Parker said:
You are right. Thats an excellent result.

But again, Im wondering if its too good. You might have to fade and fuzz it into a background image in order to play on it.




Yeah, this map editor will be the best. I will start to work on the first map, as soon as I can get the game. Thankfully my friend won't play with this game anymore, so he will give me his copy.
On the other hand this was just a little showcase of the tiles. There are ~1850 tiles for the editor, but the maps must be clear enough..too many tiles on a map can be "too good" as you've said. Gotta design the forests, mountains, lakes etc. so everything will be on the right place.
I also very like "maze" stlye maps with lot of mountains and water, those are more strategical imho compared to a map with 200 provinces with 1 mountain range only.

PS. Would you prefer the original image or the photoshopped one? I can make many changes to the original image, not just plastic effect of course.

[Endoperez]

I don't think you've actually mentioned what game's map editor that last one is. The results are spectacular.

[Nerfix]

Yes, very good. Excelent stuff.

[DominionsFan]

Endoperez said:
I don't think you've actually mentioned what game's map editor that last one is. The results are spectacular.



Oops, sorry guys my mistake. Personally I've never ever heard about this game to be honest. The game is: Spartan. It is an older strategy game afaik [at least my friend has just told me that].

[Horst F. JENS]

Hi DominionsFan,
great work with the map editors ! Excellent idea to use the AoW:SM editor for dominions :-)
Could you post a link to this spartan game from your friend? maybe i can pick up a cheap copy in ebay or in the bargain bin.

[DominionsFan]

Horst F. JENS said:
Hi DominionsFan,
great work with the map editors ! Excellent idea to use the AoW:SM editor for dominions :-)
Could you post a link to this spartan game from your friend? maybe i can pick up a cheap copy in ebay or in the bargain bin.



Sure Horst. Here is the 3dgamers link. Lot of infos there about Spartan. I now got my Spartan copy from my friend thankfully, I am already working on the first map. The only downside of this editor is, that we will need lot of hours to make a decent map, because of tile placement. [Well it is not necessarily bad, since the final maps will kick ***. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif]
I think that you can still order the game from Slitherine. [They've developed the game]
Oh and one more thing. The game itself is very good, I was playing it for like 2 hours now.

http://www.3dgamers.com/games/spartan/


I will definitely use the Spartan editor that is the best to make maps for Doms 3. imho at least. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

[Arralen]

You can order both "Spartan" and its sequel "Troy" (not "Trojan" - wouldn't be a good name for a downloadable game, would it? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif ) from the developer and publisher Slitherine Strategie Software UK Ltd. (http://slitherine.com/) either as boxed copy or as download. You can order it via download from matrixgames as well, btw.
All campaigns from "Spartan" are auto-importet into "Troy" upon installation, that way you can play all the campaigns with the lastest features of the "Troy" release.

For both games there are 100Turn-Demos available, which allow access to a tutorial scen and 1 small and big map each IIRC. Sadly, it looks like the map editor is not included in the demo http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Have played the demos of both games and its predecessor "Chariots of War" for quite some hours, but never got around to buy the games because I don't have a credit card ...

[Mltdwn]

Actually, cheap software that is well made and can handle sci-fi, fantasy, interiors, actual fractal generation of terrain, and umpteen billion other uses:

http://www.nbos.com

Been using it for years along with CC. Personally I like the NBos better because it will generate a realistic world for you easily using actual scientific fractal formulas.

[Gandalf Parker]

That software from NBOS also looks good. But the screenshots dont seem to show alot of icon type items to add to the map. Are there upgrade libraries or something for that?

It looks like it will create wrappable maps

The scripting it allows might be good for someone creating an automated edging tool (draw around all of the terrain features), then divide them into provinces, and add a white dot to each.

[Mltdwn]

Yes, and you can add your own graphics and Icons... And they actually do have quite alot of icons that you can add, just the demo and screenshots don't add them.

[DominionsFan]

Mltdwn said:
Actually, cheap software that is well made and can handle sci-fi, fantasy, interiors, actual fractal generation of terrain, and umpteen billion other uses:

http://www.nbos.com

Been using it for years along with CC. Personally I like the NBos better because it will generate a realistic world for you easily using actual scientific fractal formulas.



The maps made with the Spartan editor are definitely looking much better then the maps made with CC2 pro, FM 7.0 or CC3.
Eh and I ordered CC3, because I thought that it will be the best to make maps for doms 3. 3 days later I discovered the Spartan editor. [Well my friend adviced it to me to try it out.]
What a shame. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif