How can I place Nations on a map?

[Hoplosternum]

I would like to modify a map for a mp game I am planning.

I would like to modify a map so that I can place the starting capitals AND the nations that they will be at those locations. But otherwise I want the map to be unknown to me so that the location of magic sites etc. is unknown so that I can take part in the game. And will these change (the magic sites etc.) everytime I play the map or are they fixed liked the capitals so that if I or anyone else wanted to they could 'learn' the map?

I have played around a little in the map editor but don't seem to be able to place nations at all, just designate places as no start. So I assume I have to modify the .MAP file in a text editor? But what do I put in to do this?

So is this possible and if so how can it be done?

Thanks!

[Sombre]

Have you read the map manual in the docs folder?

[Ballbarian]

mapedit.pdf can be found in your dominions3\doc folder.
I highly recommend spending some time with this document and feel free to come back with any parts that you need help with.

It is of note that Edi is working on a Map Editing Manual that should prove to be a great resource when he is finished. The thread about it can be found here:
http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=620966


The relevant command for placing nation specific starts:
#specstart <nation nbr> <province nbr>
Use this command to assign a specific nation to a specific
start location. Nation nbrs can be found in the modding
manual.

[Edi]

For predesigned start locations that always appear in those places but place a random nation there, use #star <province number>. Just make sure the province is not labeled nostart in the map editor. #start slots will always be filled first and any leftover nations will start from random eligible spots (i.e. some province that is not nostart). IF there are more #start provinces than nations, it presumably places them randomly and leaves some start locations empty as extras.

#specstart places a specific nation in a specific province, so if you want them to always start in a certain location, then this is the way to go. Otherwise #start is good.

[Hoplosternum]

Thanks! I didn't realize that was there. I am reading it now.

And thanks for the link to the thread Ballbarian.