The Random Map Generator and Maps

[Pocus]

I would be overjoyed to read the manual (the demo has none)

[Gandalf Parker]

I played with the DomMap-0.9 source abit. (it was never released as a windows Version, only linux raw source code)

I can get it to create a Dom2 map (one that will come up in the Dom2 MapEditor). Alot can be done there without really being a C-programmer but it looks like it will take a programmer to make it really work well.

The .map file it writes is WAY off. Apparently Dom1 and Dom2 number the provinces in a different pattern? So even though it does write out the #neighbors they are all over the map. Interesting for one game maybe but not useful.

Dom2 allows maps of any size but the DomMap limits it to the old 600x800. I may be able to find that variable and get it to accept higher values.

Certain warnings such as "too many neighbors" need to be updated to the new limits also.

From the looks of the code it appears that he had started on some of the other ideas that were discussed. Such as terrain notes for each province. But it seems to be from the conversations prior to Illwinter deciding to add it. It also looks like he was possibly working on incorporating some of my stuff as far as adding the ability to put in additional units based on sensible placing from the terrain notes.

Well I will keep twiddling with it. If you want to keep track of where Im at so far keep checking
http://www.techno-mage.com/~dominion/random.tga
http://www.techno-mage.com/~dominion/random.map
which is where Im dumping my test runs.

[Gandalf Parker]

OK I got the targa to be bigger but I have a problem. The old code made the targa 600x800 with the map being variable size inside that image.

If I want to allow for the increased image handling of Dom2 then I have to pick a new image size. What would be good for a random map? Dom2 now allows 500 provinces. I was thinking of 1024x2048

[Gandalf Parker]

OK Im liking the results so far. Im running with a targa size of 1600x1200 because it was one of the screen sizes my monitor allowed so Im thinking its a common size.

This is generating some very interesting maps. Of course people can create maps with less than 500 provinces. And with a map-image within the targa less than the max which gives them a black boundary they can write things or add pictures in. I LOVE how interesting the province shapes are getting. Very strategic

Unfortunately the .map it creates is still fairly worthless. But it still wont be bad as a starting point. An idea spur for people who want to manually do maps.

Now if we can just get some GIMP brushes for landscape items

[ November 25, 2003, 15:27: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

[Gandalf Parker]

OK I seem to be at my limit. Ive hacked what I can but I cant find anything that seems to say "starting the numbering of provinces at upper left corner of map". Apparently (for some reason) Dom2 needs to start at lower left and work upward. Without that change the .map file isnt even close to being useful. It still seems to be the closest thing to a useful tool if someone can fix it.

[Arralen]

So province numbering works like this?:

DOM1
starting upper left corner
left to right
top to bottom

DOM2
starting lower left corner
left to right
bottom to top

?????????

If it really works this way, simply mirroring the pic on the horizontal axis would do the trick.
Added advantage: The map would look like a totally new one again

A.

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally posted by Arralen:
If it really works this way, simply mirroring the pic on the horizontal axis would do the trick.

Hmmmm so simple it might work. I will have to try that. Thanks.