Idea: Underground provinces

[Caduceus]

Maybe a second layer of map with entrances and exits?

Alternatively, the Air nations could have an "air map" above the world...

[Nerfix]

Caduceus said:
Maybe a second layer of map with entrances and exits?

Alternatively, the Air nations could have an "air map" above the world...

Indeed, but that would require rather profound changes to the game. Maybe in Dom 4.

It's easier just to add a new terrain type. I'm asking this not only because of my own interest but also because I remember that there has been some "underworld" maps.

[st.patrik]

not to pour cold water on your idea, but an 'underground' terrain type really doesn't make sense, considering that the map is a bird's eye view of the land. Looking down from above you wouldn't see 'underground', you'd see whatever is over top of the underground (i.e. fields, mountains, forests, etc.)

With that said, I *believe* that Agartha's cities are 'cave cities' wherein it is always dark etc. - the idea being that they are, in fact, in great caves (i.e. underground). I see no reason (in theory) why you couldn't have an independant cave city, complete with underground-dwelling creatures, but that would be in a province that had some kind of surface to it (forest, mountain, etc.)

[Nerfix]

st.patrik said:
not to pour cold water on your idea, but an 'underground' terrain type really doesn't make sense, considering that the map is a bird's eye view of the land. Looking down from above you wouldn't see 'underground', you'd see whatever is over top of the underground (i.e. fields, mountains, forests, etc.)

I know, but there are maps that have had "Underworld" layer or rather part of the map made to represent underground areas. Such as Hollow world and the map that had Surface World, Underground and Stygian Abyss.

Thumbnail of the Hollow World map for Dominions.



Do you get what I mean now?

[Gandalf Parker]

The visual image of the map is not what decides neighbors, but the actual #neighbor commands in the map file. So you can have multiple layers, and special connections (caves, teleports, chutes and ladders) between the layers.

Ive seen some creative maps doing things like this. Check out the Dom2 Maps page at Illwinter.com and look for the maps done by Andrew J. Osborn. He did some great examples of what can be done with this idea.

Gandalf Parker

[Nerfix]

Yes, I know it works like that but the underground provinces will have to use some of the surface world terrain, and that can be very silly. What I am suggesting is an Underground terrain type that could be used in such situations. Yes, the game is top down, yes it's the neighbour connections that matter etc.

[SafeKeeper]

The visual image of the map is not what decides neighbors, but the actual #neighbor commands in the map file. So you can have multiple layers, and special connections (caves, teleports, chutes and ladders) between the layers.

Yup. You can have a world map that lets you go straight from Norway to Taiwan, to put it that way.

[st.patrik]

yeah i think it's fine to have multiple layers - I've played on the map you show before, and it's a fine idea. But having 'underground' as a terrain type without it being on a separate layer of all underground provinces wouldn't make much sense.

[Nerfix]

st.patrik said:
yeah i think it's fine to have multiple layers - I've played on the map you show before, and it's a fine idea. But having 'underground' as a terrain type without it being on a separate layer of all underground provinces wouldn't make much sense.

Why not? Does it make more sense that provinces supposed represent subterranean ares are Waste or Swamp or Plains or such?