How to build map completely from scratch?

[Amadee999]

Instead of modding existing scenarios, i want to try my hand at makng a test map of my own, but i am completely clueless to how i make my entire map into sea. I don't understand how to even fill in a single hex.

[ernieschwitz]

Have you decided which of the many masterfiles you want to start out with?

The masterfile will import a lot of stuff, but among them are the landscape types, which are needed to make a map, after all. Of course you may already have some in mind of your own, but I am just checking, before I give you some instructions on the next step.

[ernieschwitz]

There are basically the following tilesets:

The Classic. (original AT)
- Simple graphics that the Original Random games use
- The file is called: Classic.at2

Classic War Game mod. (an AT mod)
- Boardgame like graphics
- has to be downloaded from the Scenario Bank, here: https://www.vrdesigns.net/scenario.php?nr=80
- I haven't tried this one

Board Game mod (an AT mod)
- Boardgame like graphics
- has to be downloaded from the Scenario Bank, here: https://www.vrdesigns.net/scenario.php?nr=22
- I haven't tried this one

The Real mod.(an AT mod)
- Tries to show real landscape graphics.
- has to be downloaded from the Scenario Bank, here: https://www.vrdesigns.net/scenario.php?nr=16
- I really like this one, compatible with the Classic

DC:CP Mod. (an ATG mod)
- A conversion of the graphics used for the Decisive Campaigns graphics tileset.
- Has to be downloaded from the Scenario bank, here: https://www.vrdesigns.net/scenario.php?nr=262
- I think I have tried this one

The ATG/Phoenix one (original ATG)
- The slightly cartoonish version of the graphics the random games use.
- Several different names: Generic.at2, Generic2.at2, PhoenixGame.at2, Rising Dawn.at2
- I may be confusing some of the names. PhoenixGame.at2 is the most recent.

Four Seasons (an ATG mod)
- Very detailed graphics tileset. Is very big, and thus might not be the perfect start for a first go, since files won't be small enough to be uploaded to the Scenario bank, if they are with graphics.
- Has to be downloaded from the Scenario bank here: https://www.vrdesigns.net/scenario.php?nr=292, https://www.vrdesigns.net/scenario.php?nr=259, https://www.vrdesigns.net/scenario.php?nr=270 and here: https://www.vrdesigns.net/scenario.php?nr=260. Remember to install the At2 files version, last.
- Yes, there are 4 files. One is for the graphics tileset, One is for the Officer pictures, One is for the Counter Pictures, One is for the Scenario boot files.
- Yes, I have used this, and there has to be made some adjustments to the code, if you want it to run like a scenario, with all the bells and whistles of the random game of the same name.

[ernieschwitz]

If you feel unsure about installing Mods from the Scenario bank, go with the classic one, or the PhoenixGame one.

[ernieschwitz]

When you have decided on a Landscape mod... Again unless you really want to do graphics from scratch in a paint program of some sort...

If you want to use an existing graphics file for a map template you can do that too. If you do, I'd recommend measuring it, and then set the dimensions of the map you make (by clicking "Editor" on the start page), to something that is like that. Be aware there is a max size of 200 by 200 (I believe), which is very huge. You can do some tricks to make it bigger, but I'll try not to get ahead of myself.

The Menu Button (in the top left corner of the editor screen) Setng, is used to get to the Scenario's settings menu. I have outlined it in YELLOW in the below picture.

SetngMenu.jpg (108 KiB) Viewed 642 times

In the Setting's menu you can choose the Masterfile, and if you want to be able edit everything in it, then when you have selected it, choose not to have it attached. Button is outlined in RED. The Game will prompt you. You can also use the Graphics overlay here. You have the graphics file in the Graphics folder, or a subfolder in there, so be aware of that. The button is outlined by me, with a rectangle in WHITE.

Once these things have been done, then you can go on to starting to "paint" the map.

[ernieschwitz]

I have an old map I never finished, and here is it with an overlay.

Overlayed map.jpg (337.3 KiB) Viewed 640 times

This is parts of Iceland and Norway... just a section of the map, in the most zoomed out mode I have for that map. You'll notice my Arrow in Purple, that point to the Drawing tools. These are the ones you use to make the map, basically. I'll go over them in another post.

Overlay not shown.jpg (399.32 KiB) Viewed 640 times

This is how the map looks like when I have outlined the map with water and plains graphics. I like to paint the map full of water first, and then trace the shores, and fill in the rest with plains. Notice my note about pressing 1 to remove the overlay from view. You need to move the focus of the map (downwards, sideways or upwards) to be able to see the change. Press 1 twice to have it return to the state where there is an overlay. Don't ask me (yet) why you need to press it twice.

[ernieschwitz]

You can zoom in and out the same way you can in the game, when playing it. I have shown the central menu, in the lower half of the screen, and highlighted the Buttons with a YELLOW box.

Mid Menu.jpg (16.53 KiB) Viewed 639 times

Note if you want to save your scenario, no matter it's state, you need to do it on the "Computer" button. Just like you would while playing a scenario.

[ernieschwitz]

Now, let's say you want to make the map completely full of water. You hit the button "Pick Draw Type", and the following box/menu will pop up.

Painting a Landscape.jpg (169.6 KiB) Viewed 638 times

First you choose "Landscapes", then it will show you which landscapes you can paint in the next row, select "Sea". When you've done that, it will show you the available "sprites". Choose one of them. Even if there is only one, you need to choose it.

Then hit "OK".

[ernieschwitz]

Ok, now we're cooking.

We get out of the menu, and back to the map. At this point click on a hex. If you Left Click on it, it will change to that landscape "sprite". In other words, in this case, it will turn to "Sea". If you Right Click on it, it won't change, but you will have selected that hex.

Painting 2.jpg (63.56 KiB) Viewed 636 times

The menu at the top will now show like in this screenshot. Notice the red box... All options are available. The RED arrow points to the button that will "Fill the map" with that landscape sprite. It will respect borders of the same kind of landscape sprite. Meaning if you for instance have outlined your coasts with plains, you are able to choose this "Fill" mode to fill the Landmass inside the Coastlines, with one click.

[ernieschwitz]

Ok, Now it's time to activate that "Fill Mode". Do this by clicking the box with it.

The Draw Menu should now look like this:

Drawmode 3 options.jpg (16.14 KiB) Viewed 635 times

The Button in the YELLOW outline will change it's name to "Exit Fill Mode". So when you are done with the Fill mode, simply click it to return to the single hex painting mode.

The Button in the WHITE outline is good to have. In case you fill something that shouldn't have been filled, and your save file is pretty old (saved quite a while ago). It is a go back option, that will remove your latest painting. You can only do this for one step though. Save often, is a good lesson. Also use different file names for saves, so you don't get a problem if your save gets corrupted... or something.

The RED outlined button, exits the drawing mode. It is now safe to click the map, with the left button, without it painting.

[ernieschwitz]

Basically, that is how you "paint" or "colorize" the map.

The Options you have for painting landscape sprites will depend on the Masterfile you chose.

[Amadee999]

Well, Classic would be the most logical place to start i think. Thanks!

[ernieschwitz]

You are welcome.

I think the editor defaults to classic, so no need to import

... and if you have more questions, keep asking

[Amadee999]

You are welcome.

I think the editor defaults to classic, so no need to import

... and if you have more questions, keep asking

I am curious if it is possible to create a new dimension aside from land, sea, air. Like space...

[ernieschwitz]

You are welcome.

I think the editor defaults to classic, so no need to import

... and if you have more questions, keep asking

I am curious if it is possible to create a new dimension aside from land, sea, air. Like space...

No. Sorry.