Map Editor

[marcbarker]

Is there a map editor for these modules? I remember some time ago when Gettysburg came from talonsoft the was a cweditor that coud be used...any help would greatly be appreciated.

Marc

[Brigz]

Marc,

There was never a "map" editor included with any of these Civil War games. All of them did have a "scenario" editor which only allowed scenario design. The original "East Front" game did come with a map editor and there has been player designed software out there that would allow you to make Civil War and Napoleonic maps using that editor.

All of the game files for the "Talonsoft" Civil War (and Napoleonic) games which Matrix are now selling as bundles can be edited including the map files. Making a map was/is a lengthy process. First you needed to create a map file using the East Front map editor. Then you had to convert that file from East Front to Civil War. Then you needed to use that converted file with the map program to "paint" the map to create a bmp map file using a terrain tile system. But I again warn that it is a lenghty process and there is a fairly steep learning curve in order to use the various tools.
As I said it was a lengthy project but could be done and once one learned the technique it wasn't all that difficult, just time consuming. Where you can find the files to do this now will require some searching. I have them somewhere and if I can locate them I'll be glad to pass them along.

[marcbarker]

Thanks...I was certain though that there was a map editor when gettysburg came out but I was wrong...thanks again

[lancerunolfsson]

OK Matrix
You got rights to west front and all the Battleground series. I'm thinking if you make a converter W Front to Campaign format. It sure would not hurt sales You got the basis of being able to do anything in the 19th century. I know one guy did a Franco Prussian mod. But was never able to get the files. But it was posted on Napoleon In Russia Project. Unfortunately that guy has a real talent for getting the files to vaporize;^) Anyway so near but yet so far. Uhhg

[marcbarker]

how true... i would like to recreate a few lesser known battles, Mattle of Moulton, Ala...forrest did a remarkable job in defeating the union cav....the battle of Selma.....the battle of Russelville....and many others....all that is really required is a map editor....and maybe a oob editor...i was looking into converting CS 1.02 into a civil war mod.....gives rail etc.

[Brigz]

ORIGINAL: barker

how true... i would like to recreate a few lesser known battles, Mattle of Moulton, Ala...forrest did a remarkable job in defeating the union cav....the battle of Selma.....the battle of Russelville....and many others....all that is really required is a map editor....and maybe a oob editor...i was looking into converting CS 1.02 into a civil war mod.....gives rail etc.

You can edit an OOB for these games now by just opening the OOB file in a text editor like wordpad or notepad. You just have to be careful to keep the structure and be able to understand what all the values mean. The same can be done for the pdt files and the map files. Try opening some of them. It might give you some insight into what's inside the machine. And a cautionary note, make sure if you change anything you have an original copy of the file available.

[marcbarker]

yeah a long drawn out process doing maps by ascii......I wonder if there is a specific header in the map files that mskes it unique to BG and that can be edited