New Map
 

I have finished a prototype for a new scenario (on the desert eye map).

It is a battle between 7 premade kingdoms.
[Yes, the seven from the demo]

I intend to test it for the next few days, however if anyone wants a copy to play or test just drop me an email and I'll send you the .MAP file.

apdominions@hotmail.com

Re: New Map
 

[bump]

Perhaps I should have used a flashier subject line?

Check out my scenario.
Tell me if it's worth my time to make such mods. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: New Map
 

Of course it is!

I wouldn't mind a copy http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Would you like to have it downloadable on the IW site?

Re: New Map
 

I sent a copy off to info@illwinter

Feel free to post it.

Where would you post it? Do you have a Dom II area on the site?

Re: New Map
 

Good question. We probably need to make some changes to the site.

I suppose we would have to place your map on the news until we have made something better of the page.

Unfortunately it is rather boring to remake pages. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

Re: New Map
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I guess so. I see you finally did get around to announcing the demo on your site. But thats OK. I didnt see the web pages on any of the lists here. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[ November 03, 2003, 00:22: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

Re: New Map
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Good work!

Didn't spot this straight off but then as I'm new to the board there is alot of topics I haven't read yet.

I am extremely keen to see what you have come up with Alex - shade@paradise.net.nz

Thanks in advance,

Keir

Re: New Map
 

Hey folks... throw me a bone!

I know a bunch of you have the new scenario.
What I want is a tiny shard of feedback. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

It doesn't have to be much, just someting like:

"This scenario did nothing for me"
or
"It was interesting, hope to see more"


Give me a clue as to what the community is looking for. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif


For those that want to check it out, you can get it on Sunrays site (no need for emails anymore) http://www.freewebs.com/sunray_dom2/

Re: New Map
 

What is this map? I am playing with Gandalf's map and it is pretty cool.

[ November 04, 2003, 17:21: Message edited by: MStavros ]

Re: New Map
 

Gandalf's map is pretty cool. I've enjoyed it myself. The chaos is fun.


My scenario is a seven nation game where each nation starts with 10 provinces, temples, forts, armies, and some spells. Effectively it begins with players in control of a small "kingdom" rather than a province.

The question is, does anyone like such a scenario or am I wasting my time?

Re: New Map
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Ahhh rats. THATS where I got the idea for the "AI fixing map". Sorry about that. Should I kill that thread and let you pursue it? How about the other ideas for "fixing" the AI using .map settings?

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">People dont understand how to "pay" for free things they like so they will see more like it. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: New Map
 

I'm downloading it. Thank for the effort Alex.

Re: New Map
 

>Ahhh rats. THATS where I got the idea for the "AI fixing map". Sorry about that. Should I kill that thread and let you pursue it? How about the other ideas for "fixing" the AI using .map settings?

Nah, any work is good work.

My scenario isn't exactly "AI fixing", although it does play out different than normal.

I've considered making a Version that forces a player to play through a set nation, and that way I can pump the computer nations, but I don't know if there is even a shred of interest in such a thing. I was hoping to get some input on the first scenario before branching out. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: New Map
 

I'd guess there's always interest in challenging maps or senerios. My only qualm is that saying that these maps 'fix the AI' is entirely misleading. They provide an additional challenge to the player, but they do not overtly 'fix the AI'.

See my other post in Gandalfs theard for more on this issue, and why it bothers me http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: New Map
 

You are absolutely correct. The scenario's are scripted challenges, not changes to the computer AI.

If I could get into Illwinters code, I would. In the meantime I'll have to be satisfied with the tools I can reach. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: New Map
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">If you are wasting time so are we. We have one setup in the full Version where all 17 players start with 5 (IIRC) provinces each and an extra watch tower. I like premade kingdoms. The only thing about them in the current game is that you will know the exact starting locations of everyone else. A random feature would be cool. I'm not sure how far down our list it is. Actually I'm not sure what's on top of our list.

BTW the list has become something scary and neverending. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: New Map
 

I should get another session with the game tomorrow Alex and your and Gandalfs scenario's are top of my list to check.

Alex you are certainly not wasting your time - in my view setups such as you have produced will be the key to a higher quality of games for PBEM. You are, as with Dom I, helping lead the way. As I said to Gandalf - people don't always recognise quality.

My big concern in this area is that we get enough small maps. Big maps with starting positions for 17 players are great but often the corresponding small maps get left out.

Just to clarify my idea of small I would rate Aran as medium. Even maps with as few as 40 provinces could be fun for a certain sort of multi-player or head-to-head game. A good spread of games at the small to tiny end will be a big boon to PBEM based on my past experiance of it.

Cheers

Keir

Re: New Map
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">If you are wasting time so are we. We have one setup in the full Version where all 17 players start with 5 (IIRC) provinces each and an extra watch tower. I like premade kingdoms. The only thing about them in the current game is that you will know the exact starting locations of everyone else. A random feature would be cool. I'm not sure how far down our list it is. Actually I'm not sure what's on top of our list.

BTW the list has become something scary and neverending. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Would you care to tell us if you have restarted coding on something? As you just released a game, I can understand that you are taking some weeks of resting (thats kinda normal after a rush) http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif
bug fixing, AI improvements, something else?

also, speaking of multiple starting provinces, I think I will be done with the option by december (I already said that I was developping a scripting utility). I'm kinda slow, but you know what real life can do to prevent us from doing important things http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: New Map
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Im surprised someone didnt jump on my comment in another thread. Dont remember which. Some discussion about the lack of a battle simulator. Even the old simulator left much to be desired and making it better amounted to making it treat battles with all the options of a game. So the advnaced players just learned how to test-bed using games.

The .map I will mess with, its just a text file. The .tga takes abit more doing and I dont totally understand how Dom2 treats them (and Im still learning GIMP paint program). But someone should be able to create a 3 province .tga with a simple heavily commented .map file which explains to people how to assign their desires to 2 nations and duke it out in the middle.

Sorry to jump in the wrong thread with this.

Re: New Map
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I have now played briefly on your map and i like it. Shorter initial period of peace (good), but a bit less enjoyment in taking new territories. Miasma with swampguards recruitable in all those towers was nice.

Re: New Map
 

I appreciate the warm words K.O., but I'd like to get some feedback from someone that isn't associated with Illwinter. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Anyone?

Re: New Map
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I can't handle the wrap around. Perhaps its all the anti-flu medicine but I'm sure the map goes for ever and keeps multiplying/spawning. Aaaaaaaaaargh - its a Cuthulloid plan to take over the world and Alex is the head Cultist! No wonder no-ones replying - they failed their sanity roles and won't be heard from again. The reason Alex keeps asking for feedback is to get more people to see the map and go mad! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

I might be able to cope with wraparound on a world map running east-west but the whole north-south wraparound runs into where the Poles should be. Sure you could have some wacky worlds but in general physics/geography should have some bearing.

I would suggest a non-wrap around Version created by stealing the code from Calanor's non-wraparound Eye map. Shouldn't be to hard to make and if no-one has done so by the time my head clears I'll put it together if you want.

Don't worry, be happy . . .

Keir

[ November 07, 2003, 00:36: Message edited by: Keir Maxwell ]

Re: New Map
 

Making the map non wrap-around would only require removing a few lines of text from the .map file. That's not the issue.

The problem is that some nations would effectively have their backs to the new "wall" and would reap huge defensive benefits.

To balance such a situation I would have to completely revamp the positions/situations of the nations. I am unsure if there is a single player out there enjoying the map. Until I get some feedback (outside of your issues with the wrap-around map) I am not spending hours on alterations.

Re: New Map
 

I dont mind the east-west wrap as much as the full globe wraps. It would be easy to "justify" an "east-west only" wrap by saying that even the most cold-loving of races arent ready to go up over the poles to reach someone.

I havent played with the mapeditor yet. A thin line of really REALLY white provinces although there might be a drawback to investing province numbers in provinces that no one can enter. And Im not sure if painting polar onto the top and bottom edges of the farthest north/south provinces will affect their stats. Giving those provinces mountains definetly would.

The background seems to be full size? Not a tile? Strange. (actually it seems to be a full size created from a tile pasted 4 times). Well anyway, since it isnt tiled it would be nice if there was an option in the .map to use a different one.

In the case of an e-w wraparound it could be solid polar seeming at the top and bottom with regions such as temperate and tropical down the sides. Also I could see some with hotkeys (such as for the already started game for the demo to include) or one of those old maps warning about going to far (beyond here there be Dragons) or maybe part of the storyline for the map (one ring to rule them all).

[ November 07, 2003, 13:59: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

Re: New Map
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">It is rather easy to make a e-w wrap with poles. The tga must be made in this way of course (so that players aren't confused). If Calanors map is used it would appear as a wraparound, but there would be a strange invisible (polar) wall going from east to west that stops all movement north-sounth.