Map editor: Sharing inspiration
 

Ok, what can be done with the map editor? Any ideas?

(Disclaimer: I haven't tried all these so I don't know for sure they work!)

Since 1.91 you can't have systems above eachother unless all players have ancient trait or are given the star charts of these systems before they enter them, kinda takes the fun out of that idea.

One way warp points, I usually make one-way warp-points that open up in a sector storm in another system, preferabbly far far away from the orginal system.

Ordinary systems with system sight obscuration.
First in the beginning you won't see any planets in that system, until you pass by again with sensors on your ship, then you can colonize in it.

Random movement in ordinary systems, move ships 1-3 sectors each turn, makes colonizing harder.

Gravity pull towards center and a wormhole in the center, set the pull to 10-15 sectors and it'll be hard to get away.

Systems with more than 10 warp points, a multi center warp point, control that and you'll gain a lot of power, especially in games without stellar manipulation.

Any more ideas??

[ March 13, 2004, 09:15: Message edited by: Ruatha ]

Re: Map editor: Sharing inspiration
 

Another idea, several linked one-way warp points.

You jump through what looks like an ordinary warp point, exits in another system atop of a warp point.
There's no system name on the warp point you've just exited and the warplane doesn't show up on the system map, but hey..
Let's jump back to where we came from. You jump through but ends up in another system... Strange lets jump back to where I just where, you jump and end up in the original start system, from where this jumping began:

*→*→*
↑←←↓

Can be expanded to several systems.

[ March 13, 2004, 11:17: Message edited by: Ruatha ]

Re: Map editor: Sharing inspiration
 

Ruatha,

I just made a map for the STM Mod and am also looking for inspiration to give it a bit more umph. You pretty much mentioned everything that I put in there. Hidden planets in blackhole systems, and nebula. Warp points that lead to other sectors of the galaxy. Blackholes to section off the galaxy (did this to make it feel like once one part of the galaxy is concquored, you have a whole new area to move onto), plus it sort of keeps AI in appropriate quadrants.

Do you by any chance happen to know if the "Random Opening Warp Point" ability works? I tested a few games and saw nothing. Also the "sector damage ablility" seems to be random. Have you noticed this? I was also disapointed to learn that some of the planet abilities do not work, like the "generate research point modifier, ect." Know of any besides these, like bonus to troops, or planet happiness abilities that are hard to test?

I like your idea of the one way warp points. Perhaps one of those mentioned 10 warp point systems, with one or two of them as one way tickets to a black hole that is almost impossible to escape.

I think someone created a map one time with the oneway warp point idea that lead to a series of systems that were interwoven with the map. A hidden map if you will (but still visible on the main map, just not accessable until warp technology, or finding the right one way warp points that were cleverly hidden ontop of other warp points or close to the center of a black hole.

Re: Map editor: Sharing inspiration
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">This has always been random.

Re: Map editor: Sharing inspiration
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I think the random openings don't work, neither does the periodic warp holes, the unstable ones?? Don't know.

I don't know about the other bonuses, but the ship/fleet training bonus doesn't seem to be working when applied to a planet, propably facility only.
I'd like the maintnence reduction bonus to work, that would be great, but I haven't tried it yet.


That 10+ warp points one-way system. I tried that once with an end point system with low grade systemic sector damage, so the ships die away eventually. Would be sad to have a ship stuck there forever, but it could be interseting trying to take out the new arrivals there though.

Re: Map editor: Sharing inspiration
 

what can be done randomly? I have always wanted a quadrant type that is similar to clusters, but not.

most wormholes are short range and a few to a system. then there are a few hub systems with either lots of wormholes, or very long range wormholes, or both. sort of like short range wormholes and major warp lanes, sorta like the HH universe. or important junction systems.

can this be done?

Re: Map editor: Sharing inspiration
 

I once created a map with sinkhole systems. This is a system that has the entry point in the middle of the system and exit points along the edges. The system also had a 5 space pull to the center. Result: the exit points are unreachable until propulsion is 6 or better! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon6.gif

You can also, with the editor, create warp points that goto themselves. I.E. when used the ship 'warps' to the space it is already at!
I get a kick out of this - you end up spending one movement point to go NOWHERE!! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

One Last trick is to have the WP's go in the opposite direction on the galaxy map. By this I mean that a normal system has the WPs on the edge NEAREST the destination system. -> Exit by a WP on the east edge of a system and you USUALLY go to the east on the galactic map.
With the editor this is NOT necessary the case; you can set it up to do the opposite! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

BTW the map with the above (and more) tricks was called Sixpack.zip... check it out at PBW.

[ March 14, 2004, 05:20: Message edited by: Taz-in-Space ]

Re: Map editor: Sharing inspiration
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Taz, how are you doing, it has been awhile. I like the sinkhole idea. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif I think that this can solve some of the problems I am having with my map. Thanks http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: Map editor: Sharing inspiration
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Not randomly.

[ March 14, 2004, 15:50: Message edited by: geoschmo ]