[diamondspider]

Originally posted by PhilD:

quote:

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Originally posted by diamondspider:

My only problem with a random map generator is, well obviously, that it is random.

I've designed about 60 maps for my campaigns over the years, and they are a lot of work to make look realistic. I'd hate to think that a program could ever come close

No questions here, the typical random generator does a very simple job (there are people out there who do a reasonably good job of writing programs that create "realistic" planets, but a night's quick search didn't reveal any that made them available for free on top of that). But what a random generator can do, is provide you with an endless list of possible maps. Hand-made maps can look great, but they're a lot of work, and require dedicated people with some talent.

I believe there's room for both. Plus, if we managed to make the random generators more user-friendly, it might become a help to the "hand" map designers.

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Yup... Just personal preference. I've always been a sucker for eye-candy and I'd much prefer to play a map that looked great to one that didn't; even if the one that didn't was tactically superior for the most part.

However, I totally agree that since everyone isn't that way, there is room for both

For those who can't draw, or don't have time to do full maps, yet want to make them, another solution is to keep an archive of 10-20 maps that don't have lines marking them yet and to use one tga to make many Dom2 maps.

For example, the one Targa is working on, if he'd keep one without marks on it, could be used to create several cool different feels e.g. wraparound, no sea, lots of sea, big provinces, small provinces, etc. etc.. Same goes for that one that was by a D&D fan that I used.

[ February 01, 2004, 17:21: Message edited by: diamondspider ]