Excellent software for mapmakers

Nerfix · #1 September 12th, 2006, 05:26 PM

It's a great map. Since Dominions 3 supports aplha channel you could make the black background transparent...

Ballbarian · #2 September 13th, 2006, 08:31 PM

@ Gandalf
Thanks, I liked how the effect turned out too.

@ Morkilus

@ DominionsFan
More specifically, Age of Mythology with the Titans expansion. It has a powerful map editor with a lot of nice features. Just wish they would have included some mountain objects so that it wasn't such a challenge to create them. I didn't really like how they turned out in my test run, but they are looking better in my current project.

@ Nerfix
Thanks for checking it out. When I saw Gandalf's random map upload was in rgb format I hoped it was to support transparency. Should be able to create some neat effects with that. As far as the black space in the corners, I was trying to think of an interesting use for them. Considered filling one corner with a simple map key and just filling the other with some thematic low profile images. I never seem to have as much time as I have ideas.

Ballbarian · #3 September 14th, 2006, 02:52 AM

Here is a thumb of a slightly larger map that I am working on now:

Hoping to see some from others soon...

DominionsFan · #4 September 14th, 2006, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Ballbarian said:
Here is a thumb of a slightly larger map that I am working on now:

Hoping to see some from others soon...

Looks good!

Well, I still don't have HoMM 3. My bro just couldn't find it in his house. He says that it must be in his other house what is in Austria. He will go there on the weekend, so on the next week I can try out the HoMM 3. editor.

Agrajag · #5 September 14th, 2006, 05:28 PM

ZOMG!
I just downloaded the latest HoMM 5 patch, and got the Map Editor, and while it will still be piecework to make a dom map out of it - boy does it look great!
At the end of the post is an editor made screenshot, it doesn't look very pretty because I just drew big sqaures of different terrain types, and the angle is Pi/2 because I was too lazy to fiddle with the camera (the map obviously looks much better in a different angle), but keep in mind that that thin strip of black stuff (the thinnest strip of color viewable) is 2 map tiles big, so you can get great detail.
Not only that, but it saves the map in .tga, so no need for conversion.
(The map is obviously resized, it was ~4200*3200 originally, it is also severely cropped, you can see about half the territory of the map)

HERE BE SCREENSHOTS (You wouldn't believe how long it took me to get this hosted. Damned Image Shack and slow Photobucket!)

EDIT: Now this is a much prettier looking map I made specifically for you folks
Its the smallest map size available in the map editor (so I wouldn't have to work hard to make it), it is resized from 5104*3552, and showcases some of the nicer things available. There are still a few faults (mainly due to my lame screenshots positioning skills), but it is much prettier than the previous one, and shows that the HoMM 5 map editor is aa prime candidate for Dom maps in my opinion.

DominionsFan · #6 September 14th, 2006, 06:24 PM

Hm I don't know. I prefer 2d maps for Dominions. Actually the AoM map editor's 3d maps can be ok, but this HoMM5 map screenshot...well I don't like it too much, but maybe its just me. If there would be a way to make it 2d looking..that would be awesome.

DominionsFan · #7 September 14th, 2006, 06:44 PM

Gandalf, you will love this. I've found a gem. The game is called Kohan: Ahriman's Gift, and the map editor of the game is fantastic. Look at these screenshots. These would be perfect for Doms 3. maps. The game is old, so it will be hard to find but its not impossible.

Endoperez · #8 September 14th, 2006, 03:15 AM

Quote:

Ballbarian said:Should be able to create some neat effects with that. As far as the black space in the corners, I was trying to think of an interesting use for them. Considered filling one corner with a simple map key and just filling the other with some thematic low profile images. I never seem to have as much time as I have ideas.

The background picture is just a the same wooden one as in Dom2, but because it could be replaced in Dom2, it should be possible to replace it in Dom3... Underworld, or old parchment with various strange creatures and islands in it, etc etc could work well.

The Dom3 RMG make seas slightly transparent, so that will and does work. I'm not sure if it happens always or if it was based on the setting I chose.