Gandalf's Crazy Solo Games

alexti · #1 January 11th, 2007, 02:51 AM

Maze-like maps are fun, but they unfortunately makes the game against AI much easier.

I was thinking about 4D hyper-cube map with attached opposite side (sorry, can't recall how it is properly called). Idea is that on 3x3x3x3 (81 provinces) hypercube any 2 provinces will be neigbours. On larger one - 4x4x4x4 some pairs won't be neighbours any more, but it will still be very open map. It sounds like a good idea, but I'm not sure how to visualise it in 2D. Ok for 3x3x3x3 map you don't really need anything complex - you just know that everything has a common border. But figuring out what borders and what not on 2D visualisation of 4x4x4x4 hypercube is non-trivial and '8' won't help much because there will be so many edges indicating connections

Gandalf Parker · #2 January 12th, 2007, 03:30 PM

You want an insane game against the AI? Try the game at the beginning of this thread
http://www.dom3minions.com/RandomMaps/MegaMap.zip
with the indepts set to 3 or 1 or even zero. That way the only opponents that the AI will hit are the specials that will grant it extra magical equipment.

Maltrease · #3 January 12th, 2007, 03:36 PM

That is an interesting idea Alex. Even a map with say 60 provences where every provence connects to every other one would be interesting.

Or something like each capital connects to every other provence, but capitals are not connected, and individual provences are not connected to other individual provences.

Shovah32 · #4 January 12th, 2007, 03:38 PM

That type would kind of make rushes a little too strong, being able to hit any other capitol as soon as you conquer 1 indy provinces(the sort of resources capitols could pull in would also be insane).

Maltrease · #5 January 12th, 2007, 03:55 PM

It would certainly be a very different game and would definitely need to play with balanced nations (all good rushers or all bad). What would be interesting is no provence would every be "safe". So you probably could not expand that fast or someone else can just snatch each provence away from you again. High PD could be extremely usefull (along with your regular force).

Maltrease · #6 January 12th, 2007, 04:21 PM

Here is another idea. Although this would be much better for a MP game instead of AI.

A map like this (see attachement) could be built for any number of players. Basically a spoke wheel of sorts. Each player will have only have direct contact with 2 other player. You could have any number of provences between the players, and on the inner wheel. The center provence should be guarded by an insanely powerful group of Indies with commanders able to withstand most remote attack spells. Also load it up with powerful magic sites (50% off spell cost site). Make the 2-3 provences near the center also guarded by powerful indies in each spoke, to make it difficult for a flying race to hop over them.

Gandalf Parker · #7 January 12th, 2007, 04:40 PM

I think there are some Spirograph programs out there that can help you create maps like that

alexti · #8 January 12th, 2007, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Shovah32 said:
That type would kind of make rushes a little too strong, being able to hit any other capitol as soon as you conquer 1 indy provinces(the sort of resources capitols could pull in would also be insane).

I was thinking about such map for SP - primarily to make the game more challenging by making it easier for multiple AI nations to attack you early in the game.

aku666 · #9 January 15th, 2007, 06:04 PM

Just to make you know, I've tried to start new game with your map. The generation took 30 minutes, I lost my patience and killed the process (maybe it hanged or something, you never know).

But your script is very useful, thanks! I'm using it on smaller maps which my PC can handle

Gandalf Parker · #10 January 15th, 2007, 06:30 PM

I think that part of the problem is when I added commanders. If I had randomly selected equipment from a list and given it to them, it would make a game quicker. But I added the command and added a line for the game to generate random equipment. Thats alot of extra thinking when its creating the game. Good for replayability but rough on creation.

The problem with adding specifics is the same as my problem with adding logical commands (not putting water commanders on a land province etc etc), or logical magic sites, or matching additional units to the poptype of that province.
Answer: Im too lazy.

Im too lazy to build a database (or spreadsheet) of all the possiblities and matching them to the logical uses of them. I COULD easily pull a list of everything in the game and pull randomly from that... hmmmm..... equal chance of getting the stupid exploding amulet or getting the paladins sunsword.

That might be fun.