How To Make A Map - Redux (with shiny pictures!)

[DrAlimentado]

This is my attempt to make map making more straightforward... please give it a go, if I have made any errors, left anything out, or need to explain something better then add your comments below and I'll make the nessecary changes. It really isn't that difficult, more a bit fiddly, but once you've done a couple it becomes much much easier, and you'll be able to throw out maps with ease ;)
And I apologise in advance if it's a bit long-winded but I thought I would err on the side of caution and do it in lots of small steps :D

Creating the Scenario File

First thing is to create the map, I suggest you use the 1.21 scenario editor if you have it. This works fine with PTW 1.14.

Create a map however you want, I normally hit generate map a few times until I find a map which I like the look of - or you can handcreate a map, or even use a pre-made map from somewhere else. It is a good idea to check that the map is somewhat balanced. Obvious stuff is strategic resources (if a player has no hope of getting iron and horses for example then it may be a short game...), terrain types (ie. grassland/bg/plains etc.), bonuses, and proximity to other civs. This is not to say that starts should have equal amounts of all these things, but no-one wants a desert/jungle start whilst their opponent gets a 3 cow meadow! How far you go in ensuring balance is entirely up to you.
Oh, and another consideration I make is the AI starts. I will usually make sure at least some of the AI players also get decent starts, you don't want the human players to just walk over the AI either ;)

Normally you will assign the starting positions to specific civs for the human players, you can leave the other (computer player) starts as "any start" or also assign them to specific civs as needed. To assign a start position right-click on the player-start and select reassign, this presents the Set Tile Owner Dialog, set the player-start to the desired civ.

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/DrAlimentado/20036531825_ReassignStart.gif
Reassign Starting Position

Now you need to set the player difficulty levels for the map, goto the scenario tab and select "Custom player data" - this will enable the player properties dialog.

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/DrAlimentado/20036533456_CustomPlayerData.jpg
Enabling Player properties


Now the player properties Icon on the toolbar is enabled, click it to display the dialog;

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/DrAlimentado/20036532053_selectPlayerProperties.jpg
Player Properties Icon

For each player you must set the correct difficulty level. If you leave it at the default setting of 'any' it will be set to Chieftan for that player! You must do this for the AI players as well as the human players.

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/DrAlimentado/20036531941_PlayerPropertiesDialog.jpg
Player Properties Dialog

If you need to change the difficulty settings goto the scenario tab and select "Custom rules" this enables the Rules dialog. click the Edit button on the Toolbar to bring the custom rules dialog up to the screen. Under the Difficulty Levels Tab you can change the number of extra start units the AI recieves, start unit 1 is extra settlers, start unit 2 is extra workers.

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/DrAlimentado/20036516017_Difficulty Levels bixN.jpg
AI Difficulty Level Settings


If you need to add units (for example if a 'deity light plus' start is required) then under the map tab select 'Set Active player' and set the player, then click the 'Select unit' Icon and choose which unit to add. Note - the AI's normal quota of extra units are automatically added according to the difficulty settings in Custom rules - you only need to add extra units for the human players!

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/DrAlimentado/20036533158_SetActivePlayer.gif
Adding extra units


Once everything is set then save the .bix file with a suitable name in the 1.14 scenarios folder. This is because once you boot up the PTW 1.14 Multiplayer screen it can only look in the 1.14 scenario folder! - crazy but true.


Note - I have only covered the most basic steps needed to set-up the map with the correct start positions and difficulty levels. There are quite a few other nice things you can do in the scenario editor if you are confident about making pbem maps (changing civ colours, leader names etc.) I have also shown just one way of doing things, the editor is very flexible and stuff like adding units can be done in different ways to achieve the same result, so if you have the urge play around with it :)

[DrAlimentado]

Multiplayer Set-up.


Note - Although 1.21 has fixed some of the level setting bugs which we have to workaround here it has also disabled saving MP games mid-turn, which prevents setting up the game so that players are able to set their own passwords!! This is a big problem, so the best solution for the moment is to use PTW 1.14 and use the workarounds...


Boot up PTW 1.14 and click Multiplayer. Select 'Host'

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/DrAlimentado/20036534246_HostGame.jpg
click Host game


You are now looking at the MP screen, this is where it gets a bit fiddly!

1st, select game-type as pbem.

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/DrAlimentado/20036534526_gameType.jpg
Select game type


then select the appropriate difficulty:

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/DrAlimentado/20036535851_resetDifficulty.jpg
Set Difficulty Level


Make sure you have the correct game rules selected, in particular make sure Accel. Prod and AI respawn are off.

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/DrAlimentado/20036534713_gameRules.jpg
set Game Rules


Under game-type select 'Scenario' and choose the bix file with the map you have made. Once the bix is loaded most of the settings will say 'custom' so make sure the level is set correctly before you load the map.

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/DrAlimentado/20036534822_LoadScenario.jpg
Load Scenario



Now we set the Players:

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/DrAlimentado/20036534927_renameFirstPlayer.jpg
Player Settings


Click the Rename button to bring up a dialog box to set the first players name.

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/DrAlimentado/20036535014_enterPlayer1Name.jpg
Enter Player 1 Name


Now set the specific civ for player1 (unless civ is to be genuinely random, in which case leave it.)

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/DrAlimentado/20036535142_Player1enterCiv.jpg
Set Player1 Civ


For the next 3 slots (2,3,4) click on the drop-down icon to the right for each slot and in the drop-down menu select 'Computer'. If the civs for computer players are to be set rather than left as random then do that as well.

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/DrAlimentado/20036535242_AddComputerPlayer.jpg
Add Computer Players


For slot 5 select 'Add Human Player', this will bring up the enter player name dialog. Select the specific civ choice also if wanted

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/DrAlimentado/20036535432_AddHumanPlayer.jpg
Add 2nd Human player.


For slots 6,7,8 add computer players/civs as you did for 2,3,4.

In a 6-player game you would add the second human player at slot 4, and set slots 7 and 8 to 'Closed'. And in an 8-player human game set all to human players, etc. There is no need to change the numbers to the left of the player slots. That way lies madness! ;)

Now you're ready to launch the game.

take note - if at any point you cancel a screen (say if the scenario isn't in the right folder) then PTW has a nasty tendancy to cancel all your settings! So remember to check Game Type and Difficulty are set correctly before you load the scenario Espeically the difficulty setting! and that the Game Rules and Players are also set correctly before you launch the game.

[DrAlimentado]

Once all the player settings are correct and you have double-checked the game rules are correct Launch the game.

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/DrAlimentado/200365135222_Launch1stTimeN.jpg
Launch the game


You will be prompted for an Admin Password, enter one and make sure you remember this Password. ie. write it down.

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/DrAlimentado/20036541138_setAdminPW.jpg
Set Admin Password


Now you will be asked to set a Player Password, this password will not be used but you must enter something otherwise the game will be set-up with no password protection! (yes, I know it's unintuative...)

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/DrAlimentado/2003654161_setPlayerPW.jpg
Unused Password


You are now in the game, immediately save the game (ctrl-S). If you have a duel installation of 1.14 and 1.21 it is a VERY GOOD IDEA to navigate from the 1.14 save directory (where it will open) to the 1.21 directory and put the save in there. Trust me on this, I'll explain why when we get to loading the savegame in a bit. Also it is a good idea to give the savegame a unique name so you'll know for sure which it is, I at least add 'PRE' to the savename so I will know this is the first save in 4000BC I am making.

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/DrAlimentado/2003654170_SaveGame1stTime.jpg
Save Game 1st time


Quit Game to main menu. [ctrl-shift-Q]

goto Multiplayer, Select 'Host', now we're back in the MP screen.

repeat the first few steps as before:

Set Game Type to PBEM.

Set Difficulty Level to correct level (this is critical!!!)

Set Game Rules to correct rules.

Instead of selecting 'Scenario' this time we use 'Load Game', load the save you just made a second ago.

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/DrAlimentado/20036541835_LoadGame.jpg
Load Game in MP screen


For some reason (registry-induced no doubt) although you can save to the 1.14 directory PTW is very reluctant to allow you to load from it in the MP screen [crazyeye] This is why you should save the game to the 1.21 directory (this is the 'proper' PTW directory so it makes some kind of sense...) If you have saved to the 1.14 directory you will likely have to manually move the savegame in windows explorer to the 1.21 directory to let the MP screen see it.

Once the MP screen has loaded the savegame the various settings and game rules are unchangable but should be set as they were before. There is a 'known' bug here sometimes, if you have changed the Difficulty settings under Custom rules in the scenario file then sometimes AI respawn and culture-linked start are set back on when they shouldn't be [mad]. I am still trying to really pinpoint this bug... if anyone does find this bug occuring then please post to this Bug Thread (http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=346) stating exactly what rules in custom rules were changed in the bix file. Also if you have changed the difficulty settings in the bix (ie. for deity light) and NOT had this bug please tell me about it!! This would be a great help :)

The Player Setup will look a bit garbled for the computer players:

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/DrAlimentado/200365135757_SaveGameLoadedN.jpg
Garbled text


Don't worry about it, this is normal. Launch the game.

You will be prompted to enter "Password for player1civ" - this is a lie! it is really the ADMIN pw (the one you have written down right?) that it needs.

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/DrAlimentado/20036542834_enterAdminPW_player1.jpg
Enter Admin Password


Next you will be prompted for the player password in the same way, again this password will be discarded but once again you must enter something to avoid password protection from being disabled.

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/DrAlimentado/20036542943_setPlayerPW2.jpg
Useless password entry no.2


Once in the game then again immediately save [ctrl-S] Give the save a unique name, this will be the sav file that you send to the 1st player.

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/DrAlimentado/20036544249_SaveGame2ndTime.jpg
Save Game for the final time


And again it will open the save dialog in the 1.14 directory... I personally always save it in the 1.21 directory as I test the sav file using 1.21 but it is less critical this time as you will not need to open the file from the MP screen again.

Quit Game to main menu. [ctrl-shift-Q]

Now all that is left is to test the savegame. The easiest way to do this is to load the game normally, enter the admin password, then don't enter player passwords... this is okay as you are just testing the save, you won't be saving it from now on. As long as you are prompted to enter a player password for each player (not including the first admin pw) on the first turn for each player you know that password protection is working (and that you haven't hard-set the player passwords). If you are tempted to put a player password in make sure it is different to whatever you used whilst setting the game up just to check you haven't accidentally hard-set them.

Add the workers into the cities to immediately check that for emporer/deity you get 1 content + 1 sad for a size 2 city with no garrison (and no luxes)- [thanks to Aggie for this top tip! :D]. Instead of saving at the End of turn press 'continue' instead and play hotseat. If you do save it during testing then obviously DO NOT save over the original sav file!

Now you've tested it and your satisfied the correct level is working send it to the first player along with the admin password (or upload to the map thread request), now fix yourself a drink/smoke/poison of choice, lie back, and bask in appreciation [coool]

[DrAlimentado]

What to say in a 'reserved' post I didn't need in the end...

Ah, I know - I'll just reiterate that map-makers are more than welcome to harass me on msn and I'll do my best to answer any questions and queries you might have :)

happy map-making!

[Aggie]

Dr A, this looks very impressive. Now if someone has a map request I'd be happy to review your explanation while making that map :)

EDIT: I read the whole explanation. I don't see a reasons for a map making newbie to NOT make a map. [hammer]

[Lt. Killer M]

(y)

[prettyvacant]

I think by the look of it Dr Al may well have fixed this now, but there was a problem with printing his instructions yesterday.

This attachment is a word document that will print properly. As you can see it is big, cos of the graphics.

It does include all edits as at todays date. If the posts are amended in future this word doc will be out of date, as I can not promise to keep amending it.

The only addition I have made is a tip re checking difficulty level; in addition to content/sad for Emp/diety, if you continue the score will tell you.


Download Attachment: icon_paperclip.gif map making.doc (http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/prettyvacant/20036612404_map making.doc)
1292.76KB

[DrAlimentado]

pv - thanks for the word document :)

could you post the testing top tip here and I'll add it to the main body of text, thanks in advance!

[ERIKK]

Some remarks on your setup description:
-- I think you should set the names before load scenario. After loading the civs are nicely set after the names. You dont have to do anything anymore.
-- Cultural linked starting location has been set off again and again but before the final launch (when you cant change anything anymore) I spotted it automaticly being set on again. But during playtesting I noticed that it in fact it is off (IMO)

[DrAlimentado]

Now we have a euro 1.21 patch some of you may find you have deleted your 1.14 installation and are unable to set maps up with player pw's settable...

If I am around feel free to ask me to set-up maps you have made in 1.14, just send me the bix all ready to go (plus the playernames/civs) and I'll get it sorted.

[Melifluous]

I too still have my 1.14 installed as well as 1.21

So kinda count me into the above post an all...

Melifluous

[Nightfa11]

Dr A. I made a (at least IMHO) nice map, but I made it in 1.21. Is there a workaround for all this 1.14 vs 1.21 junk? I waited to play MP until 1.21 came out for everyone and now I find this **** out! :mad:

[Melifluous]

Hmm its no problem, you send the *.bix file to someone that has 1.14 (DrA or me ;) ) and they can just start it in 1.14, as well as testing that you got it all right [:p]

Melifluous

[Nightfa11]

Ok, well when someone wants a duel map (like the one requested in the Killer vs. Anarres thread), let me know and I will submit this one.

Unless you want it right away...but then you'd know what was in it if you wanted to use it :)

[Aggie]

I now also have 1.14! Send in those bix-files :)

[hotrod0823]

Never done it (making maps that is) but I can still do the 1.14 switch as well.

[Aggie]

great news hotrod [thumbsup]

[Aggie]

We have a couple of new people that made bix's or maps lately. I thank you all for that [worship] I'm not worthy [worship]

But I also heard that this great write-up still caused some confusion. Please give us your comments and we will update the guide!

[Skyfish]

COMMENT :

quote:For some reason (registry-induced no doubt) although you can save to the 1.14 directory PTW is very reluctant to allow you to load from it in the MP screen This is why you should save the game to the 1.21 directory (this is the 'proper' PTW directory so it makes some kind of sense...) If you have saved to the 1.14 directory you will likely have to manually move the savegame in windows explorer to the 1.21 directory to let the MP screen see it

I found that this was not needed :
- There is no problem saving the game in the 1.14 directory
- it actually is very difficult to access the 1.21 save directory from the 1.14 game, it will not even allow me to do it...

This might be a question of how your 2 versions of the game are set-up but I believe
one can disregard this comment and just save the game in the 1.14 directory. MP screen will find it without problem ;)

[hotrod0823]

I don't have a dual install but rather unpatch/repatch and then use the same scenario folder and same save folders. I am not playing any 1.14 games but still have the patch installed. I believe CFC still has a copy of 1.14 on the server but don't quote me on it :). Tried converting a bix last night and it worked for me.

[Moonsinger]

DrAlimentado,

I have tried your steps a zillion times already and it still don't work for me. For one thing, the (ctrl-S) doesn't do anything for me. The ONLY WAY I can save it is to click on END TURN. Btw, I'm using PTW patch 1.21f; however, I think my version of software isn't the same as yours.

[Skyfish]

Moonsinger : in order to save (ctrl-S) before end of turn you need to make the map under PTW1.14, the 1.21 version will not let you do this :(
That is why we need ppl with both 1.14 and 1.21 versions.

[Moonsinger]

Thank you Skyfish! That would explain why I couldn't do it.:(

[DrAlimentado]

yep, SF said it, 1.21 won't let you save mid-turn. Whilst this is good for preventing cheating it's a bugger for making maps. I wish they had found a more elegant solution to preventing cheating than simply disabling saving, but there it is.

DrA <-- currently in purgatory, returning to the civ universe soon.

[anarres]

Aggie, out of interest, what needed editing?

[Aggie]

I could have been more specific couldn't I :) I unstickied it, because this excellent description is about PTW and Skyfish's new thread copied a lot of it in C3C style. I just assumed that we won't be making a lot of PTW maps anymore. I wanted to reduce the number of sticky threads somewhat. Should I change the topic and add that this is about PTW?

[anarres]

Nah, I was just curious. Keep up the good work!