Creating a World – Basic mapping from scratch

[Gigantus]

Glad you got it all fixed. Let me know when you got more news about your mod.

[Kolwen]

Hi! I need some help with my custom map.
When I select the faction and try to start campaing I get this error after waiting at least 2 min.

Log

19:41:56.453 [system.rpt] [always] CPU: SSE2 19:41:56.453 [system.rpt] [always] ==== system log start, build date: Feb 25 2008 version development === 19:41:56.453 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_0.pack 19:41:56.453 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_1.pack 19:41:56.453 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_2.pack 19:41:56.453 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_3.pack 19:41:56.468 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/data_4.pack 19:41:56.468 [system.io] [always] mounted pack packs/localized.pack 19:47:50.046 [system.rpt] [error] Uh oh. This isn't good. No idea why, but exiting now. Sorry pal.

My map size is 510x510 and I divided it in 6 regions.
Anyone knows what is happening?

Log using the trace option

. . . 20:18:53.859 [system.io] [info] open: found mods/MyMapping/data/world/maps/base/map_fog.tga (from: E:\Juegos\Medieval II Total War) 20:18:53.875 [system.io] [info] exists: missing mods/MyMapping/data/world/maps/campaign/imperial_campaign/descr_regions.txt 20:18:53.875 [system.io] [info] exists: found mods/MyMapping/data/world/maps/base/descr_regions.txt (from: E:\Juegos\Medieval II Total War) 20:18:53.875 [system.io] [info] exists: missing mods/MyMapping/data/text/imperial_campaign_regions_and_settlement_names.txt 20:18:53.875 [system.io] [info] exists: missing mods/MyMapping/data/text/imperial_campaign_regions_and_settlement_names.txt.strings.bin 20:18:53.875 [system.io] [info] exists: missing mods/MyMapping/data/world/maps/campaign/imperial_campaign/imperial_campaign_regions_and_settlement_names.txt 20:18:53.875 [system.io] [info] exists: missing mods/MyMapping/data/world/maps/campaign/imperial_campaign/imperial_campaign_regions_and_settlement_names.txt.strings.bin 20:18:53.875 [system.io] [info] exists: missing mods/MyMapping/data/text/imperial_campaign_regions_and_settlement_names.txt 20:18:53.875 [system.io] [info] exists: missing mods/MyMapping/data/world/maps/campaign/imperial_campaign/descr_regions_and_settlement_name_lookup.txt 20:18:53.875 [system.io] [info] exists: missing mods/MyMapping/data/world/maps/campaign/imperial_campaign/descr_regions_and_settlement_name_lookup.txt.strings.bin 20:18:53.875 [system.io] [info] exists: missing mods/MyMapping/data/world/maps/campaign/imperial_campaign/descr_regions_and_settlement_name_lookup.txt 20:18:53.875 [system.io] [trace] file open,,0CA9F3F8,11410 20:18:53.875 [system.io] [info] open: found data/text/imperial_campaign_regions_and_settlement_names.txt.strings.bin (from: E:\Juegos\Medieval II Total War) 20:18:53.875 [system.io] [trace] file open,,10453A58,1029 20:18:53.875 [system.io] [info] open: found mods/MyMapping/data/world/maps/base/descr_regions.txt (from: E:\Juegos\Medieval II Total War) 20:18:53.875 [system.io] [trace] file open,,1061FB28,18820660 20:18:53.875 [system.io] [info] open: found mods/MyMapping/data/world/maps/base/map.rwm (from: E:\Juegos\Medieval II Total War) 20:18:53.984 [system.io] [info] exists: missing mods/MyMapping/data/world/maps/campaign/imperial_campaign/custom_tiles_db.txt 20:18:53.984 [system.io] [info] exists: missing mods/MyMapping/data/world/maps/campaign/imperial_campaign/descr_sounds_music_types.txt 20:18:53.984 [system.io] [info] exists: found mods/MyMapping/data/world/maps/base/descr_sounds_music_types.txt (from: E:\Juegos\Medieval II Total War) 20:18:53.984 [system.io] [trace] file open,,10350210,384 20:18:53.984 [system.io] [info] open: found mods/MyMapping/data/world/maps/base/descr_sounds_music_types.txt (from: E:\Juegos\Medieval II Total War) 20:18:54.140 [system.rpt] [error] Uh oh. This isn't good. No idea why, but exiting now. Sorry pal.

[Gigantus]

- Maximum size of map with only six regions = map generator\game can't handle that. Add at least another 20 regions.
- If you have a trace log, simply compress and attach it, sometimes the actual error is somewhere in the middle and the rest is just the game carrying on (kind like a chicken without head - it will fall down eventually).

[Kolwen]

Thank you giantus! That info is very usefull!
I will try to add more regions.
The complete log is attached to this post.
You made a great job with your tutorial. I had never made a map and it was very easy to follow you.
I just may suggest you to advice about my problem in the tutorial. I knew that more regions were needed because of one post in this thread from some months ago, but I was not sure about the number of regions should I add, so I put just 6.
Whats the max. number of regions?

Thank you again!

[Ishan]

Whats the max. number of regions?

200 that is 199+1 for water.

[Kolwen]

I have 31 regions now and the problem persists.
Any other idea?

PS: There are a lot of warnings in my log file like this: <<11:48:45.562 [system.io] [warning] open: mods/MyMapping/data/world/maps/campaign/imperial_campaign/map_venice.tga is missing
11:48:45.562 [system.io] [trace] file open,,10350210,,not found>>
Should I add those files to my campaign folder?

[Gigantus]

As long as there isn't an [error] entry in the line you can usually ignore the matter. It simply means that the game is looking for files in the mod folder or it is looking for variants of unused files.
I just had a case like this and there the data\text\imperial_campaign...txt file was corrupt. You might have to compress your mod folder and upload\attach it here for me to have a look. But first start with that single file.

[Kolwen]

Of course!
Do you mean the file imperial_campaign_regions_and_settlement_names.txt.strings?
It is the only imperial_campaign file in M2TW/data/text
Thank you for your help mate.
I can upload the whole mod folder if you want.

EDIT: where is supposed to be that file? in my game folder or in my mod folder?

[Gigantus]

1. Do you mean the file imperial_campaign_regions_and_settlement_names.txt.strings?

EDIT: 2. where is supposed to be that file? in my game folder or in my mod folder?

1. txt and txt.string.bin (if both are available)
2. mod folder

[Kolwen]

1. txt and txt.string.bin (if both are available)
2. mod folder

Oh, sorry mate. Forget that file that I've ulpoaded. It is from my game folder.
I have not .txt nor .bin files in my mod folder, so I've decieded to create a .txt file.
I will upload it this evening for you. Do you want the regions and/or the sounds files too?
Thank you

Ok, here it is.
Sorry for the double post.
I hope you can find the problem
Thank you again!

[Gigantus]

I have 31 regions now and the problem persists.
Any other idea?

I have not .txt nor .bin files in my mod folder, so I've decieded to create a .txt file.

Looks like i have to expand my tutorial or at least provide a link to another tutorial of mine. I did not mention in detail how to add a region.
Have a look here: Creating a World – Adding detailed Regions, that should explain about the string.bin and txt file

Edit: I have added this part to the tutorial

The data file for the region names in the data\text folder. Important: the funny sign has to be in the first line!

imperial_campaign_regions_and_settlement_names.txt……

¬
  {London_Province}London Region
  {London}London
  {Paris_Province}Paris Region
  {Paris}Paris

……………………………………………………………………

[Kolwen]

I did it, but still not working. You can see it at the attached file in my last post :S

Edit:
I tried something and I cat't undestand why it didn't work...

1.- I resized the maps of one mod installed from 195x250 to 300x300 (indexed before scaling)
2.- I removed all the rivers and trade routes.
3.- I have modifyed the descr_terrain.txt this way:

dimensions
{
    width  300
    height  300
}

4.- I executed the .bat file
5.- CTD

The mod was working before resizing the .tga files
What is wrong?

[Gigantus]

When you re-size map_regions it can happen that the single pixel for settlements and ports become multiple pixel (enlarging) or disappear (reducing).

[Kolwen]

Thank you. You were right, but still not working.
Can I have regions in the map_regions.tga file without settlements or will it cause CTD?

[Gigantus]

I am not certain, seeing that water is a region without settlement. But then the region shouldn't be entered in descr_regions or anywhere else either.

[Kolwen]

Thanks for answering.
Could you check my files please? I am desperate.
I can't make it work and I tried everything

[Gigantus]

I don't see a map\base folder where all the graphics files are supposed to be.
No campaign_script.

My suggestion: download my Bare Geomod and have look where all the files are supposed to be. Go through the manual step by step, especially where the text files are concerned.

[Kolwen]

Argh! Don't worry mate, I surrender.
I tried your way the first time, but it doesn't worked fo me
I just wanted to change the map of one working mod (Call of Warhammer) to make a submod. Thats the reason of the different folders, but definetely I can't do it.
Thanks anyway for your help

[Gigantus]

To check the validity outside of the mod, the files have to be put into a 'normal' file structure. By the looks of it I assume you are modding within a provincial campaign.
I will give it a shot build it into my mod.


I had a look and will not have much luck, the descr_regions file is missing. Another look in the map_regions graphic and I notice three regions with settlement pixels. One is fairly obvious sea. The second (marked red) could be a lake, but the huge green region certainly is not sea.

As the descr_strat contains custom names (and possibly custom units) I will require a number of text files from the data folder that contains the EDU for this mod. Best to upload the whole lot of files in there.

.

[Kolwen]

It could be a lot of work for you, and I don't want to bother you, so I've tried with a smaller map, with only 2 factions, following step by step your tutorial.
It worked, but I have a problem.
See this image:

Image

The pink area is supposed to be the sea. What is wrong?
My map_heights.tga is all dark grey excepting the blue sea.
I deeply apreciate your help giantus