New Naval-Maps possible?

[Bladerunner]

S!

Does anyone have experiances with creating new naval-maps for battles? Does the Lordz-Map-Tool can be used for them?

I would like to add some new Maps to my Sealords-Mod (a Naval-Battle-Mod), but atm i have no clue, how naval maps are build. Are they simular to land-maps? The actual maps by CA in game are just flat, maps, with no land, so for CA it might not be nessesary to use a highmap, if they don't plan to release maps with i.e. islands in the future. If there is no highmap i doubt we can make any maps with islands or coast.

Another interseesting point for new maps would be to get maps with more wave in stromy weather. I don't know if this is map-related or placed somewhere else in the game.

[Rsty Bloodnok]

Blade. Have responded in your other thread, please respond soon.

Good luck. Rusty.

[hokomoko]

Naval maps are quite similar to land maps.

Here's the Caribbean map from the demo, so you can see the files needed (maybe some aren't needed, don't know really...)
http://files.filefront.com/caribbean.../fileinfo.html


As you can see, they do have a height map.

[Bladerunner]

great find Hoko, this can be a good base for start, as the maps in the release version are not availible for changes. With this we can try out to put in land and check collision detection of ETW. But even if this makes problem, we can make versions with different setups like 3vs3, 4vs2, 1vs2,....

+1 rep for you

[FearofNC]

Naval maps are quite similar to land maps.

Here's the Caribbean map from the demo, so you can see the files needed (maybe some aren't needed, don't know really...)
http://files.filefront.com/caribbean.../fileinfo.html


As you can see, they do have a height map.

can someone re upload this (link is dead)... ill take a shot at it.

islands are absolutely possible

[Bladerunner]

i think island are possible, but there is a problem of using such a map for Naval...

I will look into my files, i think i still have it and load it up today or tomorrow. If you'll make a breakthrough it would be kind to tell us, how it can be done. I have a Naval-Mod mostly for MP and it would be great to have more maps, than just plain water.

[hokomoko]

I'm glad to be of service.

Don't forget to keep us up to date!

[Dud doodoo]

I'd like to mention that the engine should be capable of having land on sea battles, as if you go under the surface of land battles there is water. Really all you need to do is make the land lower...

[Bladerunner]

a little update: so far no success with the naval-maps.

Personally i find it hard to follow all steps of the tutorial, as i think i don't fully understand what i'm doing and all tools are quite new to me (no native english and always not very good in following guides). I made a quick change to the carribean map, but only changed the highmap. this leads to not getting any land. There is one differance in the definition.xml - the terraintype for naval-maps is set to "0", while land maps it is "1". not seeing terrain i tried to change that value to the land stat, which ends with no land and ships can't move.
Kungfuserge also made some tries, but got CDT's or also no shipmovement.

SoI have no clue, if we didn't make it right with the maps in general or if the problem is with naval-maps.

[chickens1127]

hey,
i was wondering... is there a way to create a seige map? and if there is, could you have a land vs. sea seige battle? thanks

[Bladerunner]

Don't have a clue. I canceled the Map-Projekt for Naval-Battles, as it is too complicated for my taste.

[Mooncabbage]

Bladerunner, I have had the same problem as you with the tutorial, I will have a word with hokomoko about making it clearer but the simple fact is, we really don't know even half of what is possible with maps.

I myself am working on a few land maps, but I haven't worked out the whole process yet. Actually I would really love to see some naval maps with land masses. I wonder if the ships crash when they hit them or go straight through

I'll send you a PM if I work anything out.

[Bladerunner]

We tried things out, but got crashes or not shipmovment. I doubt we will see anything like a map-editor from CA. The maps in the Demo, that the lordz use, were not encrypted, but in the release game all are kind of packed and unreadable.

It would be really good to have some of the very experianced modders or programmers on it, to make a complete editor. Would also be nice to see CA's reaction, if they have to compete with free maps with their DLC (sure we will see Maps as DLC to pay for soon).

[Tobler75]

HEAR HEAR!

[Officerpuppy]

A naval siege map would be awesome. One player is in a fort over looking the coast, and the other player or AI are aboard ships and have to bombard the fort. Although the problem would be since there isn't a surrender fort option, the player at sea must take the fort by land which seems impossible to do atm.

[JamesCartwright]

Hmm, that would be neat, You would have to disembark Marines and Landing Parties and try to take the fort.

[FearofNC]

my guess without looking at the files is your gonna need to use red on the blendmap.jpg to define your land. but it could be as simple as creating a land map with water and switching in to naval... ive never seen the files of a naval map before... so all i can do is guess. but my pic is a working map included in map pack 02... islands are possible in land maps.

[Bladerunner]

Just uploaded the Map: http://rapidshare.com/files/266169886/caribbean.rar

I know there is a setting in the Definition.xml for terraintype: 0 is for naval nad 1 for Landmaps. The main problem seemd to be, that on 0, the land don't show up and on 1 you can't move ships. But i have to admit, that the whole map-making is still a miracle for me. Mayby it is because i tried starting with naval maps without experiances in map-making at all. Might have tried something more simple and something that is known as running for start.

[sparty]

I am very curious to see what CA has to say about any serious attempts at putting together a map editor because if they're trying to sell custom maps while competing with free community built ones they're going to be at a significant disadvantage.