missing custom battle map pictures

[Maximus Macro]

in custom battle much of the battlemaps have no screenshot to give you an idea of what kind it really is.should i post pictures of every battle map tthats missing one?caus eit really annoyes me so i wanna fix it myself

[dvk901]

If you would like to work on that, I would much appreciate it. I just haven't had time yet.

[Maximus Macro]

If you would like to work on that, I would much appreciate it. I just haven't had time yet.

yeah no problem it's been quiet on the discriptionfront lately so just wanna contribute

I also like the idea of brusilov but how would this be possible?

[Brusilov]

yeah no problem it's been quiet on the discriptionfront lately so just wanna contribute

I also like the idea of brusilov but how would this be possible?

Once the custom battlefields are decided someone would have to sit down with a drawing tool and do them... As I posted before it's not the work of a few minutes.

Once the strategy map is 'fixed' (it was fluid for a while) it's fairly easy to collect decent locations on the strategy map. Prior to entering any battle select your army and then open up the 'Rome Console'. Enter the command show_cursorstat and take down the co-ordinates. If you like the battlefield put the co-ordinates somewhere safe.

The file that contains custom battlefields is in the data folder and is called custom_locations.txt. The following is a sample of what is in the file;

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

custom_location        Salona Foothills
{
    location        194    150        
    image            data/menu/grass2.tga
    sett_locked        no
    summer            yes
}

custom_location        Arverni Valley
{
    location        92    170        
    image            data/menu/grass2.tga
    sett_locked        no
    summer            yes
}

[tone]

Once the custom battlefields are decided someone would have to sit down with a drawing tool and do them... As I posted before it's not the work of a few minutes.

Once the strategy map is 'fixed' (it was fluid for a while) it's fairly easy to collect decent locations on the strategy map. Prior to entering any battle select your army and then open up the 'Rome Console'. Enter the command show_cursorstat and take down the co-ordinates. If you like the battlefield put the co-ordinates somewhere safe.

The file that contains custom battlefields is in the data folder and is called custom_locations.txt. The following is a sample of what is in the file;

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

custom_location        Salona Foothills
{
    location        194    150        
    image            data/menu/grass2.tga
    sett_locked        no
    summer            yes
}
 
custom_location        Arverni Valley
{
    location        92    170        
    image            data/menu/grass2.tga
    sett_locked        no
    summer            yes
}

Even easier than this is using the battlemap editor to pick random points on the map where the altitude isn't too high...it immediately takes you to that point on the map, and tells you the coordinates. Or else we all need to be thoroughly disciplined about noting down coordinates in campaign battles.

[Brusilov]

The problems with the custom map images is that they only show a small portion of the map and that may be misleading. What would be ideal is a 'topographical map' that shows a true representation of the map. It would show hill contours, roads, buildings and the type of vegetation.



I don't imagine that for one moment that this would be an easy task to complete.

[Elendil of Númenor]

Maybe shots of the minimap. Only thing I'm not sure of is whether the custom battle maps always look exactly the same.

[Ketchup]

Maybe shots of the minimap. Only thing I'm not sure of is whether the custom battle maps always look exactly the same.

Good idea. Yes they are always the same.

Using the radar maps and then editing them in photoshop could be an idea? Just to make them look better and/or more informative...

[Maяcel]

perhaps something like this,



if you use radar maps you will have to cut out the units and sight lines.
the radar map is square, so there's some space left on the side(s), perhaps an in-game shot next to it?

[tone]

Or else you open a custom battle with say two units, move your general to one corner, start the battle and save the replay. Now do the replay and just have it panned in from one end so you can see most of the battlefield. Take a screenshot then.

But we need a load of good custom locations. Do you know how to get these? Best thing is to use the battlemap editor to find them.

[Maximus Macro]

i fought on some really stunning battlefields between corinth and Athens today,whoever did the new environment is a genius

[Maяcel]

shall i get these done?

[tone]

We probably need to find some good custom battlemap locations first.

I also need to sort out the distant tree canopies and edgings first, although if you could do that it'd be even better....I could help you through the process if you like.

[Maяcel]

sure, what needs to be done on them exactly?

[tone]

Basically we need to regenerate them but using high density layout files. It may need a bit of experimentation to get it right.

The idea is to get distant woodland to look dense like this:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The process is basically this:

1) open descr_vegetation.txt

2) scroll to near the bottom where it begins:

; ***************************************************
; *** VEGETATION TYPES
; ***************************************************
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;redo sprites
;; *** Main forest used by test_climate (Medi)
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

3) for each kind of climate you'll see something like this (it basically tells the game:
what sort of layout pattern to use for that kind of climate
what area the tiling for that layout will be spread out over
what vegetation models to use and the sizes of those )

vegetation rs_medi_forest
{
layout 1024 rs_forest_layout.tga
radius 1
height_range 0.6 0.9
aspect_range 0.7 1.2
lod trees
model pinus_pinea2
model pinus_pinaster
model quercus_cerris
model scots_pine
}

4) you need to alter the bit in red to read:

layout 256 rs_forest_dense_layout.tga

this will make it denser through a) shrinking down the tiling of the layout and b) using a denser layout pattern

5) so for example starting with the mediterranean climate, it'd look like this (these are the denser forest files for the Mediterranean climate for summer and winter):

; ***************************************************
; *** VEGETATION TYPES
; ***************************************************
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;redo sprites
;; *** Main forest used by test_climate (Medi)
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
vegetation rs_medi_forest
{
layout 256 rs_forest_dense_layout.tga
radius 1
height_range 0.6 0.9
aspect_range 0.7 1.2
lod trees
model pinus_pinea2
model pinus_pinaster
model quercus_cerris
model scots_pine
}
vegetation rs_medi_forest_win
{
layout 256 rs_forest_dense_layout.tga
radius 1
height_range 0.6 0.9
aspect_range 0.7 1.2
lod trees
model pinus_pinea2
model pinus_pinaster
model quercus_cerris
model scots_pine
}

That deals with the denser forest - the sparse ones we can ignore for the moment as they'll be mainly shrubs and rocks.

6) Save your changes

7) restart RTW and adjust settings as follows:
16 bit colour
1024x768
antialiasing off

quit RTW

8) delete /data/descr_vegetation.db

9) restart RTW and allow to progress to the menu to regenerate the sprites and edging/canopy files. Quit RTW.

10) go to /data/vegetation//textures and delete these files (the old canopy / edging files):

rs_medi_forest_canopy.tga.dds
rs_medi_forest_edging.tga.dds
rs_medi_forest_win_canopy.tga.dds
rs_medi_forest_win_edging.tga.dds

11) you should also see some files with these names:

rs_medi_forest_canopy.tga
rs_medi_forest_edging.tga
rs_medi_forest_win_canopy.tga
rs_medi_forest_win_edging.tga

(i.e. .tga not .tga.dds files)

these are the newly created ones. Convert these to .tga.dds to replace the old ones using your favourite .dds converter.

12) Open RTW and go to a custom battle using the mediterranean climate, e.g. Italian lowland

13) Take some screenshots....how does it look?

[Maяcel]

got some problems with my copy of rs, so ive got to reinstall everything first. ill start working on it tomorrow

[tone]

Thanks!

[Maяcel]

i got this, the before screenshot turned out black so i cant really compare it myself.
this is the Italian lowland map.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[tone]

Looks pretty good to me...I'm just doing some playing around with trees and tree placement files so it might be worth just holding off doing too much just for the moment. Would you be up for helping out with buildings images as well?

[Maяcel]

sure no problem