New Map?

**AqD** · September 23, 2009, 11:16 AM

Hey Quinn!

Have you finished the new map around Bactria and Parthian homeland? If yes, may I use it for my mod?

(I'm also seeking some new and bigger map though

)

**Caligula Caesar** · September 23, 2009, 01:54 PM

He did, but there is a bigger, better (IM(biased)O) map coming out... (mine

)

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=297698

It was meant to be kept secret until we had a larger part of the regions sorted out, but Antonov decided to break the storie... Anyway, it is a work in progress. Most of the files are basically done, except for descr_regions and descr_strat, but we intend to make other changes before we release it, so I don't suggest you wait for it though.

**AqD** · September 23, 2009, 02:04 PM

but it'll require a complete change in descr_strat file!

BTW how do you guys make it bigger? any simple parameters?

**Antonov** · September 23, 2009, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by aqd

but it'll require a complete change in descr_strat file!

BTW how do you guys make it bigger? any simple parameters?

There are maximum dimensions that the game supports (510x510 for the smaller maps). And on width, we've hit the limit

I have the good intention of writing a comprehensive guide how the map was created, but I really can't promise it right now.

Originally Posted by Caligula Caesar

He did, but there is a bigger, better (IM(biased)O) map coming out... (mine

)

I think it's more than better

IMO, we've made it as realistic as it can get, at least when it comes to height maps. More research could make it even more accurate on things like climates, but that's a luxury for now, we have other tasks

**Caligula Caesar** · September 23, 2009, 02:15 PM

Well, the current RTR map is something like 330 across and 175 down (on map heights). This one is 510 across (the maximum) and 311 down.

**Quinn Inuit** · September 23, 2009, 08:29 PM

I have had dreadful luck in increasing my map's size, so I can't really provide any useful comments there.

Aqd: Yes, the version of the map in the current ExRM is the completed one. I don't intend to make any serious changes, with the possible exception of moving a couple of cities around in Phoenicia. Hmmm...might need to muck with Sarmatia, too...not sure. But I'm definitely done with Parthia and Bactria, and you're welcome to use it.

Wait, I may add one more province up there to represent the original Parthian homeland. Haven't decided. That would be easy for you to add in, though.

The key changes were an entirely different topographical map east of the western border of the Caspian (sorry for the clumsy language, but that's the best way to describe it), several new provinces in the Hindu Kush area, and entirely redone borders in the Indus Valley. I messed with the mountains around Armenia a little, too, but that was more minor.

Oh, and you might like the changes I made around Dacia and the Cimmerian Bosporus. I'm quite pleased with how those areas came out, both from a historical perspective and a gameplay perspective. Given that you've got the Bosporans as a faction, I think those changes will be helpful to you.

Darn, I forgot, one more change I'm considering: adding in a province for the Royal Scythians with Scythian Neopolis as its capital and the current capital of the western Crimean province as its port, covering land up to that river just to the NW and surrounding Olbia.

**AqD** · September 23, 2009, 10:13 PM

do you mean the map in 3.4?

**Quinn Inuit** · September 23, 2009, 11:22 PM

Yes. I'm sorry, I must not have been clear the last time we discussed this that it was done (minus the tweaks I thought of above).

**Antonov** · September 24, 2009, 05:12 AM

Quinn what about the addition of Egyptian regions to the south? I remember we enlarged the map 11 pixels to the south for that purpose, back in March.

**Quinn Inuit** · September 24, 2009, 06:30 AM

Right, but that kept CTDing on me. I never did figure out if it was a descr_strat problem or if I did the map enlargement wrong. In the end, I had to revert.

**AqD** · September 26, 2009, 08:38 PM

thanks! I'm converting the map now

EDIT: oh quinn will you fix the parthian map too?

**Quinn Inuit** · September 26, 2009, 11:09 PM

Um, sure, but what did you have in mind? Are you referring to my stated intention of adding another region north of Parthia? If so, I'll probably remove the Ptolemaic province on Crete and use that one for the new region. Does that seem reasonable?

**AqD** · September 27, 2009, 12:17 AM

no I refer to regions around Hecat...... the historical capital of early Parthians

The north is less important since it's all steppe area

**Quinn Inuit** · September 27, 2009, 09:36 PM

Oh, bugger. I don't think I did that area.
...
Ok, been working on it on and off all day, and eventually finished. I'll try to get another patch out in the next couple of weeks with that change, the landbridges removed, and a few other things from the to-do list done.