Map Editing Tips

[RCIX]

posted on April 25th, 2009, 7:14 am

Last edited by RCIX on May 7th, 2009, 4:37 am, edited 1 time in total.

I noticed that a lot of people have problems figuring out how to make maps. So i thought i would post a few tips in this thread for those that need help. You can also ask me a question, and i will try and answer it.
General map-making workflow:
Design/Name map (basically use paint, pencil and paper, head, whatever until you have a good map design) -> Create Map (open the map editor section, click New Map, and enter a map name without spaces and ending in .bzn) -> Place down basic structure (asteroids, some nebulas, blocking triggers) -> Select start locations and moon positions (generally you want to place a few moons near bases so that people can start with some resources) -> Place Start Locations/Moons (instructions for placing a start location: alt-click the point you want one at, double click the point you just placed and name it Camera_X with x being the player number) -> Place Rest (the rest of the nebulas, dust clouds, planets, etc.)
You should save the map at least once during/after each of these steps.

When adding start locations, after you're done adding them all, press ctrl+r and go over to the start locations tab. select each non-used player slot and set the player type to empty (so if you have 4 players, set slots 5, 6, 7, and 8 to empty). Close and re-open this dialog and flip back to that tab to ensure that the starting positions are in the correct locations.

Map sizing:
You really shouldnt go below the default (6400X6400), as those maps will result in you being right on top of your enemy. THe largest stable map size seems to be up to 50000X50000. As the first thing you do, it is absolutely imperative that you change the map size before you do anything else.

posted on April 25th, 2009, 8:20 am

I agree on all points, it really helps to have a basic structure of the map ready (on paper or at least in ones mind).

I do however leave the blocking triggers for the very end.

I suggest that right after naming your map, you set the size of the map, then place everything else (a bit obvious, but it still needs to mentioned?).

posted on April 25th, 2009, 8:39 am

Yeah ill probably revise that. I do however prefer to place the blocking triggers right after the asteroids (i'm, shall we say, easily distractable )

posted on May 6th, 2009, 5:46 pm

many thanks, now i know how to set Start locations

posted on May 31st, 2009, 4:06 am

pin to top please?

posted on May 31st, 2009, 4:18 am

I've got a question.  How do you bring up/figure out what the coordinates are?  I'm trying to get things halfway symetrical with my moon pairs.

posted on May 31st, 2009, 4:40 am

I think those properties are there if you double click it but im not sure. I always eyeball it

posted on May 31st, 2009, 8:39 pm

What you've posted is a good start for those just starting out making maps.  But I was wondering if you or someone else would be willing to write a larger guide that explains a lot of the little questions people may have, such as using directional light, how to make wormholes work, how to convert your maps from patch to patch, etc.  Also, your thoughts on what makes a good map.  Maybe some of the things you tried and it worked well, or describe some of the things you learned don't work well.  There's only 7 pages to the map-making section, but there's a lot of redundant stuff, so the really helpful posts are hard to find.  Having it all in one place would really make things easier for us map-making fools just starting out. 

posted on June 1st, 2009, 3:08 am

I'm pretty busy but ill start taking notes in a text file. Good points though ill try and experiment with the directional light and stuff. However im not good at making fancy guides with cool graphics or anything, so you'll probably just get a text file. Its all i really need most of the time for a lot, and its pretty much compatible with any computer!

posted on June 1st, 2009, 3:11 am

You could take notes on map editing and have dom make it into a map editing guide.

posted on June 3rd, 2009, 9:28 pm

Alright....so RCIX has installed some confidence in me to actually make my own map and not just edit other ones.  So I did it.  I made a fairly creative map, following all RCIX's instructions, as well as the "Official Guide's" made the map and saved it.  I even did the little trick to get the map preview working correctly.  Everything in the map works as intended except for the starting points.  When the game starts, players start at their starting points.  However, when you go to the fixed option, or start locations in the ctrl panel, it shows all 6 start locations (its 2v2v2) are dead center.  I checked the map where the lighting source would be.  It wasn't there, that I could see.  Nor were any of the starting points.  Any help or suggestions?

posted on June 3rd, 2009, 10:25 pm

To avoid unnecessary conjecture, can you post the map here?

posted on June 3rd, 2009, 10:30 pm

I made a small map for a friend and I to play on but every time we get into a game he starts the download but it always stops at 97 or 98%.  I then tried emailing the map (all 3 files) to him and he put them in both the "bzn" and "addons" folder but this hasn't worked either.  The map works fine on my computer and I went to his house and it works fine over there ... Any ideas?

posted on June 3rd, 2009, 10:33 pm

Well, the download probably stops because of UAC (I know it does for me, and everyone else who has described that problem before). On the other hand, I am surprised that it doesn't work when emailed... perhaps he put the files in the incorrect folder (maybe a folder was duplicated: I know that happened with S'klar).. dunno really.. 

posted on June 3rd, 2009, 10:41 pm

Here's the map.

Attachments

borg101map.zip

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