Best random map maker (mods)

[wolfblue]

for all of the mod users.

what is the best random map generator that you use.

I normally play standard continents map in BTS but i have been experimenting with some of the map mapker mods like perfect world and perfect world.

i was wondering what generators players here use and what they find most effective. I have found perfect world creates worlds which are somewhat light in resources and a bit lopsided (2 iron tiles on a whole continent and they are near each other in tundra terrain)

I have used perfect world 4 times and found it a bit lackluster. is it my bad luck?

 

[snepp]

The light resources is what I find best about PF. Not everybody is going to have oil, coal, and iron, it really makes strategic resources important.

 

[Yoshiegg737]

I wish there was a pangea (spelt wrong?) map with 3+ 3x3 sized islands around it with a small chance you will spawn on the islands. The islands can also be far away from the Pangea.
Or is there already a random map generator like that?

 

[wolfblue]

Yoshiegg some of the map makers let you have a lot of controll over the process. making a map one large continent and tossing in a limited number of islands is pretty simple.

Snepp - I dont expect to have a wash of resources with 3 or 4 resources in every city. I am also a fan of splitting resources to encourage trade so one continent has no rice and the other no silk. however strategic resources like iron and copper should be available to all civs with a reasonable effort. Not only is it more realistic (in real life only small island civilizations developed without access to these resources) but also its not very balancing when the best unit you can build is a longbow. while every one else is running around with knights, macemen and other such units.

in fact every other resouce can be worked around. you can live without horse and ivory, you can use corporations for oil and aluminum, you can go to war over uranium very easily.

however in the early game if your continent has one iron resource and its behind some other civ in a tundra area... your pretty much not going to get iron

call it a challenge if you like.. and play the planet gererator if thats what you like.... but i am looking for something a little more balancing than that.

 

[s.bernbaum]

I wish there was a pangea (spelt wrong?) map with 3+ 3x3 sized islands around it with a small chance you will spawn on the islands. The islands can also be far away from the Pangea.
Or is there already a random map generator like that?

Try "Big and Small". You can set the options to give only one or maybe two continental land masses and a whole slew of tiny islands.

Replying to the OP: It is not a mod but I find Fractal to be my favorite. You never know what you will get. I've gotten maps with one huge continent and a scattering of small islands on one extreme and an archipelago of small continents with one or two civs on each at the other, as well as practically everything in between.

 

[Yoshiegg737]

Cool! I'll try that.
I would experiment with the other map types but whenever I get to that point where I make a new game, I get sidetracked by trying something else
Guess that's Rise of Mankind: A New Dawn for you

 

[Pojman]

Try the perfect world map script.. That one is my favorite by far. It is a little heavy on the resources, but it clusters them around the world perfectly.

 

[Yoshiegg737]

Try the perfect world map script.. That one is my favorite by far. It is a little heavy on the resources, but it clusters them around the world perfectly.

I wanted to try that! It was the first MOD map I wanted to try but my comp freezes each time I start a perfect world map. Only the perfect world maps

 

[Pojman]

I thought that mine was freezing also... It actually takes about 3-5 minuets for the map to actually generate upon launching.

Try downloading the newest version. After launching it, go make some chocolate milk or something , and come back.. Give it just a few minutes to launch, and it should work.

Trust me, you gotta try that map.

The only thing that I do not like is - Sometimes it lays down too much desert. I usually pop open the world builder at the start (do my best not to cheat by peeking too much) and I change about 30% of the deserts into river/flood plains just to make the map a bit more productive for all civs.

 

[plasmacannon]

The BAT mod has a few more options than normal too.
You can select "No Ice" for example.
You can change the percentage of hills. Do this whan you want to maximize the Celts advantage.
I had it on 20% hills in my last game. Nice Prod cities with hill defense.

Planet Generator 0.86 has it so you can insure that all continents have some part on the equator.
This can arrange them horizantally side by side, for example.
I usually set that PG86 to ayways seperate the continent from the poles (I like my water routes).

 

[Yoshiegg737]

I thought that mine was freezing also... It actually takes about 3-5 minuets for the map to actually generate upon launching.

Try downloading the newest version. After launching it, go make some chocolate milk or something , and come back.. Give it just a few minutes to launch, and it should work.

Trust me, you gotta try that map.

Awesome! Sounds like a good map. I'll try it if I don't get sidetracked after finishing my current game

 

[wolfblue]

Try the perfect world map script.. That one is my favorite by far. It is a little heavy on the resources, but it clusters them around the world perfectly.

I have tried a few starts with perfect world. i like it except that it has a tendencey to spam way too many deserts and mountains. I hate the way civ treats mountains and wish they had some use... after a cirtain age for example.


which is why i like the planet generator because you can limit the number of mountain peaks.

i wish i could blend the two. Perfect world with limited mountains.

 

[Yoshiegg737]

I hate the way civ treats mountains and wish they had some use... after a cirtain age for example.

The mod I use: A New Dawn, has an option where you can use mountains for production and mountain specific techs

 

[Scoottr]

I've used Fractal for years and really liked it. Just started using Hemispheres...that is pretty cool so far too.

 

[wolfblue]

I will hve to try fractal. first few times i used it it was TOO chaotic.

 

[s.bernbaum]

I will hve to try fractal. first few times i used it it was TOO chaotic.

When using Fractal, exploring to see what kind of map you have is half the fun!

 

[vhhawk]

It is not a mod but I find Fractal to be my favorite. You never know what you will get. I've gotten maps with one huge continent and a scattering of small islands on one extreme and an archipelago of small continents with one or two civs on each at the other, as well as practically everything in between.

When using Fractal, exploring to see what kind of map you have is half the fun!

+1. Fractal always throws me at least one curve.

If you will pardon the pun.

 

[Spobe]

Planet Generator on RoM is my favorite by quite some distance.

 

[wolfblue]

after starting about 20 games and opening the world builder to take a look at them i think that i am most happy with good ol continents.

most of the random makers tend to spam way to many mountains and or deaserts and or trees (unless you limit these) some spam way too many resources and others leave huge swaths of empty land.

i find that i consistantly enjoy continents or ballanced is pretty darn good in general.

 

[Matty R]

Planet Generator 0.86 is the only map script I use now.