HoF Map Finder/Generator Utility 2016-10-05

[Moonsinger]

Originally posted by Moonsinger:
O.K. I play . The game is installed to the default directories. Where should I point MapFinder to?

Under the "File/Setup" menu in MapFinder, point the "Autosave directory" to the C3C "auto" save folder. Where is the default "auto" save folder for C3C? Good question! You have to figure out the answer for yourself. Since everytime Firaxis rebundle/repackage/re-release/re-market Civ3, they tend to change their "default" directory name (Civ3 complete, Civ3 gold, Civ3 Ultimate, etc...; it's really the same game but under a different name/folder; I don't really know what Firaxis call it nowadays). In the orginal realease, the default "auto" save for C3C has "conquests\saves\auto" in its path. If you are not sure, at 4000BC, try to save your game; you should see the "auto" folder in the default "saves" folder. For example, your C3C "auto" save folder may be "c:\Program Files\Firaxis\Conquests\saves\auto". Again, this is just an example. The default C3C might be installed differently in your system.

You know something? Let's take a step back with my problem.

Here's what I do:

1. I launch
2. I 'Start a New Game'.
3. After going through the Game Options, the world generates.
4. When the Settler appears, I don't do anything.
5. I hit the 'Windows' button on my keyboard to bring up the Start Menu.
6. I launch MapFinder.

Is this the correct order?

Yes, it's the correct order. However, you are missing some steps. If you are running MapFinder for the first time, you also need to setup timings, autosave directory, output directory, and rule sets (these input values are very important). If you not sure of these values, post your "MapFinder.INI" file here and I'm sure someone will fine tune them for you (note: the MapFinder.INI file can be located where you installed MapFinder).

 

[Experiment 626]

I am soooooooooooooooo embarrassed.

Believe it or not, I didn't have MapFinder pointed to the correct Autosave directory after all.

Anyhoo, I ran your fine Utility, set my RuleSet, and let it run while I went to the store. I came back about an hour later, and, voila! It worked fine!

Thank you all for your help!

 

[gmaharriet]

Anyhoo, I ran your fine Utility, set my RuleSet, and let it run while I went to the store. I came back about an hour later, and, voila! It worked fine!

Hooray!!!!!!

 

[denyd]

Expirement626's success has given me hope.

I'll will try all of his fixes tonight and see if I can get my version to work.

My error was a little different. My problem was either it would run 4-5 iterations of searching then stop or it would get confused about which screen it was on and change selections on the initial menu page.

Wish me luck

 

[Moonsinger]

Believe it or not, I didn't have MapFinder pointed to the correct Autosave directory after all.

Anyhoo, I ran your fine Utility, set my RuleSet, and let it run while I went to the store. I came back about an hour later, and, voila! It worked fine!

Thank you all for your help!

Great!

My error was a little different. My problem was either it would run 4-5 iterations of searching then stop or it would get confused about which screen it was on and change selections on the initial menu page.

Sound like a timing problem! If you tell me the speed of your CPU, may be I can help you to come up with the correct set of "delay" time. When in doubt, always give extra time. The secret is really in the timing. Setting up the correct timings is 1/3 of the battle, the other 1/3 for pointing it to the correct autosave, and another 1/3 for setting up the rules set.

 

[Experiment 626]

I really hate to be a pest, but I was wondering if someone could explain something to me.

On the RuleSet 'page', what do 'GetFood, GetFood-Base, GetGold, GetGold-Base, GetShield, and GetShield-Base' mean?

 

[Moonsinger]

I really hate to be a pest, but I was wondering if someone could explain something to me.

On the RuleSet 'page', what do 'GetFood, GetFood-Base, GetGold, GetGold-Base, GetShield, and GetShield-Base' mean?

Well, I have never used "GetFood, GetFood-Base, GetGold, GetGold-Base, GetShield, and GetShield-Base". Never had and will absolutely positively never use them. We provided those options because someone was asking for them. Since we did that a long time ago, I really don't remember what they are for. It probably is just a counter for the total number of food/shield/gold within the visible square surrounding the starting postion.

 

[Experiment 626]

Thanks for the info!

 

[Vind2]

Can anyone explain why I'm getting this:?

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k11/Vind2/WTH.jpg

 

[Experiment 626]

I'll be starting a new Solo TDG game soon, and I would like for this Utility to save any maps that would be a Settler Factory (with no Jungles, marshes, tundra, deserts, mountains or Volcanos), but some Forests, Rivers, Bonus Grasslands, and maybe a Luxury or Strategic Resource would be nice).

What should my RuleSet look like?

 

[gmaharriet]

I'll be starting a new Solo TDG game soon, and I would like for this Utility to save any maps that would be a Settler Factory (with no Jungles, marshes, tundra, deserts, mountains or Volcanos), but some Forests, Rivers, Bonus Grasslands, and maybe a Luxury or Strategic Resource would be nice).

What should my RuleSet look like?

You might try my settings from post #924 in this thread. I always get settler factories with it. The only thing you cannot prevent is volcanos, though limiting the number of mountains helps a bit. My settings eliminate the rest of the terrain you don't want, and you will get river, bonus grass and food bonus. Lux may show up sometimes, but if you make it an "AND" condition, you'll have lots fewer maps to choose from.

For strats you can't tell until you have the right techs...after the game is going. Horses will show up for Japan because they have the Wheel to start, but I don't think you can set that in the RuleSet. Hills and mountains make Iron more likely, grass and plains for horses. You'll have to look further for things like rubber or saltpeter that show up in terrains you don't want in your start, but you don't usually need them until after you've conquered a civ or two.

Edit: Oh, BTW, you can use "AND" "forest" ">" "0 or 1 or 2" to get as many forests as you think you'll need. I've recently added forest > 0 to my ruleset.

 

[Experiment 626]

Thanks, gmaharriet!

Question: Some of your Rules say (for example), 'Marsh < 1' . Is there a reason why you didn't make it 'Marsh = 0', or doesn't it matter?


I was running the Utility the other day, and after a half hour, it finally said that it found an Acceptable Map. I let the Utility run through a few more times, and then hit the 'Stop' button. I looked to see the Acceptable Map, but it didn't appear on the list.

I'm

 

[gmaharriet]

Question: Some of your Rules say (for example), 'Marsh < 1' . Is there a reason why you didn't make it 'Marsh = 0', or doesn't it matter?

Hmmm.... No reason. I just started doing it that way back when I really didn't know what I was doing. I don't think it matters.

I was running the Utility the other day, and after a half hour, it finally said that it found an Acceptable Map. I let the Utility run through a few more times, and then hit the 'Stop' button. I looked to see the Acceptable Map, but it didn't appear on the list.

I'm

The "Map Report" should show up automatically...even if you've found zero acceptable maps. I'm not sure what happened for you. Next time I run MapFinder, I'll have a look to see if it says anything about generating the report...probably just some setting gone wrong. I always click the "Stop" button between cycles...while it's on the opening screen...after it's accepted or rejected a map, but before it goes to the "choose your world" screen. I recall having some sort of problem stopping at other points in the cycle, but don't recall now what it was. That was over a year ago.

I usually run MapFinder overnight or while I'm at work all day, so I usually have a choice of between 10 to maybe 25 maps to pick from.

BTW, I just finished reading your TDG over the weekend. Well done, and I enjoyed your President and Generals' stories. I noticed that someone said a wheat on floodplains was essential for a settler factory, but I don't believe that's so. Floodplains I always avoid due to the disease and death of your citizens...as I know you found in your game. I use a combination of food bonus, bonus grass, river and trees with a granary, and it always works for me.

I'll be watching with interest for your next TDG.

Edit: I just took a look at MapFinder on my machine. Although my Map Reports come up automatically, I did notice that the program has a small menu under "File" in the upper left corner. One of the options there is "Launch Report Module", and it brought up the report when I clicked on it...empty at this moment. You might give that a try.

 

[Experiment 626]

@gmaharriet:

Thanks for all of your help and kind words re: my TDG. The next one will probably start within the next month or so. That's why I'm trying to figure this Utility out. I'd like to submit the next game for consideration for the HoF.


On that note:

When I opened my Report Module, I saw this (Pic was cropped to save bandwidth):

What exactly does the red triangle mean? It's the first time that I've seen it.

 

[gmaharriet]

What exactly does the red triangle mean? It's the first time that I've seen it.

I've never had that come up, but I only use a single ruleset which includes many conditions. In an Excel Spreadsheet I believe it would mean a hidden note was attached but, although this looks a lot like a spreadsheet, I'm not sure it is. Do you get any sort of message when you run your mouse pointer over the triangle?

If I get a chance, I might try setting up another ruleset or two and see what effect it has. Or maybe some other user will know the answer.

 

[bluejay]

@gmaharriet:


What exactly does the red triangle mean? It's the first time that I've seen it.

It means that the map satisfied more than one of your rule sets.

 

[sercer88]

Sorry for all you mods out there, but I'm not trying to be a necromancer...I just really need some help here.

I start the game...yaddayaddayadda...and then start map finder. I go to setup: I put my rules in, and then select start map finder. Everything (usually) goes well for a few (4 or 5 max) re-starts...but then "map report" runs (even if a map isn't found) and it seems to lock up the origional map finder program because it won't search for new maps anymore!! What's going on here??

 

[Own]

Sorry to bother this thread again, but I've been having problems again. Everything is perfect, except when it exits C3C, then it restarts it, mapfinder selects "load game" and loads a random save in C3C regular save folder. Is it a timing problem? I ran it over night and it only went through 50 or so iterations before loading a 5CC as Russia that I'd been playing. FWIW, my computer is a 1.5 year old windows 'Cisnet.'

 

[gmaharriet]

Own, on the General Setup page do you have "Quick Start Game" checked? Also, have you tried increasing some of the time settings? Seems like Moonsinger said that her default setting were for her 3.2ghz computer. If yours is slower, you might need to increase a time on something.

 

[Own]

I have it checked, is that a bad thing? It doesn't change to quick start game, so after the first map is generated I do that manually. That's not a good idea is it?
I'll increase all times as well.