Map Finder Guide?

Just wondering if anyone out there could give me a quick run down on using map finder.
Have you looked at the Mod Page - Map Finder tab? (The readme.html that comes with Civ4_Map_Finder utility has the same info.)

Beyond that are you asking about the in-game part or the Civ4_Map_Finder utility?
 
yeah i'm helpless at it. i end up setting it too specific, so that if i watch it doesn't save starts that make me go "OMG that was exactly what i wanted!!" or too general so that it saves everything and i'm too lazy to sort thru them. so i just do it manually and read a book while i sit here *giggle*.

it really is a nifty idea i just have some mental block i guess, but it's me not the program. there might be clues to help me in the support/suggestions thread, but since it's 43 pages long, and since i have to read a book, since the regen doesn't actually run if i tab out while trying to regen, that's not gonna happen any time soon *giggle*.

i wll survive :)
 
The most important thing to know about the Rule Builder is the all the rules WITHIN a group must be true for that group to trigger a save. ANY group being true will trigger a save.

DefaultRB.png


The Default rule
Save the map IF:

The map has: One or less Deserts AND 4 or more Forests AND 2 to 6 Hills AND one or less Jungles AND 2 or more Food Resources AND 4 or more rivers

OR

The map has: One or less Deserts AND 4 or more Forests AND 2 to 6 Hills AND one or less Jungles AND 2 or more Commerce Resources AND 4 or more rivers

OR

The map has: 2 or less Deserts AND 3 or more Forests AND 1 to 6 Hills AND 2or less Jungles AND one or more Quarry Resources AND 4 or more rivers

OR

The map has: 3 or less Deserts AND 3 or more Forests AND 2 to 6 Hills AND no Jungles AND 4 to 8 Floodplains AND 4 or more rivers


Terrain Groups:
Code:
Deserts		Desert
Deserts		Desert Hill

Forests		Grassland Forest
Forests		Grassland Hill Forest
Forests		Plains Forest
Forests		Plains Hill Forest
Forests		Snow Forest
Forests		Snow Hill Forest
Forests		Tundra Forest
Forests		Tundra Hill Forest

Grasslands	Grassland
Grasslands	Grassland Forest
Grasslands	Grassland Hill
Grasslands	Grassland Hill Forest
Grasslands	Grassland Hill Jungle
Grasslands	Grassland Jungle

Hills		Desert Hill
Hills		Grassland Hill
Hills		Grassland Hill Forest
Hills		Grassland Hill Jungle
Hills		Plains Hill
Hills		Plains Hill Forest
Hills		Snow Hill
Hills		Snow Hill Forest
Hills		Tundra Hill
Hills		Tundra Hill Forest

Ice		Coastal Ice
Ice		Ocean Ice

Jungles		Grassland Hill Jungle
Jungles		Grassland Jungle

Plains Land	Plains
Plains Land	Plains Forest
Plains Land	Plains Hill
Plains Land	Plains Hill Forest

Snow Land	Snow
Snow Land	Snow Forest
Snow Land	Snow Hill
Snow Land	Snow Hill Forest

Tundra Land	Tundra
Tundra Land	Tundra Forest
Tundra Land	Tundra Hill
Tundra Land	Tundra Hill Forest

Saltwater	Coast
Saltwater	Coastal Ice
Saltwater	Ocean Ice
Saltwater	Ocean

Bouns Groups:
Code:
Camp Resource		Deer
Camp Resource		Fur
Camp Resource		Ivory

Farm Resource		Corn
Farm Resource		Rice
Farm Resource		Wheat

Fishing Resource		Clam
Fishing Resource		Crab
Fishing Resource		Fish

Commerce Resource	Gems
Commerce Resource	Gold
Commerce Resource	Silver

Pasture Resource	Cow
Pasture Resource	Pig
Pasture Resource	Sheep

Plantation Resource	Banana
Plantation Resource	Dye
Plantation Resource	Incense
Plantation Resource	Silk
Plantation Resource	Spices
Plantation Resource	Sugar

Quarry Resource		Marble
Quarry Resource		Stone

Happiness Resource	Dye
Happiness Resource	Fur
Happiness Resource	Gems
Happiness Resource	Gold
Happiness Resource	Incense
Happiness Resource	Ivory
Happiness Resource	Silk
Happiness Resource	Silver
Happiness Resource	Spices
Happiness Resource	Sugar

Health Resource		Banana
Health Resource		Clam
Health Resource		Corn
Health Resource		Cow
Health Resource		Crab
Health Resource		Deer
Health Resource		Fish
Health Resource		Pig
Health Resource		Rice
Health Resource		Sheep
Health Resource		Wheat

Strategic Resource	Aluminum
Strategic Resource	Coal
Strategic Resource	Copper
Strategic Resource	Horse
Strategic Resource	Iron
Strategic Resource	Oil
Strategic Resource	Uranium

Food Resource		Clam
Food Resource		Corn
Food Resource		Cow
Food Resource		Crab
 
It would be nice if there was a step by step "how to guide" for the mapbuilder. This thread helped, but I'm still thoroughly confused. As I understand it:

1) Install HOF mod.
2) Install mapbuilder.
3) Start a game with HOF mod.
4) After generating the game start (with beginning settler and unit displayed on map), choose options, on HOF3 tab, enable map finder.
5) Return to map, type alt-m.
6) Wait, watch maps appear, type alt-x when I see one I like (but see my comment below).

Step 4, enabling map finder in HOF mod options, eluded me for quite some time. Adding this info to the help page (http://hof.civfanatics.net/civ4/mod.php?show=mapfinder) would be a very good idea!

So, what do the other options on the HOF3 options tab mean? What are "regeneration limit" and "save limit"? Where are saves created, and how can I view them?

The only thing I can figure is watching it generate maps and stopping it when I see one I like. But then people on the forum talk about running it overnight, so there must be something I'm missing. On the screen, it keeps incrementing Count=3 Saved=0; Count=4 Saved=0.... What does that mean?

If I want to use a different set of rules, how do I specify that? When I type alt-m, it doesn't ask which rules I want to use.

On the rule builder, what is "Test Range"?

Every time I start the mapfinder, it says "One or more of the Map Paths in the HOF-1.61.010 HOF Ini File was invalid. The Map Finder Paths in the HOF-1.61.010 HOF ini File have been set to the current Application folder." What does this mean? How can I eliminate this repeating error message?
 
I think Step 4 and beyond is where I'm being baffled. Alt-M hasn't done a thing for me, and I have yet to get the spiffy starting screen or chart displayed on the map finder program.
 
I think Step 4 and beyond is where I'm being baffled. Alt-M hasn't done a thing for me, and I have yet to get the spiffy starting screen or chart displayed on the map finder program.

I had the same problem when I first starting using Map Finder. In the end I manually typed the directories of MapFinder in the HoF Options under Rule Builder Path, Rule Builder Name and Save File Path.

Also, make sure you've opened MapFinder, enter in a basic rule (or modify another), save the new rule set and then on the main MapFinder screen click the "Load in Civ4 button".

Hope this helps. :D
 
It would be nice if there was a step by step "how to guide" for the mapbuilder. This thread helped, but I'm still thoroughly confused.
Good idea. I forgot how strange this seems to someone seeing it cold. I will update the above post tonight.
As I understand it:

1) Install HOF mod.
2) Install mapbuilder.
3) Start a game with HOF mod.
4) After generating the game start (with beginning settler and unit displayed on map), choose options, on HOF3 tab, enable map finder.
5) Return to map, type alt-m.
6) Wait, watch maps appear, type alt-x when I see one I like (but see my comment below).
This is good all except for #6. It is supposed to save maps for you. ;)

Step 4, enabling map finder in HOF mod options, eluded me for quite some time. Adding this info to the help page (http://hof.civfanatics.net/civ4/mod.php?show=mapfinder) would be a very good idea!
Agreed, although it should be noted that all options in the HOF Mod must be enabled before they can be used.

So, what do the other options on the HOF3 options tab mean? What are "regeneration limit" and "save limit"? Where are saves created, and how can I view them?
The limits are just what the say. It will quit once it either regenerates or save that many times. The VB utility (Civ4_Map_Finder) is for viewing your saves and make rule file. They are created in the save path in the HOF options. The three paths are the connection between the VB Utility and the HOF Mod. Making sure they are right is necessary for it to work. (more below)

The only thing I can figure is watching it generate maps and stopping it when I see one I like. But then people on the forum talk about running it overnight, so there must be something I'm missing. On the screen, it keeps incrementing Count=3 Saved=0; Count=4 Saved=0.... What does that mean?
You have to create a rule file that will decribe what maps you want to save. The default rule (shown in the post above) is what it will be using unless you change it. The "Count" equals the number of regenerations. The "Saved" is the number of map that have been saved for you. If you let it run awhile it should find some using the default rule. ;)

If I want to use a different set of rules, how do I specify that? When I type alt-m, it doesn't ask which rules I want to use.
As noted above, there is a text box in the HOF Mod Options that has the full path and name of the rule file. (more below)
On the rule builder, what is "Test Range"?
This is the range in tiles from the start position (settler) that will the checked. 1 would check the 8 surrrounding tiles, 2 would check the "fat cross" range, etc. I like to use 3 as I know I can usually move the settle one tile and still settle on the first turn.

Every time I start the mapfinder, it says "One or more of the Map Paths in the HOF-1.61.010 HOF Ini File was invalid. The Map Finder Paths in the HOF-1.61.010 HOF ini File have been set to the current Application folder." What does this mean? How can I eliminate this repeating error message?
This is the VB Utility attempting to help you with the HOF Mod options. It will set the paths and the rule file in the options for you. What version are you using? (Try downloading 1.5. It say beta but I pretty sure it good.) It should be a yes/no question. If you answer yes it should only appear again if you install a new version of the mod. There is also a check box in the Rule Builder screen that tells the VB utility to change the rule file to the one being saved in the HOF Options. (your question from above.)

Lots of good questions here. :goodjob: Hopefully, I can build upon this to update the docs.
 
Also, make sure you've opened MapFinder, enter in a basic rule (or modify another), save the new rule set and then on the main MapFinder screen click the "Load in Civ4 button".
If I understand your comment, while the "Load in Civ4 button" is supposed to be for loading a saved game from the viewer, I suppose you could use it to launch Civ4 even when there are no maps. It is not required for it the Map Finder function in the HOF Mod (ALT-m) to work.
 
I had the same problem when I first starting using Map Finder. In the end I manually typed the directories of MapFinder in the HoF Options under Rule Builder Path, Rule Builder Name and Save File Path.

I think Step 4 and beyond is where I'm being baffled. Alt-M hasn't done a thing for me, and I have yet to get the spiffy starting screen or chart displayed on the map finder program.

Ozbenno, has it right. The other thing is to go into the Options in Civ4 and enable Map Finder. It should display the paths and rule file it is using when you hit ALT-m.
 
If I understand your comment, while the "Load in Civ4 button" is supposed to be for loading a saved game from the viewer, I suppose you could use it to launch Civ4 even when there are no maps. It is not required for it the Map Finder function in the HOF Mod (ALT-m) to work.

You are right of course. I was at work and didn't have the program. I meant the option under HOF menu "update save path"
 
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