Map of Australia (160x160)

[Mark Young]

G'day and welcome to my first foray into the comlicated and involved world of realistic mapmaking.
This map is for C3C and PTW 1.21f

The aim of the map
I wanted to make a map that was both realistic and exciting to play at the same time. I originally was going for authenticity but as I went along I found that I had to make compromises for the sake of an enjoyable game.
For example, the eastern side of the Great dividing range has been widened and made as grasslands. Had I made this true to life then it would have only been 1 - 2 tiles form the mountains to the sea, so I did that for sake of playability.
There are other areas that I have changed things a bit as well such as Tasmania.

How the map was made
When I started to make the map I had to do it painstakingly tile by tile. I used a few different maps to get the outline of the continent correct.
Once I did that I then used another map to place the terrain (thank you Loulong for your refferal it was what I needed).
This wasn't an easy task as there are practically no maps that show the terrain of the whole continent to any great depth, by using a combination of differnt map I was able to figure out where the bush is, the deserts etc. And this was done tile by tile too.

Resource placement
This was by far the hardest part of making the map, as I was buggered if I could find any decent websites that would go into some detail about which resource go where. That and the fact that we dont even have some resources like Aluminum and Rubber made it very hard to decide where to put everything.
Here is a quick summary...

Wheat
- I tried to place wheat where agriculture was available, so that wheat represents any form of farming or growing from actually wheat fields to orchards to other sorts of produce like spuds and carrots etc.

Cattle
- I wanted cattle to represent the farming industry(cattle, sheep etc) so you see lots of it out where the cattle stations are but not much on the east coast.

fish
- We have some great fishing here so I made fish abundant.

Game
- I put abundantly and I cant remember why.

Wine
- I put in the wine producing regions only.

Mineral deposits
- This is where I got stuck. As much as I could I tried for correct placement but I found little information that gave me maps as to where to put the stuff so I did my best.

Summary
I tried to make it as real as possible but there are mistakes so if someithing is too out of place then let me know and I'll change it.

Changes as of 4/6/2004

The Gibson desert in WA has extended west towards the coast as has the great Sandy Desert been extended North towards Derby, also the land just inland fromm Derby, Fotzroy crossing and down towards Port Headland is now desert with the exception of the the tiles near the coast.
The whole of the East Coast is now more accurate, I've shaved abour 4 tiles width off it to make it more realistic (Thanks Colt for that suggestion).
The Nullabor Plain has now got more desert.
Tasmania has recieved more forests in the North, NorthEast and NorthWest.
Added Resources as per everyones suggestions (Thanks fella's, keep 'em coming).
I've left some islands of the QLD coast for all those holiday makers to head to at Christmas
I've added fish to the coastal square off the East Coast after I did the map.

Here is the File.
Huge Map of Australia

 

[stalin813]

This map looks great. thanx for the painstaking work.

 

[Mark Young]

Not a problem it was a pleasure actually
I plan to turn it into a mod that you can play as either one of the 6 states or the Northern Territory, the Aborigines or the Bushrangers.
But that will be a while of though.

btw welcome to cfc.

 

[bladester]

Just downloaded it. Looks great. You might want to add the description from your first post to the info about the scenario so it gets shown on the load scenario page. Great work!

 

[Mark Young]

Thats a good idea thanks Bladester.
If you see anything a bit not quite right just let me know.
I am currently re-doing some of the resource placement, I am then going to import it to DyP and make a DyP mod out of it. (I'll have to check with Kal-el first to see if he doesn't mind).

 

[Aggie]

The map looks great! However, I certainly don't want to start on Tasmania.

You placed the starting locations on logical RL places. However, now the North and West are scarcely used. Considering the fact that it is a huge map, I suggest 16 starting locations.

 

[Gingerbread Man]

That is a very nice map of Australia. All previous ones are pretty much half of the country, or so small that they can only fit 3-4 cities.

Some gameplay aspects of this game:
All the oil is in the arid centre. This makes for an interesting land grab, where people want the badlands the most.
And about the starting location thing. Some people will be more cramped than others in their starting location. You may want to give the more cramped people some benefits, maybe with bonus grasslands. I see you have in terms of Adelaide.

If you want to add more start locations, I would suggest one near Cairns, but help it out with bonus grasslands.
Also there is a good start on the coastline, between Perth and Darwin. Our country really cant support a very large population, anyway. 16 starts would be overkill.

 

[piedude]

Tassie could have a few more resources! We have two wine regions here, one near Launceston and one near Hobart. Also, the west coast of Tassie has been a mineing region for years. You could add some iron there or something. And maybe a few cattle/horse as well!

Also, The map could do with a at least 2 more starting locations say at Broome and Cairns

 

[Mark Young]

Hi piedude thanks for your post

Tassie already has 2 coal and an iron resource on the west coast, but I added another one on some new hills I just put in near Zeehan.
I also put some wine on the west side of the Tamar and next to the wheat at Hobart.

I have a couple of things that I am currently doing with the map at the moment, so when I get it finished I will have more start locations for you to choose from.

If you see anything else badly wrong just let me know.

 

[Bendy]

It is a nice map, one point though: Adelaide is south-east of the starting location - on the eastern most of the 3 peninsulars, just north of the wheat you have there.

 

[Flamin Joe]

It is a nice map, one point though: Adelaide is south-east of the starting location - on the eastern most of the 3 peninsulars, just north of the wheat you have there.

Maybe he intended it to be Port Pirie. Adelaide isn't too remarkable.

Like this? (black dot):

Darwin is also looking a little bit too far south. It should be at least 1 or 2 tiles further north. I did a quick pic showing roughly where it should be (black dot).

 

[Mark Young]

Hello Bendy and Flamin Joe. welcome to CFC.
Thanks for your posts. I have have change Adelaide and Darwin to their new homes.

Keep an eye out for my Settling Australia mod due out in the next month. It's set around the year 1830. You either play as the English trying to colonize New Holland or as the Aborigines trying to keep your homeland.

Here is the new map.
http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads5/Australia.zip

 

[Colt374]

Greetings Sir Eric,


I have just completed my own MOD based around your Australia map, and I thought it best if I inform you of my use of your map. Admittedly I have changed it a bit, (shrunk Tasmania by a few tiles, moved the Great Dividing Range east a few tiles, moved Darwin, changed the resource locations, added all the major cities and towns, etc), but the basic map is really still yours. I hope you don't mind me using it in my mod.

Just to give a basic run-down, I have made the MOD about a hypothetical war between the Monarchists and the Republicans. For all those that don't know recent Aussie history, there was a referendum back in 1999 (or around there) to see if Australia should become a Republic or should stay a Constitutional Monarchy (It was a pretty contentious issue). In the event, the Monarchists won by 52% to 47%, or around that figure. And everything stayed the same.

In my Mod, history has taken a slightly different course, and war has actually broken out between the two above-mentioned factions. To make it even worse, the aborigines have risen up to claim their land back. So there are 3 civs only in this mod. It really is more of a war game than a Civ game

Anyhow, I am babbling. I will be uploading the mod today, so feel free to check it out. Again Sir Eric, I hope you don't mind me using your map. I was planning on making a series of three mods... a Civil war between Monarhcist and republican (as just done), a Civil war between the states, and a 1788 Colonisation of Oz mod. I just noticed today that your making a 'Settling Austrlaia' Mod, so I'll not step on your toes there. I'll just do my state war mod only, and see how it goes.

Looking forward to you mod too.

Thanks for your great map!

Colt.

 

[Mark Young]

Hi Colt374

I like your idea of the mod it sounds really good, I'll keep an eye out for so I can give it a go(I'll play as the Monarchists).

There's no probs with you using my map or changing it at all. Just give the proper recognition.
I'm actually glad that someone thought that it was useful enough to use.

With the resource location changes, did you put them in more accurate spots (cause some of them are not overly accurate whereas some of them are)? Or have you changed them for better game playability.

I've never really liked the fact that the land east of the Great dividing range is larger than what it should be but I did it to emphasis the population that that area has.
I'll look at your changes with your new mod and if it works well then I will change it and shrink it by a couple of tile widths.

The mod that I am making will be set in about 1830/1840.
There are established setllements in all the major capitals as well as a couple of small colonies by this time in history.
It will be finished by the end of the week(hopefully) so I can move on and make a DyP scenario as well.
I think that this would play really well with all the extra added stuff on DyP especially early on in the game.
I want to make it as RL as possible so I'm putting a lot of time into reasearch so I dont make too many mistakes.

I have been umming and Arring about putting bushrangers in to it as well but I think that I will do that now just for a variety, the only thing with them is that they cant make settlers. So you have to attack and capture towns to grow. I need to do a bit more research with them as my knowledge of bushrangers is pretty vague.

Thankfully I have an RDO tomorrow so I can get it done then. (your post has made me pull my finger out and get it finished ).

The 1788 mod sounds like a great idea too. I originally was going to do that but thought I might make it when Australia was a bit more settled.

Other ideas are a japanese WW2 scenario.
A Pauline Hanson take over scenario.

Thanks for your post and I look forward to your mod.

 

[Colt374]

Hey Sir Eric,

I'm glad you liked my idea. I'm just waiting for the final download links from Thunderfall and then I'll be posting it in the Completed Scenarios Thread. I'll leave a link here when it's up.
And but of course you got the proper recognition. I'd not have it any other way.

As for the resource changes, I've made a mix of both accuracy and gameplayability. I have some accurate resource maps for Australia so I used them for most of the resources. Thus most of them are in the right areas, round abouts. I also removed all goodie huts, but I've still got some rebel/renegade groups for the barbarians. I even made a couple of new resources to make it more australian, though I haven't made their own icons yet, (for instance, Ivory is now copper IIRC, but still is represented by an elephant. ).
However since the Oz oil drilling areas are out to sea and oil can't go there, I've moved them to a few strategic inland locations. The overall effect of realistic resource placement is that if you don't keep hold of the inland and outback towns you may find you can't get resources like Uranium and Aluminum, and thus most of the modern units are out of reach. (Except infantry... both sides should always be able to build infantry, which is how a civil war would go, I suspect).

I like the sound of your mod... esp. the bushrangers. Ned Kelly and Capatin ThunderBolt as army leaders sounds cool. I might still do my 1788 mod if yours is set later on. I was thinking of a scenario which starts with a continent full of aborigines and the first fleet sitting off shore.... I'd have to mess with the unit stats a LOT to prevent the English getting massacred fast. Still, have a lot of other mod ideas on my plate at the moment, like a Battletech Mod, and a MOO3 conversion mod, and I'm not sure what I'll try next. Depends on what I'm actually able to do.

Hmm, makes me think...gotta start looking into editing diplomacy too. Haven't done that yet, and I think I need it for my Oz scenarios. (Monarchists and Republicans should be at war from the start in my mod, but they're not.)

Love your idea of a Pauling Hanson takeover scenario. It is just asking for getting shot at for racist overtones, tho'. I saw one scenario about playing as your race, (rather than your civ), and that thread turned into a race war faster than you can say boo.

And the Japanese WW2 scenario idea is good, but unless it was a hypthetical invasion of OZ you'd need a south-east asia type map for good realistic gameplay wouldn't you? Hmmm, japanese invasion of OZ. I like that idea.
You may notice I like What-If scenarios.

Anyhow, better get back to it.

Colt

 

[Mark Young]

Originally posted by Colt374

As for the resource changes, I've made a mix of both accuracy and gameplayability. I have some accurate resource maps for Australia so I used them for most of the resources. Thus most of them are in the right areas, round abouts.

I had a real hard time trying to get resource maps, could you post a link to the site you've got them off? That would help me a lot. Thanks

I even made a couple of new resources to make it more australian, though I haven't made their own icons yet, (for instance, Ivory is now copper IIRC, but still is represented by an elephant. ).
However since the Oz oil drilling areas are out to sea and oil can't go there, I've moved them to a few strategic inland locations. The overall effect of realistic resource placement is that if you don't keep hold of the inland and outback towns you may find you can't get resources like Uranium and Aluminum, and thus most of the modern units are out of reach.

Thats one of the reasons I want to import it to DyP is cause they have camels, sheep (NZ mod?) and pearls.
Plus having all the extra earlier buildings give it a more colonial feel. If I do import it to DyP I will decrease the number of Aboriginal tribes and make each state as it's own civ. So it's more of a state Vs state mod.

I like the sound of your mod... esp. the bushrangers. Ned Kelly and Capatin ThunderBolt as army leaders sounds cool. I might still do my 1788 mod if yours is set later on. I was thinking of a scenario which starts with a continent full of aborigines and the first fleet sitting off shore.... I'd have to mess with the unit stats a LOT to prevent the English getting massacred fast.

One of the things in the Settle Aust (SA) mod is that the English will have musketmen and a greater tech start whereas the Aborigines will have greater numbers and will be able to produce warriors (or their UU)cheaply.
The Bushrangers will have their unit stats changed because they will have to start the game off warring ( they dont have any initial settlers). I cant wait to play as the bushrangers, I think that they are my favourite so far.

Love your idea of a Pauling Hanson takeover scenario. It is just asking for getting shot at for racist overtones, tho'. I saw one scenario about playing as your race, (rather than your civ), and that thread turned into a race war faster than you can say boo.

Hmmmm I want my mod to be a good mod and not one known for it's (possible) racial overtones so I'll probably leave it on the shelf and maybe ressurect the idea later on to test the water and see it is going to be more hassle than what it is worth.

And the Japanese WW2 scenario idea is good, but unless it was a hypthetical invasion of OZ you'd need a south-east asia type map for good realistic gameplay wouldn't you? Hmmm, japanese invasion of OZ. I like that idea.
You may notice I like What-If scenarios.

It would have a bit of a twist. It would have the Japanese bombing Darwin and mini subs in Sydney + a transport with a couple of settlers on it, but that is still a while away, I have to finish this one first.



Colt [/B][/QUOTE]

 

[Colt374]

Resource maps.... I have a few maps at home I use but try this thread : Research URLs for MOD makers It has heaps of maps, including specific stuff for OZ.

If you wish i can send you the maps I have used. I know a couple of them I got from a site some Civ3 fan set up, but I can't find the site anymore. Lost the URL!

Now I have a question, and I'm sure the answers obvious and I'm just missing it... but what the hell is DyP? Second time you've mentioned it but I cannot figure it out.

And last but not least, my new MOD's thread is now up.... here's the URL:
Australia Ideology War

If you feel up to it try the mod out and see what you think. It is only a first version, (but it is NOT beta!), but it seems bug free, so far.

BTW, if you do start doing the Japanese invasion scenario, let me know if you need help with any info or research. I'm a huge military strategy fan from way back so there's not a lot I don't know or can't find out.

Catch you later,
Col.

 

[Mark Young]

DyP Stands for Double your Pleasure Mod by Kal-el. It's deffinetly worth playing. It has about 2 - 3 times more stuff in it than reg civ does, including all the resources I preciously mentioned.
You should see it in the same C&C forum as your mod. It's pretty popular so it will be near the top.

Thanks for the link to your mod. I'm just at the end of placing the Aboriginal settlements (72 so far with SA and Tassie to go) so I'll d/load it in an hour or so and take it for a spin.

I'll take a break after this for a while so I will start the Japanese scenario in about 2 - 3 months.

 

[Colt374]

Ahh, thank you sir. I will be having a look at that mod!!

And the d/l link for my mod has been fixed. Stupidity on my part, it was.

 

[Chuma]

Sure beats the hell out the map I made of Australia which was pretty basic in comparison (but still fun to play as you could play a short game.)

I would recommend asking YodaPower for advice on your map if he hasn't given you some already as he is very good at it.

For an "invasion of Australia" mod you may like to consider using the "Tomorrow Series" of books by John Marsden as a basis as it is set in the present (New Zealand also gets to bomb Australia which some Kiwis would probably enjoy.)

Thanks.