More snow/ice with the Continents maps

[jpinard]

Because I'm a programming neophyte... I'm wondering if anyone else had wanted the "Continents" map option with more chilliness. I don't like the current Ice Age because the map is much smaller than the continents option.

So I have a question to get going.

* Would it be easier for me to edit/add a python script to make Ice Age bigger?

or

* Would it be easier to make an edit to lower the temperature of the Continents random map-option (if this is even possible).

and

* Can I do this in XML instead of Python since I know nothing about Python?

 

[Adam7Eight]

You could do this either way and both would be fairly easy and quick in Python.

If you want I could whip up a quick Continents map script for you, unless you want to do it yourself, in which I'll just tell you how.

 

[jpinard]

You could do this either way and both would be fairly easy and quick in Python.

If you want I could whip up a quick Continents map script for you, unless you want to do it yourself, in which I'll just tell you how.

Would it be difficult to tell me how to do it? If you don't mind, it'd be a great opportunity for me to move beyond XML.

 

[Adam7Eight]

No problem. You could acheive this several ways...

The quickest and easiest way to do it would be to edit the "Ice_Age.py" itself.

1. Copy Ice_Age.py located in "C:\Program Files\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4\PublicMaps" and paste it into your "C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name\My Documents\My Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4\PublicMaps" folder.

2. Now open up the new "Ice_Age.py" file and just edit the world size. You'll see this:

def getGridSize(argsList):
	# Override Grid Size function to make shorter than normal.
	# Map widths unchanged. Height reduced (lands lost to polar ice)
	grid_sizes = {
		WorldSizeTypes.WORLDSIZE_DUEL:		(10,4),
		WorldSizeTypes.WORLDSIZE_TINY:		(13,5),
		WorldSizeTypes.WORLDSIZE_SMALL:		(16,7),
		WorldSizeTypes.WORLDSIZE_STANDARD:	(21,9),
		WorldSizeTypes.WORLDSIZE_LARGE:		(26,11),
		WorldSizeTypes.WORLDSIZE_HUGE:		(32,13)
	}

	if (argsList[0] == -1): # (-1,) is passed to function on loads
		return []
	[eWorldSize] = argsList
	return grid_sizes[eWorldSize]

3. Just edit the height for whatever map size you like to play on. For example, change:

"WorldSizeTypes.WORLDSIZE_HUGE: (32,13)"

to

"WorldSizeTypes.WORLDSIZE_HUGE: (32,28)"

4. Save and exit.


The other way would be to edit the "Continents.py" file.

1. Copy Continents.py located in "C:\Program Files\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4\PublicMaps" and paste it into your "C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name\My Documents\My Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4\PublicMaps" folder.

2. Now open up the "Ice_Age.py" file in the default "PublicMaps" folder and you'll see this:

# subclass TerrainGenerator to cool the climate compared to normal.
# Also, desert reduced, plains dramatically increased. Latitudes shifted colder.
class IceAgeTerrainGenerator(CvMapGeneratorUtil.TerrainGenerator):
	def __init__(self, iDesertPercent=20, iPlainsPercent=50, 
	             fSnowLatitude=0.4, fTundraLatitude=0.3,
	             fGrassLatitude=0.0, fDesertBottomLatitude=0.1, 
	             fDesertTopLatitude=0.2, fracXExp=-1, 
	             fracYExp=-1, grain_amount=4):
		
		self.gc = CyGlobalContext()
		self.map = CyMap()

		self.iWidth = self.map.getGridWidth()
		self.iHeight = self.map.getGridHeight()

		self.mapRand = self.gc.getGame().getMapRand()
		self.iFlags = self.map.getMapFractalFlags()

		self.grain_amount = grain_amount + self.gc.getWorldInfo(self.map.getWorldSize()).getTerrainGrainChange()

		self.deserts=CyFractal()
		self.plains=CyFractal()
		self.variation=CyFractal()

		self.iDesertTopPercent = 100
		self.iDesertBottomPercent = max(0,int(100-iDesertPercent))
		self.iPlainsTopPercent = 100
		self.iPlainsBottomPercent = max(0,int(100-iDesertPercent-iPlainsPercent))
		self.iMountainTopPercent = 75
		self.iMountainBottomPercent = 60

		self.fSnowLatitude = fSnowLatitude
		self.fTundraLatitude = fTundraLatitude
		self.fGrassLatitude = fGrassLatitude
		self.fDesertBottomLatitude = fDesertBottomLatitude
		self.fDesertTopLatitude = fDesertTopLatitude

		self.iDesertPercent = iDesertPercent
		self.iPlainsPercent = iPlainsPercent

		self.fracXExp = fracXExp
		self.fracYExp = fracYExp

		self.initFractals()

3. Copy that entire class section and paste it into your new Continents.py file.

4. At the top edit this: "class IceAgeTerrainGenerator"

to this: "class TerrainGenerator"

5. Save and exit.

Those should work. Make sure to select the appropriate map when starting a custom game.