Terra Maps

[mostly_harmless]

I quite like terra maps as they produce a world a lot more natural looking and Earth-like than the continents option. What I'm not so keen on though is the colonization, is there any way to play a terra map so that some civs begin the game in the new world?

 

[playshogi]

The point of the Terra map is to have a large continent to conquer from the barbarians. It sounds like you want Fractal map. Ice Age (continents) is interesting also.

 

[Zombie69]

Yes, try fractal or continents. The only way to have civs start on the new world is through world builder.

 

[Lars_Domus]

You could edit the script itself.

Go to your Civ IV install directory (by default C:\program files\Sid Meier's Civilization 4\) and find terra.py in the public maps folder. Copy this file to My Documents\My Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4\PublicMaps and rename it to something approriate (for example moddedterra.py). Now open the file with notepad. (Be sure you've opened the one you've just copied and renamed, and not terra.py in your main Civ IV install directory!)

Now find the section that looks like this near the beginning of the file:

def minStartingDistanceModifier():
return -20

def findStartingPlot(argsList):
[playerID] = argsList

def isValid(playerID, x, y):
map = CyMap()
pPlot = map.plot(x, y)

if (pPlot.getArea() != map.findBiggestArea(False).getID()):
return False

return True

return CvMapGeneratorUtil.findStartingPlot(playerID, isValid)

... and delete it.

Save the file. When you start a new game, look for the name you gave the file when renaming it (it should show up in both Play Now! and Custom Game) when selecting a map (in my example moddedterra), and use it as your map. You should now get a terra style map, with randomized starting positions.

Alternatively, if you think this sounds to complicated or can't be bothered, I could upload a modified version of the terra script I made while messing about with trying to learn to create my own scripts. Be warned that I have made some other changes in addition to the starting positions, so this might not be to your liking.

Personally, I prefer surt's excellent smartmap script, that easily can be customized to create all kinds of interesting maps. Find it here: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=154989

 

[mostly_harmless]

That works, thanks

 

[cFccFc]

Thats smart!

 

[naterator]

wow lars, that's pretty cool. i didn't even realize python could be edited w/notepad... i guess it's back to the creation and customization forum for me. is there any part of that file i could delete to make it so i'd be the only one to start over in the new world?
i'm looking for a way to be alone on a terra in a one city, raging barbarian, always war game without worldbuilder.

 

[Zombie69]

i'm looking for a way to be alone on a terra in a one city, raging barbarian, always war game without worldbuilder.

Start a game with zero opponent and conquest victory disabled, no need for world builder then.

Although this would be easier because you wouldn't have other civs teaching barbs new techs.

 

[naterator]

Start a game with zero opponent and conquest victory disabled, no need for world builder then.

Although this would be easier because you wouldn't have other civs teaching barbs new techs.

oh yeah! i like the solo vs. the barbarians type of game, but i want a game where i'm solo vs the barbarians until one day some caravels come to my shore, then all hell breaks loose. the one city challenge prevents you from getting any kind of advantage from being over there except the centuries upon centuries of "free" warfare vs. the barbarians before "real" war, complete with crushing war weariness begins. i think it's an idea that's got some potential, basically, you're the smartest tribe of barbarians in the new world, the only ones really capable of research; and the other tribes hate you for it. the AI, however, essentially regard you as a barbarian. i've had a little fun playing this way as a diversion, i've even launched an invasion of the old world and razed isabella's holy city, but the extensive use of the worldbuilder right from the get go kind of kills any real chance of enjoying the game for me. i can't be trusted once i open that thing.

 

[Zombie69]

I hope you're playing this on noble. I shudder to think of the impact of playing such a game on Deity!

 

[Lars_Domus]

Always happy to be of service

is there any part of that file i could delete to make it so i'd be the only one to start over in the new world?
i'm looking for a way to be alone on a terra in a one city, raging barbarian, always war game without worldbuilder.

I'm quite sure that could be done by adding a few lines, but unfortunately it exceeds my rather limited knowledge of Python.

Perhaps someone in the Creation & Customization forum could help you?

 

[naterator]

thanks anyway lars, adding python is a bit over my head, hoping for a quick delete, oh well...

 

[wkndwrrr]

You could just start a raging barbarians OCC game on an unmodded terra, and, using Worldbuilder, delete your starting settler and warrior/scout, and place a new one on the empty continent