TMIT's Guide to Strategy & Tips Series Map Creation

[dalamb]

But save the original first! I kept making mistakes when I first started editing save files. Not that I've exactly stopped making mistakes ...

 

[VinceV]

Got it, thanks. My problem was that I had to take off the 'read only' property before I was able to overwrite the old file. Funny thing, trying to open a savegame file and it all comes out as machine language gibberish. It seems only maps can be edited in Word Pad.

Thanks for helping out us Noobs!

 

[dalamb]

I edited in what to do if you want to preserve the starting unit's location.

 

[Meatbuster]

I think deleting the AI handicap crashes the game... I just leave it on HANDICAP_NOBLE and ...it seems to work.

Can anyone check if this works on your system? It could be just my PC.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

Leaving it at handicap noble should be fine actually. Deleting it as I instruct is force of habit, since it is necessary for PYL games (where the player may wind up taking any of the possible civs). Still I've done it many times without issue.

 

[Ignorant Teacher]

What happens sometimes is that on the line

Handicap=HANDICAP_NOBLE

people understand they have to make it like this

Handicap=

and it causes the game to crash because you set a parameter the game understands but put no value to it. What should be done is to keep it at least like this

HANDICAP_NOBLE

Or just delete the whole line.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

I edited it to make it more clear. Still, in the context of find and replace in my instructions, and given that it's shown in my video, it's a little surprising that people gravitated the other way first. It's logically like finding/replacing out "beginunit", rather than like setting values =0 at the start.

Oh well, hopefully it's clear now.

 

[Meatbuster]

Sorry, I failed to check the video.

Thanks for the explanation!

 

[CHEESE!]

Problem for hosting a NC: When I change it to playableciv=0, it still has them as a playable civ. What am I doing wrong?

 

[r_rolo1]

Have you maintained the capitalizations correct?

Second, have you got out of thae game while doing the changes? The game will not load changes in the WB files done while the game is running.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

Have you maintained the capitalizations correct?

Second, have you got out of thae game while doing the changes? The game will not load changes in the WB files done while the game is running.

I think there is a way to refresh the changes in game, because I managed to do it once.

Certainly, his issue is likely that of capitalization, the XML is QUITE picky about that (and with spacing).

 

[CHEESE!]

Ugh. I has a problem with my NC. When I do all that you asked, it changes my start position. THis was my original position but it was changed. And now the WB wants to force me to put it there.

 

[dalamb]

Sorry, I don't follow what you meant. Was "your instructions" the ones I posted regarding changing starting positions, or someone else' instructions?

Changing starting positions was a new thing for me when I did it for NC XXXI, so I'm perfectly willing to believe I goofed with the explanation. Unfortunately figuring out what went wrong might require your revealing more details about the map than you'd want in a public forum

 

[dalamb]

TMIT mentioned adding TECH_ARCHERY for monarch+ saves; what else needs to be changed for Immortal+? (or wherever the next break is for having to edit the WB instead of relying on the "custom scenario" screen's ability to choose difficulty level).

 

[r_rolo1]

The techs that the AI receives in Immortal for free are :

			<AIFreeTechs>
				<FreeTech>
					<TechType>TECH_AGRICULTURE</TechType>
					<bFreeTech>1</bFreeTech>
				</FreeTech>
				<FreeTech>
					<TechType>TECH_HUNTING</TechType>
					<bFreeTech>1</bFreeTech>
				</FreeTech>
				<FreeTech>
					<TechType>TECH_ARCHERY</TechType>
					<bFreeTech>1</bFreeTech>
				</FreeTech>
			</AIFreeTechs>

That is pretty much what you need to add if you don't put any units for the AI ....

For deity:

			<AIFreeTechs>
				<FreeTech>
					<TechType>TECH_THE_WHEEL</TechType>
					<bFreeTech>1</bFreeTech>
				</FreeTech>
				<FreeTech>
					<TechType>TECH_AGRICULTURE</TechType>
					<bFreeTech>1</bFreeTech>
				</FreeTech>
				<FreeTech>
					<TechType>TECH_HUNTING</TechType>
					<bFreeTech>1</bFreeTech>
				</FreeTech>
				<FreeTech>
					<TechType>TECH_ARCHERY</TechType>
					<bFreeTech>1</bFreeTech>
				</FreeTech>
			</AIFreeTechs>

From CIV4HandicapInfo.XML

 

[RRRaskolnikov]

I think you have to edit AI's starting units. iirc immortal AIs receive 3 archers, 3 scouts as well as their settler at the start.

 

[dalamb]

Thanks for the info. Starting units work out OK if the player selects the desired difficulty level and the AI has the right techs (archery, in particular, for the N starting archery units at Monarch+). Adding Hunting at Immortal would mean some starting "warriors" (or archers) get turned into a scout, IIRC. Not sure what adding the wheel at Deity would do to starting units, but it makes worker steal a bit harder.

At least one series does 3 WB saves (noble, monarch, immortal) and I don't know of any that add a deity save; I think for my next "nobles' club" (hah!) I'll add a monarch and an immortal save.

 

[dalamb]

I've started a discussion on what the user interface for a program to automate this stuff might be like. I'd appreciate people's opinions; it's easier to get things right if you ask in advance rather than react to complaints later!

 

[DMOC]

You should save it as a WorldBuilder save, OFC , otherwise the game will not run. Best thing to do is simply overwrite the original WB save from where you started, if you are using a text editor that doesn't allow you to choose the extension of the saved file.

Can you explain how to do this? When I did this (I'm tryign to modify the earth18civ map for me) I get "Cannot read xxx file"

 

[naterator]

A devious way to make life miserable for the player is to add the red text below to one or more civs (Of course you can add less than a million points if you feel that's too extreme, i haven't actually played a game like that yet.):

	Tech=TECH_MYSTICISM
	[B][COLOR="Red"]EspionageTeam=0, EspionageAmount=1000000
	EspionageEverAmount=1000000[/COLOR][/B]
	ContactWithTeam=1

Or make the human's color DARK_GREEN, and his 2 closest neighbors GREEN_AND_WHITE & GREEN_AND_BLACK. The borders between the 3 won't show on the map!