BattleMaster Community

BattleMaster => Development => Topic started by: Anaris on February 09, 2016, 06:51:08 PM

Title: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Anaris on February 09, 2016, 06:51:08 PM
While there are not many tasks that non-developers can help with in improving BattleMaster, re-creating the original game maps so that they are easier to work with is one such task.

The maps were originally created in the Age of Wonders map editor, which is available as part of the Age of Wonders game on Steam (http://store.steampowered.com/app/61500/?snr=1_7_15__13) for $6 regularly (on sale for $1.49 during their Lunar New Year sale, and various other sales throughout the year).

The top priority map to recreate is Dwilight, since the original full-sized geographic (without region names & borders) map was lost years ago.

Please understand that this is a project to re-create the existing maps in as much detail as possible, not to change or improve anything.

Any questions can be asked in this thread, which can also be used to coordinate the effort. Highly relevant answers will be added to this first post.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Ossan on February 15, 2016, 03:39:08 AM
Do you have any idea of what the original map size was? Or how to screenshot the entire thing?

I have AoW 1 on GOG.com and have the CDs for Shadow Magic.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Anaris on February 15, 2016, 03:51:08 AM
Do you have any idea of what the original map size was?

Not off the top of my head. Lemme see if I can check...

Looks to be 2600x2600 pixels.

Quote
Or how to screenshot the entire thing?

Well, if you really want to, the way is to get a really big monitor.

But that's not what I'm looking for. I'm honestly after the actual Age of Wonders map file, so that I can then take the screenshots and splice them together, and subsequently make any changes that we ever want to make to the map (and re-screenshot and splice).

Quote
I have AoW 1 on GOG.com and have the CDs for Shadow Magic.

While it might be cool to see what some of the existing maps would look like done in the AoW2 (3?) or Shadow Magic editors, that's much lower priority than getting them re-created in the original AoW editor.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Ossan on February 15, 2016, 03:56:52 AM
Alright sounds good, I'll see what I can do in the original editor.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Anaris on February 15, 2016, 03:57:15 AM
Alright sounds good, I'll see what I can do in the original editor.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Zakilevo on February 15, 2016, 04:21:35 AM
You don't want to try it on AoW2 creator. It is quite different and all the cities are larger.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Ossan on February 15, 2016, 04:32:39 AM
Yeah, it's also a little easier to use :p

This is both easier and harder than I thought it might be. But so far I've got a good outline going, starting in Madina and working outwards.

EDIT: I suspect there may have been a bit of photoshopping for the fields in Fatmilak, and I can't match up those rocks to the right of that mine at the top of Lugagun oir the land its supposed to be sitting on :p I'll keep working on this tomorrow though. This is fun.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Wimpie on February 15, 2016, 03:00:13 PM
I'm very curious what your first draft will look like! Keep us posted  ;D
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Indirik on February 15, 2016, 05:31:01 PM
The Dwilightv map was a cut-and-paste job from sections of the other maps. It was never done in the real editor. I'm not surprised you can't get it to match exactly.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Anaris on February 15, 2016, 05:32:37 PM
Indeed, the fine details of the Dwilight map aren't all going to work right (for instance, I think the farms are all pointing the wrong way); the important part is to make sure that the outlines all match reasonably closely, and the decorative bits are at least in the same spirit as the map we have now.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Ossan on February 15, 2016, 11:40:54 PM
I see, thanks that helps a lot. I'll try to make it as close as possible.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Ossan on February 17, 2016, 08:39:13 PM
What I've got so far, the river was heavily photoshopped as well as random pieces of the coast. I usually end up wiping out and redoing stuff at least once but I think I can get it pretty close. The river will be redone at least one more time...

http://i.imgur.com/jRJb8X9.png

EDIT: Second picture fixed: http://i.imgur.com/kPjFju4.png
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Anaris on February 17, 2016, 08:41:18 PM
So long as it has the contours of the coastline and such more or less matching the ones in-game, it's going to be so much better than what we've got now there's no comparison. ;D
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Ossan on February 17, 2016, 08:42:58 PM
Yeah I'm starting with the outlines of the coast first and then working my way in afterwards once I'm sure its all lined up as close as possible.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Zakilevo on February 17, 2016, 08:48:27 PM
Yeah I'm starting with the outlines of the coast first and then working my way in afterwards once I'm sure its all lined up as close as possible.

That is what I did. I got pretty frustrated when I could never line things up properly. I should have tried with something smaller heh. Good that you are working on it now :D
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Ossan on February 17, 2016, 08:54:39 PM
Yeah, it might still be a good idea to do at least a few touch ups in photoshop if there is anyone who knows how to use it well (I've never even touched it). Port Raviel and Port Nebel face the wrong way and I don't think I can rotate stuff in the editor.

EDIT: Or I could just give them bigger cities :p At least as place holders for now just so it looks less empty.

EDIT: It does have some nice fire effects you can do for historical pictures :p
(http://i.imgur.com/cjKY6GK.png)
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Indirik on February 17, 2016, 10:00:52 PM
Just do the best you can without thinking about shopping it. If it doesn't match exactly, that's fine. Much more important that it can be updated as needed.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Ossan on February 17, 2016, 10:08:35 PM
Aye, you can easily edit the cities later anyway.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Zakilevo on February 17, 2016, 10:41:26 PM
it would be nice if we can update city sizes. More populous cities using size 4 while smaller ones using size 1~3.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Ossan on February 17, 2016, 11:15:28 PM
Got the Fissoa-Shinnen-Giask island done as close as I could. I think. Not really happy with the NE desert borders.

http://i.imgur.com/QIzt4OP.png

EDIT: Just realized a mistake I made by Drowenton. Whoops, going to have to redo most of it.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Zakilevo on February 17, 2016, 11:50:54 PM
Looks good so far.  ;D
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Ossan on February 18, 2016, 01:35:38 AM
Redid it, it will have to do. http://i.imgur.com/zFrpWYQ.jpg
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Vita` on February 18, 2016, 01:36:23 AM
For future reference, that island is named Forland. http://wiki.battlemaster.org/wiki/Dwilight/Geographic_Features
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Wimpie on February 19, 2016, 09:10:11 AM
Yeah I'm starting with the outlines of the coast first and then working my way in afterwards once I'm sure its all lined up as close as possible.

Looks nice alread! Can't wait to see the final result.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Wimpie on March 15, 2016, 03:54:11 PM
So any updates?  8)
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: D'Espana on April 08, 2016, 11:15:19 PM
I could give it a try quite soon, as I will have a new (and finally decent) computer very soon. I've read the thread, but don't know what should I start doing exactly, as I don't want to steal Ossan's work. Some input please?
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Anaris on April 08, 2016, 11:30:47 PM
Heh, it doesn't exactly require a new or good computer, since it was relatively undemanding when Tom originally made the maps 15 years ago!

Quote
I've read the thread, but don't know what should I start doing exactly, as I don't want to steal Ossan's work. Some input please?

Based on his last image update, I'd say you could start working on the north end of Dwilight without duplicating effort.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: D'Espana on April 09, 2016, 12:14:32 AM
I was speaking about an actually broken laptop which has the screen covered in pinks and greens to the point that I barely bother using it now, as I can't see a damn thing in it (not to speak about precision mapping, of course). The new one is just so much better (and newer, of course) I can't wait to get it, and after looking at AoW requirements I can safely say that this will be the first game I will be running on max settings since a LONG time 8)

Based on his last image update, I'd say you could start working on the north end of Dwilight without duplicating effort.

Yes, sir!
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Telamon on May 04, 2016, 01:56:05 AM
Great work, everyone! I'm excited to see the final results.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: D'Espana on May 05, 2016, 01:20:31 AM
Finally got my laptop, but it isn't working that fine (seems like overheating stuff) and finals are now coming closer by the day. I might leave it for summer holiday after all, I've got such an amount of undone university business that it's starting to scare me a little. Ah, the bittersweet taste of procrastination...
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Wimpie on May 05, 2016, 11:29:28 PM
Anyone else is invited to work on the project as well.

Feel free. :P
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Ossan on June 06, 2016, 02:00:46 AM
Hmm I ended up getting busy and forgot all about this, I don't see myself finishing it anytime soon unfortunately. Though I will probably give it a try again eventually. Sorry.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Konrad on October 05, 2016, 05:01:55 AM
Just from looking at the wiki, why is http://wiki.battlemaster.org/images/WestContinent-Large-Geo.jpg not the full size geo map referred to in the OP?
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Zakilevo on October 05, 2016, 05:03:51 AM
Just from looking at the wiki, why is http://wiki.battlemaster.org/images/WestContinent-Large-Geo.jpg not the full size geo map referred to in the OP?

That is the original Dwilight map not the one we have in the game :o
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Konrad on October 05, 2016, 05:04:34 AM
That is the original Dwilight map not the one we have in the game :o
Ohhh
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Zakilevo on October 05, 2016, 05:12:04 AM
Ohhh

The one we have in the game is no longer there. So we need someone to make a copy of it.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Andrew on October 10, 2016, 08:25:29 AM
So, I took a quick stab at this, and I have to say that some creative license will have to be authorized. It is NOT possible to get an exact replica of the in-game Dwilight map using the AoW editor. The reason for this is that certain parts of it were touched up or stitched together in an image editor.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Zakilevo on October 10, 2016, 06:27:42 PM
So, I took a quick stab at this, and I have to say that some creative license will have to be authorized. It is NOT possible to get an exact replica of the in-game Dwilight map using the AoW editor. The reason for this is that certain parts of it were touched up or stitched together in an image editor.

Anaris is not looking for 1:1 copy. Like you said, it is impossible. But he wants something as close as possible.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Chenier on November 24, 2016, 07:14:05 PM
If the map is to be redrawn... what about rethinking it? A lot of it made a lot more sense when we had a ton of nobles than we do now. Dwilight's geography has been a major limiting factor throughout it's history, with all those natural barriers and chokepoints leading to huge nations without neighbors and without effective means of warring the few they have.

So how about we rethink it a bit? Remove some excess land, remove some chokepoints, move some parts of it closer to the rest, and add in a few land bridges?

example:

(http://i.imgur.com/g64rBub.jpg)
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Vita` on November 24, 2016, 10:49:04 PM
No. Changing a map is a lot more effort than just changing the background image.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Zakilevo on November 24, 2016, 11:48:52 PM
Well Chenier can't get the map editor to work so... we need to find a new volunteer  :'(
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Chenier on November 25, 2016, 01:51:09 AM
Well Chenier can't get the map editor to work so... we need to find a new volunteer  :'(

Yea, not sure what that's about. My display doesn't work, the main one. The minimap works, and suggests that the editor is in fact doing the stuff I'm clicking for, but I can't actually see it. Pretty sure I had it work on this computer before, but I hadn't touched that since forever ago. AoW was free on gog a while ago, I believe I posted it on these forums when it happened. Shame not more people went to fetch it, it's back to nearly 10$ now.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Nosferatus on November 25, 2016, 11:28:02 AM
Apart from the fact that it is apparently allot of work, i like some of the suggestions, like the extra region between moses end amando and nidogs mark.
Its a minor change that has major effects for that area.

de stretching Dwilight also seems a good idea, bringing north and south closer together.
When i first saw the map of Dwilight i thought it would be awesome to have maps like this, where multiple worlds are connected and certain areas can be considered as continents on their own.
But now i know it has its down sides as well, especially with the current lower noble density.
This map isnt designed for low noble density but rather for a very high number of nobles.

smaller, better connected maps like south islands are far better suited for a low noble count.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Chenier on November 25, 2016, 01:32:05 PM
If it didn't have to be made with the AoW editor, though, something could be patched up. I've given a few examples of AoW-liked rendered map. The main difference is contour, it wouldn't have any (no shores, trees cut in half). Mountains were poorly rendered, but as none of the mountain ranges actually changed as far as I can tell, that can just be copy-pasted with ease. Can't promise to ever have time/motivation for this, though I do believe I had already drawn the contours for most of Dwilight.

Modifying the map wouldn't really be much more work than redoing it, either. Maybe even less so. I'm not sure how it all looks like server-side, for travel connections and all, but going for a new version off the bat would definitely be a lot less work than doing it as is, and then modifying it.

And let's face it. Dwi's geography looked really, really cool at first. Some of these things disappointed. Others just don't work as well now that we have much less players. A huge amount of thought and effort went into pushing players to adopt new mentalities and new practices, and to change the mechanics underlying gameplay, but a disproportionately insignificant amount of it went into the maps, who almost only changed to reduce land mass, and which's modifications were almost always terrible for gameplay. But despite what some say, geography is, at least largely, deterministic. Comparing political maps of AT and BT in the days, and just their histories, went a long way to support this. Sure, realms weren't always all in exactly the same spot, but most of the continents were usually occupied by similar-expanse realms. And if there's one word to qualify the underlying concept for Dwi's geography, it's the one thing we don't want right now: isolation. That map was intentionally designed to create as much isolation as possible. Multiple thin strips of land, with islands, sliced up into countless parts by rivers, mountains, and deserts, so that some places of it would simply never be able to meaningfully interact with other parts of it. Even the cities are placed in ways to promote "natural realms", with clumps of them together seperated by vast areas of wildness. The idea now is to bring people back closer together, but it's against the map's very nature.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Chenier on November 29, 2016, 04:59:46 PM
Well this is about the best I can/care to do. It's mixed-resolution, some parts at the 2600 pixel size and some at the 1300 pixel size.A few cities are not super clean. Otherwise, at most zooms, shouldn't really be noticeable. The islands are just imported from the political map, unmodified, because they are so thin and plastered with names that it'd be too much of a hassle to remove the names and it'd yield a huge mess.

(http://i.imgur.com/JV6Fy1p.jpg)
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Chenier on December 07, 2016, 04:03:44 PM
I managed to get the editor to work... Can't promise I'll contribute a ton, though.

But could the people who've done work host it on google drive and share the link? If this is ever to be done, it probably needs to be done collaboratively.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Anaris on December 07, 2016, 04:07:21 PM
If someone with an existing file to share doesn't have or doesn't want to use a Google Drive to share it, I would be happy to take files by email (you can see my email on my BM profile page (http://battlemaster.org/UserDetails.php?ID=3604)) and share them from my own Google Drive.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Zakilevo on December 23, 2016, 10:54:07 AM
What do you think about this

http://postimg.org/image/szmwjtxgh/ (http://postimg.org/image/szmwjtxgh/)

Found an interesting map editor. Free too!

(https://s24.postimg.org/u1x32dg9x/Map.jpg)
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: GundamMerc on December 23, 2016, 11:58:21 AM
Honestly, I'd be willing to accept a style change for the ability to modify maps easily.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Nosferatus on December 23, 2016, 07:04:11 PM
That looks really cool zakky.

How long did that take you?
Its not very accurate, but if this is that easy to use it might be worth giving up our original format indeed.

Does it also work with an editable save file?

Hopefully Timothy can use it.


Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Zakilevo on December 24, 2016, 04:34:01 AM
That looks really cool zakky.

How long did that take you?
Its not very accurate, but if this is that easy to use it might be worth giving up our original format indeed.

Does it also work with an editable save file?

Hopefully Timothy can use it.

Took me 20 mins only because I was learning which button did what.
The website also allows you to save multiple maps.

Unfortunately, Tim needs something he can change easily. He has 0 artistic talents... arhg why can't you be a master of art too!
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Wimpie on December 24, 2016, 09:34:05 AM
I think a giant style change like this would be really hard to sell to many players who've grown used to the current maps and styles. I like the current style more, by the way.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: GundamMerc on December 24, 2016, 01:41:16 PM
I think a giant style change like this would be really hard to sell to many players who've grown used to the current maps and styles. I like the current style more, by the way.

So do I, but I'd rather have a usable, balanced map for good gameplay than keep using the unbalanced maps while using the current style. I suggest we test this using South Island, using one style for the political map mode and the other for dynamic.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Zakilevo on December 24, 2016, 01:58:18 PM
So do I, but I'd rather have a usable, balanced map for good gameplay than keep using the unbalanced maps while using the current style. I suggest we test this using South Island, using one style for the political map mode and the other for dynamic.

Maps won't be changed anytime soon. Maybe in few years. But for now they won't.

If anyone is interested, http://inkarnate.com/users/sign_in#/ (http://inkarnate.com/users/sign_in#/) is the website to access the editor tool. Don't need to download anything. You only need to sign up.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Zakilevo on December 29, 2016, 10:51:47 PM
I ended up finishing Dwilight myself. Took me 4 days but I managed it. Not perfect but it will do the job.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Wimpie on December 30, 2016, 09:44:30 AM
I ended up finishing Dwilight myself. Took me 4 days but I managed it. Not perfect but it will do the job.

Show us!
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Gildre on January 06, 2017, 02:33:13 PM
This is done then? I just came across this. I LOVE maps, so I was very excited. So excited, in fact, that I went and got AoW before I finished reading all the posts haha. Oh well. I don't suppose there is any other map work that has to be done? lol
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Zakilevo on January 06, 2017, 02:41:21 PM
This is done then? I just came across this. I LOVE maps, so I was very excited. So excited, in fact, that I went and got AoW before I finished reading all the posts haha. Oh well. I don't suppose there is any other map work that has to be done? lol

We still need EC and Colonies done. I am not sure about BT. You will have to ask Anaris on that one.

But yeah, EC and Colonies maps are needed :D
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Gildre on January 06, 2017, 03:35:32 PM
Aha! Very well, good sir! The EC is my favorite continent by far, so I would love to do something to help out with it!

I have never used this Map Editor, so I am kind of shooting in the dark here, but what I lack in experience I shall make up for with enthusiasm and my hard charging spirit!

I will acquire coffee and begin post haste!!
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Gildre on January 06, 2017, 03:45:37 PM
Quick question right off the bat, Zakky,

What size did you use when making yours? I have the options from small (48x48) to XL (128x128).

I assume XL? Better to have left over space than run out of space I imagine.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Zakilevo on January 06, 2017, 03:48:21 PM
Quick question right off the bat, Zakky,

What size did you use when making yours? I have the options from small (48x48) to XL (128x128).

I assume XL? Better to have left over space than run out of space I imagine.

Always use XL.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Gildre on January 06, 2017, 04:06:11 PM
Another question:

In my Places tab under tiles, I am already aware that I don't have some tiles of cities. Itorunt, for example, does not seem to exist in my tile inventory... Were these place in by an image editor after the fact or am I missing something?
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Anaris on January 06, 2017, 04:11:48 PM
Each race has a different style of city. Itorunt appears to be a Dark Elf city.

Except for Dwilight, every map was made entirely in the Age of Wonders editor—the only Photoshopping required was for adding region names & borders and ferry routes.

(And, for EC, AT, and FEI, adding and moving the glaciers.)
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Gildre on January 06, 2017, 04:13:39 PM
Ok cool! I just have to dig in then and figure out the editor. I apologize for all the questions, I just figure with the work that has been done a lot of these problems have been encountered by others as well.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Anaris on January 06, 2017, 04:14:34 PM
Ok cool! I just have to dig in then and figure out the editor. I apologize for all the questions, I just figure with the work that has been done a lot of these problems have been encountered by others as well.

Not a problem! There's definitely a lot there in the AoW editor: there are plenty of things BM has never even used, though I'd be interested in using some of it in future maps.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Gildre on January 06, 2017, 04:29:15 PM
Absolutely! I see that now. Some very cool things could be made in the future. Got the cities all figured out, and that knowledge mitigated some other ponderies I had floating around in my head. Cooking with fire now!

One thing though, and this is a later problem for sure, but when I click to preview, the editor seems to just crash. I have tried the different resolutions for preview, same result. Did anyone else have this problem? I acknowledge it might be a computer issue that I have to solve on my end but I thought I would ask.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Anaris on January 06, 2017, 04:36:07 PM
One thing though, and this is a later problem for sure, but when I click to preview, the editor seems to just crash. I have tried the different resolutions for preview, same result. Did anyone else have this problem? I acknowledge it might be a computer issue that I have to solve on my end but I thought I would ask.

Oh, yeah, don't do that :P

I've never had the preview work. The way to convert an AoW Editor map into a BM map is to take screenshots and stitch them together ;D
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Zakilevo on January 06, 2017, 05:10:05 PM
Hah! You fools! My preview works mwuahhaa. But it is a useless feature for us.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Gildre on January 06, 2017, 08:38:36 PM
So it turns out the dynamic map zoomed in fully is the exact same size as the map editor. I am flying through cutting the shape of the continent out of the left side, moving from reference point to reference point. However, I have run into a snag. Because of that stupid legend, I can't line up the right side with the dynamic map haha. It isn't a super big deal, just going to slow the process down. I have been throwing down the cities and major landmarks as I go, but the tedious part is going to be filling all the trees and pebbles and crap. As I am sure Zakky can already attest to lol.

Once I have the continent cut out I might screenshot it together to show here. Or I might just power on through. I dunno.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Anaris on January 06, 2017, 08:40:47 PM
So it turns out the dynamic map zoomed in fully is the exact same size as the map editor. I am flying through cutting the shape of the continent out of the left side, moving from reference point to reference point. However, I have run into a snag. Because of that stupid legend, I can't line up the right side with the dynamic map haha. It isn't a super big deal, just going to slow the process down. I have been throwing down the cities and major landmarks as I go, but the tedious part is going to be filling all the trees and pebbles and crap. As I am sure Zakky can already attest to lol.

You should be able to minimize the legend by clicking the [-] button at the top of it.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Zakilevo on January 06, 2017, 09:07:33 PM
For Dwilight Zooming in wasn't that good for some reason.

Not sure about EC. Looks like you are breezing it through.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Gildre on January 06, 2017, 09:31:32 PM
Sorry Anaris, I meant the tool box on the editor. I had to take a piece of paper and measure each length of the coast line on the East side of the continent haha but I think I got it. Just doing up the Obsidian Isles islands, and then I am going to start throwing down trees and all that hellish crap.

Uuumm one question I am hoping someone might be able to help me with. What the heck is the building located at Sir Temple? I can't find it anywhere in the tool box... It is the only building I don't have on the map right now.

Yeah Zakky from what I have read it sounds like Dwilight was just all around unpleasant to work with. I do not envy you that at all!

I am definitely playing fast and loose with the save button. Just too in the zone. I gotta hit that thing more lol.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Zakilevo on January 06, 2017, 10:02:16 PM
Sir Temple is photoshopped version of Wizard Tower. You can't recreate that. I'd just use the Wizard Tower.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Gildre on January 06, 2017, 10:19:32 PM
Roger Wilco
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Gildre on January 06, 2017, 11:57:34 PM
Ok, here is what I have so far. I think this is probably the 75% solution. Big thing missing here is most of the trees.

(http://i63.tinypic.com/scxkzp.jpg)

For reference, the regular Political Map:

(http://i64.tinypic.com/6ht9v5.jpg)

I noticed one or two minor coastline tweaks that need to be made, but if anyone sees anything please let me know. My eyes are literally squares right now so I can't concentrate on !@#$ all.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Zakilevo on January 07, 2017, 12:07:41 AM
Looks good to me. Just some missing trees here and there.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Gildre on January 07, 2017, 12:09:28 AM
Lol it is missing the vast majority of the trees. Unless you were joking. Its hard for me to tell right now.

8 hours staring at that stupid map. It is 0100 in the morning right now. Sleep. Please post replies. Will read in the morning. Good night.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Zakilevo on January 07, 2017, 12:51:03 AM
Found it. It is missing Slimbar. A small city east of Sir Temple.

Should ask Anaris about changing all the walls to Stone as well. I see no reason to keep wooden walls.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Anaris on January 07, 2017, 02:23:05 AM
That's yeoman's work, Gildre. Great job.

Unless you feel honour-bound to finish it yourself, you can send me the .hsm file and I can put in the last few trees.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Gildre on January 07, 2017, 07:41:47 AM
Glad to be of help. I am going to plug away at it a bit more as soon as I have some breakfast. How would you like me to send it to you?
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Zakilevo on January 07, 2017, 08:03:10 AM
You can send to anaris@battlemaster.org
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Wimpie on January 07, 2017, 08:20:08 AM
Amazing Gildre, the work you've put in. It looks quite stunning.

It's good to see we've got ourselves a few new map-makers! That should prove handy now and in the future.

For me personally, the colonies map is the worst to use in game, as the regions were once split in half or something, and they don't show up on all maps (unless you use the layers on dynamic map). So recreating that one woudl be very interesting.

Of course, I'm not sure what the process is from getting this map (.hsm file I read), to getting it actually implemented.. Delvin mentioned the adding of sea zones, region names and boundaries I guess.. But then getting it into the code as well.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Gildre on January 07, 2017, 11:05:29 AM
Anaris,

Honestly, when I woke up this morning I almost sent it to you as is. But my mama didn't raise a half asser, so I crushed the forests. I tried to be as absolutely accurate as possible. I am 90% confident that the shapes of all the forests are the same as the original. The other 10% is the southern tip of the island. The Dynamic map still shows the glacier, and the political map is blurry and hard to line up. As far as the tree models themselves, I think I managed to one-for-one them pretty well. Some of the trees I put down last night might not be EXACT, due to my crossing eyes lol, but everything today I think is a mirror image. It got easier as I got used to the images (One tree looks like a bunny, one like a Chocobo, another has a stupid orange ball on it, ect...). Skimming through I couldn't notice any glaring tree differences, so I decided not to pick fly !@#$ out of pepper lol.

Also, Slimbar is there now lol good catch Zakky.

I hope this helps! It was honestly pretty fun. Seriously though, I don't know coding from a hole in the ground, so it was really nice to be able to contribute to the game.

Email will be coming at you shortly.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Zakilevo on January 07, 2017, 11:13:56 AM
You don't have to make the trees look perfect. Just the concentration needs to be close. Not individual tree tiles.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Zakilevo on January 12, 2017, 04:44:02 PM
So are you up for another map Gildre? XD
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Gildre on January 12, 2017, 07:51:12 PM
Weeeeellllll yes I am, but I don't think I can push out another 24 hour turnaround lol. What did you have in mind? This time if I just go with similar trees instead of the exact models it will save me considerable time and eyestrain. That is, if you priority is still the shape of the forests instead of the actual trees.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Zakilevo on January 12, 2017, 08:03:06 PM
Colonies :D
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Gildre on January 12, 2017, 09:20:13 PM
I will take on the challenge.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Zakilevo on January 12, 2017, 09:21:32 PM
Excellent! Now Wimpie can't cry about it!
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Wimpie on January 13, 2017, 08:53:45 AM
 :'(

I already asked him through a personal message, though  :)
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Gildre on January 13, 2017, 11:46:30 AM
It was a team effort on both your parts to convince me ;) so you two can share in that overwhelming glory lol
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Wimpie on January 13, 2017, 11:09:15 PM
Meh I claim the full 75%
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Gildre on January 15, 2017, 10:20:20 AM
I am about 80% done building the landmass, and about 40% done internal details, for a quick update.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Wimpie on January 15, 2017, 11:18:45 AM
I am about 80% done building the landmass, and about 40% done internal details, for a quick update.

Very nice!
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Gildre on February 04, 2017, 08:32:00 AM
My apologies! I haven't fallen off the map! Work has been quite busy, I have barely had enough time to pump out any RPs IG, let alone work on the map, but I promise I will complete it! Don't lose faith! lol
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Wimpie on February 05, 2017, 11:44:00 AM
My apologies! I haven't fallen off the map! Work has been quite busy, I have barely had enough time to pump out any RPs IG, let alone work on the map, but I promise I will complete it! Don't lose faith! lol

We're already glad you're working on it!

Take your time,.. But not too much  8)
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Anaris on March 27, 2017, 09:28:56 PM
Thanks to Gildre's tireless efforts, the Colonies now has an updated map, which includes all the region names.

If you do not see it yet, you may need to empty your cache.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Wimpie on March 27, 2017, 10:58:24 PM
Waow Gildre, thanks a lot. That looks great!

(https://media.giphy.com/media/iiS84hOJXh1Pq/giphy.gif)
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: D'Espana on March 29, 2017, 02:02:11 AM
You rock, Gildre. I had totally and utterly forgotten about this!
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Anaris on March 31, 2017, 09:13:10 PM
In poking at other things, I realized that the Dwilight map was still only partly done, so I put in some hours on it.

It's still not ready to replace the existing one, but it's come a long way (http://topazgryphon.org/~tcollett/bm/DwilightNoBorders.png).
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: D'Espana on April 05, 2017, 07:58:30 PM
It looks really nice  :)
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Haerthorne on December 26, 2017, 01:50:30 PM
Is there still any work that needs to be done on this?
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Chenier on December 26, 2017, 10:19:45 PM
Dwi's was already done, but afaik, not uploaded yet?
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Lefanis on March 23, 2018, 02:10:21 PM
While it might be cool to see what some of the existing maps would look like done in the AoW2 (3?) or Shadow Magic editors, that's much lower priority than getting them re-created in the original AoW editor.

Beluaterra's southern peninsula has become very, very isolated since the catastrophe years ago.

I know this is an old issue, but I believe the map would benefit from a more interconnected landscape (one that allows realms like Riombara and its neighbors to interface with the north again).

Would it every be possible to invoke another change at some point?

Thank you,

This is planned, but not trivial to implement, and definitely requires some kind of RP buildup.

We also need to work out just what the change would be.

Finally, it would be significantly easier to implement if we had a re-creation of the original BT/AT map (http://forum.battlemaster.org/index.php/topic,6915.0.html) made in the Age of Wonders editor...

Hello Tim!

I've been browsing the forums after a bit of a hiatus from BM, and noticed that we are still discussing maps, which reminded me of something I'd been working on back in 2012.

http://i.imgur.com/ZAokl.jpg

Warning- Pretty large image.

Rough attempt to make part of a continent. Yes, i know, badly pasted together, and i added fluff and filler stuff.

Do we want something this scale, or smaller?

Goldpanda- is this what you want? http://imgur.com/a/gBLB6

(http://i.imgur.com/ZAokl.jpg)

I recall that I had finished recreating East Continent using the Shadow Magic Editor, and checking my old HDD, have discovered that I still possess some files from back then (for EC, AT, and Colonies) in the Shadow Magic format. The above image was a rough sketch of what this could actually look like (above is south BT)- the completed EC was much more thorough.

Thank you  :)

Here is EC. Warning- 180 mb.

http://db.tt/gA2ENQAe

I thus wanted to make the following proposition- I still have my copies of AoW and Shadow Magic, and the inclination to fire them up and spend some time mapmaking (particularly Shadow Magic, since it would mean much prettier and more detailed maps).

Given few free weekends, I can cobble together the maps for the remaining continents using the Shadow Magic editor. I can create a border layer to mimic the current dynamic map, and a third layer with regions names as well. If there is an appetite for making changes to geography, I can include geographic features to make the Beluaterra map more playable for the South. This would mean not only proper borders, no blue cities, but also possibly a land bridge/archipelago through Avalon.

The proof of concept is the East Continent Map posted back in 2012- much more detailed, fresher city graphics, and topographic features that aren't on the current maps to add some flavor- I need to screenshot it since the old link is expired, but I can try that over the weekend/next week. A side benefit of this project would also to have high res topographic and political maps for all the continents, which could allow interesting changes in the future.

Of course, I imagine there would be an effort needed on the dev side of things once these maps are set up. Is this something that would be potentially doable or considered for implementation? If it is, I would be quite excited to give this a shot!
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Anaris on March 24, 2018, 03:28:36 AM
Getting all the maps in the original AoW format is priority #1. Given those, we can make minor changes to fix little problems, or to enable interesting RP events.

If we had alternative versions of the maps that could work with the same overlays, I could add them as selectable layers on the Dynamic Map (and I could probably do some kind of magic with the older Political Map to make them work there, too).

In any case, for all maps, what is needed is (1) the original file (AoW or SM map), and if you want to go to the trouble of making (2) the full-size geographic map by stitching together screenshots, that's great—just make sure that it at least matches the existing full-size geographic maps. If you want to go the extra mile of making (3) the full political map, with region borders drawn in, region names added, and ferry routes where applicable, that's fantastic. All of these things take time, and the more of them you do, the fewer I have to do! ;D
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Gildre on March 26, 2018, 05:04:29 PM
Just so that I am tracking the completion level here, we just need a recreations of Beluterra and the South Island, correct? Which would be priority? BT I assume? I am on spring break right now, and while I am not committing to anything, I am thinking about it.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Anaris on March 26, 2018, 05:06:44 PM
We've got Dwilight and the South Island (that was the first one I did, so that I could get the new South Island started), and still need everything else, I believe.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Gildre on March 26, 2018, 05:16:02 PM
The Colonies and EC were done by me, unless something has changed? I still have both of their finished files on my computer if they were lost or something...
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Anaris on March 26, 2018, 05:23:23 PM
The Colonies and EC were done by me, unless something has changed? I still have both of their finished files on my computer if they were lost or something...

...Hm. Now that you mention it, I do remember something like that. I probably even still have them.

In that case, it's just BT that we need the AoW map file for.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Gildre on March 26, 2018, 05:32:50 PM
Ok. If you can't find them just let me know and I can send them to you again.

I will think about BT. It was fun to do the maps, just really time consuming.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Haerthorne on June 08, 2018, 09:01:39 AM
Just so we're clear it is only BT that needs to be done?

Dwlight: Done
East Continent: Done
Colonies: Done
South Island: Done
Beluaterra: In the works
Atamara/Old Beluaterra: not done
Far East Island: not done

Obviously those last two are of less importance given their continents do not exist.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Haerthorne on June 08, 2018, 04:36:07 PM
Speaking of, I just finished doing a remake of the old Beluaterra/Atamara map, and a screenshot-patchwork copy, which can then be easily fixed up to look like the current Beluaterra. It's just over 2500x2600 pixels, the original size of the Atamara map, so it can be scaled to that depending on how you want it lined up.

Let me know if anyone wants the scenario file. Current edition of the jpg is up on the wiki, will try to compress it more without losing quality. Any tips would be helpful, I'm using GIMP.

http://wiki.battlemaster.org/images/Atamara_Geography_Map_New.jpeg (http://wiki.battlemaster.org/images/Atamara_Geography_Map_New.jpeg)
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Anaris on June 08, 2018, 06:06:40 PM
...which is all very well, but IIRC, we have all the original map images for AT/BT. What we need for them is the Age of Wonders map files.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Haerthorne on June 08, 2018, 06:56:02 PM
I have that, that's what I used to make the map image.

I made it from scratch.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Anaris on June 08, 2018, 07:17:31 PM
Ah, excellent!

The wording of your previous post had me confused.
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Haerthorne on June 08, 2018, 08:36:04 PM
I sent the map to you privately, but I'll share it here too in case anyone wanted it for any reason.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wp1dcg1DTenC6tJz5CwsbBk1EBWFSdVB/view?usp=sharing (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wp1dcg1DTenC6tJz5CwsbBk1EBWFSdVB/view?usp=sharing)
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Gabanus family on June 09, 2018, 04:11:51 PM
Behold the fabulous magician! Great stuff man
Title: Re: Volunteer Task: Map Re-Creation Project
Post by: Gildre on September 19, 2018, 08:37:29 PM
So that is all the maps completed then? This volunteer task can be closed? Or is there additional things required?