I wrote this on steam discussions but, I wasn’t happy with it at the time and so, I deleted it. (typos and such.) However, I still would like to see this as a possible feature/change. I wrote up a xml file with the general idea. (It’s not fully wrote out. Just the general idea.) If you can’t change the scenario format itself, would you consider allowing users to write xml scenarios like this and the game convert it to a aoe2scenario file format for them? That would be pretty sweet. Note that these files will/should not be compressed. (Making them pretty big sadly.) I know it saves filesize but, that is not the point of this…
Anyway, here is my concept for the scenario format:
edit: Forgot object needs to be in a loop… fixed.
edit: Also, if you don’t want to use xml, you could use json as well. I just did this in xml to keep it simple.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<scenario>
<version>"1.51". (string)</version>
<creator>"SpoOkyMagician". (string)</creator>
<filename>"Filename.aoe2scenario". (string)</filename>
// anything else I am missing here that is required for it to work...
<map>
<seed>-2147483648 to 2147483647. Optional. (change datatype as needed.)</seed>
<map_size>1 to 7 or you could use map tiles. 35-480. (change datatype as needed.)</map_size>
<default_terrain>1 to 2147483647? (change datatype as needed.)</default_terrain>
<map_location>1 to 2147483647? Optional. (change datatype as needed.)</map_location>
<ai_type>1 to 2147483647? (change datatype as needed.)</ai_type>
<color_mood>1 to 6+. (change datatype as needed.)</color_mood>
<team_positions>0 to 1. (boolean)</team_positions>
<xs_filename>"Filename". (string)</xs_filename>
</map>
<terrain>
<eye_candy>0 to 1. Optional. (boolean)</eye_candy>
<shore_waves>0 to 1. Optional. (boolean)</shore_waves>
// some for loop pseudo code...
for each map_tile(x,y)
<map_tile>
<x_value>1 to 480.</x_value>
<y_value>1 to 480.</y_value>
<base_terrain>1 to 2147483647? You can also use strings. (change datatype as needed.)</base_terrain>
<base_layer>1 to 2147483647? You can also use strings. (change datatype as needed.)</base_layer>
<beach_terrain>1 to 2147483647? You can also use strings. (change datatype as needed.)</beach_terrain>
<elevation>1 to 7. (change datatype as needed.)</elevation>
<cliff>1 to 8? (however this is managed with directions and such. change datatype as needed.)</cliff>
<cliff_type>1 to 3. (change datatype as needed.)</cliff_type>
<gaia_object>0 to 2147483647? Such as trees, grass patches, eye candy, etc... may not be needed. objects might be a better section... (change datatype as needed.)</gaia_object>
</map_tile>
next map_tile(x,y)
</terrain>
<players>
<number_of_players>1 to 8. (change datatype as needed.)</number_of_players>
// some for loop pseudo code...
for each player_number
<player_number>
<starting_age>1 to 5. (change datatype as needed.)</starting_age>
<color>1 to 8. (change datatype as needed.)</color>
<wood>-2147483648 to 2147483647. (change datatype as needed.)</wood>
<food>-2147483648 to 2147483647. (change datatype as needed.)</food>
<gold>-2147483648 to 2147483647. (change datatype as needed.)</gold>
<stone>-2147483648 to 2147483647. (change datatype as needed.)</stone>
<population>25 to 500. (change datatype as needed.)</population>
<base_priority>0 to 9. (change datatype as needed.)</base_priority>
<tribe_name>"Tribe Name". (string)</tribe_name>
<tribe_name_string_id>0 to 2147483647? (change datatype as needed.)</tribe_name_string_id>
<ai_personality>"AI Filename". (string)</ai_personality>
<player_type>0 to 1. (boolean? change datatype as needed.)</player_type>
<civilization>1 to 64+. (change datatype as needed.)</civilization>
<architecture>1 to 64+. (change datatype as needed.)</architecture>
<lock_civilization>0 to 1. (boolean)</lock_civilization>
</player_number>
next player_number
</players>
// some for loop pseudo code...
for each object
<object>
<instance_id>1 to 2147483647 or 4,294,967,295? should default to 0 or 1 and go up as needed. (change datatype as needed.)</instance_id>
<owned_by_player>0 to 8. (change datatype as needed.)</owned_by_player>
<object_list_type>1 to 4? (units, buildings, heroes, or other. change datatype as needed.)</object_list_type>
<object_list>1 to 2147483647? Object ID. (change datatype as needed.)</object_list>
<object_group>1 to 2147483647? Group ID. (change datatype as needed.)</object_group>
<object_type>1 to 4? (building, civilian, military, other. change datatype as needed.)</object_type>
<facet>1 to 16+? direction facing. (change datatype as needed.)</facet>
<is_garrisoned>instance_id. 1 to 2147483647? (however this is managed... change datatype as needed.)</is_garrisoned>
<x_position>1 to 480. use floats if needed.</x_position>
<y_position>1 to 480. use floats if needed.</y_position>
// insert all unit stats here as well. there is way to many to list here...
// hitpoints, attack, range, los, movement speed, etc...
</object>
next object
<diplomacy>
<max_teams>1 to 3. (change datatype as needed.)</max_teams>
<locked_teams>0 to 1. (boolean)</locked_teams>
<choose_teams>0 to 1. (boolean)</choose_teams>
<random_start>0 to 1. (boolean)</random_start>
// some for loop pseudo code...
for each player_number
<diplomacy_player_number>
<this_player>1 to 8.</this_player>
<other_player>1 to 8.</other_player>
<alliance_type>1 to 3. strings could work too. (ally, neutral, or enemy)</alliance_type>
<ally_victory>0 to 1. (boolean)</ally_victory>
</diplomacy_player_number>
next player_number
</diplomacy>
<victory>
<type>1 to 6. (change datatype as needed.)</type>
<victory_score>1 to 11. (change datatype as needed.)</victory_score>
<victory_time>1 to 7. (change datatype as needed.)</victory_time>
<custom>
<custom_conquest>0 to 1. (boolean)</custom_conquest>
<custom_exploration>0 to 1. (boolean)</custom_exploration>
<custom_exploration_amount>0 to 100.</custom_exploration_amount>
<custom_relics>0 to 1. (boolean)</custom_relics>
<custom_relics_amount>0 to 99.</custom_relics_amount>
<custom_any_all>0 ot 1. (boolean)</custom_any_all>
</custom>
<victory_secondary>
<secondary_empire_wars>0 to 1. (boolean)</secondary_empire_wars>
<secondary_sudden_death>0 to 1. (boolean)</secondary_sudden_death>
<secondary_regicide>0 to 1. (boolean)</secondary_regicide>
<secondary_king_of_the_hill>0 to 1. (boolean)</secondary_king_of_the_hill>
</victory_secondary>
</victory>
<options>
<full_techs>0 to 1. (boolean)</full_techs>
<difficulty>1 to 6.</difficulty>
<collision_correction>0 to 1. (boolean)</collision_correction>
<force_drop>0 to 1. (boolean)</force_drop>
<lock_coop_alliance>0 to 1. (boolean)</lock_coop_alliance>
// some for loop pseudo code...
for each player_number
<view_player_number>
<view_x>1 to 480.</view_x>
<view_y>1 to 480.</view_y>
</view_player_number>
<disabled_buildings_player_number>
for each disabled_building_id
<disabled_building_id>ID 0 to 2147483647. (change datatype as needed.)</disabled_building_id>
next disabled_building_id
</disabled_buildings_player_number>
<disabled_units_player_number>
for each disabled_unit_id
<disabled_unit_id>ID 0 to 2147483647. (change datatype as needed.)</disabled_unit_id>
next disabled_unit_id
</disabled_units_player_number>
<disabled_techs_player_number>
for each disabled_tech_id
<disabled_tech_id>ID 0 to 2147483647. (change datatype as needed.)</disabled_tech_id>
next disabled_tech_id
</disabled_techs_player_number>
next player_number
</options>
<messages>
<instructions_message>"Message". (string)</instructions_message>
<hints_message>"Message". (string)</hints_message>
<victory_message>"Message". (string)</victory_message>
<loss_message>"Message". (string)</loss_message>
<history_message>"Message". (string)</history_message>
<scout_message>"Message". (string)</scout_message>
<instructions_message_id>0 to 2147483647. (change datatype as needed.)</instructions_message_id>
<hints_message_id>0 to 2147483647. (change datatype as needed.)</hints_message_id>
<victory_message_id>0 to 2147483647. (change datatype as needed.)</victory_message_id>
<loss_message_id>0 to 2147483647. (change datatype as needed.)</loss_message_id>
<history_message_id>0 to 2147483647. (change datatype as needed.)</history_message_id>
<scout_message_id>0 to 2147483647. (change datatype as needed.)</scout_message_id>
</messages>
<cinematics>
<pregame_cinematic>"Filename". (string)</pregame_cinematic>
<victory_cinematic>"Filename". (string)</victory_cinematic>
<loss_cinematic>"Filename". (string)</loss_cinematic>
<instructions_map>"Filename". (string)</instructions_map>
</cinematics>
<triggers>
// some for loop pseudo code...
for each trigger_id
<trigger_id>
<trigger_id>0 to 2147483647. (refers to the instance id/reference. change datatype as needed.)</trigger_id>
<trigger_total>0 to 2147483647+. (default 0. +1 each time added new added. -1 for each deleted.)</trigger_total>
<trigger_name>"Trigger " + trigger_id. (string)</trigger_name>
<starting_state>0 to 1. (boolean)</starting_state>
<looping>0 to 1. (boolean)</looping>
<trigger_description>"Description". (string)</trigger_description>
<display_as_objective>0 to 1. (boolean)</display_as_objective>
<trigger_description_id>0 to 2147483647. (change datatype as needed.)</trigger_description_id>
<trigger_short_description>"Description". (string)</trigger_short_description>
<display_on_screen>0 to 1. (boolean)</display_on_screen>
<trigger_short_description_id>0 to 2147483647. (change datatype as needed.)</trigger_short_description_id>
<make_header>0 to 1. (boolean)</make_header>
<objective_order>0 to 2147483647. (change datatype as needed.)</objective_order>
<mute_objectives>0 to 1. (boolean)</mute_objectives>
// some for loop pseudo code...
for each condition
<condition_id>0 to 2147483647. (refers to the instance id/reference. change datatype as needed.)</condition_id>
// too many to write here... but, you get the idea...
next condition
for each effect
<effect_id>0 to 2147483647. (refers to the instance id/reference. change datatype as needed.)</effect_id>
// too many to write here... but, you get the idea...
next effect
</trigger_id>
next trigger_id
</triggers>
</scenario>