A UserPatch feature enabled by the WololoKingdoms game mod called Zipped RMS allowed us to make the base terrain layout of a map in the scenario editor and combine it with a map script to make randomized maps that weren’t possible to do by just map scripting or scenario building. This same mechanic is used for the HD and DE real world and special maps. To use this in UserPatch you just needed to have your map script and scenario have the same filename (IE YourMap.rms and YourMap.scx) and you zipped them (without compression) into one file. I don’t think this would be particularly difficult to implement since the mechanic already exists in the game.
You mean custom Real World Maps essentially?
Of course you can use the technology for none Real World maps but that’s what it’s used for ingame.
That would be really cool because it combines real geography with random aspects to offer unique and interesting gameplay and replayability that neither fully random maps nor fully hand crafted scenarios can provide.
Yes just like Real World Maps. You can create a base map with the size and shape of lands, water, cliffs etc while still having random placements of all resources and objects (berries, gold, stone, forests, fish, rocks, etc) to make the map you want and give it more replay ability than just a regular triggerless scenario.
We used this feature on UP with great success for custom maps with T90Official’s community games and this feature is missed by many.
Custom real world maps certainly have been on top of the wishlists of many people, including me.
Clearly one of my top 5 things I want to see in AoE2.
Of course the system doesn’t have to strictly be used for actual real world maps only but it’s perfectly suited for that.
How it currently works also allows to manually pre place things like resources too so you can guarantee that some places have a gold mine for example.
It’s basically making a scenario and then running a random map script over it to replace terrain and generate additional object so it shouldn’t bee to hard for them to develop a system for custom real world maps.
Maybe make a new folder for scenarios that are used in real world maps (adding the official ones here too so we can take a look at them and learn) and then allow us to specify which of those scenarios we want to use in the first line of our real world map script.
If the scenario is not found it simply generates an error ingame. When it’s found it can also be automatically transferred to other people in the same lobby like any other random map or scenario would without them having to subscribe to the same mod.
I wish there was more than 8 civs per map. Real World Map will be so much more fun to play.
More players is probably my 2nd biggest wish for AoE2DE after regional skins.
Other things I’d love for scenario/random map/real world map creation would be more captureable buildings.
Having 4 buildings that trickle each other the 4 resources (plus one that does all) would be really useful.
Other ones could allow you to train certain units like mercenaries.
But the ones for each resource are especially useful also for real world maps. You could place them in important strategic locations or places that are famous for some resource.
Also there should be Settlements like in AoM(R) that allow you to build City Centres which are better Town Centres that increase the population cap, are stronger and train villagers faster.
This would also be particularly cool for Real World maps because you can place them in the real locations of important cities on the map. Also the more of the map you control the larger your population gets.
Imagine playing diplomacy with 16 players if a giant map that has many interesting strategic locations.
You could actually to and conquer a famous city because its not just a random empty spot on the map but instead has a permanent bonus attached to it as long as you control it.