Suggestion: Saving a map for re-use

from GalCiv2 Forums

I am new to the game so maybe I have a different perspective on the game as viewed from a brand new player but one thing I found missing from the start was the ability to replay a same map at higher difficulty level or with different opponents.

I would suggest a "save map" feature, that would only save the actual stars system and planets (maybe anomalies as well) but without the ennemy races (and AI difficulty) and their starting positions. This way you can replay a map you like with different tactics or different opponents.

Just my 2bc

Ducky
2,745 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
No.

You would need a map editor, which does not exist,, except for Galciv1. If you do not have galciv1, it is well worth getting!

The only things of any great significance that you miss out on in Galciv1 are the ship editor, fleet battles and planitary bonuses. But in exchange you get terra stars, space monsters and unlimited planitary build space! Also i will have to credit in particular the 'terraformer' project as actually being useful in Galciv1... very useful!
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Why would you need a map editor? Couldn't it be possible for the game to save all the star and planet coordinates in an XML file? That's all the custom maps are: XML files. You can make a map in Notepad if you are so inclined. I'm in the process of doing just that.
Star Control: Origins
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Why would you need a map editor? Couldn't it be possible for the game to save all the star and planet coordinates in an XML file? That's all the custom maps are: XML files. You can make a map in Notepad if you are so inclined. I'm in the process of doing just that.


I would be very suprised if that could work, very suprised!

Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well, I've been able to load up what created. So far it just has some stars and planets, but I'm able to start a fully functional game. The tedious part will be making all the stars and planets somewhat unique (class, size, type, rings, moons, etc.)

It requires a bit of patience, but it works. Mostly it involves a lot of copying and pasting. I said I'd write a guide for it, but I haven't gotten around to it. I think I'll start on that now.

In the meantime, go to your GalCivII (or Dark Avatar) Data folder and open up the custom maps folder. The files should be labeled as "GC2MAP files," but really they're XML files. Open one of them up using notepad and check it out.

Also see the last section of CariElf's excellent modding guide: https://www.galciv2.com/mods/gc2modsdoc.htm
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well done!

Well that almost sounds like a map editor?
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

I read somewhere that is was all in XML format and since I saw the "custom map" option when starting the game, I figured it should be pretty easy to save it. Of course, that would need some change to the actual game interface though to add that option.

Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I thought there already was a complete guide for making map-XMLs out there? One of the sections of the extensive modding guide covers maps and scenarios, so anyone with basic knowledge of XML syntax (or a good editor) can make maps. Not that difficult, really.

Getting a decent interface for a map editor, now THAT is something different.


But I agree, saving the basic map info for replayability would be nice. Or just the random seed, if such a function is used. The same seed should give the exact same map when generated. (See the old Worms titles for example. I'm talking about the good, old 2D ones, or the new XBLA one.)
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I guess I could actually write one of those map generator pretty easily in .Net hehe. I will get back to you all when done