You have to read the next sentence if you're confused, that's why I put it there:

This is a game mechanic.  In the game, planets are never more than 3 tiles away from their parent star.  That is why this limitation is in the editor as well.

Thanks for the replies.

What are the chances we could get to place bonus tiles on the planets as well?

I didn't know I could do that. I never needed to use it.

Learn something new everday I guess...

________________

6. Be able to see the taskbar while running the editor. I tend to change my music I play at random, so I would appreciate being able to save a few clicks when I change my playlist... or when I check the forums.

Thanks CrazyC0330 But......... I don`t think i like this!! it`s going to make CustomMaps harder to do

ALSO planets sizes only up to size 35 ???? Makes them small  :NOTSURE: 
Good news is that my other Custom Maps i have none in the pass are working right again with Custom Race

sorry guys don`t mean to sound like i don`t appreciate the editor
it is just if i do some of my ideals i`ll have to manually edit the files which leads to a bigger chance of typo`s and it don`t working


I see AsteroidFields have a 12 tile limit too (how far away from the Star it can be )

while we are at it what is Flip Textures Vertically and Horizontally
and Tile Offset ???
 

Since this seems to be the consolidated map editor thread I will post/ask this here.

In my attempt to load my map through the 'tournaments' option I can get to the 'loading map' screen but then TA crashes.

Here are my steps so far
1. create map and save as alamo1.gc2map
2. create new alamo1.gc2campaign with alamo1.gc2scenario and alamo1.gc2map flags
3. create new alamo1.gc2scenario with Title=Alamo1
4. changed 'active' values for all placed races from 0 to 1 in .gc2scenario

What have i missed?

Nevermind. I added in some ships to the custom map and a starbase. Once I removed the starbase from the custom map the above steps worked to load the map just fine

Now that I think about it, we really have cut the work out for the devs this time.

I wonder if things were like this during the original DL betas? I only found out this game after DL was released so I wouldn't know what things would be like then.

Could I get responce from someone who was in the DL betas?

Map Editor needs:

A summary screen. If I'm making an immense map, I'd like to be able to pull up a screen that will tell me how many of each PQ type I have, how many rad, aquatic, barren, heavy, etc worlds, how many resources of each type I've placed.....etc.

First, my cheetos would like to say thankyou... They are quite pleased at not being eaten due to the new map editor...

I do have a few "annoyances"...

1-The ability to edit numbers directly instead of all those sliders. Sliders look cool, and are fun for the first couple of planets... I already have numbers in mind, and a editable box instead of a "grayed out" box with the number would be most helpful.

2-The onscreen image of a placed planet does some weird things when you make it smaller.

3-Ability to MOVE a placed STAR. Once it's down, the only way to move it is to delete it and make another. Sometimes I just want to move a system over a smidge...

4-Can the display box (edit properties) just change to a selected planet instead of open/close/open/close/open/close? Redundancy is just so... redundant.

5-Ability to set tile bonuses, as well as add number of tiles for soil enhancement, habitat improvement etc. I like getting those planets that start at PQ4 but end up PQ20 once you get the techs. I'd like to be able to make a few on the map.

6-Ability to just use the delete key when an item is highlighted to remove it. (Star, Planet, what have you...)

7-Port the random generation items from the game to the editor. Number of Stars, Planets, Clusters, Asteroids, Blue clovers, Green diamonds... always after me lucky planetoid, you fruit loopy little bastage...

8-Port the minimap from the game to the editor, especially useful for large and above.

9-Ability to set random "habitable" planets, perhaps for each type. One screen with a number next to each type, hit create...

Most of these are "work flow" related. One problem I have with this game from day one is the absolutely ASTOUNDING amount of clicking one has to do. Bunching things together would save alot of time, and reduce the memory usage by only having to display one or two items instead of 10.

Thanks again for allowing the feedback !

T

Ctrl + Delete is hooked up for that purpose.

*EDIT* This was recently changed to use just the Delete key.  It'll be in one of our next beta updates. *EDIT*

I like this idea, but I'll have to see if there's time to squeeze it in. There is a map details dialog, and if we were going to implement any of those things it would go on there.

Shift+Del or Control+Del... got it. Although some of us don't have the hands and fingers for multiple key operations... One hotkey is nice... two or three strung all together is difficult for those of us with "great hands"...

Please oh please, let me enter numbers instead of using the sliders. PLEASE! (I hate sliders... oh so much...)

What about zero quality planets?
there are none and I have to create and edit them manually one by one..
this editor needs some scripts to create better random maps

creating a random map should be like in the game map generation where you can choose different options tight or loose clusters, habitable planets etc.

and something very important for interface and ease of use
instead clicking a star or planet and have a pop-up window every time
a left panel that stays there all the time instead popping up and every time you select something different you see the details there
also it will be easier to delete objects on map without the pop up window


also needed:
+random planet quality
+random sizes
+random moons & rings

I haven't seen the map editor yet.So, can any post some screenshots of the map editor.

I created my map and noticed a few things:

1) Star names don't stay.
2) I can't seem to find how to place a Flagship for the race, as it's not listed on the available ships pull-down menu.
3) Miners are not an option also to place.

I would recommend that the default NOT be set to uninhabitable for when you create / place a planet.
It would be nice if you didn't have to press CTRL-Q each time for place a star or CTRL-W for a planet. Just press the key combination one time to set the mouse pointer as a brush so you can place as many as you wish (or as game allows) and then you can either press another key combination to start painting with it, or allow us to press the right-mouse button to de-select the brush.

Not exactly a bug, but kind of weird.

Running Vista: The map editor is transparent. The middle screen, that is. Too use it without seeing my desktop in the background, I have to delete my desktop icons and change the desktop to solid black.

Lucky for you, the concept you are suggesting is already in the editor:

Hold down the Shift key once you are in the mode you wish to be in (Star, Planet, etc...). Each time you left-click with the Shift button held down, it'll place a Star or Planet or whatever, and stay in that mode. You can then keep placing them, select a different mode, or just right-click to cancel the mode.

    

I was creating a map
I spent more than 4 hours editing and the last time I tried to open it the Map editor it was crashing again and again. So I assume my map is junk now. So big lesson for me is not to touch beta stuff again cause I dont like to waste my time....

Smartie0 did you change the map any with note pad or another editor??
just because it crashes in the map editor does not necessarily mean it won`t work

my earlier maps crash the map editor but are still playable !!

No I dint use anything else except the Map editor tool.
I cant play any map cause Im still waiting for the fix for the game to allow the custom maps again.
But even if I could still needs a lot of editing since many planets are unhabitable..

ok you can play them in DA tho to test them any ways,.. so there is a way to try them !!!

put them in the custom map folder!!

(D:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar\Data\custommaps)

that is a lot of work gone smartie0 I hate that when that happens

Hey CrazyC0330 or Dev. Team !! 2 Questions what is Flip Textures Vertically and Horizontally
and Tile Offset ???

Also is there a way to give use the ability to pick the world map you want to use and the HeightMaps too,.. When we are building custom maps?? can this feature be added ???

We hadn't considered someone not having a mouse. I hooked up the +/- keys and it'll be in one of our next beta updates.



Unfortunately, the chances of features being added to tools like the map editor are near zero.  Twilight's on feature-lock, and that includes editors.  We will fix usability problems in the editors as we get time, but for completely new features there simply isn't enough hours in the day.

~C

Can we place custom ships?

Wow, thank you!