Custom Map Question

Old DL stuff

from GalCiv2 Forums

I just recently got a computer that's capable of running Galciv2, that is, the old Dread Lords one.  I've yet to get around to getting Dark Avatar or Twilight, so I'm using some old modding guide in the absence of a built in map editor, and on the off-chance anyone remembers whatt hey did before the days of the map editor, I have a question to ask you.  It appears to suit my needs thus far, but I have one tiny problem.  I don't actually know how to get the completed map file to show up as playable in the game.  I've put it in the custom maps folder, under data, under mods, under the Galciv2 folder, but it doesn't show up in game.  Do I have to save it as a specific file type or something?

modding
3,874 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

If a valid map file is in the custom maps folder, it will be listed in the corresponding Galaxy setup screen of D/L and be only accessible by clicking on the tiny arrow beside the *None* text shown. Then, activated by selection of its name.

Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Do you mean the Custom Maps drop down menu that shows all the other custom maps that come with the game?  If so, I've looked there, it doesn't show up, so I'm wondering what counts as a "valid map file".  I have no actual map editor, the guide I'm using (which can be found in a sticky topic on this forum; to be honest, I don't even know if it's compatible witht he version of GalCiv I have. Link: https://www.galciv2.com/mods/gc2modsdoc.htm#CustomMaps) seems to suggest that a custom map could simply be a list of code, which it gives instructions on how to make, but doesn't specify much such as what file type to save it as, or even where exactly to place it.  So, I'm wondering if I've missed something.

Curtains - Customize Windows with additional styles
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

It needs to be saved as a .GC2Map file and then placed in GalCiv2\Data\CustomMaps. There could also be an error in your code which is preventing it being detected, try looking through it again.

Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Well, if there's a problem in my code I probably wouldn't know.  I don't really know the syntax behind the language it uses (or even what the name of the language is), I'm just trying to wing it based on what the guide says.  A lot of the code I just left exactly as it was in the guide, not knowing exactly how to deal with it and what the various parts did.

How do I save it as a GC2map file?  Do I just add that extention to the name when saving it, or is there a special process I have to go through?

Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

I'll assume you're using Notepad for the editing, in which case just, as you say, add that extension to the file name, choosing "All files" as the type. If that then doesn't work still post your code here so we can see if there are any errors in it.

Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Yes, I am using notepad.  I had tried saving it as a gc2map file before and it didn't worked, so I tried deleting that one and doing it again . . . it still didn't work . . . .

It's a relativley simple map just to start with.  One star, five planets.  Some have moons, the others have rings.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>

<GC2Map>

            <Info>

                        <Width>3</Width>

                        <Height>3</Height>

                        <Size>0</Size>

                        <Stars>1</Stars>

                        <Planets>5</Planets>

                        <Resources>5</Resources>

                        <Anomalies>0</Anomalies>

                        <Ships>0</Ships>

                        <HomelessPlayers>0</HomelessPlayers>

            </Info>

            <Race>

                        <Human>0</Human>

                        <Drengin>1</Drengin>

                        <Altarian>2</Altarian>

                        <Arcean>3</Arcean>

                        <Torian>4</Torian>

                        <Yor>5</Yor>

                        <Korx>6</Korx>

                        <Drath>7</Drath>

                        <Thalan>8</Thalan>

                        <Iconian>9</Iconian>

                        <Custom>10</Custom>

                        <Dreadlords>11</Dreadlords>

            </Race>

            <Star Name="The Primary">

                        <X>22</X>

                        <Y>22</Y>

                        <Type>3</Type>

                        <CustomName>0</CustomName>

                        <Size>75.0000</Size>

                        <RotationSpeed>0.0200</RotationSpeed>

                        <Pattern>37.5000</Pattern>

                        <Density>2.0000</Density>

            </Star>

            <Planet Name="Capital">

                        <CustomName>0</CustomName>

                        <Homeworld>1</Homeworld>

                        <X>22</X>

                        <Y>20</Y>

                        <Quality>10</Quality>

                        <Size>20.0000</Size>

                        <RotationSpeed>0.0200</RotationSpeed>

                        <Influence>10</Influence>

                        <Star>The Primary</Star>

                        <Moon>

                                    <SatelliteSize>5.0000</SatelliteSize>

                                    <Orbit>100.0000</Orbit>

                                    <OrbitSpeed>0.5000</OrbitSpeed>

                                    <Tilt1>0.0000</Tilt1>

                                    <Tilt2>0.0000</Tilt2>

                        </Moon>

            </Planet>

            <Planet Name="Origin">

                        <CustomName>0</CustomName>

                        <Homeworld>1</Homeworld>

                        <X>24</X>

                        <Y>24</Y>

                        <Quality>10</Quality>

                        <Size>20.0000</Size>

                        <RotationSpeed>0.0200</RotationSpeed>

                        <Influence>0</Influence>

                        <Star>The Primary</Star>

                        <Moon>

                                    <SatelliteSize>5.0000</SatelliteSize>

                                    <Orbit>100.0000</Orbit>

                                    <OrbitSpeed>0.5000</OrbitSpeed>

                                    <Tilt1>0.0000</Tilt1>

                                    <Tilt2>0.0000</Tilt2>

                        </Moon>

            </Planet>

            <Planet Name="Tomorrow">

                        <CustomName>0</CustomName>

                        <Homeworld>1</Homeworld>

                        <X>24</X>

                        <Y>22</Y>

                        <Quality>10</Quality>

                        <Size>20.0000</Size>

                        <RotationSpeed>0.0200</RotationSpeed>

                        <Influence>0</Influence>

                        <Star>The Primary</Star>

                        <Ring>

                                    <SatelliteSize>5.0000</SatelliteSize>

                                    <Orbit>50.0000</Orbit>

                                    <OrbitSpeed>0.5000</OrbitSpeed>

                                    <Tilt1>-1.2043</Tilt1>

                                    <Tilt2>-0.8727</Tilt2>

                        </Ring>

            </Planet>

            <Planet Name="Depth">

                        <CustomName>0</CustomName>

                        <Homeworld>1</Homeworld>

                        <X>22</X>

                        <Y>24</Y>

                        <Quality>10</Quality>

                        <Size>20.0000</Size>

                        <RotationSpeed>0.0200</RotationSpeed>

                        <Influence>0</Influence>

                        <Star>The Primary</Star>

                        <Ring>

                                    <SatelliteSize>5.0000</SatelliteSize>

                                    <Orbit>50.0000</Orbit>

                                    <OrbitSpeed>0.5000</OrbitSpeed>

                                    <Tilt1>-1.2043</Tilt1>

                                    <Tilt2>-0.8727</Tilt2>

                        </Ring>

            </Planet>

            <Planet Name="Royale">

                        <CustomName>0</CustomName>

                        <Homeworld>1</Homeworld>

                        <X>20</X>

                        <Y>22</Y>

                        <Quality>10</Quality>

                        <Size>20.0000</Size>

                        <RotationSpeed>0.0200</RotationSpeed>

                        <Influence>0</Influence>

                        <Star>The Primary</Star>

                        <Ring>

                                    <SatelliteSize>5.0000</SatelliteSize>

                                    <Orbit>50.0000</Orbit>

                                    <OrbitSpeed>0.5000</OrbitSpeed>

                                    <Tilt1>-1.2043</Tilt1>

                                    <Tilt2>-0.8727</Tilt2>

                        </Ring>

            </Planet>

            <Resource>

                        <X>1</X>

                        <Y>1</Y>

                        <Type>1</Type>

            </Resource>

            <Resource>

                        <X>1</X>

                        <Y>44</Y>

                        <Type>2</Type>

            </Resource>

            <Resource>

                        <X>44</X>

                        <Y>1</Y>

                        <Type>3</Type>

            </Resource>

            <Resource>

                        <X>44</X>

                        <Y>44</Y>

                        <Type>4</Type>

            </Resource>

            <Resource>

                        <X>20</X>

                        <Y>20</Y>

                        <Type>5</Type>

            </Resource>

</GC2Map>

I appologize for the length.  I didn't know any way around it.