Multiple Maps in a Single Session

from Elemental Forums

One of the major sticking points for fantasy and rpg mods in Civ4 is the inability  to create multiple maps for dungeons, planes planets and shops that could not be displayed on the overland map.

It'd be extremely handy if, in Elemental, it was possible to tie all sorts of maps to one another, in a variety of ways: a daisy chain, overland/dungeons, land/sea/air. 

It'd also be nice if those off-maps could be randomly generated using scripts that differed from the script used to create some or all of the other maps -- say, if I wanted to use one script for the static overland map, and several different scripts for randomly generated dungeon maps accessible from the overland map.

And it'd be even better if these dungeon maps could be randomly created throughout the play session through scripts, rather than just generated at the start and left alone. 

Also, it'd do wonders for the sci-fi community if you could create multiple levels of maps -- say, galaxy, individual systems, individual planets within those systems, and individual locations within those planets -- where some maps were randomized (say the systems) while other lower levels were static (say the planets) and had all their entrance/exit locations placed automatically and appropriately by script. 

And it'd be even more amazing if you could have an interface that allowed the modder to set entrance restrictions, and give the player an interface that allowed them to select which and how many units they'd like to bring in/out of the various maps. 

 

Hopefully that's not too complex to include, as it's been a huge bee in the butt of the Civ4 modding community, and it really would do a ton to convince many of the hard working players over there to switch to Elemental -- because, after all, it's something that Civ4 does not and will never have that is massively called for.

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Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

I agree as well.  I'm fine with not having it in the game, but I'm really hoping we can mod it in.  Can't do a MOM mod without it.

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Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

As we move forward we're keeping your request in mind so this sort of thing can be modded. Note that it will not be a 'canon' feature and may have to wait until a post-release update to be properly implemented.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

I think maybe the word you are looking for is 'canon'...

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

Not anymore ;)

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

I do get the impression that quests in dungeons are going to be in the lines of the text adventures of Space Rangers 2. Or more likely (because the other idea in multiplayer is a no no no no no), episodic "event windows" with choices that make the quest advance. Not that I think it's a bad system if used but "cannon" planes for dungeons would be awesome.

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

I would like this type of feature as well as an option for mods, depending on how simple it is.  Dungeons certainly would be nice, but I'm also thinking in terms of multiple planes and worlds (Like master of Magic or the Civilization 2: Test of Time games).  (It seems that, given someone with enough coding skill, this type of thing could be used for both, though I wouldn't actually know for sure.)

Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top

Obviously it isn't really all that useful for the main campaign -- but as a blah blah blah anecdotes blah blah blah, I really expect modding to be rather important to, at the least, a significant minority of players.

And since the whole goal is to be the hottest modrod on the planet, this is a feature that absolutely must be in, because it's something that literally every other possible contender lacks, despite literally every modder wanting it!

Reply #9 from Elemental Forums Top

Dungeons + a Strategy Overworld map, hmm i think i played a game like that allrdy like 10+ years ago so it isnt imposible, i dunno if anyone even remembers or has played the D&D game, Birthright the Gorgons Alliance from Sierra before. The best version was 1.3 since oponents leveled up, only after the patch, but it was a comercial flop around that time (ca. 30000 sales only). Well whatever it was pretty fun and maybe it is worth to check out for some ideas for these ppl that are waiting for the real deal like myself.

Reply #10 from Elemental Forums Top

I agree with Aeon221's request for multi maps.  Maybe ala 3d chess games where you see all levels at once and can move from one to the other.  I think it would be nice to see the different planes of existence(created for that particular game)in a small panel overlay.  Then you could grab whichever plane you wish to look at and move units, etc.  I would also like the inclusion(I'm greedy)of at least 5 planes to work with.  MoM only gives you default earth and Myrror.  I would like to have the default earth and pick from Group 1: Hades, Abyss, Tarterus, Ghenna, etc.. Group 2: Nirvanna, Elysium Fields, Valhalla, etc. group 3: Water-based plane with islands, shipwrecks, mermaids, and other nautical types; i'm thinking of races used like Lizardmen in MoM which needed but didn t get their own water territories. Group 4: Air based planar creatures in cloud plane-let's say any and all fantasy flyer's like Wyvern's, Dragon's, Harpies, Gargoyles, etc  Their base could be a Cloud Castle or something and Group 5: An ode to Chaos and Nature Magic from MoM where random magical acts, creatures randomly come and go and with only a few permanent areas on said map.

Reply #11 from Elemental Forums Top

Figured I'd bump this again just to make sure that nobody forgets about important things like making sure mods can use lots of maps in a single game.

I mean, eventually someone is going to want to make a space mod, and not having different maps for sectors, systems, planets, and cities will just seem downright silly. So, like, make sure it'll be possible to have all those different levels of maps in mods!

Reply #12 from Elemental Forums Top

Age of Wonders style underground FTW!

Reply #13 from Elemental Forums Top

Great idea, like it!  Should be 'canon'.

Reply #14 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Climber, reply 13
Great idea, like it!  Should be 'canon'.

Agreed, but IIRC Froggie dislikes the idea. :P

Reply #15 from Elemental Forums Top

IF the campaign doesnt have this thats fine.

But if im playing a mod based on D&D or adventuring quest..... ya we NEED this. Put it in modding tools

Reply #16 from Elemental Forums Top

Sooooo since Fallen Elfbabe or whatever is next on the agenda I've got a feeling this thread needs to pop on up to the top! Maps within maps within maps foo! How am I going to create the Inception mod without multimaps?

Reply #17 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting BoogieBac, reply 3
As we move forward we're keeping your request in mind so this sort of thing can be modded. Note that it will not be a 'canon' feature and may have to wait until a post-release update to be properly implemented.

 

And so did this ever happen/is it in the works for FE?

Reply #18 from Elemental Forums Top

This was one of the big things that I thought we would get in Elemental, or at least be able to mod without too much trouble. I'd really like it to get some love.