Tutorial:MapMaking(Runecrafter)

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Development < Map Development < Tutorial:MapMaking(Runecrafter)

Runecrafter's Map Tutorial

Greetings, Myself (Runecrafter) and my fiancee (Moonchime) have been working on a map tutorial where we are going to try to teach you how to make maps quickly and easily.

A list of what you will require.

• Idea
  • You will need to at least have an idea of what kind of map you
    wish to make.

• Art App
  • Some kind of 2D art program, like Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, or The Gimp.

• 5 Images
  • You will need to create 5 images: Height, Metal, Type, Featuremap, Texture
    (Type is optional).

• MapConv

• • A program to compile the 5 images into the map for Spring.

• 7Zip
  • You will need this program (alot like WinZip) to compress the map
    into a .sd7 or .sdz after you are done compiling with Mother's Mapconv.

Ok Let's Get Started...

• Step 1: Size
  • First we will need to determine the size that our map will be.Think of it this way,
    a Spring map that is 2x2 in size will use a texture image that is 1024x1024
    where a 4x4 map uses a texture image of 2048x2048 etc..
    To get an idea of how big a map is,
    10x10 or less is small
    12x12 - 16x16 Medium
    18x18 - 24x24 Large
    26x26 - 30x30 Giant
    32x32 and up OMG!
    To my knowledge, 64x64 is the largest that Spring can take at this time.
    For this tutorial we will make a 16x16 (Medium) Map.
    

• Step 2: Height Map
  • The Height map is the image that determines the shape of the map(i.e.- hills,
    valleys, mountains, etc.). It is a Gray Scale image, that means that it only
    uses the colors of Black and White. Where black is the lowest point on the map
    and white is the highest point on the map.
    There are 255 shades in the gray scale- where 0,0,0 is black and 255,255,255
    is white.
    
    
    
    
  • Ok, now to make our Height map.
    First, we need to determine the size that our Height map image needs to be.
    Since our map is 16x16 that means that our Texture image will be 8192x8192,
    the Height map is 1/8 the size of our Texture map +1 pixel on both heighth
    and width.
    So with that in mind our Height map image should be 1025x1025. After you
    are done creating your height map save it and leave the image open.

• Step 3: Metal Map
  • The Metal map is the image that determines metal placement on the map.
    This map uses the Red Channel. The Red Channel consists solely of the
    colors red and black. Black on the Red Channel is equivalent to zero or no
    metal(in game). Pure red is equivalent to the maximum amount of metal.
    
    
    
    
  • The Metal map should be the same size as your Height map. For example,
    for our map the Height map is 1025x1025; therefore; the metal map should
    also be 1025x1025.
  • Some Advice Make sure to disperse the metal equally on all sides of the map
    as people will be playing on all sides of the map. Also, take note that if you
    place large amounts of metal in the center of the map or in any one location,
    people will fight for that particular location above all others. While this might
    make for interesting game play, the downfall to this is that whoever obtains it
    will most surely be the victor. Therefore, if you are going to place a large amount
    of metal in a certain location-make sure the amount is not so large that it destroys
    game play.

• Step 4: Type Map (Optional)
  • The Type map is the image that determines the terrain properties (such as ground
    hardness and unit movement speed). The Type map uses the Red Channel. The
    color black or zero is the default terrain type. The varying shades between black
    and pure red (255 shades) determine other terrain types. For example, 0,0,0 =
    [TERRAINTYPE0] (default), 1,0,0 = [TERRAINTYPE1], and 2,0,0 = [TERRAINTYPE2].
    You can have up to 255 different terrain types. The terrain types are defined in the
    .SMD file.
  • The Type map should be the same size as your Height map. For example, for our map
    the Height map is 1025x1025; therefore; the Type map should also be 1025x1025.

• Step 5: Featuremap
  • The Featuremap is the image that determines the placement of features such as:
    trees, grass, geovents, and custom features (i.e.-rocks, buildings, crystals, etc.).
    
  • The Feature map should be the same size as your Height map - 1 pixel on both
    heighth and width. For example, for our map the Height map is 1025x1025; therefore;
    the feature map should be 1024x1024.
    
  • To place a feature you simply place 1 pixel of the appropriate color on the featuremap
    in the place where you wish it to appear on your map.
    
    
  • Geovents - Green - 255
    
  • Trees - Green - 200-215
    
  • Grass - Blue - 0-255
    
  • Features - Red - 255-0
    
    
  • Some Advice Open the height map, resize the height map the the size of your
    featuremap, Make a new layer, on this layer place the pixels where you want
    your features, under this layer make a new layer and fill it in with the color black
    0,0,0 then flaten the image and save it as Featuremap.bmp
    

• Step 6: Texture Map
  
  
  • 
    
    
• The End Result
  
  
  •