MW4 Map Editor FAQ 
 
Q: When I start the editor I get an error like Stop!: Content\Missions\mapname.instance is a required page! How do I stop this? 
A: To fix the error simply move the scripts that are in the /contents/missions/mapname to a temporary location, move them back when finished with the editor.
 
Q: How do I make the shadows work on my maps?  
A: To fix the ‘big block’ shadow, open your missions.lights file, the Ambient light has a 0.000000, 0.000000, 1.000000 direction (last line). Duplicate the Infinite lights direction value for both lights, and that should fix the shadow issue.
 
Q: Why doesn't my scoring or nav points work in my maps?  
A: This is the 8 drop zone bug, define 8 drop zones in the editor but use the NFO editor to set up just 2 or 4 for each game type. This should fix the problem and get your scores working again. 
  
Q: When I set the Fog colour for my map, the editors fog colours all turn white. How can I get around this?  
A: You should be able to set the daytime fog to the colour you require. Do this and save the map off. Then go to mechwarrior4\content\Missions\yourmission and edit the *.data file to copy the daytime fog colour to the other fog settings as required.  
  
Q: Why does my map look so blurred, where's all the detail gone?  
A: The editor stretches and blurs the base texture of all maps. Some colours work better than others but the detail is added later using a 256x256 32bit TGA as explained in the map creator tutorial supplied with the editor. 
  
Q: Can I use the same terrain texture on any height map? 
A: Yes but when you press the map key in MW4 you will see the texture and not the map. It is best to use the terrain texture only on the height map it was created for. 
  
Q: Can I use different detail textures on my maps?
A: Yes, these can be freely swapped around to produce different looks to your map. The only problem comes when the detail texture you are using has a totally different colour scheme to the map your creating. This makes your map look very odd. 
  
Q: How do I pack up my map so others can use it? 
A: Pack up all the files in mechwarrior4\resource\UserMissions\yourmap.* Making sure you have save full path info set. The best way to do this is to create a new zip file in the Mechwarrior 4 directory and rename it. Then drag and drop the files into the archive. This will create the correct path for you. Next add your maps MW4 file from the mechwarrior4\resource\maps directory. These are all the files required to actually play your map unless your using custom scripts too. These can be found in mechwarrior4\content\Missions\yourmap\Scripts. Your scripts must be placed back in this location on everybody else's computer if it is to work. 
  
Q: Why does my map need the MW4 file of another map?  
A: If you use the same sky texture in two maps the editor creates a duplicate entry in mission properties. If you select the duplicate sky texture that is used in another custom map then your map will require that maps MW4 file from mechwarrior4\resource\maps to work, when this has happened anybody downloading your map will see and insert disk 2 message appear when they try and join your server. Also when you create a variation of a map your old MW4 file may be used by the new map instead of the editor creating a brand new 5 meg file. This can be handy for keeping file sizes low when your creating several missions using the same map. 
  
Q: Why does my map not work on other people’s computers? 
A: See "Why does my map need the MW4 file of another map?" above. 
  
Q: Why does my map have weird polygons/lines around the edges in MW4? 
A: The differences in height of the terrain around the edges of you map causes this. To fix this you need to create a border around your map that is the same height all the way around. IF your feeling confident you could try and level it off by hand a bit at a time until no rogue polygons appear but this will take a long time to do. 
  
Q: Why does my mech stop dead in water and refuse to move? 
A: The water is too deep. Reduce the depth in the map creator and try again. 
  
Q: Why does my water texture look square or blocky around the edges and shimmer? 
A: Your riverbanks need to be at roughly a 45-degree angle to avoid that effect. The cause is the very slight slope on your riverbank meeting the water at a fine angle.