This program is free for any use (except you can’t sell it obviously).
• Contents
What Bolo RandomMap Does
Using Bolo RandomMap
How It Works
Limitations
Small Print
Warranty
Fine Print
Acknowledgements
Version History
The Author
• What Bolo RandomMap Does
Bolo RandomMap generates random, made-to-order, maps for use with Bolo.
For a one player game, try a 20 by 20, 90% map with one base and 16 pillboxes,
• Using Bolo RandomMap
Launch it. Fill out the fields - each field has two entries, you can specify zero, one or two values. If you specify:
one value it will use that;
two values it will choose a random number between the two; or
zero values it will pick a reasonable random number.
It then generates the map, and asks you where to save it.
• How It Works
It first generates random heights for each square. It then uses a simple matrix smoothing algorithm to smooth the heights. Then it thresholds them to get the required %land. Then it removes any one square islands or lakes, and makes sure nothing is too close to the edge. Then it adds deep sea at the centre of any 5*5 squares of water. Then it adds forests in clumps until it gets the desired %forest. Then it adds the bases and pillboxes randomly.
• Limitations
Bolo RandomMap should work with or without MacTCP since it has no reliance on it at all, and it should work with System 6 or 7, and probably requires the 128k ROM (or later).
• Small Print
This program is Freeware, you can use it or distribute it as long as you don’t charge for it (reasonable download costs such as Compu$erve are ok I guess (although who would call Compu$erve’s download costs reasonable?)). It would probably be a good idea to keep this documentation file with the program, but I’m hardly likely to check up on you now am I! I don’t guarantee any support, but I always answer my Email. If I don’t answer Email it’s because your message didn’t get to me, or my reply bounced (so try again, and include a valid internet address if you can). It may be included on the Info-Mac CD, but not on any other CDs without my permission. It may NOT be included on any disk costing more than US$5 without my permission.
• Warranty
There is absolutely NO warranty, guarantee, hint, suggestion or anything else that would lead anyone to think that Bolo RandomMap does anything stated in this documentation. It usually does not destroy data (systems, hardware, etc), and has sometimes worked on my Mac with System 7.1. It will probably not work with the 64k ROM. It might work with the other models, but I don't have them all, so I don't know. If it works on your system (or especially if it doesn’t!), send me a postcard or some Email and let me know!
• Fine Print
Peter Lewis hereby disclaims all warranties relating to this software, whether express or implied, including without limitation any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Peter Lewis will not be liable for any special, incidental, consequential, indirect or similar damages due to loss of data or any other reason, even if Peter Lewis or an agent of his has been advised of the possibility of such damages. In no event shall Peter Lewis be liable for any damages, regardless of the form of the claim. The person using the software bears all risk as to the quality and performance of the software.
• Acknowledgements
This program obviously relies on the existance of Bolo. Thanks Stuart! Pay Stuart his shareware fee or I’ll come round and break both your legs. You have been warned.
• Version History
Todo
Add more terrain types
v1.1.0
~Roundify map for Stuart
~Fixed bug that allowed pillboxes/bases to be placed on the same square.
~Fixed bug that allowed land to be adjacent to deep sea (this could cause a crash)
FetchNews 1.0.0b - Fetch News for use with NewsWatcher’s demo mode.
MacTCP Watcher 1.1.0 - Display MacTCP’s state information.
Bolo Finder 1.0.2 - Display the results from Mike Ellis' Bolo Tracker.
Bolo RandomMap 1.1.0 - Generate a random map for Bolo.
You can get the latest development versions from redback.cs.uwa.edu.au, but please use the major archives for released version if at all possible. Redback is a long long way from most people, and using it wastes bandwidth on the Australian-US satelite link which is overly congested already. So use the versions posted to the archives (like sumex-aim.stanford.edu or mac.archive.umich.edu), and only use the development versions if you have some specific problem - in which case tell me!)
Send postcards, comments, bug reports, and wishes to:
