BBS Toolkit/BBS Toolkit.iso/doors_1/makeamap.zip/MAKEAMAP.TXT

Text File | 1992-07-27 | 16KB | 319 lines

                      THE GLOBAL CONQUEST MAP MAKER
                             by Scott Osborn
                            (c) 1992, Ozware

     You've been a good sport about it.  You were playing Global
     Conquest against your best friend and worst enemy, and the nearest
     burb to your corner burb was half a world away!  And your
     "friend"?  Well.  How does starting off with four unmanned burbs
     in your corner sound to you, hmmmmm?  A little unfair, would you
     say?  But that's okay.  You gritted your teeth and got down to
     business, swearing under your breath that YOU weren't going to let
     a little thing like LUCK keep you from being dominant in Global
     Conquest.

     But the battle raged on, and due to circumstances beyond your
     control, you lost.  "If only..." issued forth from your lips,
     followed by an oath that swore that if the "playing field" had
     been level, there could be no doubt that YOU would have prevailed.
     But being the good sport that you are, you did not let your enemy
     hear this.  Instead, you smiled.  You said "Good game!"  And you
     plotted your revenge.

     Now, however, there IS a way to make an "level playing field", or
     any other sort of field, for that matter:  The Global Conquest Map
     Editor.  This program allows you to make a map that Global
     Conquest can use in a "Custom Scenario".



HOW TO MAKE A WORLD

     First, you need to copy the following files into the directory
     which contains Global Conquest (most likely, this directory is
     designated CONQUEST):

     MAKEAMAP.EXE
     BRUSHES.PIC
     MAPOPEN.PIC

     Now go into that directory and type MAKEAMAP at the DOS prompt.

     After viewing the title screen, you will see a list of possible
     choices for your map.  The topmost option, "Start from Scratch",
     allows you to 1)Choose a world size, and 2)make a map from a
     "blank canvas".  All other choices listed are maps which have
     already been made, but which you can load and change, if you want.



WHERE WORLD-CHANGING DECISIONS ARE MADE

     After you choose how you will start, the Map-Editing screen will
     come up.  You will notice:

     1)On the right-hand side, words in boxes, one of which will be
     highlighted (Land).  These are the various characteristics that
     every world can have.  To pick that type of terrain, simply point
     and click with your mouse cursor onto the one that you want to
     use.

     2)On the left-hand side, five boxes with various shapes in them,
     one of which will be highlighted (The upper-most).  These are the
     different "brushes" of each type of world characteristic.  To
     choose a different size shape of brush, simply point and click
     with your mouse cursor.

     3)In the middle part of the screen is the world "canvas".  This is
     where you will make your world-changing decisions.  To change the
     world, just move the mouse cursor over this and click with the
     left mouse button.  The world will be changed into the
     characteristic that you have chosen at the spot which you have
     clicked.  Its that simple.

     Like Global Conquest, your "world canvas" is too big to fit on the
     screen.  To move your point of view, just click the right mouse
     button.  A miniature version of the map you are working on will
     pop-up.  Move the cursor to a place on the pop-up map where you'd
     like to go see, click the right mouse button, and you're there
     (Just like in Global Conquest).

     4)In the top right hand corner, you will see a box with the word
     "Quit" in it.  Likewise, in the top left hand corner, you will see
     a box with the word "Save".  One guess what these do.  But more
     about them later.

     5)In the lower right hand corner, you will see two boxes.  One
     says "Stats" and the other has a pair of numbers.  The numbers are
     the world coordinates of the cursor position.  The first number is
     your East-West coordinate, where 0 is the furthest West one's
     cursor can be placed.  The second number is your North-South
     position, where 0 is the North Pole (and Santa's Castle).  If you
     think that this box is called the "Coordinates Box", you're wrong:
     It's called the "WORLD Coordinates Box.  As for the "Stats" box,
     more about that in a minute.


TOOLS OF THE GODS

     Of the five brushes, the top four are the easiest to understand:
     Simply put, they are different sizes and shapes of the same beast.
     The top one is the smallest possible brush world-builders are
     allowed.  The next three are slightly different in size and shape.
     When you use them, just clicking on the world "canvas" produces
     that size and shape (of the chosen characteristic) on the world.

     The fifth and final brush, however, requires a little bit more
     explanation.  This is the "line" brush.  You use it to produce a
     "line" of a characteristic on the world "canvas".  To use it, you
     click on a place of the world canvas, then move the mouse cursor
     until the line is placed where you want it.  Then click again, and
     the line will be "laid down" at the place you have chosen.

     Perhaps you noticed that these brushes are relatively small when
     considering that there are continents to create.  Not to worry,
     these are "true" brushes.

     To explain:  Consider your mouse as the brush, and a "click" with
     the left mouse button as touching the brush to the canvas.  Very
     well.  But say that you want to really smear up your world with
     lots of heavy brush contact.  No problem:  As long as the left
     mouse button is held down, the brush is making contact with the
     "canvas", and you are applying your chosen terrain unto the world.
     SO:  While holding down the left mouse button, you can move the
     mouse cursor about and, consequently, the chosen terrain as well.

     But you're worried.  You and your mouse are, shall I say, not on
     the same wavelength.  It doesn't know when it should quit moving
     and lay still.  And you want to be particular about where and when
     you lay down YOUR terrain.  Hey, we were thinking about you:  When
     the mouse cursor is over the "canvas", you can use the numeric
     keypad to move it one "step" at a time in any chosen direction.
     Also, the "Enter" key works just like the left mouse button (it
     will lay down your chosen terrain at the spot you picked) and the
     "Space Bar" works like the right mouse button (it brings up the
     "unzoom" map).  One more thing:  If you happen to have your "Num
     Lock" key on, using the numeric keypad will be just like holding down
     the left mouse button:  In other words, you're "smearing" with the
     cursor keys.  But keep this in mind:  The cursor must be over the
     canvas for any of these keys to work.


A WORLD RECIPE

     Back to our world "ingredients", or the terrain characteristics on
     the right hand side of the screen.  You'll notice that the bottom
     three are slightly separated from the top five:  These are special
     world "features" that must be handled with care.

     The top five ingredients can be placed anywhere on the world
     canvas EXCEPT within three "squares" of the world's edges.  Go
     wild, if you will.  And if you go too wild, choose the "Ocean"
     characteristic to act as a world-type "eraser" (just remember
     Atlantis).

     The bottom three characteristics, however, must be handled with
     discretion.

     You will notice that these have only one "brush" available to them.

     Now is the time to talk about that "Stats" box you've noticed and
     are curious about.  It's the one in the bottom left hand corner of
     the screen, under the brush boxes.  When you click on it, you get
     a box with (amazingly enough) the world's statistics in it.  We're
     not talking batting averages here, but economic stats.

     A quick point about Global Conquest worlds:  No world can have
     more than 50 burbs in it, or 84 burbs and resources.  No world
     economy can stand more than that, or inflation runs rampant and
     the Democrats win a presidential election.

     The "Stats" box allows you to see how many burbs and resources
     you have on the world that you are editing.  And after you reach
     your 50 or 84 limit, those characteristics can no longer be used.
     If you reach your limit, but want to rearrange them, removing one
     from the world (by placing another characteristic on it) will
     give you access to them once again.

     On the other hand, worlds with too few burbs in them sometimes
     give Global Conquest the bends.  Imagine that you want to play a
     scenario where each player gets four additional burbs.  If the
     world you have created only has 7 burbs in it, Global Conquest
     won't let you play with that map, simply because it can't place
     all players' four additional burbs due to a burb shortage.  The
     game will lock up, and there you'll be, all dressed up and no one
     to destroy.  Well, we warned you!


BURB BEHAVIOR

     You will notice that there is only one type of burb allowed, even
     though there are four different types in Global Conquest.
     Doubtless, you feel cheated.  I don't blame you.  But the truth
     is, when Global Conquest is presented with a burb, it gets to
     decide what economic type that burb gets to be, as well as where
     the Native Capital is placed.  This way, when you make your
     "Custom Game", the choices you make in regards to "Burb Economic
     Level" can be honored.  So, no apologies here:  You are not
     allowed to have your World Cake and eat it too.

     But I know how you feel:  You wanted to place the Native Capital!
     Well, you've picked up a lesson or two from your spy, so you know
     how to get around these types of things.  Global Conquest picks
     the Native Capital by 1)Taking the AVERAGE position of each
     available burb and 2)Placing the Native Capital in the one that is
     closest to that average.  SO, by eye-balling the coordinates box
     and knocking the dust off of your calculator, you can figure out
     where the AVERAGE is and place a burb there.

     Hey!  Who is that I hear saying "The burb 'brush' doesn't allow me
     to make docks!  What kind of map-maker is this??!??"  Which one of
     you is it?  Well, Mr. Smarty-pants, you CAN make docks, so THERE!
     And if you're so smart, I'll let you figure it out for yourself!!
     (But for all of you who have kept your patience, I'll let you in
     on it:  To make a dock, 1)select Ocean, then 2)choose the
     top-most, smallest "brush" on the left hand side of the canvas,
     then 3)click that brush on the burb where you want to place a
     dock.  It's that simple.  But some cautions:  1)You can't make the
     center part of the burb a dock (if you try it, the burb will be
     removed), and 2)You can only make docks with the SMALLEST OCEAN
     BRUSH.)

     But back to burbs:  When you start a new map "From Scratch",
     you'll notice that the four corner burbs are already set into
     their positions.  Sorry, but you can't move or remove these burbs:
     They're presence there is crucial to the game.  Also, you can't
     place any type of terrain within three "squares" of the map's
     edge.  One more thing:  You can't place burbs so close that they
     touch each other.  One square apart, OK.  Touching, no.  Them's
     the rules.  Even Global Conquest has to have limits, you know.


OF MAPS AND MEN

     As is explained in the Global Conquest Game Manual, the "world" is
     divided into 8x8 pixel squares which the units move into and out
     of as they go about their duties.  Thus the "boxy" appearance of
     the brushes.

     But you wanted nice, curvy, jagged-looking coastlines!  You wanted
     the mountains to look different from one another!  You wanted the
     forests to look like a real forest!  You wanted your secret fuel
     reserve to look like swamp terrain to everyone else!

     Relax.  When you are finished placing all of the terrain where you
     want it, complete with the secret fuel reserve, click on the
     "Save" box.  As your map is saved, it is "Finalized" into a form
     worthy of Global Conquest:  All areas that border on ocean are
     converted into a jagged coast line.  All mountain areas are
     changed into range-type terrain.  All swamps are enclosed with
     swamp-like edges.  And all fuel areas (if not previously
     "swamped") are surrounded by swamp terrain.


NOW WHAT?

     Right before the map editor does all of this nice "Finalizing" for
     you, it asks you for a name to call this map.  Enter in something
     appropriate, then press enter.  The "Finalizing" will take place,
     then you will be brought to the file selection again for more
     world-making activities.

     After you exit out of the map-maker, you're palms are sweating.
     You've planned revenge on your lucky enemy, and finally your ship
     has come in.  But it occurs to you:  Hey!  I've got this nice,
     kind, trap-laden map all ready.  But how do I use it?  Global
     Conquest MAKES these things for every game!!

     Not EVERY game:  To use it, you have to make a "Custom Scenario"
     that designates a map as pre-fab.

     Do this:  Start Global Conquest.  Pick "Configure" from the
     opening menu.  Next, choose "Custom Game".  Okay.  Now, go through
     all of the menus, picking the things that you want this game to
     include.  If you have doubts about any of these, check out the
     Global Conquest manual, pages 63-68.

     Now.  When you come to the WORLD TYPE OPTIONS menu, STOP!!!
     Here's where you tell Global Conquest to use your map.  In the top
     left hand corner of this menu, there's a little box with the word
     TMAP beside it.  This is the one you want.  Click on it with your
     cursor.  Notice how the TMAP is suddenly obscured by a gray bar?
     That means that it's waiting for you to enter in a file name so it
     will know what file to look for when it starts this game.  So what
     are you waiting for?  Use the keyboard to enter in the SAME FILE
     NAME that you used when you saved your map earlier.  (Notice that
     these map files MUST have a ".MAP" extension, and that if they
     don't, they can't be used.)  When you're through, press the
     "Enter" key, and you're set.

     Now click on the "Done" box on the bottom of the screen, and
     you'll be brought to the Save a Scenario screen.  Pick an
     appropriate name, enter it in, and you're ready to play.


USING YOUR WORLD

     Now all you need to do is call your enemy and suggest a "friendly"
     game of Global Conquest.  Tell him or her that you want to try a
     custom game that you thought would be neat.  Then send them your
     newly-created map file before playing.  (If you try to start your
     custom game WITHOUT sending it first, Global Conquest will have to
     send it, and it will take quite a bit longer than most ordinary
     means.  Except, of course, U.S. Mail.)

     Next, choose the "Pick Custom Game" selection, then choose the
     custom game that you equipped to handle your "personalized" map.
     Your game, as well as your map, will be loaded, and you will be
     off to revenge-land.


A WORD TO THE WISE

     You now have the power to make your own world for Global Conquest.
     Use it wisely.  Also, prepare better, stronger, and more powerful
     excuses:  You can no longer blame your losses on "blind luck"...


GLOBAL CONQUEST is a registered trademark of Microprose Software, Inc.