Guide to Battlemap Modification* - Revision history

Makanyane: toc right

2021-04-16T18:03:10Z

toc right

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:03, 16 April 2021
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	*[[:Category:M2TW Battle Map Modding]]		*[[:Category:M2TW Battle Map Modding]]

			{{TOC right}}
	==Introduction==		==Introduction==
	This guide concerns the structure and modification of the battlemap terrain as found in campaign games and custom battles.		This guide concerns the structure and modification of the battlemap terrain as found in campaign games and custom battles.

Makanyane: added 2nd post section

2021-04-16T18:02:21Z

added 2nd post section

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 [[File:Figure23.jpg|300px]]
 Figure 23
 {{permitted|link location=[https://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=55785 TWC Tutorial]|Name=[[Muizer]]}}

Makanyane: more images

2021-04-16T17:45:51Z

more images

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	The value was chosen because it corresponds to an angle of 32 degrees: the stable angle of piled loose materials. The result is shown in Figure 17.		The value was chosen because it corresponds to an angle of 32 degrees: the stable angle of piled loose materials. The result is shown in Figure 17.

	~~http~~:~~//img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/Muizer/~~Figure15.jpg		[[File:Figure15.jpg\|300px]]

	Figure 15		Figure 15

	~~http~~:~~//img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/Muizer/~~Figure16.jpg		[[File:Figure16.jpg\|300px]]

	Figure 16		Figure 16

	~~http~~:~~//img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/Muizer/~~Figure17.jpg		[[File:Figure17.jpg\|300px]]

	Figure 17		Figure 17

	In a sense, fluvial erosion is also accounted for in the global parameters section. The values shown in ''Figure 5'' box 3 define river(bed) shapes. The first two are of direct interest to terrain modification. Both lower the river bed, the first multiplies its altitude by a fraction, the second adds an absolute height in meters. ''Figure 18'' shows what happens to our river valley when we set the fraction (valley factor) to 0.75. A larger height difference now needs to be bridged: the low angle footslopes have disappeared and the contribution of "steepest" slopes has increased at the expense of the nominal "steep" slope.		In a sense, fluvial erosion is also accounted for in the global parameters section. The values shown in ''Figure 5'' box 3 define river(bed) shapes. The first two are of direct interest to terrain modification. Both lower the river bed, the first multiplies its altitude by a fraction, the second adds an absolute height in meters. ''Figure 18'' shows what happens to our river valley when we set the fraction (valley factor) to 0.75. A larger height difference now needs to be bridged: the low angle footslopes have disappeared and the contribution of "steepest" slopes has increased at the expense of the nominal "steep" slope.

	~~http~~:~~//img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/Muizer/~~Figure18.jpg		[[File:Figure18.jpg\|300px]]

	Figure 18		Figure 18

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	Not surprisingly, in Vanilla the bias is only used for groundtypes typically assigned to mountainous areas where both the height differences on the heights map and the resulting noise (see below) drown out the geometrical regularity of the effect. Nevertheless, this setting can be quite useful to spice up terrain characterized by features too small to appear on map_heights.tga.		Not surprisingly, in Vanilla the bias is only used for groundtypes typically assigned to mountainous areas where both the height differences on the heights map and the resulting noise (see below) drown out the geometrical regularity of the effect. Nevertheless, this setting can be quite useful to spice up terrain characterized by features too small to appear on map_heights.tga.

	~~http~~:~~//img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/Muizer/~~Figure19.jpg		[[File:Figure19.jpg\|300px]]

	Figure 19		Figure 19

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	The interval [step_min, step_max] constrains the combined effects of noise and "erosion". It is advisable to keep the upper setting below 2.5. A higher value could cause the elevation data present in map_heights.tga to be drowned out by the (then no longer) small scale relief generated by the game.		The interval [step_min, step_max] constrains the combined effects of noise and "erosion". It is advisable to keep the upper setting below 2.5. A higher value could cause the elevation data present in map_heights.tga to be drowned out by the (then no longer) small scale relief generated by the game.

	~~http~~:~~//img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/Muizer/~~Figure20.jpg		[[File:Figure20.jpg\|300px]]

	Figure 20		Figure 20

	~~http~~:~~//img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/Muizer/~~Figure21.jpg		[[File:Figure21.jpg\|300px]]

	Figure 21		Figure 21

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	The ground type names "high mountains" and "low mountains" are especially misleading in this respect, suggesting a link with altitude instead. More appropriate would have been "mountain ridges" and "mountain slopes". Figure 22 demonstrates the need to coordinate ground type and slope: the small scale relief settings look quite natural on the footslopes, but for the cliff face the amount of noise is insufficient to disguise the geometrical pattern the terrain polygons. Ideally, the cliff face should be associated with a ground type characterized by a wider noise frequency distribution (standard deviation) and amplitude (median).		The ground type names "high mountains" and "low mountains" are especially misleading in this respect, suggesting a link with altitude instead. More appropriate would have been "mountain ridges" and "mountain slopes". Figure 22 demonstrates the need to coordinate ground type and slope: the small scale relief settings look quite natural on the footslopes, but for the cliff face the amount of noise is insufficient to disguise the geometrical pattern the terrain polygons. Ideally, the cliff face should be associated with a ground type characterized by a wider noise frequency distribution (standard deviation) and amplitude (median).

	~~http~~:~~//img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/Muizer/~~Figure22.jpg		[[File:Figure22.jpg\|300px]]

	Figure 22		Figure 22

	A modest attempt to modify the test climate ground cover and small scale relief is shown in Figure 23. I have striven, above all, to achieve a more coherent ground cover-relief relationship and I dare say I have made some improvement when the result is compared with the equivalent battlemap generated with the vanilla [[descr_geography.db]] shown in Figure 2		A modest attempt to modify the test climate ground cover and small scale relief is shown in Figure 23. I have striven, above all, to achieve a more coherent ground cover-relief relationship and I dare say I have made some improvement when the result is compared with the equivalent battlemap generated with the vanilla [[descr_geography.db]] shown in Figure 2

	~~http~~:~~//img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/Muizer/~~Figure23.jpg		[[File:Figure23.jpg\|300px]]

	Figure 23		Figure 23
	{{permitted\|link location=[https://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=55785 TWC Tutorial]\|Name=[[Muizer]]}}		{{permitted\|link location=[https://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=55785 TWC Tutorial]\|Name=[[Muizer]]}}

Makanyane at 16:50, 16 April 2021

2021-04-16T16:50:56Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:50, 16 April 2021
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	This tutorial is very old dating back to the days of using a hex editor to edit descr_geography. There may still be some relevant info in the pertinent sections of this tutorial, but for editing, you should use '''[https://www.twcenter.net/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=2870 Squid's editor]'''.		This tutorial is very old dating back to the days of using a hex editor to edit descr_geography. There may still be some relevant info in the pertinent sections of this tutorial, but for editing, you should use '''[https://www.twcenter.net/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=2870 Squid's editor]'''.
	*The article is based on the RTW file, the M2TW file is similar and can be regenerated from text file or edited with '''[[IWTE]]'''.		*The article is based on the RTW file, the M2TW file is similar and can be regenerated from text file or edited with '''[[IWTE]]'''.

	For related subjects see also:		For related subjects see also:
	:*[[:Category:RTW Battle Map Modding]] or [[:Category:M2TW Battle Map Modding]]		*[[:Category:RTW Battle Map Modding]]
			*[[:Category:M2TW Battle Map Modding]]

	==Introduction==		==Introduction==

Makanyane: more images

2021-04-16T16:50:06Z

more images

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:50, 16 April 2021
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	'''Notes:'''		'''Notes:'''
	*'''Warning concerning hex editing'''		*'''Warning concerning hex editing'''
	This tutorial is very old dating back to the days of using a hex editor to edit descr_geography. There may still be some relevant info in the pertinent sections of this tutorial, but for editing, you should use [https://www.twcenter.net/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=2870 Squid's editor].		This tutorial is very old dating back to the days of using a hex editor to edit descr_geography. There may still be some relevant info in the pertinent sections of this tutorial, but for editing, you should use '''[https://www.twcenter.net/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=2870 Squid's editor]'''.
	*The article is based on the RTW file, the M2TW file is similar and can be regenerated from text file or edited with [[IWTE]].		*The article is based on the RTW file, the M2TW file is similar and can be regenerated from text file or edited with '''[[IWTE]]'''.

	For related subjects see also:		For related subjects see also:
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	[[File:MBGFigure1.jpg]]		[[File:MBGFigure1.jpg\|300px]]
	Figure 1		Figure 1


	[[File:MBGFigure2.jpg]]		[[File:MBGFigure2.jpg\|300px]]
	Figure 2		Figure 2

	Next I stripped away as much of the relief detail " gained in translation" as possible. The result is shown in figure 3. To put the crown on my destructive work, I also removed the game's own contribution to texturing the battlemap and replaced it with "legend" colours. In figure 4, Blue is used to depict winter colours, while the summer colours are bright green.		Next I stripped away as much of the relief detail " gained in translation" as possible. The result is shown in figure 3. To put the crown on my destructive work, I also removed the game's own contribution to texturing the battlemap and replaced it with "legend" colours. In figure 4, Blue is used to depict winter colours, while the summer colours are bright green.

	[[File:MBGFigure3.jpg]]		[[File:MBGFigure3.jpg\|300px]]
	Figure 3		Figure 3

	[[File:MBGFigure4.jpg]]		[[File:MBGFigure4.jpg\|300px]]
	Figure 4		Figure 4

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	I will discuss the meaning of each of these parameters in the sections dealing with ground type and relief modification.		I will discuss the meaning of each of these parameters in the sections dealing with ground type and relief modification.

	[[File:MBGFigure5.jpg]]		[[File:MBGFigure5.jpg\|300px]]
	Figure 5		Figure 5

	[[File:MBGFigure6.jpg]]		[[File:MBGFigure6.jpg\|300px]]
	Figure 6		Figure 6

	[[File:MBGFigure7.jpg]]		[[File:MBGFigure7.jpg\|300px]]
	Figure 7		Figure 7

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	To bring some variety to this monotonous landscape we must add some "noise" to the texture and colour distribution. What What!? Well think of it this way: adding noise means that not all tiles will be filled with "long grass". The more noise we add, the more tiles will have the textures corresponding to adjacent gridcells in ''Figure 7'' box 6. I suspect (but am not certain) the noise distribution is gaussian ("bell shaped).		To bring some variety to this monotonous landscape we must add some "noise" to the texture and colour distribution. What What!? Well think of it this way: adding noise means that not all tiles will be filled with "long grass". The more noise we add, the more tiles will have the textures corresponding to adjacent gridcells in ''Figure 7'' box 6. I suspect (but am not certain) the noise distribution is gaussian ("bell shaped).
	The place to start when adding noise to texture distribution is the standard deviation entry (last column in ''Figure 7'', box 9). As long as this remains 0, you can do what you like but the terrain will remain homogeneous "long_grass". ''Figure 8'' shows the result when we set this value to 0.5. The effect of further increasing the standard deviation (to 1.5) is shown in Figure 9.		The place to start when adding noise to texture distribution is the standard deviation entry (last column in ''Figure 7'', box 9). As long as this remains 0, you can do what you like but the terrain will remain homogeneous "long_grass". ''Figure 8'' shows the result when we set this value to 0.5. The effect of further increasing the standard deviation (to 1.5) is shown in Figure 9.
	~~http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/Muizer/Figure8.jpg~~

			[[File:Figure8.jpg\|300px]]
	Figure 8		Figure 8

	~~http~~:~~//img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/Muizer/~~Figure9.jpg		[[File:Figure9.jpg\|300px]]

	Figure 9		Figure 9

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	Besides increasing the standard deviation, another means of regulating the range of textures found is by increasing the "median" (''Figure 7'', box 9 second column). The result of setting the fade out to -0.1 while increasing the median from 5 to 10 is shown in Figure 12. This result is nearly (nut not exactly) the same as the one shown in ''Figure 8''.		Besides increasing the standard deviation, another means of regulating the range of textures found is by increasing the "median" (''Figure 7'', box 9 second column). The result of setting the fade out to -0.1 while increasing the median from 5 to 10 is shown in Figure 12. This result is nearly (nut not exactly) the same as the one shown in ''Figure 8''.

	~~http~~:~~//img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/Muizer/~~Figure10.jpg		[[File:Figure10.jpg\|300px]]


	Figure 10		Figure 10

	~~http~~:~~//img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/Muizer/~~Figure11.jpg		[[File:Figure11.jpg\|300px]]

	Figure 11		Figure 11

	~~http~~:~~//img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/Muizer/~~Figure12.jpg		[[File:Figure12.jpg\|300px]]

	Figure 12		Figure 12

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	* slope_factor_flat = 1		* slope_factor_flat = 1

	~~http~~:~~//img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/Muizer/~~Figure13.jpg		[[File:Figure13.jpg\|300px]]

	Figure 13		Figure 13

	~~http~~:~~//img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/Muizer/~~Figure14.jpg		[[File:Figure14.jpg\|300px]]

	Figure 14		Figure 14

Makanyane: adding images back

2021-04-16T16:23:52Z

adding images back

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:23, 16 April 2021
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	This article is based on [https://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=55785 Muizer's Guide to battlemap modification] the original article was written by [[Muizer]] and imported with his permission as part of the [[Scriptorium]] project. The article may have been altered since import - please refer to the history page for details of changes, or reference the original document.		This article is based on [https://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=55785 Muizer's Guide to battlemap modification] the original article was written by [[Muizer]] and imported with his permission as part of the [[Scriptorium]] project. The article may have been altered since import - please refer to the history page for details of changes, or reference the original document.

	~~Note~~: ''~~The processes described~~ in this article ~~are only confirmed to work in~~ RTW ~~modding at~~ the ~~present time. The~~ M2TW file is similar and can be regenerated from text file or edited with [[IWTE]].''		'''Notes:'''
			*'''Warning concerning hex editing'''
			This tutorial is very old dating back to the days of using a hex editor to edit descr_geography. There may still be some relevant info in the pertinent sections of this tutorial, but for editing, you should use [https://www.twcenter.net/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=2870 Squid's editor].
			*The article is based on the RTW file, the M2TW file is similar and can be regenerated from text file or edited with [[IWTE]].

	For related subjects see also:		For related subjects see also:
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	~~http~~:~~//img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/Muizer/Figure1~~.jpg		[[File:MBGFigure1.jpg]]
	Figure 1		Figure 1


	~~http~~:~~//img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/Muizer/Figure2~~.jpg		[[File:MBGFigure2.jpg]]
	Figure 2		Figure 2

	Next I stripped away as much of the relief detail " gained in translation" as possible. The result is shown in figure 3. To put the crown on my destructive work, I also removed the game's own contribution to texturing the battlemap and replaced it with "legend" colours. In figure 4, Blue is used to depict winter colours, while the summer colours are bright green.		Next I stripped away as much of the relief detail " gained in translation" as possible. The result is shown in figure 3. To put the crown on my destructive work, I also removed the game's own contribution to texturing the battlemap and replaced it with "legend" colours. In figure 4, Blue is used to depict winter colours, while the summer colours are bright green.

	~~http~~:~~//img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/Muizer/Figure3~~.jpg		[[File:MBGFigure3.jpg]]
	Figure 3		Figure 3

	~~http~~:~~//img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/Muizer/Figure4~~.jpg		[[File:MBGFigure4.jpg]]
	Figure 4		Figure 4

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	I will discuss the meaning of each of these parameters in the sections dealing with ground type and relief modification.		I will discuss the meaning of each of these parameters in the sections dealing with ground type and relief modification.

	~~http~~:~~//img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/Muizer/Figure5~~.jpg		[[File:MBGFigure5.jpg]]
	Figure 5		Figure 5

	~~http~~:~~//img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/Muizer/Figure6~~.jpg		[[File:MBGFigure6.jpg]]
	Figure 6		Figure 6

	~~http~~:~~//img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/Muizer/Figure7~~.jpg		[[File:MBGFigure7.jpg]]
	Figure 7		Figure 7

Makanyane: joint logo

2020-07-01T16:02:43Z

joint logo

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:02, 1 July 2020
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	{{RTW Modding Logo}}		{{RTW M2TW Modding Logo}}
	This article is based on [https://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=55785 Muizer's Guide to battlemap modification] the original article was written by [[Muizer]] and imported with his permission as part of the [[Scriptorium]] project. The article may have been altered since import - please refer to the history page for details of changes, or reference the original document.		This article is based on [https://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=55785 Muizer's Guide to battlemap modification] the original article was written by [[Muizer]] and imported with his permission as part of the [[Scriptorium]] project. The article may have been altered since import - please refer to the history page for details of changes, or reference the original document.

Makanyane: watermark template

2020-05-18T18:11:20Z

watermark template

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:11, 18 May 2020
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			{{RTW Modding Logo}}
	This article is based on [https://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=55785 Muizer's Guide to battlemap modification] the original article was written by [[Muizer]] and imported with his permission as part of the [[Scriptorium]] project. The article may have been altered since import - please refer to the history page for details of changes, or reference the original document.		This article is based on [https://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=55785 Muizer's Guide to battlemap modification] the original article was written by [[Muizer]] and imported with his permission as part of the [[Scriptorium]] project. The article may have been altered since import - please refer to the history page for details of changes, or reference the original document.

MakBot: Text replacement - "http://www.twcenter.net" to "https://www.twcenter.net"

2020-02-10T18:50:28Z

Text replacement - "http://www.twcenter.net" to "https://www.twcenter.net"

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:50, 10 February 2020
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	This article is based on [~~http~~://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=55785 Muizer's Guide to battlemap modification] the original article was written by [[Muizer]] and imported with his permission as part of the [[Scriptorium]] project. The article may have been altered since import - please refer to the history page for details of changes, or reference the original document.		This article is based on [https://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=55785 Muizer's Guide to battlemap modification] the original article was written by [[Muizer]] and imported with his permission as part of the [[Scriptorium]] project. The article may have been altered since import - please refer to the history page for details of changes, or reference the original document.

	Note: ''The processes described in this article are only confirmed to work in RTW modding at the present time. The M2TW file is similar and can be regenerated from text file or edited with [[IWTE]].''		Note: ''The processes described in this article are only confirmed to work in RTW modding at the present time. The M2TW file is similar and can be regenerated from text file or edited with [[IWTE]].''
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	Figure 23		Figure 23
	{{permitted\|link location=[~~http~~://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=55785 TWC Tutorial]\|Name=[[Muizer]]}}		{{permitted\|link location=[https://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=55785 TWC Tutorial]\|Name=[[Muizer]]}}

	[[Category:RTW Battle Map Modding]]		[[Category:RTW Battle Map Modding]]

Makanyane: links

2017-06-29T10:17:31Z

links

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:17, 29 June 2017
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	For related subjects see also:		For related subjects see also:
	:*[[:Category:Battle Map ~~Modification\|~~Battle Map ~~Modification~~]]		:*[[:Category:RTW Battle Map Modding]] or [[:Category:M2TW Battle Map Modding]]

	==Introduction==		==Introduction==