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Post by wespex on May 19, 2010 1:55:17 GMT 1
Anyone interested in learning how to use the Random Map Generator to quickly convert an existing map from one side to the other? The whole process only takes a few minutes and it would help to get to know how the RMG process works.
For example you can take the Kursk map and use the RMG to switch player sides so instead of playing as the USSR on the defense you'll start off as the Germans on the defense with the USSR attacking.
You won't need to manually switch any units on the map, the RMG will do all the work, the only things you will need to change would be in the unit creation setting the appears points and maybe the objective texts to match the situation.
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Post by marinernl on May 19, 2010 12:44:12 GMT 1
Hello Wespex,
Learning all the time this would be a nice addition to lear how to convert maps using the RGM.
MarinerNL
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Folgore
General
(Once) BK Translator
Posts: 1,431
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Post by Folgore on May 19, 2010 14:11:16 GMT 1
This is very interesting. Sometimes I did wonder how would be playing vanilla changing side. But what about scripts in the map that will be converted?
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Post by wespex on May 19, 2010 14:52:04 GMT 1
The scripts & objectives would stay unchanged, although the descriptions & objective texts would be off since they also would remain unchanged. You can vary the nations and year depending on the context file used (with some minor side affects on unit type placed).
Once you get your map setup it only takes a few seconds to generate the new map with the different units.
I'll work up a small tutorial that details how to do this.
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Post by wespex on May 20, 2010 13:43:27 GMT 1
Getting Started:
Adding the file used by the RMG.
To get setup you will need to go to your run\data folder and select the data.pak file to extract both the Scenarios & Maps folders (Select and highlight these two folders only unless you want to extract the entire contents of your data.pak file onto your computer) into your run\data folder.
Adding the mission & script file:
Next open up the maps folder find, select, right-click and copy both kursk.bzm & Kursk.lua. Go to and open the Scenarios folder, find the folder named Patches and open it up, once inside create a new folder named “maps’ and paste both kursk.bzm & Kursk.lua into this folder.
Creating the maps container:
Next, open up the map-editor; from the main menu select Tools, Containers Composer. Now with the Containers Composer open, on the right-hand side (to the right of the containers list field) you will see three buttons, Add…, Delete & Check! Select the Add button and navigate to Run\data\Scenarios\Containers folder, open up the folder named “Summer” name the file “kursk00” and click the Open button to create a new container file.
Now within the Containers Composer window select the container file: scenarios\containers\summer\kursk00, to the right of “Patches” list field click the Add… button and Run\data\Scenarios\Patches\maps folder, select the file named “kursk.bzm” and click the Open button to add the map to the container. Leave the properties settings as there are. Click OK to close the Containers Composer.
Creating the maps graph:
From the main menu select Tools, Graphs Composer. Now with the Graphs Composer open, on the right-hand side (to the right of the containers list field). Select the Add button and navigate to Run\data\Scenarios\Graphs folder, open up the folder named “Summer” name the file “kursk00” and click the Open button to create a new container file.
Now within the Graphs Composer window select the graph file: scenarios\graphs\summer\kursk00, to the right of Map area click the slider and drag it down until the map area is set to 11x11… in the top left-hand corner of the map area click and hold down the left-mouse button and drag it down all the way to the bottom right-hand corner of the map area, a box will be created, make sure to cover the entire area within the borders, you will see a white shaded box with a red 0 in the top left-hand corner, right-click in the area to bring up the drop-down menu, select properties, click the Browse button and navigate to: scenarios\containers\summer folder, select the container file that you create earlier named kursk00, click OK and if all goes correctly you should see the 0 in the top left-hand corner has turned green, if not you will get an error message telling you that the container box is not the correct size, if this is the case simply repeat the step above until you have the right size. (The box should cover the entire area.). Click OK to close the Graphs Composer.
Creating the maps template:
From the main menu select Tools, Templates Composer. Now with the Templates Composer open, to the right of “Templates” list field click the Add button and navigate to Run\data\Scenarios\Templates folder, open up the folder named “Summer” name the file “kursk00” and click the Open button to create a new template file. Click OK to close the Templates Composer.
Now within the Templates Composer window select the template file: scenarios\templates\summer\kursk00, to the right of “Graphs” list field, click the Add… button and navigate to Run\data\Scenarios\graphs, open the “Summer” folder, select the file named “kursk00” and click the Open button to add the graph to the template. Leave the properties settings as there are. Now to the right of the “Fields” list field click the Add… button and navigate to Run\data\Scenarios\FieldSets, open the “Summer” folder, select the file named “field00” (normally you would add more but for this map you won’t need them) and click the Open button to add the field to the template. Click the Properties button then click Default Field to set as the default field. Now go to Script File Name section, click the Browse button and navigate to Run\data\Scenarios\Patches\maps folder, select the file named “Kursk.lua”, click the Open button to create a new template file.
If all went well you are finished setting up the map so that it can be used with the RMG. Once you get the steps down it only takes a few minutes to go through the entire process.
Creating the RMG version of the map:
From the main menu select File, Create Random Map… the Template parameter needs to be set to scenarios\templates\summer\kursk00, the Context parameter you can experiment with but keep in mind that earlier selections (France, Africa, Poland etc..) will cause the RMG to replace some unit types that weren’t added to the context file. The Graph parameter should be left as it is, the Settings parameter won’t affect anything since the map was already created in Summer and set to scenarios\settings\summer\russia, although it doesn’t seem to affect the map at all if you change the settings. The East, West, North and South settings also have no affect on the map. Make sure to check the BZM box. Name the map kursk00 to keep from over writing the original map.
That's it!
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Post by LouisXIV on May 21, 2010 10:34:19 GMT 1
I'll have to check this out when I get back. Will this work with non-square maps?
Hey, Don, if you have the Pacific section of the RMG working, how about posting it for everyone who is interested?
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Post by wespex on May 21, 2010 13:44:52 GMT 1
I don't know why it wouldn't work for rectangular maps; I've used it to create 1x5 patches but haven't tried a full map yet... I'll give it a go here in the next few days.
I still need to polish the steps on the Pacific rmg issue, once I have it all worked out I will post something on it.
enjoy your vacation Gerry!
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Post by LouisXIV on Jun 6, 2010 7:04:17 GMT 1
So basically you are creating a super-sized patch within a random map. I see no reason why you couldn't make the graph area larger than the patch/map you are using and add in some other patches as well - make a small but interesting map/mission larger.
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Post by wespex on Jun 6, 2010 15:20:55 GMT 1
You could... You have to rework things a little but you coud do it.
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Post by LouisXIV on Jun 7, 2010 7:23:43 GMT 1
I'll bet I could.
Hmm. When you get the Pacific version of the RMG working, I'm going to have to create a number of new context files...or are you going to do it, Don?
Will this be a separate RMG, or are you going to incorporate it as a branch of the existing RMG setup?
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