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| Thread: Creating Custom Maps (Tutorial for Newbyes) | |
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husham123
Famous Hero
Yes
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posted April 03, 2015 01:29 PM |
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Creating Custom Maps for Heroes 3 (Tutorial for Newbyes)
First of all, thanks for viewing, and reading this topic.
If you don't read this whole topic, then you came here for no reason.
Read everything,or read nothing, just to tell you before this.
I actually wanted to encourage the creativity of creating new maps 
Actually is easy to create maps for Heroes
My favorite game that i played was Heroes 3,so actually let's get started with it,and i am going check for other previous Heroes versions,and theyr respective map-making.
So,getting started,you have to open Heroes Of Might And Magic III Map Editor.It is in the Heroes III Folder.
It will show you a new map.Now you can use this map,or start a entirely new one,witch will allow you to choose the version of the map (SoD have lots of new stuff.better than RoE,so i suggest you to start with this.
If you want to choose ANY of it,nobody stops you,you are not restricted to any version of Heroes ),and the size of it.So then let's get started.
Here is more exactly what it looks like when you choose a new game.
Here you might see that i first choose the kind of the terrain i want.
It is the basic of what the map will look like.You may choose it to be only water,or little islands,but if there is only water,you most exactly have to put another winning condition,and not allow the normal condition,so with the loss condition.
Now,as you see,i choosed to put the land.It is the basic.Then you might add some simply obstacles,but let's aim for the other things an ordinary map must have
Here,as you saw,i put 2 players.There must be 2 players to be a normal map,but if you want you can put creatures,mines,the grail to put another conditions for winning the game,so it works with lossing the game if there is no other player.
Other information you must know:
1:You might take a look at the numbers on the left,and on the top.They represent the size of the map.
32x32 is the minimum size,witch we call S
72x72 is the second size,witch we call M
108x108 is the third size,witch we call L
144x144 is the biggest size (for Homm3),witch we call XL
(Other size like H,XH,G are more bigger,but are only available for HotA)
2:You might take a look at the little map on the right-top too.
It is a zoom-out map allowing you to choose what the map looks like.
3:You might look up.You see a bar with different pics.
1.The first one is the terrain.It has more sizes,and is letting you edit the kind,the size,and the way releated to the terrain.
2.There you see 2 pics,witch are releated to the rivers,and roads.
The roads are increasing hero's speed,and Stamina.The Rivers could be obstacles.
3.The eraser is the tool allowing you to erase thinks from the map.
Anyone knows this but is only completeing this topic XD
4.The obstacles are thinks,witch more exactly are good for making a map.The obstacle block different buildings,heroes,towns,or not allowing you to pass that fast.The button for the obstacles place them random,but you could put them by yourself by going to the terrain objects.
5.Terrain objects (dirt,rough,subteraneean,grass etc.) are the objects releated to different kinds of terrain,but noone says you couldn't place them elsewhere
6.All-terrain objects are objects witch could be found on any kind of terrain,for example the cartographers,the recruiting creatures places,taverns,other grounds like the Holy Grounds,or even events
7.Towns.Simply-this bar is letting you put towns,and even edit them.
8.Monsters/Creatures-This is allowing you to put different creatures to different places.If you couldn't choose,you could use the random monsters.
9.Heroes-Each castle have a hero.But you could recruit different castle's hero from tavern.And so with this tool you could put differend heroes to different castle directly from the begining.
10.Artifacts-Objects increasing/decreasing some abilityes,or even adding special abilityes.
11.Resources.Each castle have different buildings,witch need resources to be built,like the Wood,Sulfur,Mercury,Gold etc.
Another thing: You don't need time, but you need concentration, and wondering about WHAT shall you add. And don't forget to fill the map. At least put some obstacles in the places where you think you don't want at least peoples to go there, or want to make the player go around it 
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What the darn-diddily-doodily did you just say about me, you little witcharooney? I’ll have you know I graduated top of my class at Springfield Bible College, and I’ve been involved in numerous secret
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kicferk
Known Hero
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posted April 03, 2015 06:54 PM |
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I feel the stuff here is pretty intuitive... There is no tutorial on this matters because map editor is very, very user friendly and pretty easy to understand.
So I guess you won't mind if I add something other than equivalence of "help" file to map editor. The stuff I give is basic for most mapmakers, but sometimes remembering it is not too easy.
If you want to make a map you first have to take a moment to think.
What kind of map is it going to be? For multi or singleplayer?
What will be the main idea for the map? Story/Challenges/Balance/(your own idea)
Once you have answers to these questions you need to start being creative, making zones. Sometimes putting all pieces of land is better, sometimes you can create map as you go along with the story of the map.
Once you made a zone you want to fill it with a lot of stuff, otherwise map will feel empty. Use some objects, obstacles, creatures or whatever you like. There are just two things you want to avoid, they are: uglyness and boringness. How you achieve that and which one is more important to you is a matter of choice. If you don't have a clue how to make a nice interesting area try playing several user made maps before.
When you are done with all the zones run a check from tools (Shift+V), to check if everything works as you want it to. When you are done with correcting minor bugs either play the map yourself or find someone who will do it for you. This part is quite important.
If specify in readme file or starting event the type of map and gameplay the user can expect, it will greatly decrease hate you will be getting. And if you followed the instructions above it will probably be a nice map to be playing.
Cheers
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Salamandre
Admirable
Omnipresent Hero
Wog refugee
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posted April 03, 2015 07:16 PM |
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husham123 said:
@Salamandre,
Could you please tell me how to improve my skills ?
Sorry for every mistake i done,and for not giving correct info,and thinks.Could you please help me ?
Sorry I, can't. Usually making a map takes me 9-16 months so I am afraid such explanations would take 50 pages about what a map needs to pass the test of time. But the first variable would be "time".
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Era II mods and utilities
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husham123
Famous Hero
Yes
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posted April 03, 2015 08:16 PM |
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@Kickferk:
I guess it is pretty user made.I actually liked the Help file from the folder when i was a noob.
Actually i just typed some map-making stuff,only because some peoples (like me) couldn't,or couldn't anymore open the help,and i just wrote my ideeas.Sure,i only explained this for newbyes,but i guess that there REALLY are thinks to be built here,or be removed
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bloodsucker
Legendary Hero
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posted April 04, 2015 03:40 PM |
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Salamandre said:
I am afraid such explanations would take 50 pages
So, please start writing them, your fans can't wait no longer...
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BlackMagik
Adventuring Hero
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posted April 05, 2015 06:42 AM |
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I think Kicferk has put it quite nicely...take some time BEFORE you begin to create a map to decide why you're making it in the first place. Have an overriding purpose behind the map...decide how difficult it will be...is there a story behind it...etc, etc, etc.
Make it not only technically competent, but pretty to look at.
And one thing I can state from personal experience, playtest it...playtest it...and playtest it some more.
Back in the late 90's and early 2000's I made custom maps for an SSI wargame called Pacific General. I was starting from scratch...I knew nothing about the map editor, or the Battle Generator which was an integral part of making maps.
After weeks of fiddling with all the various controls, and visual editors, I began making single scenario maps for campaign designers. To make a long story short, after a year my maps were in demand by nearly every scenario and campaign designer out there. Why? Because I researched the topography for the area...I researched the vegetation types...and I researched what units would be fighting on that particular map.
I acquired a reputation for geographically accurate maps right down to the vegetation types; my maps were pleasing to look at...busy but not overly crowded with useless "chaff". And I playtested the hell out of them to insure that they were bug-free.
My time investment was huge...maps for a 10 scenario campaign cost me nearly 800 hours of work, and that's not counting the research time. But when players consistently ranked some of my creations as the best maps they'd ever played on...that made it worth all that time.
So my advice is...have the desire to make not only technically correct maps, but ones pleasing to the eye. They HAVE to be fun to play on. And take your time. You will need lots of that to make good maps.
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husham123
Famous Hero
Yes
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posted April 05, 2015 10:28 AM |
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The maps are WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY better now  , because I am still working on them 
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markmasters
Famous Hero
Dragon of justice
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posted April 11, 2015 08:24 PM |
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First of all I want to thank you for the introduction about creating a map. The instruction book lacks one, so it is nice of you to make one.
However as a point of critique, you should check for spelling and set some blank spaces here and there, this would guarantee a more pleasent experience to read it .
P.S. I know my English isn't perfect either, thats why certain misspelled words make it even harder to read as well. Egnlish isn't my native.
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markmasters
Famous Hero
Dragon of justice
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posted April 11, 2015 08:27 PM |
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Salamandre said:
husham123 said:
@Salamandre,
Could you please tell me how to improve my skills ?
Sorry for every mistake i done,and for not giving correct info,and thinks.Could you please help me ?
Sorry I, can't. Usually making a map takes me 9-16 months so I am afraid such explanations would take 50 pages about what a map needs to pass the test of time. But the first variable would be "time".
I always wondered, which of the maps you created you consider to be your masterpiece?
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husham123
Famous Hero
Yes
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posted April 11, 2015 08:51 PM |
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markmasters said:
Salamandre said:
husham123 said:
@Salamandre,
Could you please tell me how to improve my skills ?
Sorry for every mistake i done,and for not giving correct info,and thinks.Could you please help me ?
Sorry I, can't. Usually making a map takes me 9-16 months so I am afraid such explanations would take 50 pages about what a map needs to pass the test of time. But the first variable would be "time".
I always wondered, which of the maps you created you consider to be your masterpiece?
For the thing you sayd before... It is my pleasure. The spelling mistakes were because my keyboard sometimes lags 
And, Sala/Valeryi has lots of maps, and I think all of them are masterpieces. You should look at them a bit.
And, remember not to double post, or TRIPLE post.
Avoid double posting by editing the other one (but you wanted to quote, and this is quite hard, so you are pardoned xDDD)
And Triple Posting does reduce your post count by 3
Whatever, thanks for the replyes 
____________
What the darn-diddily-doodily did you just say about me, you little witcharooney? I’ll have you know I graduated top of my class at Springfield Bible College, and I’ve been involved in numerous secret
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Salamandre
Admirable
Omnipresent Hero
Wog refugee
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posted April 11, 2015 09:55 PM |
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Haregar
Famous Hero
of destruction
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posted April 11, 2015 10:39 PM |
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kicferk said:
I feel the stuff here is pretty intuitive... There is no tutorial on this matters because map editor is very, very user friendly and pretty easy to understand.
That's why when I ran it years ago for the first time, I fell in love instantly. It's simple to use, hard to master (to make a good map or campaign, I mean), but it is also a very entertaining tool.
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husham123
Famous Hero
Yes
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posted April 12, 2015 12:08 AM |
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LOL Valeryi
Sorry I've been wondering with this question for LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTS of times, but it still is cloudy for me
(LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL) so much
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Herry
Bad-mannered
Famous Hero
100% Devil
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posted July 26, 2015 01:22 PM |
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Jesus, The terrain in the corner of the map thingy makes the map look... uncreative, unpolished, and just plain stupid. You need it to be more realistic, so you should make the zones closer to the center, but not too close. Also, you should design each area according to the terrain, e.g swamps contain a lot of swamps and lakes, wastelands have many deserted areas, corpses, and wagons. Also, it's only normal that you find more objects like gardens of revelations in a bracadian(or bracadic or some crap ) area. BTW I think you're placing too much trees in an area with few lakes 
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robizeratul
Known Hero
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posted May 18, 2016 04:20 PM |
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thanks, really interesting stuff!
Would love to see some wog tutorials, a little more advanced stuff. This is of great quality and thanks for writing it!
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