3D Map Editor

[MoLAoS]

After quite a bit of labor I have gotten the beginnings of a 3D Map Editor for Mandate. As far as I am aware it doesn't require a significant amount of my new code so its possible that if I add features in the right order it could be easily ported to GAE.

I have, after lots of labor and annoying errors and unclear code, been able to allow proper placement of map objects in game, based on my previous faction build menu. I will be working on added all the other current map features later. I will be attempting to utilize the save feature, with some modifications for maps, to create a way to store a map. Since the map is effectively created in a game context, its requires both a tile set and a faction. I will try to make these option when I split map making into its own context activated from the menu. Currently and hopefully still after that change, you are able to place both any tile set object and any unit from the player faction. After the change ideally you could place a unit from any faction in the same tech tree.

This may or may not later be modified to include some sort of scenario editor. When and if I add the overworld map screen you should be able to use that as well in conjunction with the map editor. I haven't ironed out all the specifics yet.

Although this should be relatively easy to port to GAE it uses the UI library of GAE so I do not think it would be possible to add this functionality to MG or VG as well.

[Coldfusionstorm]

I support 3d editors.

(and a rehaul of the current editor).

[wciow]

Good news, I hope we get a look at the Mandate Engine soon 

[MoLAoS]

You could use it right now if you could get it to compile from GitHub, but I'm not sure how easy that would be, I haven't actually tried it.

I keep having desires for random features so I can no longer make a guess as to when a stable version will be out. If I'm really honest I'm not the most reliable or organized person in the world.

[MoLAoS]

I have been working through adding biome data to maps. I almost have it integrated. I will then proceed to adding the various tools to manipulate both biome data and adding the terrain brushes to the 3d editor. Currently you need to load a blank map from the regular  map editor to edit in the game.

I would say that the 3D map editor should be done late this week, maybe Friday or Saturday. You will be able to get to it using a new button on the main menu. It will default to one of two maps, a blank map using the first surface of the first tileset available, if you use biomes you will be able too uses multiple tilesets fyi, and a second map that is the same but has a complete wall of mountains around the outside of the map so that you don't accidentally put other objects there. I personally surround all my maps with a wall of mountains to mark the edge but I'm leaving the option to use a default map without it.

The new editor will have space for up to 72 map objects and 72 resources that have models. However your tile set/tech tree can use only 1 of each if you want. You'll have access to up 48 surfaces as well. This is for each individual tile set. Obviously most people won't need access to this many assets but I am planning to use a lot of it myself so I had to add it.

The interface won't be super pretty, it will use the same interface as GAE does in game. There will be one panel for each type of asset. You can decide which ones are visible using buttons on the top bar similar to how the new GUI panels for units work.

[Psychedelic_hands]

If you would like some new icons, I'd give making them a go!

[MoLAoS]

That would actually be quite helpful. Some icons would be mod specific but some would be for the engine in general.

I would probably need these for the editor:
surface panel
object panel
resource panel
tileset panel

Maybe some others when I really look into it. Each tileset would probably need an icon also to select from the tile set panel. Generic ones that will be needed are:
Desert
Plains
Mountains
Sea
Forest
Jungle

Hellish/fiery for near volcanoes

A redo of all the generic tile set icons for people only using one as opposed to multiple sets.
An icon for the most common resources for the non biome-using editor. Gold stone wood and food.
Icons for the various editor functions like height and water and so forth probably.
Icons for 8 players. Might be more later if I need to have multiple allies for some of my games.
Any other important map editor buttons I've forgotten.

For the biome system every object be it map or resource will need its own icon but that will be up to the tileset creators modders, although if I can get existing sets for the basic biomes then someone will need to make icons for that.

My icon making abilities mostly consist of modding the colors on icons so that the same icon can go for the dozens of metal resources and so forth.

[Psychedelic_hands]

Got any perference of style? Classic Glest brown background, plan squares, funky circles, special mandate style, only pictures of cats? Or do you not really know and I have full artistic liberty? Like whatever goes man. I assume they will be 64x64?

"surface panel
object panel
resource panel
tileset panel"

I'm unsure how I'd go about to represent these. and will these be like stuff sub menus?

[MoLAoS]

Err they are panels in the GUI like Display or Resource Bar. One panel holds all the surfaces you can use like grass or dirt or mud and one holds map objects like trees and mountains and rocks and one holds resource objects like gold and stone and one holds the tilesets. So you click the icon for the tileset you want and it populates the other 3 panels with the surfaces objects and resources for that tileset. The new biome system has multiple tilesets, one for each biome. I suppose you could shove everything in one giant tileset if you really wanted though.

You can do whatever you like really, I don't have an opinion on graphics for the most part. Staying with the theme of Glest would be good I guess since at least my games will all be fantasy style. But if you want to do anything else it doesn't bother me.

[MoLAoS]

So I'm pretty much back from my extended break I hope. I got CK2 out of my system and Anno 1503 as well and also Warring Factions and various forum activities.

Anyways I am currently working on this project. I'm trying to add Map Editor to the main menu options, its gonna take me a day or so since I haven't touched the menu files at all yet. Once I can start a map session from the main menu I will swap the map_menu files over from a regular game to only being available from Map Editor.

I'll probably have to fiddle with some stuff like removing ticks and so forth. Then I'll need to stabilize saves since my vision of the Map Editor is basically just modifying a normal game and game save file. I'll have to manipulate some things to do this but its probably better than a standalone Map Editor and just easier for me to code personally. At some date when I'm much more familiar with the code I may create a standalone program that is much more capable, it really depends on if its necessary for my personal purposes.

I don't have a real estimated date of completion, so I'll just be posting important updates as I go.

[Coldfusionstorm]

Could we see some screenshots of this much wanted 3d editor?

[MoLAoS]

This is now functioning. Its relatively barebones. You can add new objects to a map, save game, and the objects will be there on game load. This is basically a simple extension of the now functioning save game feature.

I am going to work on adding some new stuff on top of this however. For instance a new modified version of the faction-build menu which will place units in completed form, the ability to spawn units as carried inside a building, ideally being able to place units from the faction/s that is/are not set to player. Some sort of unaligned "nature" type faction that you can place units for. Possibly a removal of the 10 object tileset limitation. This might be more easily resolved by placing natural objects into the "nature" as actual units, this making them destructible as a bonus.

Then ideally you can add in the other map editor stuff like terrain brushes and so forth. Also need to add multi-build to the object build menu.

I will be super busy for the next few days but ideally most of this stuff will be complete and I'll do a demo video by next Sunday.

[Coldfusionstorm]

Greate news, Glad to hear about the 3d map editor!, Gonna be great!.

Is there any word if it will be compatible with the megaglest file format?. and the normal glest, Different file formats and such?. or GAE?.

Much gratitude if it can create/modify Megaglest maps.
(japanese bow).

[Julius]

I hope this still ends up in upstream megaglest as it would be an awesome feature to have in the engine.