Talk:Mapping/Random map assembly

From UFO:AI

• What is the minimum size of a map ?

256x256

This is a tile of size 1

tile +s11
{
3 3

0      c      0
a      +c     a
0      c      0
}

• What assembly-theme is used when no parameter is given ?

a random one

• How can you specify the exact layout of a map, using parts ?

use a min of 1 and a max of 1

assembly recreational
{
size "6 6"
[...]
+s11 "1 1"
[...]
}

Contents 1 proposed page layout 2 General 3 ump-format 3.1 tile section 3.2 assembly section 4 ump in action

proposed page layout

Below is what I propose to be the new layout for this page. I believe this will make it easier to write a document which is easier to understand and eventually makes clear how to use random map assembly.

General

TODO: write the explanation of random map assembly is and what it's scope (possibilities and limitations) are.

ump-format

TODO: In plain English, write an outline of ump file sections (I guess these include the tiles and assemblies). This should include short descriptions of what each section means.

TODO: Write detailed explanations for each ump file section like below:

tile section

Example:

// a map comment

base villaged/vil_

tile +s01
{
    4 5

    0  0  c 0
    0  a +c a
    0  a +a a
    b +b +a a
    0  a  a 0
}

• TODO: explain what the text after "base" means
  • this is the base pathname for all tiles - if a tile has a + in its name, the name will be appended to the base
• TODO: explain what "s01" means
  • s01 is the tile name - e.g. the map with the filename base/maps/villaged/vil_s01 - base/maps must not be give, because all maps are searched in this directory - villaged/vil_ is the base (see above). So you only have to give the +s01 to define a complete tilename. This is needed because some of the buffers are limited because they are send over the net (yes, you can play random maps over the network) - so the shorter the name, the better.
• TODO: explain what the first two numbers mean
  • this is the tile definition size - e.g. 4 cols, 5 rows
• TODO: explain what the matrix of numbers/characters mean
  • the outer numbers of this matrix are the needed tiles for the adjacent tiles - you can use letters from a-z to define different tile types
• TODO: explain the meaning of all valid characters/numbers
• TODO: explain what the '+' means in the matrix
• TODO: explain what a "demand-field" is

assembly section

Example:

assembly residential
{
	size "6 6"
	+s01 "1 2"
	+s02 "0 2"
	fix +s03 "0 2"
	+drop "1 1"
}

• TODO: explain what residential means
  • residential is the theme name - you can define several themes in one ump file - e.g. you want some map where you must have an ufo - and another one where you don't want an ufo - define assemblies for this task
• TODO: explain what +s01 "1 2" does
  • +s01 is again the tilename (see above) - "1 2" means, that this tile must be at least 1 times in this map - but at the most 2 times
• TODO: explain what "size" means
  • size is the size of the assembly in game - in this case - 6x6 means 1536x1536 (remember, one tile is at least 256x256 units in the mapeditor). A size of 6x6 would also lead to a square size (walkable actor squares) of 48x48 (because a unit has the size 32x32 in the mapeditor)
• TODO: explain what '+' means
  • extend the tilename with the base definition (see above)
• TODO: explain what "fix" means
• TODO: explain what "+drop" means

ump in action

Full example.ump file:

TODO: repeat all of the example sections here to show the _full_ .ump file

TODO: show how to play the .ump file in the game

TODO: show a File:Screenshot jpg of what this assembled map looks like in-game