A Divided Nation - Creation Thread

[McMonkey]

Civ2units

Did you decide on a map yet?

The reason I ask is because I am in the process of building a map of the eastern USA for a future project and thought it may be of use for your project. The map should be pretty accurate but may well be too large for a single player game. If you like I will send you a copy of the map file when I have the outline done so you can see the scale and decide if it is of any use.

[civ2units]

Thanks for your offer, McMonkey.

please post your map, I would like to see it. My map isn´t a really big map. Here is the map:

ACW map

[McMonkey]

The map you have there is actually quite a good size for a single player game and looks pretty accurate. The one I am planning to build is quite a lot bigger and may lead to poor AI play. At least on your map the cities will be close enough together for the AI to send armies between.

I will post the map as soon as the outline is done so you can take a look but I think you may actually be better off sticking with the one you already have

[McMonkey]

To give an idea of scale I have made a screenshot of Long Island down to the entrance of Delaware Bay.

Bigger does not necessarily mean better though. I just seem to be compelled to use the maximum 32,000 squares for whatever I make. I'm sure Freud would interpret this as a way of compensating for something

I just want to build a map for a multiplayer game I have in mind where armies have enough room to outflank their enemies and where cavalry scouts will be crucial in locating the enemy force.

I also have an idea about having three leaders for each side (Confederate and Union West/Centre/East) and the players have to co-ordinate their efforts. This may all come to nothing but I want to get the map underway so it is there if I ever decide to pursue this project.

[Elensar]

I would be in favor of as large a map as the AI's limitations can support, as a (A)CW specialist.

Now, I'm sure I'm going to get a howl from any Texans reading this...

But the Transmississippi, for the most part, can be left off. This is anything west of the Mississippi river.

Completely accurate? No. But representing Texas at the right size "to scale" would be a waste of map space, given the minimal impact this part of the Confederacy had on the war overall.

Is there any way to prod the AI in a large map to better performance, or will it inevitably get worse and worse?

[Cifer Almasy]

sounds very interesting!

[GhostOfDisco]

Originally posted by Elensar
Is there any way to prod the AI in a large map to better performance, or will it inevitably get worse and worse?

Events including "MOVEUNIT"?

[McMonkey]

You can also event spawn units near to where they are needed instead of hoping the AI moves them there. I do like large maps but when you look at some of the best ToT scenarios, for example Frederick the Great, they are on smaller maps and the AI seems to cope better.

I will post the map as it progresses and you can decide if it is of any use Civ2units.

[civ2units]

When I see the scale of your map from Long Island with my one, I think I will use my map.

I´m planning to use the rail bed system which Techumseh used in his Red October scenario, so there won´t be any streets in the scenario. So I think your map would be a little too large.

After my ACW project, I will rework my AWI scenario. Therefor your map could be very usefull. My current map seems for me a little too small. With your map I have more possibilities to create the main battle cities even if I cut off everything what I don´t need.

Does your map include the southern part of eastern Canada?

[McMonkey]

Probably a wise choice to stick with the smaller scale map, it does look well made!

The map I am making cuts of at the top of Lakes Michigan and Huron but it would be possible to cut off some of the west and extend the map north using MapEdit.

[Elensar]

I'm not sure I like the idea of "roadbed" terrain.

One thing to remember, mind, in setting up the scenario...

Southern railroads, except in Virginia, were horrible in terms of being a quick trip between two points.

They were also badly incomplete in many aress that was a great nuissance.

Be sure to represent this.

[McMonkey]

I think the railbed idea is a really good one if done properly as in Rad October. It is possible to make the Union Railroads more efficient than the Confederate ones by giving them longer stretches of RR. Raiding parties can be used to cut (pillage) sections of the RR on each side.

What will trains be used for?

One idea is to event create trains that have a high shield value. They could be sent to areas in need and disbanded to boost production. Of corse the AI might not grasp this.

[civ2units]

I also think that the railbed system should be a good solution for this scenario. There will be two types of trains, one siege train and supply trains, like McMonkey wrote.

I don´t really know how I can make terrain impassable for the units. Maybe someone could help me?

[McMonkey]

In the @TERRAIN section of the rules file there is an additional option before the three letter abbreviation. Change the no to yes if you want the terrain to be impassable (IE: yes, ; Grs)

In the @UNITS_ADVANCED section give units thet can ignore it the impassable terrain override flag (IE: 00010000)

[fairline]

Column G in units advanced as McM says. If you based your rules on a Scotto conversion of MGE rules, you'll need to add the latter part of a ToT rules set to yours.