creating scenarios in ToT

[abuzayd]

hey knowledgable civvers, just purchased ToT because I thought it would be easier to create and run custom scenarios. but maybe i'm totally wrong? any advice on following issues:

(1) ToT won't run older scenarios... I get the message "out of date format." (I assume there's no fix to this, but just in case...)

(2) Is there an application that lets you look at/edit .SPR files? My (lame) graphics program won't.

(3) Map Editor????

Sorry if the answers to these questions are really obvious. Any help would be great. Thanks!

[Seeker]

No, you can't run older scenarios from Civ2.

Yes, you can use their maps if you want to update, you can use any Civ2 map in ToT.

There is supposedly a way to edit .spr files, but I don't know how. Many just get rid of them since it's easier to edit 2d pictures.

The only reason to buy Tot is if you want to make 4 map scenarios (like "Space, Land, and Sea")

[abuzayd]

thanks a lot for the advice. is there a map editor that i'm not aware of? (i didn't do a custom install, maybe it's in there?)

i guess i thought ToT would be better for scenarios cause the scripting language is more advanced. otherwise, i only have straight up Civ 2, not Fantastic Worlds, etc. i guess i'll have to get that one.

[Miner]

quote: (1) ToT won't run older scenarios... I get the message "out of date format." (I assume there's no fix to this, but just in case...)

ToT will not run older scenarios, however there is an excellent utility by Angelo Scotto called CivConverter which converts old pre ToT scenarios into ToT format. Works a treat, download here: http://civ.cx/utilities/CivConverter.zip

quote: (2) Is there an application that lets you look at/edit .SPR files? My (lame) graphics program won't.

Unfortunately the .spr is a proprietry format and MicroProse isn't letting on - no graphics package can edit them.
DracoOmega (?) announced on these forums that s/he was creating an .spr editor, but nothing has been heard for a while.

quote: (3) Map Editor????

You can use the map editor that comes with Civ2, the ToT maps are of exactly the same format.
[This message has been edited by Miner (edited May 24, 2000).]

[shamrock]

Good questions, abuzayd-

I'm thinking about getting TOT, and I have wondered similar things myself.

1) WADRT Seeker, I think you can run original civ2 scenarios with the "CivConverter" utility by Angelo Scotto Of course, I have no idea if it works...

2) No idea

3) TOT does not come with a map editor.

Seeker-

Aren't there other good reasons to get TOT, i.e. for scenario creation purposes? I understand that units can be given many more special abiilties like "invisibile until attack," and "unbribable." And aren't there many more terrain slots available, including impassable?

Just curious...

Damn - posted too slowly!
[This message has been edited by shamrock (edited May 24, 2000).]

[WarVoid]

The animated units in ToT make it close to impossible for new editors to customize. It took me many tries and failures before I could even figure out how to switch units.

[Michael Daumen]

There are the same number of terrain types but you can designate them to be impassable (and allow some units to travel on them).

The only caveat I have about civconverter is that you have to make sure the FW scenario has no cities as major objectives. And even then its picky.

[abuzayd]

Thanks everyone for the help... now I'm on my way with my first ToT scenario...

Another question for those who have done this a lot: when you want to change the values for terrain in the RULES.TXT, which set of "terrain" should you modify? I notice there's there original, and then the Alpha Centauri terrain, and then two duplicates of the original called, I think, "terrain2" and "terrain3."

BTW has someone designed a utility for editing the RULES.TXT?

Cheers...

[Miner]

quote: Originally posted by abuzayd on 05-25-2000 11:00 AM BTW has someone designed a utility for editing the RULES.TXT? Cheers...

Watch this space

[Eyn]

civconverter work (i use it for my scenario "Mafia" and i succeed)

but is there any FAQ about new rules.txt options ?

In the mafia converted scenario i can see the power&flag's units which were "invisible" on FW(power&flags was hidden by a "ocean" impassable air unit.
so i tried to use the "- impassable" otpion
but i don't succeed

[myrlyn]

1. Editing Units.
A) Get rid of all unit.spr files. These are only used for animations .
B) Get rid of the static.spr file. If you dont your new units will not appear.
C) If you want to copy old style civ2 units, cut the old and new units at a 65x48 pixel ratio. This will avoid any of the green lines showing up.
D) If there will be some small parts of the TOT units still visable. Just cut them away and copy the same size cut from a blank unit square.
E) There is also the turn unit animation off flag in the advanced unit section. Change it to 1.

2. Editing rules.txt
A) When editing this file be very careful. A missing or mispalced comma can cause the game to crash.
B)@Terrain=Earth @Terrain1=new world1 and so on

3. Editing Cities (if/when)
A) Cities.bmp is in 24bit color. Make sure that the file you are copying from is also 24bit color. If its not the game will crash.
(mspaint can convert the file into a 24bit bitmap if you dont have anything else.)
B) If you plan on using citiy styles of the old civ2 format, make sure that you use the green border from the old style civ2. If you dont the population box will be obscured if it gets bigger than 21.

4. Editing resorces.
A) If you want to put in your own resorces, delete the resorce.spr file. This files is used for resorces animations.

hope this helps
more tips to follow as soon as i remeber them

this will not be the last edit!!!!!!
[This message has been edited by myrlyn (edited May 29, 2000).]
[This message has been edited by myrlyn (edited May 29, 2000).]
[This message has been edited by myrlyn (edited May 29, 2000).]
[This message has been edited by myrlyn (edited May 29, 2000).]
[This message has been edited by myrlyn (edited May 29, 2000).]
[This message has been edited by myrlyn (edited May 29, 2000).]