Oversize Maps

[Roman]

I have downloaded maps which have a larger area than the maximum 10,000 squares normally allowed in the map editor.
Could someone please tell me how can I create such larger maps and what is the maximum size I can really achieve.

[Jonicro]

Is there really maps with over 10,000 squares? How large these maps you found are and where did you found them? Atleast i havent ever heard of them.

[William Keenan]

Yes, maps 10% larger then the maximum size can be created by hex editing the .MP file. For instructions on how-to I suggest you ask your question in the Scenario League forum, that's where the design experts are.

[Roman]

I found the maps right here on apolyton. One Northern Hemisphere map was 20,000 (200 times 100) squares and another World Map was 18, 000 (150 times 120) squares. I suppose these can be reworked to any other map as it is possible to open them in the map editor.

[Captain Nemo]

I don't think those size maps are possible.
I believe about 10,800 or so is the maximum, above that the game crashes... The specialist on the subject is Mercator. He designed an editor for the maps and tools to add the extra area to increase a map to the maximum size.
The format of the .sav file is what limits the map sizes used in the game.

[Roman]

I don't won't to argue about this, since I know so little about the subject, but check out the Civ II database here on apolyton and search for a map of northern hemisphere. When I opened the map in map editor it said 200 times 100 squares and the map worked normally.
Of course I didn't actually count the squares myself and it maybe that the map editor just went map with such a large map, but try it.

[Allard HS]

Roman, sorry to disappoint you, but the Map Editor multiplies the horizontal coordinates by two. If you load them into the normal civ game, a map of 200x100 will only be 100x100. That's probably the explanation for your thought. Try loading it in a game, and checking what coordinates are the lower right corner.

And it is simply not technically possible for maps to be larger than 10,700 and-something. Hex values do not allow it. Unless you would like to rewrite the game, of course..

[Roman]

Tks. You were right. That was indeed my mistake.

[Mercator]

Yep. "The max is 10,922", said the specialist on the subject. Well, the application I made isn't exactly available yet. I'm very bad at self-discipline, so it might take a while before I sift out the last bugs and send out the first version... At Cradle of Civilization you can find an adjusted version of the BMP-2-MAP program that allows for oversized maps. I believe there's an explanation there too.

[Julius Brenzaida]

quote: Originally posted by Mercator on 09-22-2000 03:32 PM Yep. "The max is 10,922", said the specialist on the subject. .

No !!!
10922 is not the maximum. It's 32768.
See my topic "gigantic maps" in this forum.

[Seeker]

Who is right?

[Seeker]

The Swiss was right! Amazing, how could an elder statesman of editing like Captain Nemo be wrong??!!

[Captain Nemo]

Actually Mercator(aka Jorrit) is the specialist on map sizes and he helped me created the oversized map for Red Front and Second Front. He sounded pretty sure that 10,922 is the max size. I am waiting for his response to these new findings.
BTW have you tried to save a game in progress on this Mega-map and see if it reloads uncorrupted? The size of the .sav file seems incapable of holding the info for a map 3x bigger than the original...

[Seeker]

I've only used the auto-save. I haven't tried loading a normal save yet.

And now I have, works fine.
[This message has been edited by Seeker (edited September 24, 2000).]

[Seeker]

And you can save as a scenario. Wacky message when you load up in map editor, but map editor still works on it.

it is 127 x 230 in the actual game (not the map editor)