Single Player Map Collection

[Mart]

Does anyone have feeling that there is not enough maps for single player games in SMAC/X? How about creation of "Single Player Map Collection".
Those generated by the game seem like being a lot artificial. Also there is no Nessus Canyon there, Freshwater sea is rarely made correctly, and many other stuff.
We could make a collection of quality maps.

Edit
It is possible, when you click below link, it will automatically download the collection to default folder...
Link to download: February 2005 Single Player Map Collection release
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Links to other sites with SMACX maps
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Maps at civ.org.pl
Link to maps
Maps from Spartan Chronicles
Link to maps

[binTravkin]

At first all forums and fansites should be sought for good human-made maps - there will be a real lot of them, I think!

[Darsnan]

Re: Single Player Map Collection

Originally posted by mart7x5

We could make a collection of quality maps.

This is a good idea! I have several that I can contribute, and would also like to see what ideas others have incorporated into their maps.

One thing about some of my maps though is that I have placed the Unity wreckage in water and replaced the mining laser with a submersible. FYI.


D

[#endgame]

That's a novel idea, and it makes sense depending on the water% of the map.

[Mart]

I thought about some classification of maps based on several factors. All the known description, but also overall shape, like one large continent, 2 large continents, many medium islands, "land/sea" net, etc. Another would be present landmarks, like all standard landmarks, all landmarks - some modified, or stand. landmarks and 3 new landmarks.
We could work on it. Then players could know more or less what to expect without revealling too many details, if they want to play on previously unseen map.

We could talk about some general guidelines what is considered a quality map. I mean let's use some good experiences, maybe some links to other threads, or new remarks.

Meanwhile I will see my old maps for upgrading them.

[GeoModder]

Mmm, I do have a normal sized map somewhere with about 90% ocean and one Pangaea-like continent... not to mention the island strings dotted around the map and extra 'reefs'.

But at least 4 seafactions are needed for such a map, and the remaining 3 will be pretty crowded on that single continent, thus 5 seafactions would be better.

[Mart]

Any maps are welcomed!

From the organisational side. We will probably have to start collection as residing on our own computers. We might have a special folder for that. Maybe later some SMAC/X resources site might have them for download.

Meanwhile I post a smax large map. Please, if you have time review it and suggest how to spice it. This map is just average mostly
50-70% water
average erosion
average life
dense cloud cover.
Like three continents with developed coastline, 4 ocean (3 deep) one shalow ocean, many islands...
Standard landmarks but:
Two smaller fresh lakes in addition to one large Freshwater Sea
Rocky Mountains - some range of rocky tiles added by me (not many)
One more thing - I added several new rivers at least - more moist planet

[smacksim]

What about a collection of 2101 start-of-game saves? I usually build up a nice collection of those looking for the perfect game. The difference is that they are nice maps, but that the game has started. I could bundle them up and upload them if these could be included as well.

-S

[Mart]

I think I will start collecting the maps. If you have any description to them, please attach it. I can always describe maps myself, but better if they are described by the creator.
Each map should have a unique name - just for organisational purposes. It would be good, if the name can be used as a file name - for storing purposes.

There can be a separate section of saved game files, as you Smacksim suggest.

Everyone is welcome to ask for the collection, I will send it to him/her by email.

Also if anyone have some suggestions as for ideas for maps, please write in, if you wish. Darsnan, you have already asked for it, I will just repeat that request.

[Darsnan]

Originally posted by mart7x5
Also if anyone have some suggestions as for ideas for maps, please write in, if you wish.

All right, I will begin. I've attached several of my maps.
Several of the things I have done are to enhance the sea element of the game by placing sea monoliths scattered about my maps. I've also added some sea boreholes on several.
As far as the shapes of the continents are concerned why you will note that the original Map of Planet has a lot of long thin strips of land in it. This allows the AI's to better focus their units into a pseudo-blitzkrieg against human player bases. The "Spelunkers Delight" map is the opposite in that there are just a few canals scattered about that make life difficult for the terrain-bound human players.

D

[Mart]

Darsnan, thank you for the maps. I'll soon update this thread.

[GeoModder]

Check your mail, Mart. I've sent you a few as well.

[Mart]

Thank you for the maps. I'm organising the collection presently. Soon to let you know how it is going.

[Mart]

So finally I prepared description to submitted maps.
So far the authors are:

Darsnan
GeoModder
Mampfred
Mart7x5

All authors are encouraged to add more description to the maps if they wish.

Link to download: February 2005 Single Player Map Collection release

[Mart]

I would like here to inquire if anyone knows the author of the "Robsworld" map. I extremely like his (or maybe her) map. I find it very well made and enhancing AI very well too. I would like to include it in the collection together with a slight modification to it, which I made. Actually there are 2 versions, SMAC and SMAX of this map.
Robsworld is for download on other websites also, some of you may know this map and I hope the author too.