Call for CMNs

[Mart]

This is a call for a person or persons to become a CMN (Creator/Moderator/Narrator) in SMAC/SMAX.

There are still CMNs around who have been creating multiplayer games for many years, however many are not actively doing it any longer. To make a good scenario takes time, even if you have knowledge and experience how to do it. I enjoy making scenarios, but other life matters need my attention too. Recently, I delayed several games for few weeks and I think that if there is more CMNs then games would launch faster.

If there is a person or persons wishing to try to be a CMN, please post in this forum. We would start a tutorial with "hands on" experience. You would create SMAC or SMAX scenario for a given set of requirements. I would share my part of the knowledge of doing multiplayer games. My knowledge is not very large, but I have some fluency in making scenarios.
The tutorial would include:
- making maps
- modifying alpha.txt (alphax.txt) with pre-defined units, etc.
- scenario settings - forcing difficulty, AI tweaks, etc.

An article to read first is Googlie's manual in SMAC Academy:

http://www.civgaming.net/smac/acad_scened.shtml

It covers most of the important issues.

=======

Several years ago I planned to develop further the iniswap program that helps to avoid graphics bug into a general tool supporting creation of scenarios with automatic editing of files. recently I program more in windows, and hopefully be able to finish that project. CMN work would be easier :crossfingers:

[bdanv]

count me in

[Darsnan]

Re: Call for CMNs

Originally posted by Mart
This is a call for a person or persons to become a CMN (Creator/Moderator/Narrator) in SMAC/SMAX.

If there is a person or persons wishing to try to be a CMN, please post in this forum. We would start a tutorial with "hands on" experience. You would create SMAC or SMAX scenario for a given set of requirements. I would share my part of the knowledge of doing multiplayer games.

This is a good idea Mart!

If people have questions, then I should be able to help with answers. Note though that I am offline more nowadays, so it might take a couple of days for an answer.


D

[Senethro]

Do this, its awesome. Make a beautiful pristine planet with landmarks of interest and have those nasty, messy players destroy and oppress it in various interesting ways!

[Mart]

Hi Darsnan and Senethro. It's good you are around.

Let us start:

I think we can do SMAX, we make map first.
standard size planet, everything medium.
Plan for 4 human players and 3 AI. It maters how we position factions.

A note, start from a random generated map. I have heard that if you start by painting only, there is bug, but I'm not sure and this may be only a rumor.
In scenario >> create scenario
choose option "edit map", then "clear map (all ocean) and set size" this resets the map.
then either hit "8" or menu "edit map" - "set clmate and world parameters"
after that "9" or "0" slow or fast generate map (9, slow is better i guess...)
What I do usually here is using "9" several times until I get the initial continents the way it can be used for the setup.
Reshaping of landmasses is what always is good to do after this.

4 human players:
- it's relatively easy arrangement, best is 2 north and 2 south, AI may differ, depends on continents, their strength, enhancements, forced pacts, etc.
- how continents connect, also choices, separate or connected through archipelagos - better for AI and early contact, unless we help sea exploration, etc.
- monsoon jungle, what i often do is enhance it to an almost continuous belt of jungle in the equatorial region. I do it, so all human players can get some of it, share its benefits. AI can start on jungle - helps a lot. In the end there is more jungle on planet, but mostly it's better than in one place giving advantage only to some players. Other options is no jungle at all, or small patches here and there, distributed for all players to have similar chance to settle it.
- balance of rainy-moist tiles. adding some rivers helps in this or shaping valleys and making peaks trapping moisture.

We will consider more as we proceed. So let's make the map first, modify it, enhance, plan for faction start spots, then we continue further.

[Darsnan]

Originally posted by Mart
A note, start from a random generated map.

Here is a link to Smacksim's upgrade to the worldbuilder. I highly recommend it!

Originally posted by Mart
I have heard that if you start by painting only, there is bug, but I'm not sure and this may be only a rumor.

Dunno - I've always used the random generate function and then edited from there. Essentially I'll keep randomly generating maps (I always use the zero option myself) until one is generated that I like.

Note that as soon as you generate a map you like you should save it off, as the Map and Scenario Editor crash A LOT! From there I recommend saving about every 5 minutes of editing time.


D

[bdanv]

Originally posted by Mart
A note, start from a random generated map. I have heard that if you start by painting only, there is bug, but I'm not sure and this may be only a rumor.

it's not a rumor. i tried to play some time ago a 'painted scenario' and what i got was a huge flood (400m i think ) in the first 5-10 turns.

[Mart]

Dan, post the first map, when you have it, then we can discuss it. It's a good place to work on our skills in map preparation too.

[Mart]

so, how's going

[mmontgomery]

I have a challenge map idea that your class might want to take on.

I would like to see a map somewhat like the modified veterans map, in that each faction starts with a similar position on their own contenent.

But unlike the 4 balanced starting points for the Veterans map, make 5 somewhat balanced starting points. For this map, you can choose to make it cylindrical instead of flat if this works out better for balance.

Along with the obvious use of this map for a 5 player free for all, I have been wanting a map where a team of two very experienced /expert (or maybe just arrogant)players can challenge a team of three players who want to take them down a peg.

Would you like to take on the challenge of creating this map? I can tell you that I personally would like to play on such a map, with an appropriate partner, to challenge my skills.

[Mart]

That's something to try.
I presently make a new 4 players/balanced map, that would upgrade present veterans map. It would better match all 4 plyers continents.
5 players map, that would be designed for 3 vs. 2 game would be easier than without this restriction.

Anyway, noone's in the class it seems.

[mmontgomery]

I would love to see your upgraded vets map. I currently use your previously modified vets map for most of my games, because it is more balanced than any other map I know of.

As for the 3 vs 2 game, I think the modified vets map will work OK, just putting the third faction on the closest island location.

[bdanv]

@Mart: are you still around?

[vyeh]

His last post was Nov. 14. My PM message tracking shows that he was last online Nov. 29.

[florin79c]

@ All CMN's out there : Dan needs some help to finish a new scenario for us, pls help