Freeciv map generator

[CapTVK]

If you're browsing through the Freeciv you're bound to find some hidden gems. One of those are the Freeciv maps. Which are generated in a very realistic way thanks to the use of special algorithms. Here are a few screenshots of some generated maps. The patch (by Karen Yeats) for this improved map generator won't be upcoming 1.13 release but will be included in the CVS on a later date.






For those who are savy enough to work with CVS (not me ) you can also find the fractalgenerator.diff there to test it out yourself

http://www.eng.uwaterloo.ca/~cjmorlan/freeciv/

[Straybow]

Interesting: no more specials "over three down one" pattern. One weakness: all the ocean specials are right next to land. I suppose the algorithmist wanted to not waste specials way out at sea where no city could use them, but some should be in the second row of tiles away from land. Especially whales, which seems to come close to shore only near certain rich, cold currents.

This may not be the place for such a suggestion, but without the pattern there won't be "hidden" specials in grassland tiles that anyone would have a snowball's chance of finding. Perhaps genuine specials for grassland squares could be added?

[St Leo]

Fractalicious.

[Straybow]

Also, is there a Civ2 pattern switch to make it follow the "over three down one" layout (but not necessarily the same patterns in all respects)?

[Hywel Dda]

Originally posted by Straybow
One weakness: all the ocean specials are right next to land. I suppose the algorithmist wanted to not waste specials way out at sea where no city could use them, but some should be in the second row of tiles away from land. Especially whales, which seems to come close to shore only near certain rich, cold currents.

Indeed, and quite apart from being more realistic, it would make more of a challenge in placing cities to gain the most of the resources. Its much easier to include a resource next to the shore in a city radius than if it is two squares out.

[Hywel Dda]

Originally posted by Straybow
Also, is there a Civ2 pattern switch to make it follow the "over three down one" layout (but not necessarily the same patterns in all respects)?

It is clear form the source that this generator will only kick in with generator = 5. Generators 1 - 4 will continue to produce their existing patterns. There are no other switches controlling the layout. Like generator = 1, this type of map is designed to be "unfair" - i.e. not all civilizations will have the same space for expansion, as in 2,3 and 4.

I've only had quick look so far, but don't see anything controlling resource layout, so I'm assuming that an existing routine in Freeciv is handling this. IIRC the other map generators do not use the 3 by 1 layout of Civ2 either and also have no resources away from the coast. Changing this would therefore involve attacking this other routine in Freeciv rather than the map generators. Is this desirable? I prefer the more random layout myself, although the "always near the coast" thing might be worth tackling.

[Straybow]

Thanks for your answers. Wish I had time to poke around in this more.