[MAPS] Template cave maps for mass cave creation.

[Sasabmeg]

Create template cave maps so that those can be used to create good and random looking cave maps. For now manual copy paste of templates, maybe at later stage integrate them into a sample map for Tiled Mapper tool.

Design of templates:

• Press G on mapper to see rectangle grid.
• Templates should be the size of 20x20 rectangles (or 4x4 bold lines)
• Templates should be well separated to be easily copied, take care about templates orientation vs hexadecimal grid copy paste.
• Layout:
  • 4 exit templates
  • 4 dead end templates
  • 6 two way templates
  • 4 three way templates
  • 3 four way templates
  • several empty template maps at different sizes with scroll blockers for easier production

[Sasabmeg]

Additional notes and best practices from aopdevama:

• Try to align walls naturally to grid, else bookshelf test will fail (placing a bookshelf near the wall, the middle section may not be clipped by the wall, it's ok if bottom section does clip with cave walls)
• Try to align everything to even hex grids

[Sasabmeg]

A sample of a map made from templates in about 10-15 minutes. This is base map only, no critters, items, or exit grid setups. (other than default exit to world map) The idea in continuation would be, to have either 2x1 or 2x2 blocks that are in the middle or sides as a point of event (loot respawn guarded with mobs, and better looking scenery, not just empty walls.) thus the maps would be more unique. Each such scenery would be present once over the dungeon, the rest of the random looking caves would be without as filler maps.

[Sasabmeg]

Corner maps and variations: tempalte_cave_corner

Still need more variations, at least 3 of each, so they do not duplicate in random maps.

[Sasabmeg]

Exit corners and variations:

[Sasabmeg]

Scene 5 of level 1 - general design:

• player can leave north to next level,

• enter the bunker for extra loot + mobs and leave from there to next level

• stay at level 1 by exiting side exits

• dead ends or rooms are loot w/e mobs, respawning periodically by map event

• player drop from entering maze at random locations sometimes guarded by rats or geckos (when player enters cave system all their inventory is removed and randomly placed in the cave maps)

• link to other scenes: to use the elevator, power needs to be redirected to this scene.

[Sasabmeg]

Scene 3 of level 1:

[LinuxFO]

Interesting. However isn't there exist a tool which creates cave maps, it is?

[Sasabmeg]

Interesting. However isn't there exist a tool which creates cave maps, it is?

'For now manual copy paste of templates, maybe at later stage integrate them into a sample map for Tiled Mapper tool.'

If you think of the Tiled Mapper ( https://fodev.net/forum/index.php/topic,26058.0.html ) , the tool is great, the map templates aren't and final result maps it generates in it's current state I wouldn't want to play because:

1. maps become too rectangular or artificial looking
2. player would run through long map with little to no interests

The templates I made have similar issue, but to a less degree and working on lessen these effect. Problem 1:

• adding more variety to templates would solve it, specially if I make more of the * marked ones:

Problem 2:

• for this I made up a scene template map, that can be added to the set:

This is the base template with some fillings, add scene part and fill with random directions:

Takes about 5-15 min per map, that is base map only, no critters, containers, scripts etc.

I was also thinking about integrating the templates into Tiled Mapper, or rather rework TM around it, but probably I won't take the time for that, and move on to other type of issues.

[LinuxFO]

Okay, thanks for answers.