Question about the seeded maps in-game

Frustration with resource placements

from Elemental Forums

Hey all,

 

I'm getting rather frustrated with the seed maps that I use every time I start new game at the world creation screen. I must have started like 200 new games today to find ideal resource placement not just for me but for the AI enemies too. I want everyone to have good starting positions, room to expand, and be much more competitive. In most of the maps I generated at the game start up, I use the "control + U" cheat to reveal the map to check if the resources are placed well or not. I'm lucky to see a single horse, warg, or crystal crag resource in 1 out of 10 tries on Large maps.

 

Fed up, I went to the CoreWorldResources, and jacked up "rarity" of resources to like 200 - 400. I noticed there's a lot more resources but still lucky to get one horse, warg, or crystal crag. Fed up with that, I went into the CoreImprovements folder and changed the horse production from 0.25 per season to 1.0, and ditto for Wargs. I don't understand why those resources almost never pop up even at 300 - 400 rarity (I even tried 800 rarity) but when I changed the food sources rarity to 300 - 400, I see like 30 - 40 food resources scattered across the large map almost every time I start a new game. What gives?

 

I checked out the random map generator that someone made on these forums, but I have a few questions. Is there any drawbacks or bugs associated with that map generator? I read something about quests and monsters not working correctly? Can I place individual resources on map tiles in that map generator?

 

Or should I try creating random seed maps in the Cartographer section of the editor part of the game, then place resources or whatever in it in the right places and in the right quantities? I want to have like 5 horses and 5 wargs on the map so that each faction will have a chance to get one for themselves. Knights / wolf warriors galore! Although I don't want them to spawn or be placed at starting location- just randomly across the map so everyone will have to explore for it then settle there.

elemental
9,159 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Elementerra does not allow user placement of resources (yet).  However, you can generate a map with Elementerra, then open it in the Cartographer and place whatever resources you want.  This gives you more control over what type of map you are getting, and you don't get any of those annoying cliffs along the sea-line. 

While you are placing resources, you might want to add in the minor factions as well since the game seems to be ignoring all but one of them. 

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Random Maps post 1.1 are very bland indeed, and many restarts just gives you more of the same. This has made random maps unusable as far as i am concerned.

 

But one good thing did come out of it.... it forced me to learn how to use the map editor and i have never looked back!

 

There is a long list of saved maps available for use, which is lucky since the random map generator in the map editor steadfastly refuses to obey 'single continent'.

Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

Has Stardock or the devs said anything about improving the random map generator or incorporating ElemenTerra in their next big update or the expansion?

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Veristek, reply 3
Has Stardock or the devs said anything about improving the random map generator or incorporating ElemenTerra in their next big update or the expansion?

Not that I have seen.  Still leaves a bad taste in my mouth that I bought the game with the promise of "new randomly generated worlds" and instead had to rely on a mod to provide what any reasonable person would expect from that statement.  But I'm getting free expansion packs so I'll shut up.  Also, as good as Elementerra is, it does not generate arctic terrain (and probably others that I haven't noticed).  I've been resorting to opening my Elementerra maps in the Cartographer, drawing in arctic and placing all the minors to get the full experience.

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Veristek, reply 3
Has Stardock or the devs said anything about improving the random map generator or incorporating ElemenTerra in their next big update or the expansion?

Not exactly, but changes to the resource placement system are planned. Look at Kael's (Derek Paxton) first reply in this thread. He's talking mainly about the increase to resource frequency in patch 1.11, but he also hints at some more fundamental changes planned for 1.2:

Quoting Derek, reply 8
What's needed here is a better resource allocation system (than just random placement) which is being worked on for 1.2.

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

I have a bunch a new stuff coming with Elementerra soon. Some of it is highly experimental however, and might need some toning down. Keep an eye on the mods forum in the next couple of days I will have an example map to show so I can get some feedback. It's like a different game almost.

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

Hey all,
Is there any drawbacks or bugs associated with that map generator? I read something about quests and monsters not working correctly? Can I place individual resources on map tiles in that map generator?

I haven't heard anything about that. I would definately like to know about it if anyone finds a problem.

Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting cephalo, reply 7

quoting postHey all,
Is there any drawbacks or bugs associated with that map generator? I read something about quests and monsters not working correctly? Can I place individual resources on map tiles in that map generator?

I haven't heard anything about that. I would definately like to know about it if anyone finds a problem.

 

This was the post I was referring to.

 

https://forums.elementalgame.com/395529/page/10/#2854121