Empire Deluxe Enhanced Edition
Map And Scenario Editor
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Map And Scenario Editor Overview
The map and scenario editor can be used to set up your own custom maps and scenarios for the game.
The Interface is similar to that of the Game Play Interface, with an Information window to the side reserved for various mapping and scenario making functions.
The Difference Between a Map and a Scenario:
Maps hold terrain information and can also have neutral units on them. Scenarios have the same information as maps do, with the addition of player positions preset, and units may be owned by those preset positions. A scenario also has a text description.
The Map Editor Front Dialog and Menu Options
When you do not have a map loaded, the map editor front end is displayed. This has many buttons that mirror most of the menu options available.
The options are:
You are also able to edit zoom levels 2 through 6 while in the editor. Be aware that pressing the save button will save these as the defaults both for the editor display and for game display.
With this dialog, you will make the map. The map settings are the same as those described in the Game Setup Map Tab.
The dialog does have a "Settings" Menu option, which allows you to load and save the settings from this dialog to a file for future use.
When you are ready to build the map, press the Make It Button.
Once a map has been created, the interface will look familiar, similar to the Game Play Interface.
There are a few important and never previously described menu options available while working with a map:
The side window has four tabs. These are color coded as
Dark Red Tab - Terrain and Neutral Painting
To edit a map, a person selects a terrain type or neutral unit, and paints that on the map.
You may change unit databases from this tab, but that option will remove all of the units currently on the map.
Painting Terrain
There are two rows of icons in the Terrain Box on this tab.
The top row is the terrain itself, by category. To paint terrain, click on the desired terrain icon and select a brush size. You will observe the current selected icon is displayed next to the brush size on the status bar.
Then Left Click on the map where you want to place the terrain.
Painting Overlays
The second row of icons in the Terrain Box are the overlays which are used in the game. These do not change, regardless of the databases used.
To paint an overlay, select the desired overlay icon and brush size, and Left Click on the map where you want it to be placed. You may also "sweep/clean" this overlay type on the map by Right Clicking on the location with the overlay,
Painting Neutrals
Neutral Units are available on this tab as well. To paint a neutral unit, select the desired unit and the brush size. You will also need to select the World Level at which you want the unit to be placed, if it is to be different from the default. Then Left Click on the location where you want the unit to go.
If there is already a unit at that location, it will try to stack the new unit inside of it. If that fails, the unit will not be placed.
At the bottom of this tab is the brush-size combo. The size is given in location squares.
Resource Def Value and Editing Resources
This value is the resource value that will be allotted to a resource whenever you place one on the map. When a resource is placed, Right Clicking on the resource will provide you with an option to edit its value.
Edit Units At Location
A unit on the map can be edited by Right Clicking on that unit. The single location unit editor will be called up. Select the unit you wish to edit from the unit tree. The following attributes can be set, if applicable:
Deleting Units At Location
Right Clicking on the unit on the map will prompt with an option to delete all units at that location. Only use this option if you wish to remove all the units in this square.
Adding/Editing/Delete Map Labels
Map labels can be placed on a map. They are not used in any way, except for display when a game is played. To add a map label, Right Click on any square on the map and select the appropriate label option.
Deleting A Resource At A Location
In the editor, players may right Click on a square with a resource and see the additional popup-menu option "Delete Resource" if applicable.
Light Red Tab - Player / Scenario Configuration
This tab is where you define the "Extra" data that turns the map into a scenario, which includes adding and configuring players and a scenario description.
Adding/Configuring Players
To add a player, press the Add button. If you have already set up multiple players, you may choose a player position from the Current Players list.
You may remove a player by clicking the Remove button. This will remove his units as well.
You may have two players switch positions by pressing the Switch button. You may not switch any position with the Neutral position.
Painting Player Units
Once a player has been chosen, you may paint units owned by that player. To paint a unit, select the desired unit and the brush size. You will also need to select the World Level at which you want the unit to be placed, if it is to be different from the default. Then Left Click on the location where you want the unit to go.
If there already is a unit at that location, it will try to stack the new unit inside of it. If that fails, the unit will not be placed.
Allowable Builds
You may set the preferred allowable builds for the scenario here. Note that if you uncheck a unit type from the allowable builds list, you are still able to place that type for that owner on the map. The allowable builds only limit future production.
Colors
Here you may set the player primary and secondary colors, by clicking on the color squares and using the Color Chooser.
BP - Buy Points
Here you may set the preferred buy points for the player.
CS - Cities At Start
Here you may set the player's starting cities.
Description
Pressing this button gives you a text area where you can enter a scenario description. This will be visible in the Game Summary.
Alliances
Here you may preset any Treaties between players. You may not set up treaties with the Neutral Player.
The yellow tabs allow you to perform "area operations", which is comprised of defining rectangular area on the map, and then manipulating it. There are two areas to work with, one for terrain (Dark Yellow Tab) and one for Units (Light Yellow Tab).
Dark Yellow Tab - Terrain Area Operations
Terrain Box
In the terrain box you define the Terrain area to work with. You have to define the upper left and the lower right squares of the area by their X/Y coordinates. You can do this in three ways:
Displaying the Area
To display the area of coverage, click on the Show button. If the area is valid, red circles will fill the area at each covered location. The upper left corner of the area will be a darker red, and the lower right corner will be a lighter red.
Map Area Actions
Here you can use the buttons to manipulate the terrain area.
Light Yellow Tab - Unit Area Operations
Units Box
In the units box you define the Unit area to work with. You have to define the upper left and the lower right squares of the area by their X/Y coordinates. You can do this in three ways:
Displaying the Area
To display the area of coverage, click on the Show button. If the area is valid, purple circles will fill the area at each covered location. The upper left corner of the area will be a darker purple, and the lower right corner will be a lighter purple.
Unit Area Actions
Here you can use the buttons to manipulate the unit area.
Here the units selected will be displayed in a table format. You are then able to multi-select the units you desire to edit, then right click on them to perform an editing action on an attribute or delete the selected units.
The column headers are: