Empire Deluxe Enhanced Edition

Terrain Database Editor

Quick Links:

• Terrain Database Overview
• The Terrain Database Concept
• Terrain Editor Menu Options
• Editing Terrain Categories
• Terrain Category Editor
• Terrain Icon Notes
• Notes On The Terrain Set

Other Details Links:

• The Manual
• Game Play Interface
• Game Rules and Concepts

Terrain Database Editor Overview

The terrain database editor allows you  to create new or edit existing terrain.

Be aware that changes made to the terrain database will not have an effect on saved games.

The Terrain Database Concept

When a game is played, a Terrain Set is loaded. This Terrain Set defines the name, category identification, and graphical details of the terrain. This information is used both by the game engine and the game play client during the course of game play.

The terrain is defined by a set of Categories. Each Category has a unique Terrain Id. This Terrain Id is a represented by one printable character, which is used for reference when used by units in the Unit Database.

Terrain categories hold mostly image information. Movement costs and such are defined via the  Unit Database.

Mandatory Terrain Types

Every Terrain Database has two mandatory terrain categories. These are Edge and Unexplored. These are considered common, and their Ids cannot be changed. You may edit the graphics for these categories to make them unique to your database.

Terrain Categories Specification

The Terrain Category is comprised of the following information:

• Category Id - The Terrain Id, represented by one printable character.
• Category Name - The name of this terrain.
• Terrain Graphic Type - This specifies the type of icon sheet used for terrain display. These are specified in a standard way. See Terrain Icon Notes for details.
• Number of Icons - The number of terrain icons included in this category. See Terrain Icon Notes for details.
• Description - Text describing the category for the player's review.
• Sister Terrain Types - These are the Terrain Ids which qualify as "Sister Terrain". See Terrain Icon Notes for details.
• Image File Name - This is the image file used.
• Pixel Color - The color used when the player specifies his desire for it to be displayed at low zoom scales. Details here and here.

Terrain Editor Menu Options

The editor menu options are all under Data in the menu, and allow you to manage the databases available. The options are

• New Terrain DB - This will create a new terrain database. It will come with two categories pre-made, Edge and Unexplored.
• Load Terrain DB - This will load an existing terrain database. You will be prompted to load the "TerrDB.ini" file in the database's named directory.
• Set DB Lock Code - To protect yourself from yourself, a database can have a Lock Code, which will be required to be entered before a database will be changed. Selecting this menu option will prompt you to set the lock code. A lock code is not required, but is a matter of precaution.
• Merge Another Terrain DB - This will take your current database, grab another database you specify, and merge the two together.
• Save Terrain DB - This will save your terrain database. A lock code may be required. NOTE: Do not save over the databases distributed with the game. This will disrupt your ability to play with others. Copy them and make new ones.
• Save Terrain DB As - This will save the terrain database as a new database, with no lock code. You will be prompted to enter the new directory name.
• Delete Database - This will remove your database and all of the contents in the directory. Use this option with caution.

Editing Terrain Categories

The terrain categories are presented in a list form. You may select an item to edit, or create a new one.

The buttons along the bottom help you add, edit and delete unit types in your database. These are:

• Sort Columns - Allows you to drag and drop the column names so that they appear in different order.
• Edit - Edits the selected terrain category. Calls up the Terrain Category Editor.
• Delete - Deletes the selected terrain category.
• New - Creates a new terrain category. Calls up the Terrain Category Editor.
• Copy - Creates a new terrain category by copying the currently selected category. Calls up the Terrain Category Editor.

Terrain Category Editor

The Terrain Category Editor allows you to edit a terrain category.

You can edit the following:

• Terrain Category Id - Enter the Id you wish to assign. Be aware that changing this may affect Unit Databases which reference this terrain type.
• Category Name - Enter the name you wish to assign.
• Graphics Type - Chose the appropriate standard. See Terrain Icon Notes for details and settings.
• Pixel Color - Click on the color to call up the Color Chooser to set the color.
• Sister Terrain - Enter the Terrain Id for the sister Categories. See Terrain Icon Notes for details.
• Icon Image - Click on the image displayed to change the file. See Terrain Icon Notes for details.

To save your changes, press the Save Button. You must remember to also Save the database for the changes to take effect.

Terrain Icon Notes

Terrain icons must be in Microsoft's BMP image format.

There are no transparent colors in terrain.

Sister Terrain

The terrain database has a concept of "Sister Terrain". When the map is displayed, the icons are placed a certain way depending on what lies next to in. Sometimes, you would like terrain, such as Mountains and Peaks, to blend together. This relationship is called "Sisters". When a sister square is adjacent, the ion will behave as if it is the same type for matching purposes.

Graphical Types

The terrain icon image must follow a standard to be appropriately displayed in the game. This standard depends on the "type" of terrain you define the file to represent.

A number of graphical positions are specified in each graphical type. It is assume the image will divide exactly into that many icons. The icons are represented by one row only. The files distributed with the game have their icons at 32x32 pixels in size, but this is not a requirement. Study the existing image files with the game to gain a better understanding of how the icons should be laid out.

The types are:

• Water Type - Water Type graphics assume there is a coastal edge. There are 32 graphical positions. They are doubled for variety. These are specified by:
  1. No Exit
  2. No Exit
  3. Exit  to the North
  4. Exit  to the North
  5. Exit  to the East
  6. Exit  to the East
  7. Exit  to the North, East
  8. Exit  to the North, East
  9. Exit  to the South
  10. Exit  to the South
  11. Exit  to the North, South
  12. Exit  to the North, South
  13. Exit  to the East, South
  14. Exit  to the East, South
  15. Exit  to the North, East, South
  16. Exit  to the North, East, South
  17. Exit  to the West
  18. Exit  to the West
  19. Exit  to the North, West
  20. Exit  to the North, West
  21. Exit  to the East, West
  22. Exit  to the East, West
  23. Exit  to the North, East, West
  24. Exit  to the North, East, West
  25. Exit  to the South, West
  26. Exit  to the South, West
  27. Exit  to the North, South, West
  28. Exit  to the North, South, West
  29. Exit  to the East, South, West
  30. Exit  to the East, South, West
  31. Exit  to the North, East, South, West
  32. Exit  to the North, East, South, West
• Shallow Type - Same as Water Type.
• Land Type - Land Type graphics have 32 different icon positions.  Each position is set in a certain way, encompassing terrain in certain directions. They are doubled for variety.  These are specified by:
  1. Terrain Type Only in Square
  2. Terrain Type Only in Square
  3. Terrain Type  to the North
  4. Terrain Type  to the North
  5. Terrain Type  to the East
  6. Terrain Type  to the East
  7. Terrain Type  to the North, East
  8. Terrain Type  to the North, East
  9. Terrain Type  to the South
  10. Terrain Type  to the South
  11. Terrain Type  to the North, South
  12. Terrain Type  to the North, South
  13. Terrain Type  to the East, South
  14. Terrain Type  to the East, South
  15. Terrain Type  to the North, East, South
  16. Terrain Type  to the North, East, South
  17. Terrain Type  to the West
  18. Terrain Type  to the West
  19. Terrain Type  to the North, West
  20. Terrain Type  to the North, West
  21. Terrain Type  to the East, West
  22. Terrain Type  to the East, West
  23. Terrain Type  to the North, East, West
  24. Terrain Type  to the North, East, West
  25. Terrain Type  to the South, West
  26. Terrain Type  to the South, West
  27. Terrain Type  to the North, South, West
  28. Terrain Type  to the North, South, West
  29. Terrain Type  to the East, South, West
  30. Terrain Type  to the East, South, West
  31. Terrain Type  to the North, East, South, West
  32. Terrain Type  to the North, East, South, West
• River Type - These graphics have 32 different icon positions.  Each position is set in a certain way, with river exiting in certain directions. They are doubled for variety.  These are specified by:
  1. No Exit
  2. No Exit
  3. Exit  to the North
  4. Exit  to the North
  5. Exit  to the East
  6. Exit  to the East
  7. Exit  to the North, East
  8. Exit  to the North, East
  9. Exit  to the South
  10. Exit  to the South
  11. Exit  to the North, South
  12. Exit  to the North, South
  13. Exit  to the East, South
  14. Exit  to the East, South
  15. Exit  to the North, East, South
  16. Exit  to the North, East, South
  17. Exit  to the West
  18. Exit  to the West
  19. Exit  to the North, West
  20. Exit  to the North, West
  21. Exit  to the East, West
  22. Exit  to the East, West
  23. Exit  to the North, East, West
  24. Exit  to the North, East, West
  25. Exit  to the South, West
  26. Exit  to the South, West
  27. Exit  to the North, South, West
  28. Exit  to the North, South, West
  29. Exit  to the East, South, West
  30. Exit  to the East, South, West
  31. Exit  to the North, East, South, West
  32. Exit  to the North, East, South, West
• Other Type - This type is more free form. The minimum number is 2. You can set the number of icons represented in the file. They will be used randomly when displayed.
• Edge Type - This is a special type that is defined to specify how the edges should be drawn. It includes 30 icons. The specifications are:
  1. Single Square Edge
  2. North Edge with Water
  3. North Edge with Water
  4. South Edge With Water
  5. South Edge With Water
  6. North  Edge With Land
  7. North  Edge With Land
  8. South Edge With Land
  9. South Edge With Land
  10. North Edge Land to the East
  11. North Edge Land to the West
  12. South Edge Land to the East
  13. South Edge Land to the West
  14. North Edge With Water, Land To East and West
  15. South Edge With Water, Land To East and West
  16. Single Edge Square
  17. West Edge with Water
  18. West Edge with Water
  19. East Edge with Water
  20. East Edge with Water
  21. West Edge with Land
  22. West Edge with Land
  23. East Edge with Land
  24. East Edge with Land
  25. West Edge Land Exits North
  26. West Edge Land Exits South
  27. East Edge Land Exits North
  28. East Edge Land Exits South
  29. West Edge Water, Land North and South
  30. East Edge Water, Land North and South