Fantasy Maps

[ldvger 19]

I have found a lot of information about how to create real geography into SC4 regions and all of that information is very useful, especially for folks who want to make the game as real as they can.  But not all city builders want realism in thier base terrain, so the fantasy maps have a lot of appeal.

 

I would love to create fantasy maps but have found few hints anywhere on this site about what tools or techniques help.  I have created a couple of custom terrains just using the in-games GOD tools, but was not very happy with what I ended up with.  Since then I have downloaded and begun to use some of the MODS specific to terraforming and am seeing some good possibilities. 

 

I know there are other fantasy map creators out there who are masters at this task, I have seen some of the maps on the STEX.  Can we hear from you?  Share?

 

For example, one of my biggest frustrations is creating a entire region, one that doesn't look like it was created one city-space at a time (which of course it was).  The reconcile edges tool is not very effective for making a cohesive region.  How to work around that? 

 

Many more examples of the challenges of creating fantasy regions exist, but I will limit myself for the sake of brevity. 

 

There is a pinned thread for creating maps from real life...how about one for creating maps from our imagination?

 

Just a thought...

 

Lora/LD

 

 

[MallowTheCloud 41]

I would love to help you with this.... the only problem is, I don't know of any good methods to make such maps.

The only three ways I know how are:

1. Draw each grey by hand. This is VERY time consuming and you have to know a lot about how it will look when it's rendered.

2. Use a real world terrain, or parts of a real world terrain, and edit to your liking. However, with this method, you will not be able to create your region exactly how you want it, as it will still have to have some basis in reality.

3. Use a picture of something, like a cloud... and convert it to a greyscale. This is creative, but alas, does not give you much leeway as to what you are going to end up with.



If anybody knows any better methods, please share! Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

[Mary Maurine Mayo 984]

I have used tearragen to make maps works out ok but you end up doing alot more editing than you really wanted to.

 

Mountians are the hardest thing to get right. using terragen most of my map ended up being flattened out.

 

 

[ldvger 19]

Well, besides wanting to create fantasy maps, I also have some real maps I would like to attempt to create and so have been downloading the tools recommended in Mallow's tutorial.  Landscape Designer looks like it could be a useful tool for creating fantasy landscapes...once I learn how to use it!  It appears to have tools that can be used across entire regions instead of just in the city-by-city approach the game allows.

 

Has anyone tried to use AutoCad for pre-planning a region and then terraforming in the usual city-by-city game mode using an Autocad template?  I don't mean trying to import or translate the CAD file into any of the various tools or the game, but to use CAD as a stand-alone/stand apart planning tool.  I'm an architect and have found many uses for CAD that it wasn't really intended for and am wondering about trying this.  It seems to me that you could create a grid of squares that conforms to the 1025x1025 region size, then maybe map out, in greyscale and using one of the greyscale guides on this site, a rough approximation of basic land forms you want in your fantasy region.  You could then overlay a bitmap pattern for how you want your cities to work, in terms of small, medium, large, and print the whole mess.  Using your CAD print as a hardcopy guide, then open the game and start terraforming away in the usual city-by-city mode.  This way, you could use the reconcile edges tool without creating too much mess between city squares and just might end up with something fairly close to what you actually wanted. 

 

Just a thought...

[MrVegetable 2]

I use Landscape designer for my maps. I find it makes very nice maps. I also use SCRACC but it's quite difficult to use. It's a shame we can't make our own maps in-game and use those. When I get a new computer I can help you if you need some pointers (not been able to make any maps for a while...).

[Bach2Baroque 168]

Well, i use photoshop6. usually when i create imaginational regions, like my CRs on STEX, i start of with the land, just use the fill tool, then for river(s) i use normal 20px brush and scribble till its looks good. The mountains are the hard part, you have to have at least 5 elevations of grey for me i use (lowest)92,112,127,157,176(highest) then use smudge tool and smudge it until it looks good. You must be very patient on the moutains, otherwise you mountains will end up....weird.