Is it possible to change the map?

[Galleblære]

The tiles.bmp map can easily be opened in about just about any program, and seems to contain the graphics for the entire CK world. The map is scrambeled though, so this is what I am thinking:

1. Solve the "puzzle" and find out where each square belongs.
2. Create a program to re-scramble these squares so that we see the proper map.
3. Edit said map in an editor.
4. Scramble the edited map back to the original state.

In theory, if this is correct, we could then alter province names, the terrain in the provinces etc. Could be something to look into in order to fix errors.

I suspect Johan might have done this to make it easier for the community to fix annoying "map bugs"? If so kudos to you!

 

[unmerged(5664)]

Many have tried in the past. Is the format of the CK map really any different from previous games?

 

[Galleblære]

Many have tried in the past. Is the format of the CK map really any different from previous games?

Yup! I just edited a few of the squares and saved it (I have a backup! ) and the changes did in fact come on the gameplay map! Awsome!

So if some creative soul could develop a tool to assemble the jigsaw to one clear image, artits could add new monster in the seas, add little fun details here and there, change province names etc etc. Then use the tool to scramble the map back to the format!

Try it yourself, it works!

In fact, I believe this would be the wet dream for crazy modders like MKJ, Birger Jarl etc. You could basically redo the entire map with such a tool.

*NOT* add new provinces or change the borders though. Fixing or adding some rivers would be nice though!

 

[Galleblære]

Maybe a mod could change the threat title to "It is possible to edit the map!"

 

[unmerged(11982)]

This has been a hot topic since way back. Really I dont know why Paradox has continued to use this pretty archaic method of creating/storing their world maps. But they keep with the same engine game after game so we are stuck with maps that are very hard to really mod or customize.

As you say you can do some basic graphic editing on the bmp, but thats the easy part. Making new maps, or really moding existing maps is a nightmare that some have done some work on with very limited success sadly.

Still hoping that we will have such a tool someday (Paradox releases a "construction set" as their final use of this engine?? Can dream I guess ) or that Paradox will move onto a better engine that will let us create our own maps (like we have done for Medieval Total War games).

Myros

 

[Galleblære]

This has been a hot topic since way back. Really I dont know why Paradox has continued to use this pretty archaic method of creating/storing their world maps. But they keep with the same engine game after game so we are stuck with maps that are very hard to really mod or customize.

As you say you can do some basic graphic editing on the bmp, but thats the easy part. Making new maps, or really moding existing maps is a nightmare that some have done some work on with very limited success sadly.

Still hoping that we will have such a tool someday (Paradox releases a "construction set" as their final use of this engine?? Can dream I guess ) or that Paradox will move onto a better engine that will let us create our own maps (like we have done for Medieval Total War games).

Myros

Of course. What I was mainly thining editing the existing map could do, would be to correct province names and add missing rivers, edit terrain in certain provinces etc. (And of course change corresponding files to match the changes). MKJ and company would probably also create entierly new maps. The options are pretty limitless, imagine D&D style maps, or maps remicant of parchment with inks etc. Could be pretty cool.

 

[Havard]

The tiles.bmp map can easily be opened in about just about any program, and seems to contain the graphics for the entire CK world.

That's the graphics for the terrain map overlay only. You still can't change any other aspects about the map.

 

[Solmyr]

That's the graphics for the terrain map overlay only. You still can't change any other aspects about the map.

Are the province names on the overlay? If so then at least some oddness with them (like double Lausitz) could be corrected.

 

[Havard]

Are the province names on the overlay? If so then at least some oddness with them (like double Lausitz) could be corrected.

For the terrain overlay, the names are there. The names for the other overlays are not there though, so any changes might cause even more confusion ("This province was called Lausitz an hour ago, but now it says Plauen " )

 

[Galleblære]

For the terrain overlay, the names are there. The names for the other overlays are not there though, so any changes might cause even more confusion ("This province was called Lausitz an hour ago, but now it says Plauen " )

Damn, you are right. There are three map modes where the changes are not included (Those,as you say, without the overlay). Any chance to get both map sets in bmp. format?

I guess that the terrain overlay COULD be used in all map modes, but that might be annoying for some. IE the economic map mode uses the overlay with coloured provinces. I guess something similar could be done for the other map modes, but it's probably not worth the time. Let me guess, which map modes uses the overlay is hardcoded right?