Unity map lists and how to select them - "MAP_LIST"

[Stratego (dev)]

here is also a schematical graphical map or mission selector

[Stratego (dev)]

this is from a FIFA game - schematical camapaign listing



this one is map based, but we could make such nice one if there is a background map defined for a campaign

[Stratego (dev)]

About "map" itself my idea:



Something like this.
Map of area made by player.
All campain maps are shown via markers (flags on this map).
Green flag is perfectly completed map (3 stars);
Blue flag is completed map;
Yellow flag is in progress map;
Red flag is unlocked map;
White/gray flag is locked map.

Ofc we will need some markers to show route from map to map as well in this case.

On this map you can select these markers to see info about one or another campain map.
We also might add on this map some other selectable objects like tcs, castles, units and such and custom desctiption for them as well (for even more lore if campain creator wants to add that).

also from this idea: what if we let campaign designers to make a fake map, that is not part of the campaigns but only for being a background of the campaign MAP LIST with flags and such.
And in game clicking ont that campaign this map will be loaded as a background to that campaign MAP LIST view and on the specially designed locations the engine will overdraw the bullet and "flags" and stars whatever we define as a "map item designator" so player can click on them to get the MAP DETAIL view to see what is in there.
naturally with locks for locked maps and so on.

If there is no such background maps than only a general background.

makaw: if you said exactly the same thing than i did not undertasott the first time but cool!

[godOfKings]

Well i also said similar thing, making background map and such for the campaign by player himself but i forgot we could also use current map editor to design the background map

[Stratego (dev)]

yes, but a schematic drawing like these would always look better imho.



would always look better imho.

[Stratego (dev)]

i will open a topic for free mapmakers (drawing schematic maps)
viewtopic.php?f=356&t=11743

[Endru1241]

It also looks too different from everything else in AoS (or any other variant).

what do u mean? it will be different, everything should be different that is ugly in current versions.
so yes, i hope the unity version will be totally different than current (i think ugly) AO* games (i mean the menu structures, camapign and map selection, launcher screens)

I got too focused on precise look in the earlier posts, that reminded me of something not really fitting.
And current look is not really ugly.
It's simple, but OK.

or u think current menu appearance is ok to keep? (i mean mostly plain buttons everywhere nothing fancy)

Before I would have said yes, but then I saw few of your following posts.
Especially the pearl on top:

also i found a free map and art set using this you can make easily a simple map
https://opengameart.org/content/simple-map-tiles

It looks perfect for AoS.

godOfKings idea about campaign editor (or makazuwr32 variation using current map editor) would solve easier placement of map icon/buttons though.

Do you think there would be a possibility to add some campaign editor or somehow combine ideas to have a way of graphically place map icons?

[Stratego (dev)]

the input method would be
- an image
- a list of points(coordinates) on image for the maps (in json) or whatever format

that is all.

[Stratego (dev)]

ok, i made something, first version of Kingdom come campaign in unity version of AOS:



auto generated random locations, auto dot-dot ing.

[Stratego (dev)]

also for input

i thought instead of "list of coordinates" might be easier by MASKing: so a same size image having dots showing the location of the flags (so in eg. Gimp it can be drawn on a new transparent layer and only the content of that layer is sent as MASK image)

and the logic use that mask image to locate the point of the "flags" or "bullets".

what do u think?

[makazuwr32]

Not everyone is able to use gimp and "masks".

[Stratego (dev)]

those not that hard to use, actually piece of cake, i think anyone can who can design a campaign.
actually Gimp is only an example, any image drawing program can be fit.

also if anyone can make a background image for his campaign, her definietely can make this mask too, here is an example

here is the image AND the mask to show you where are the points



and here is only the transparent mask "layer", that needs to be sent

[Endru1241]

OK, but there is no info about order in the masks.
In other words - which map is which point on the mask layer?

[Stratego (dev)]

i did not want to complicate for makaw.
yes there should be eg. number of dots or something indicating order or something.

[makazuwr32]

I hope that we will get a way to make that background image in map editor.
Maybe as a new option? We have right now "create random map" and "create skirmish map".
We can add 3rd option "create campain background map" and place in map editor unique for that variant points to use (for campains).

I am bad at drawing. I am not able to create background image on my own from scrap. Only via such external programms — map editor and second one.

[Stratego (dev)]

i will definitely not implement a Gimp into the game
moreover: what for it would work exactly like Gimp

[makazuwr32]

I am not asking to implement gimp.
I am asking to add 3rd variant for "maps creation" in map editor.

Basically it will be same map editor but without teams, players, triggers but also it will get few additional options:
1. Option to choose any color for units and buildings;
2. Waypoints for campains (several variants) — you simply place them on the map like those tc spawn points;
3. Avility to same this map as background image with that "mask".

That way for me specifically it will be the easiest.
And it will not be an implementation of gimp. It will be just reusage of existing map editor.

[Stratego (dev)]

i think i have dropped that idea that we have graphics based on map tiles - much nicer to make a nice background image in such "map" like style.

[makazuwr32]

Why not?
I can make nice looking continental map.

We may add a filter to make image look old after that.

[Stratego (dev)]

lets keep this idea if the image idea fails.
a map in mapedit looks much worse than such nice image.

[Endru1241]

I think, that what is requested here is anything from:
- simple interface to set dots and their order, on screen sized display of default map
to:
- full-fledged campaign editor, that allows placing build-in screen elements graphics (e.g. mountains, cities, rivers, woods etc) on one of few backgrounds to choose from.
If it really uses exact in-game graphics is probably less relevant.

[Endru1241]

Feedback from working app:
As I was afraid scenarios, maps from fans, multiplier missions don't fit this whole concept.
If I assume no additional type of display, then the minimum to make it workable for those assorted maps is possibility to remove paths along with some work on design leaders to split it further in some subcategories.
And map buttons - looking closer confirms, that they don't fit for that background.
Customisable icons could be working like:
- default icon is defined
- default 4 star images are defined (none, 1, 2, 3)
- map personalised icon can be defined
If there is personalised icon it loads, if not - default loads.
Then stars could be an overlay on map icon.

[Stratego (dev)]

map buttons: yes, they barely visible, i am open to any image suggesion what image to use as "map buttons"
afraid scenarios, maps from fans, multiplier missions don't fit this whole concept.: i think they are almost ok, they will not have little white dots connecting them, and we can plit up eg. fan maps to 4-5 pack of fan maps so we dont have too many in one view (i did it already in my version). or this seeems not so good?

Customisable icons could be working like:
- default icon is defined
- default 4 star images are defined (none, 1, 2, 3)
- map personalised icon can be defined

here you mean customizable by modder?
if so you mean globally in a game (eg. in AOF) or different icons in each campaigns (i did not thought to have by campaigns)

btw: my plan was that: i assemble a few button alternatives in unity for all alternatives, and the modder can only set in eg. initailization.json a MapButtonStringID that points to one of the pre-set unity map-button. (i thought this as different art images would need different stars and mapname location and such other data if we place - that would make it hard to configure from textfiles, and also coding to use them)

[Endru1241]

I meant fully replaceable by modder.
Not even by campaign.
Each map.

Although I guess 90% would probably be chosen from few firstly available.

If stars would be as separate overlay - only set different default for each game variant, then I thought it would open a possibility for map icons being fully customisable.
Both texts and stars could be an overlay (text with semi-transparent white background) set up to show on exactly the same place.
E.g. stars set some X1 (pixels, percent or whatever measure unity uses) higher from map icon image, texts some X2 lower from map icon image.

But I guess a set of icons to choose from is not so bad, only it is a chance to get good images quickly.

Getting it customizable opens a way for the easier future and encourages map designers to also to some graphics or ask someone to help.
Imho - much higher chance to get better images over time.

[Stratego (dev)]

by maps? gosh.
i am afraid no one will use those, we receive only a couple maps, and the mapdesighs themselves are not perfect either - i would never hopw cusom map icons/buttons... - but we can do it later - but only when we are ready with the other things.
Changing the background image only based on global/campaign/map setting is easy though i can do that now - if all other objects like stars and text can stay where it is.


can u send me a few example images you would put in? (i would put them in into sample AOS so we can see them in game.

[makazuwr32]

I may use custom map icons if it won't require drawing from my side.

[Stratego (dev)]

I may use custom map icons if it won't require drawing from my side.

exactly! i am afraid no one will draw them

[makazuwr32]

I mean if i may find a ready custom icon, cut it and put it in than why not.
If that will be done user-friendly way (addition of icons) than i will ise that for sure.

[Stratego (dev)]

we can not have icons from everywhere - they need to be in same style, same lighting color scheme and such.

[makazuwr32]

Than can you maybe provide a set of icons to choose from at least?
Like slightly different style (maybe racial style for aof?) and different possible colors?