Introducing : MapTools
New tools for the Map Editor
Introducing : MapTools
// The project :
Hello there !
Since about 2 weeks, I have started a project to develop new mapping tools for OpenRA's editor. The purpose for me was to learn how to code / participate in ORA's code (a github project in general). Mapping was a main point of interest for me, and as I'm into mapmaking, such tools would help me and fellow mapmakers a lot.
The tools will include
- "Append" tool : to add two maps next to each other
- "Copy" tool : to add a maps over another
- "Mirror" tool : mirror half of a map (Left, Top) to create a symetrical map
- "Resize" tool : resize the map, with differentiable X and Y factors
There is an option to choose what the tool will affect : Tiles, Resources, and/or Actors. You could use it for interesting combinations, such as :
- "Copy" only the Tiles / Resources of a map on another. Kind of an update.
- "Resizing" only the Tiles and Actors, while keeping Resources (ore patches) intact
- ...
Of course, the tools will not give a final result, due to the nature of the sprites. But it will give a ready structure for the mapmaker, and help a lot in his workflow.
Finally, I also added support for isometric maps (Tib Sun).
The tools work well for iso maps, except maybe for the Resize tool, due to the structure of an isometric map (no easy straightforward algorithm). I might be improving that last piece of code in the future, but for now it works OK.
// How to :
- Go to https://github.com/FRenzy-OpenRA/OpenRA/tree/MapTools
- Download the .ZIP, extract
- For Windows : Build the project with "make.cmd", and type "all"
(Otherwise, see : https://github.com/OpenRA/OpenRA/wiki/Compiling )
- Run "launch-game.cmd" , choose your mod
- The tools will be then found in the traditional "Map Editor" in-game.
- Have fun !
// Examples :
In RA mod :
The interface :
"Append" tool :
"Copy" tool :
"Resize" tool :
"Mirror Top" tool :
"Mirror Left" tool :
Using options :
In TS mod :
"Append" tool :
"Copy" tool :
"Mirror Left" tool :
Hello there !
Since about 2 weeks, I have started a project to develop new mapping tools for OpenRA's editor. The purpose for me was to learn how to code / participate in ORA's code (a github project in general). Mapping was a main point of interest for me, and as I'm into mapmaking, such tools would help me and fellow mapmakers a lot.
The tools will include
- "Append" tool : to add two maps next to each other
- "Copy" tool : to add a maps over another
- "Mirror" tool : mirror half of a map (Left, Top) to create a symetrical map
- "Resize" tool : resize the map, with differentiable X and Y factors
There is an option to choose what the tool will affect : Tiles, Resources, and/or Actors. You could use it for interesting combinations, such as :
- "Copy" only the Tiles / Resources of a map on another. Kind of an update.
- "Resizing" only the Tiles and Actors, while keeping Resources (ore patches) intact
- ...
Of course, the tools will not give a final result, due to the nature of the sprites. But it will give a ready structure for the mapmaker, and help a lot in his workflow.
Finally, I also added support for isometric maps (Tib Sun).
The tools work well for iso maps, except maybe for the Resize tool, due to the structure of an isometric map (no easy straightforward algorithm). I might be improving that last piece of code in the future, but for now it works OK.
// How to :
- Go to https://github.com/FRenzy-OpenRA/OpenRA/tree/MapTools
- Download the .ZIP, extract
- For Windows : Build the project with "make.cmd", and type "all"
(Otherwise, see : https://github.com/OpenRA/OpenRA/wiki/Compiling )
- Run "launch-game.cmd" , choose your mod
- The tools will be then found in the traditional "Map Editor" in-game.
- Have fun !
// Examples :
In RA mod :
The interface :
"Append" tool :
"Copy" tool :
"Resize" tool :
"Mirror Top" tool :
"Mirror Left" tool :
Using options :
In TS mod :
"Append" tool :
"Copy" tool :
"Mirror Left" tool :
Last edited by FRenzy on Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:43 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Re: Introducing : MapTools
I made a joke about such a tool when i made a unique map that was a combination of Two existing maps. I did by hand but i made beleive some player that soscared has done a powerfull secret map utility that alllows to copy from a map and import in another.
Very funny and mostly pleasant to see you actually made it for real.
Very funny and mostly pleasant to see you actually made it for real.
Re: Introducing : MapTools
Lol ! You are our inspiration WhoCares, that's why ! :p
Hope you'll find this tool useful, and create even crazier maps with it
Hope you'll find this tool useful, and create even crazier maps with it
Re: Introducing : MapTools
This looks very useful, I’ve not tried it yet but thanks for taking the time to make this!
Re: Introducing : MapTools
Nice work! The mirror functionality sounds especially useful. Mirroring by hand is very hard and error prone. It was always the most tedious and boring part of mapmaking for me, so if your tool can at least roughly mirror maps, that's already a huge win.
Re: Introducing : MapTools
Thanks kyrylo ! I indeed hope this will remove the hard / tedious parts of mapmaking, and make it more fun !
Are we going to see new maps from you ... ? haha
(that reminds me, I should add a "Rotate" tool, for antisymetric maps ... hopefully soon)
Are we going to see new maps from you ... ? haha
(that reminds me, I should add a "Rotate" tool, for antisymetric maps ... hopefully soon)
Re: Introducing : MapTools
Btw what I'd love to see, is creative recreations / messing around with existing maps, to create new ones, just like WhoCares stated and did before ^.
I have a few ideas off my head, I'll try to put them in application when I have time !
I have a few ideas off my head, I'll try to put them in application when I have time !
Re: Introducing : MapTools
The result looks a bit glitchy.
Re: Introducing : MapTools
Matt, this is because the tools only operate on tile-basis, without taking into account the entire sprite.
It would be theoritically possible to further enhance it, by building a matching table of mirrored tiles, etc ...
However, this wouldn't work on a lot of RA sprites, such as rivers, beaches, many roads, etc ...
The tools only aim, for now, to give a structure of the map for the mapmaker, not the final result.
It would be theoritically possible to further enhance it, by building a matching table of mirrored tiles, etc ...
However, this wouldn't work on a lot of RA sprites, such as rivers, beaches, many roads, etc ...
The tools only aim, for now, to give a structure of the map for the mapmaker, not the final result.
Re: Introducing : MapTools
Did someone extend this project? Or did someone have his own Maptools? I search for everything which helps for easier map creation.
Frenzy did a good job here! To bad he quit RA
I search special for diagonal Mirror or functions like rotate parts of a map etc.
Frenzy did a good job here! To bad he quit RA
I search special for diagonal Mirror or functions like rotate parts of a map etc.