Map generation woes

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> Shadow Empire >> Suggestions and Feedback >> Map generation woes

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Map generation woes - 2/7/2022 9:09:50 PM

Voker57

Posts: 78
Joined: 9/19/2020
Status: offline

Here's a list of issues faced by PBEM players with map generation.

1. Spacing. Spread Out seems to does not work at all, at least reliably. Often empires border, or nearly border each other. Distances are also uneven between 4 players.
2. Starting resources. On Tech 4 it is somewhat less a problem, since everybody starts with guaranteed deposits, but on tech 3 it seems to be not the case. It is also a wild RNG ride to uncover later deposits. Starting deposits also can have too big mining difficulty spread. There also appears to be a bug that metal deposit can be overwritten by water and cripple the player, but I can't reproduce it.
3. Population. Minors are the most important resource in multiplayer, and they are not spread evenly. An option to distribute them, or at least the total population with free folk included, would be great. If you start with multiple zones, zones might have 15 or 80k population, which does not help.

So ultimately, to get an even ground, what players have to do is to generate ~50 maps and choose one that seems fair. Would be great to have something done about this in the game engine.

Post #: 1

RE: Map generation woes - 2/7/2022 9:53:57 PM

ZygfrydDeLowe

Posts: 59
Joined: 9/10/2014
Status: offline

It would be great if there were some kind of "PBEM" chekbox for planet changer that would basically ensure that all human players start the game with same resources - population, deposits (same ease of mining) etc...

(in reply to Voker57)

Post #: 2

RE: Map generation woes - 2/13/2022 7:56:17 AM

Arralen

Posts: 827
Joined: 5/21/2000
Status: offline

Why a new checkbox again instead of just fixing it for everybody?

Map generation is definitly whacky - all examples with medium size setting and "spread out" option ticked.

- all majors in 1/4 of the map
- number of minors rediculously low

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< Message edited by Arralen -- 2/13/2022 7:57:06 AM >

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Post #: 3

RE: Map generation woes - 2/13/2022 7:57:44 AM

Arralen

Posts: 827
Joined: 5/21/2000
Status: offline

- 4 of 6 majors tucked to the map edges
- upper right of the map (~1/2 of the whole map area) without any major

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< Message edited by Arralen -- 2/13/2022 8:00:55 AM >

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Post #: 4

RE: Map generation woes - 2/13/2022 7:59:29 AM

Arralen

Posts: 827
Joined: 5/21/2000
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- left 1/3 of the map without major
- distance between at least 2 majors way to short

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< Message edited by Arralen -- 2/13/2022 8:00:16 AM >

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Post #: 5

RE: Map generation woes - 2/13/2022 8:01:18 AM

Arralen

Posts: 827
Joined: 5/21/2000
Status: offline

- majors only in upper left and lower right quadrant
- no minors on the upper left

Actually, this map might be quite ok to play on?!?

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< Message edited by Arralen -- 2/13/2022 8:03:34 AM >

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Post #: 6

RE: Map generation woes - 2/13/2022 8:04:41 AM

Arralen

Posts: 827
Joined: 5/21/2000
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...

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RE: Map generation woes - 2/13/2022 8:05:25 AM

Arralen

Posts: 827
Joined: 5/21/2000
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...

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RE: Map generation woes - 2/14/2022 12:20:27 PM

Culthrasa

Posts: 189
Joined: 4/16/2017
Status: offline

I totally agree... I'd rather have the "progression" to first battle the minors and then the majors. It makes for a totally different game when you start surrounded by multiple majors (especially on higher difficulties).

On the other hand, placement is also a function of the map itself. As far as I know the "best" places are chosen for the cities (near rivers, agricultural terrain etc...) So when a large part of the map is barren/desert like it makes sense that some clustering will emerge.

But some more equidistant starts would be nice :)

(in reply to Arralen)

Post #: 9