Editing User:Aquanim/DraftMapMakingGuide
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
The edit can be undone. Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then save the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
Latest revision | Your text | ||
Line 4: | Line 4: | ||
This guide assumes that you are using a version of Zero-K installed through Steam. You can still make maps if you installed by some other method but you may need to modify some of the later steps. | This guide assumes that you are using a version of Zero-K installed through Steam. You can still make maps if you installed by some other method but you may need to modify some of the later steps. | ||
− | |||
− | |||
Some or all of these steps may be possible to do using just Springboard; I will leave that guide to somebody who is familiar with the Springboard workflow. I mostly use it for features. | Some or all of these steps may be possible to do using just Springboard; I will leave that guide to somebody who is familiar with the Springboard workflow. I mostly use it for features. | ||
Line 35: | Line 33: | ||
* Scroll down to the NVDXT option and make sure it says "-Sinc -quality_highest". Also probably a good idea to tick the CLEAN option. | * Scroll down to the NVDXT option and make sure it says "-Sinc -quality_highest". Also probably a good idea to tick the CLEAN option. | ||
* Untick everything else, press "Save options as" if you like, then press the "Compile" button.<br /> | * Untick everything else, press "Save options as" if you like, then press the "Compile" button.<br /> | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
== Construct .sdd File == | == Construct .sdd File == | ||
Line 67: | Line 62: | ||
== Optional Extras == | == Optional Extras == | ||
− | + | TODO: fill these in | |
+ | |||
+ | You can skip this for now, but scroll down to section 3 if you want... | ||
* Features (geovents, trees, rocks, etc) | * Features (geovents, trees, rocks, etc) | ||
* DNTS (fancy map details and specular map) | * DNTS (fancy map details and specular map) | ||
Line 73: | Line 70: | ||
* Skybox | * Skybox | ||
* Other nonsense (particle effects, sound, etc) | * Other nonsense (particle effects, sound, etc) | ||
− | |||
== Upload == | == Upload == | ||
− | Compress the contents of the .sdd file into a | + | Compress the contents of the .sdd file into a 7zip, then change the file extension to “.sd7”. If you remove the .sdd from your game maps directory and put the .sd7 in its place, the map should still work. |
'''IMPORTANT:''' Make sure that when you open the archive you see mapinfo.lua and not your .sdd folder! If you get this wrong the map will not work correctly. | '''IMPORTANT:''' Make sure that when you open the archive you see mapinfo.lua and not your .sdd folder! If you get this wrong the map will not work correctly. | ||
− | '''IMPORTANT:''' When you compress to | + | '''IMPORTANT:''' When you compress to 7zip make sure the compression is “non-solid”. |
=== Uploading to Zero-K Server === | === Uploading to Zero-K Server === | ||
Line 88: | Line 84: | ||
* Scroll down until you find the "Upload map or game (sd7 or sdz):" file on the right-hand side | * Scroll down until you find the "Upload map or game (sd7 or sdz):" file on the right-hand side | ||
* Upload your map | * Upload your map | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− | If | + | If this doesn't work there are two potential reasons: |
* Your map isn't set up right. Test it locally again and make sure your map works. | * Your map isn't set up right. Test it locally again and make sure your map works. | ||
* Something on the server has gone wrong. AFTER testing your map locally and finding that it works there, contact an admin. Uploading your map to a file-sharing service so the admin can look at it may help. | * Something on the server has gone wrong. AFTER testing your map locally and finding that it works there, contact an admin. Uploading your map to a file-sharing service so the admin can look at it may help. | ||
Line 108: | Line 102: | ||
* Test your map on the live server so there is a publically accessible replay or two - games against AIs are fine | * Test your map on the live server so there is a publically accessible replay or two - games against AIs are fine | ||
* Ask a moderator to support/feature your map | * Ask a moderator to support/feature your map | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
= Tools and Resources = | = Tools and Resources = | ||
Line 143: | Line 129: | ||
== Features (geovents, trees, rocks, etc) == | == Features (geovents, trees, rocks, etc) == | ||
− | |||
− | |||
* Put the files defining the features you want in your map file. This includes a definition in the /features subdirectory, model files in the /objects3d directory, and textures in the /unittextures directory. The easiest way to get these is to borrow them from existing maps. There is a features library as well... ask around in #zkmap for a link then update this page. | * Put the files defining the features you want in your map file. This includes a definition in the /features subdirectory, model files in the /objects3d directory, and textures in the /unittextures directory. The easiest way to get these is to borrow them from existing maps. There is a features library as well... ask around in #zkmap for a link then update this page. | ||
Line 150: | Line 134: | ||
* Delete any features you have marking mex locations, otherwise you will end up with two copies of them and that is bad. | * Delete any features you have marking mex locations, otherwise you will end up with two copies of them and that is bad. | ||
* Place features using Springboard. | * Place features using Springboard. | ||
− | * | + | * Export an s11n file containing a list of the features on your map. |
− | * | + | * Put this s11n file in the ./mapconfig subdirectory. |
* Make sure that in ./libs/s11n/s11n_load_map_features.lua that the "modelPath" variable points at your s11n file. | * Make sure that in ./libs/s11n/s11n_load_map_features.lua that the "modelPath" variable points at your s11n file. | ||
Line 177: | Line 161: | ||
== Particle and sound effects == | == Particle and sound effects == | ||
− | Find a map that does the thing you want to do, look at how that map did it. For reference some fairly simple examples | + | Find a map that does the thing you want to do, look at how that map did it. For reference some fairly simple examples from my maps are Rogues River (sound effects), Aurelian (precipitation), and Mercurial (plumes from the water). |
== Lava == | == Lava == | ||
Good luck... I'm not sure anybody has come up with an entirely bug-free implementation of this yet. Banana Republic might be your best bet for a reference. | Good luck... I'm not sure anybody has come up with an entirely bug-free implementation of this yet. Banana Republic might be your best bet for a reference. |