How to create new map (mission, scenario)

Mission vs Scenario vs Map

First let's explain these 3 different concepts.

Mission

• Mission is basic unit of Nebuchadnezzar.
• It connects map and objectives together.
• Several mission together can form campaign.
• Player always play missions.

Scenario

• Scenario is just a special subset of mission.
• It's a mission which is not part of any campaign.
• Player can play any scenario without any limitation, because all scenarios are unlocked.

Map

• Map is data file containg information about specific map.
• Stuff like surface layout, buildings etc.

Create mission atom

To create new mission you have to create an atom for it first.

• In your mode create def folder. It will contains all def files.
• In that folder create mission.lua file.
  • The name of the file is important because the type of atom is based on the def file name.
• And now let's add some content.

Nature buildings variable

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nature_buildings = {
    'base::build.palm.1',
    'base::build.palm.2',
    'base::build.palm.3',
    'base::build.palm.4',
    'base::build.bush.1',
    'base::build.bush.2',
    'base::build.bush.3',
    'base::build.bush.4',
    'base::build.palm.bush.1',
    'base::build.palm.bush.2',
    'base::build.palm.bush.3',
    'base::build.palm.bush.4',
    'base::build.fish.1',
}

• First of all, we will prepare some general variable, which we can use in multiple mission atoms.
• Beause it's always better to have shared data in some variable.
• The variable nature_buildings now contains all nature buildings from the base mod.
• Notice the base:: part when referencing atoms. You have to use it because you are referencing atoms from other mod.

Irrigation buildings variable

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irrig_buildings = {
    'base::build.irrig.canal',
    'base::build.irrig.pump',
    'base::build.irrig.bridge.dirty',
    'base::build.irrig.bridge.stone',
}

• In the same way we create variable containing all irrigation buildings from the base mod.

Mission parent

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mission_base = {
    base_mods = {"base"},
    first_residents_event = 'base::event.first_residents',
    leaving_residents_event = 'base::event.leaving_residents',
    returning_residents_event = 'base::event.returning_residents',
    no_path_residents_event = 'base::event.no_path_residents',
}

• Here we prepare variable containing data which are usable in all mission.
• We use events from the base mod.
• As well as base_mods property which determines from which mods the game should take available terrain data.

Mission definition

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atom ('mission.my_first_mission', mission_base,
{
	description = 'base::mission.description.nz.11',
	intro_event = 'base::event.intro.nz.11',
	money_events = {'base::event.money.nz.11', 'base::event.money.nothing'},

	allowed_buildings = ac(
		nature_buildings, ac(
		irrig_buildings, {
		'base::build.road.dirty',
		'base::build.road.stone',
		'base::build.bridge',
		'base::build.mine.clay',
		'base::build.mine.fish',
		'base::build.shop.bread',
		'base::build.shop.ceramic',
		'base::build.shop.brick',
		'base::build.shop.copper_jewels',
		'base::build.shop.beer',
		'base::build.shop.tablet',
		'base::build.shop.ceremony',
		'base::build.shop.meat',
		'base::build.shop.furniture',
		'base::build.shop.seal',
		'base::build.shop.gold_jewels',
		'base::build.shop.fabric',
		'base::build.shop.cloth',
		'base::build.service.water',
		'base::build.service.priest',
		'base::build.service.administration',
		'base::build.service.library',
		'base::build.service.lawyer',
		'base::build.market.basic.7',
		'base::build.market.mid.11',
		'base::build.market.luxury.10',
		'base::build.farm.plant.11',
		'base::build.farm.animal.9',
		'base::build.warehouse.11',
		'base::build.house.lower.4',
		'base::build.house.middle.5',
		'base::build.house.upper.3',
		'base::build.caravanserai.11',
		'base::build.mn_warehouse',
		'base::build.port.small',
		'base::build.port.big',
		'base::build.decor.stele',
		'base::build.decor.obelisk',
		'base::build.decor.statue',
		'base::build.decor.grass.small',
		'base::build.decor.garden.small.1',
		'base::build.decor.garden.small.2',
		'base::build.decor.garden.small.3',
		'base::build.decor.garden.small.color.1',
		'base::build.decor.garden.small.color.2',
		'base::build.decor.garden.small.color.3',
		'base::build.decor.garden.small.color.4',
		'base::build.decor.garden.small.fountain.1',
		'base::build.decor.garden.small.fountain.2',
		'base::build.decor.garden.small.fountain.3',
		'base::build.decor.garden.big.1',
		'base::build.decor.garden.big.2',
		'base::build.road.decorative.1',
		'base::build.road.decorative.2',
		'base::build.road.decorative.3',
	})),
	allowed_monuments = {
		'base::mn.temple.11',
		'base::mn.palace.11',
	},
	allowed_templates = {
		'base::mn_template.temple.11',
		'base::mn_template.palace.11',
	},

	map = 'base::map.nz.11',
	prestige = 'base::prestige.nz.11',
	requests = {'base::request.nz.11.a', 'base::request.nz.11.b', 'base::request.nz.11.c'},
	demands = {},

	target_population = 24000,
	target_prestige = 1440,
	target_level_atoms = {
		'base::level.house.middle.5',
		'base::level.house.upper.3',
	},
	target_level_counts = {
		64,
		11,
	},
	target_monument_atoms = {
		'base::mn_category.temple.11',
		'base::mn_category.palace.11',
	},
	target_monument_counts = {
		1,
		1,
	},
})

• And finaly we can see our new mission atom.
• Notice usage of function ac when defining allowed buildings.
  • This is helper function avilable in all def files and it can be use for arrays concatenation.
• This specific mission definition is just a copied definition of 11th mission from the base mod, where we added base:: to referenced atom names, so they properly reference base mod.
  • Look at corresponding atoms in the base mod for inspiration for creation of your own.

Create map file

When we have valid mission atom, we can start to create the map itself for the mission.

• To create new map use command new_map [mission atom name] [size x] [size y]
  • To create new map for the mission from the example it could be: new_map [your mod name]::mission.my_first_mission 30 60
• After that the game will load the mission with empty map.
• It should look like this:
  

Map surface

As the first step you should fill the map with desired surface.

• To change surface use the editor only menu with capital G.
• It provides all avilable surface types based on mission property base_mods.
  • Actualy atoms with surface types are called grid and surface atoms then represent transition and graphical representation of surface types.
• To apply it, simply select required type and then click on the desired place in the map.
• Notice the pink tiles.
  • They are used on tiles for which there are not defined transition surface atoms.
• You can also use "flood fill" functionaly mapped on the key T by default.

Map ends

Map ends are special places in the maps with special functionality.

• To set up maps end use the editor only menu with capital X.

Ground map ends

Ground maps end are tiles from which new settlers are coming to the city.

Navy ends

Navy ends are tiles from which trade ships are coming to trade.

Saving map

To save the map use the command save_map [empty or city]

• Because the game knows which mission you are editing, the map file is saved automatically to the correct location.
• empty vs city
  • Each mission can actually support two maps simultaneously.
  • empty should be map without any advanced buildings.
  • city map can contains any city strctures and should serves as start with partialy build city - history start.

Useful console commands

• edit_map [mission atom name] [empty or city]
  • Open map in editor.

• resize_map [diff x] [diff y]
  • Resize currently edited map.
  • Preserves surface and buildings.

• preview_map [mission atom name] [empty or city]
  • Run mission in the standart mode.
  • It's the same like starting mission from mission menu.

• c_add_money [money]
  • Add money.