Making a custom Map-Noob Question

from Sins Forums

Hi Guys,

First of all I want to apologize, if you see this post elsewhere :-(  I'm still learning this forum.

I'm a HUGE 4x fan, played Masters of Orion many times.  I just got "Sins," and it looks great!!!  I'm a bit of a "science" nerd. So when I checked out the maps both ingame and the downloadable ones, I didn't find very many that would exist in the "real" universe.  So I downloaded The Galaxy Forge to create my own.  I want to create a huge universe, with seven or eight stars that have anywhere from three to seven planets in each system.

I've already checked out Zoomba and Novaburst's guides.  They were VERY helpful.  But at the same time I've read posts that when someone tried to insert their map into the game it caused problems.  I want to AVOID that at all costs!!!  I've also read posts were you can open up a map in (Notepad?) to see how that map was created.  If so, would I go to the ingame galaxy folder an click on the map I want to see and open it in Notepad?  If that is correct would I then close the notepad map and the original will still be where it is supposed to be?  I'm only asking because I know just enough about computers to get myself into trouble :-)  So I guess I'm asking if there is somewhere where I can find a step by step guide of inserting my map into my Sins game correctly so I won't have problems? Or can someone point me in the right direction to find that info out.  I've already conducted searches and couldn't find the info I needed :-(  One last question I was thinking of connecting my stars via wormholes.  Can someone point me in the correct direction to find out how I would do that?  If the stars are not connected via wormholes will my fleet still be able to reach them?  And if so can I assume that if I'm using "normal" space and not a "phased/wormhole" lane it will take a very long time to reach the other stars?  I want to thank you in advance for any input you may provide :-)

Thanks,

Dada

 

modding
5,172 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top

So I guess I'm asking if there is somewhere where I can find a step by step guide of inserting my map into my Sins game correctly so I won't have problems?
End of quote

There's really not much to it :) Only two things you need to know:

- The map needs to be placed into the Sins install Galaxy folder (c:\Program Files\Stardock Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Galaxy, for example)

- The map needs to have versionNumber 2 for the 1.1 patch. You will probably have to do this manually by opening the map in Notepad and changing it, it's right at the top of the file.

That's all you need for getting your map into Sins :P

Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top

Thanks Annatar :-)

I'm not sure about this but whenever I have "Sins" open at the very bottom lower right I see 1.0.  So does that mean I don't have the 1.1 Patch?  And if so, will that cause a problem with any of my created maps?

Thanks again,

Dada

Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top

Yes it will - download Impulse from http://www.impulsedriven.com, register (click the blue ? in the top right > add registration) and you'll be able to update to 1.1 :)

Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top

Thanks Again Annatar :-)

I know this wasn't in my original post but the only Mod I was going to try and install would be the Volumetric Explosions Mod V0.81.  There's two, a stand alone if my game isn't Modded yet and a merge friendly (Mods already in game.) So once I install my map do you know if it would be better to get the stand alone version or the merge friendly one?  Or does it matter for a user made map?

Thanks again,

Dada

Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top

A map isn't a mod, so the standalone will probably be your best bet. And I know ManSh00ter is updating the mod for 1.1, so you'll definitely need to get the patch to play with it (v1.0 doesn't even have mod support, it was added in 1.02 ;))

Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top

Thanks Again Annatar :-)

Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top

Check this for mapping.  GalaxyForge 1.0 is user friendly, GalaxyForge 1.1 allows easy connection between wormholes in different stars.  Personally, GF1.1, imho isn't as easy to use as GF1.0, but can be useful.

Also, to make your maps made in GalaxyForge 1.0 compatible with SINS 1.1, check the above link and instead of deleting "randomize...", add it with TRUE or FALSE (case-sensitive).  Change version to 2

 

Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top

I downloaded GF before, sometime ago and know it will not run right now so i got rid of it then tried to downlad it today and it is a .RAR file to download before it was a compressed zip folder which is easy to install. So i dont have the software to extract a .rar file, so i downloade winRAR and tried that product and it failed to extract it to the destination folder so what should I do?

Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top

Thank you for the Info SemazRalan :-)

Also, to make your maps made in GalaxyForge 1.0 compatible with SINS 1.1, check the above link and instead of deleting "randomize...", add it with TRUE or FALSE (case-sensitive). Change version to 2
End of quote

But I'm a "noob" and I'm not sure what you mean by the above :-(  Could you go into a little more detail?

Thanks Dada :-)