Now that NIV is part of SVN, maybe Lalien will do a new .exe soon. But as to your other questions, I don't know because I have not had anytime to play around with it.

would be good to get the big maps editor up to latest version.

@Mauser, it was posted earlier in this thread, that the maps don't have to be the same size.

Good idea but I don't have any time for this at the moment. If somebody likes he can take it over.


The maps can be any size you like when it's ready.

@lalienxx, is this in your branch? And if so, is there any other code there other than the big maps project?

@ Kauden & lalienxx: thanks for the info. i will look into it in due time.

No it's in NewMaps branch: https://81.169.133.124/source/ja2/branches/NewMaps/

I would test, but I use SVN.

I've started updating the code to a revision before NIV merge. When it goes well I'll put a new exe for you to test. If someone wants to help out in coding mail me or posta message here.

Hi
I have idea for my big mod. Can you to do it for:
- biger sector 5 scrrens x 4 screens ( 1024x768 ) - now is about 3 screens x 2 screens
- biger map 16 sectors ( horizontally ) x 40 sectors ( vertical )
Thanks for answer.

The mod is still not finished, but you can already create maps of any size.

Where is/are ( every ) place/s in which I must change parametrs for sector and maps?

In map editor when creating a new map you can select map size.

New (still buggy) exe:

http://81.169.133.124/~lalien/release/New_exes/JA2%20v1.13.1870BM_EN.rar
http://81.169.133.124/~lalien/release/New_exes/ja2_debug_v1.13_BM_en.rar

Is this mod going to be 'default' in newer versions of the 1.3 project, or a side-project? Being default will def be cool!

yep ... in conjunction with a stable and crash-resistand map editor with expanded Templates (e.g. sandbags and fences and barbed wire in more of them)

what map editor to i use in order to create bigger maps?

Is this Project still alive and kicking?

Is the aim of this one tile = one square meter?

Editor with big maps support: Map_Editor_v1.13.1292BM in http://81.169.133.124/~lalien/release/New_exes

The project is frozen until I have more time for it or somebody wants to help.


Yes, to make the game more realistic. Well actually one tile is = one square meter in almost all calculations except of weapon and sight ranges. When big maps are working weapon and sight ranges could be increased to be more realistic.

IMHO the big map modification is one of the most important changes. So isn't there anyone who can help you?

Here's a question for the Big Map peeps. What are the proportions of the bigger maps? Let me explain my question. In JA2 the map "looks" like a horizontal rectangle approx 2 long by 1 high but it is in fact a square made out of isometric tiles. Have you kept to this 2 by 1 rule but just bigger or have you broken the rule?

iirc, the maps are 1:1 ration in all aspects except on the minimap.

Theoretically it's possible to make maps with any size because the map size is stored in map file. Though some testing is needed to proof it.

I've got a great idea made possible by this, because such an impact on the size of the tactical maps gives us a huge new potential for the way the Strategic Screen works. I'm going to post a thread about that ASAP.

However, I think the game in its current form can't make the most out of 1 tile per meter, but a lot of projects (like externalized APs which are part of the 100AP project) are going to really help here. But the way combat works would have to be changed drastically. Fortunately, I have a good feeling that once the BM project is out, a whole lot of people are going to go CRAZY modding this, so thumbs WAY up and I'm really rooting for you!!!

GO big map team!
Go big map team!

this will be the greatest thing since bread came sliced!

Finally we will have scale and scenery that matches!
And large city sprawls crawling with evildoers to put down!

I would love to be able to assault the whole of Cambria at once.

I love to place Mogadishu in a couple of squares and play the black-hawk down mod

What is the latest news from Mohave on this one?

I have to second Arquebus on this. Has there been any movement on the eastern front?

Good news, I have some freetime the next few weeks, so I will start working to make some progress on this project.

Let me know if you need anything. This is great news.

Yesterday I created a Big Map (twice as big as normal Maps) in the Map Editor. It worked fine in the Editor and also in the Game.

In the next few days I am going to merge the Big Maps Project Code with the current Source Code(of course in my private development folder) and not in the offical SVN development branch.

Then we can run some tests.

Excellent Smithers...

Yeah, excellent work. But the "full sector view" ("i" key in editor) will be fixed to see whole sector?

@moteel: Will take a look.

How is progress Rowa ?

Big Maps source code is merged with latest svn version (before Many Merc integration).

- Old Maps still load with the editor and the game, but there are still a few bugs
- Big maps can be created with the Map Editor and load in the game. There are also a few bugs which are specific to big maps.

Work is in progress (but slowly) ...

RoWa21, Is there a problem with merging Many Mercs? I am curious why it is not in the svn download yet.

@oldnoob: Many Merc is already merged with the 1.13 source code but there is no official EXE yet. There is no problem with Many Merc. If I have some time today I will compile a new EXE and upload it to SVN.

DONE!

Take a look in the Release Thread:
http://www.ja-galaxy-forum.com/board/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=207752&page=0#Post207752

I've been wondering, how does the Mini map display a map larger that usual?

Is that the newest ManyMerc exe, with assertions turned ON?

And shouldn't Ja2_Options.ini be updated as well ?

Yes, of course it should be updated, as it holds the new options for ManyMercs.

In the meantime you can still pick it up from SpaceViking's site.

I manually updated it, because i'm playing WF mod... restarting it, since i cant load old savegames with settings i want to have ._.

I will update the ja2_options.ini tonight with the additional keys for many merc.

EDIT: UPDATED!

Thanks RoWa21,you have made my day!

Were there ever any screenshots of the big maps ? If so , could you post em for all to see ?
Would like to visualise whats happening here , ta !

I can't post a screenshot. Just imagine that the tactical map can be much more bigger than the actual size of the map. So instead of a "normal" size (160x160) you can have eg. a size of (500x500).

@lockie: When Alpha-Version is done, you could be a Tester :-)