256x256 maps and B.Net

First, thanks to all of you who have answered my earlier questions. I've gotten very far along with my Ability and Hero design with your help. Also, the usefulness of the general information available here is huge.

So now I'm starting to design the map itself (layout, terrain, etc), and I know I'm going to need a lot of area to put in everything I have planned. Naturally, I started off with 256x256 and had the elevations randomized.

I put two gold mines (each in opposite corners) and a default Knight on the map and tested. Much to my surprise, it takes that Knight just over 2 minutes to run from one mine to the other. That's 2 real-life minutes with no obstructions or pathing issues.

I'm sure there are other maps at 256x256 played on B.Net, but are they lag-bait, comp-killers, memory-hogs, etc? Seems to me a map of that size would take quite a while to play too...

um, is that a question or a statement?

Ahhh!! 256x256 is really huge for b.net and will require a big download time. 192x192 is reccomended top size map. Also, random height field is a big no no. Unless you wanna go over the entire map with 'Smooth', just manually raise/lower your areas accordingly. Even if you map is that big and no lag, it won't be fun because of the ammount of space the player has to cover in order to reach every point of the map.

Although, in Battle of the Borders, I've planned many "side quest Cities" which do take up their toll on the map size, although, if you plan right and make the best of terrain, you can make the best situation possible: a small map with many cities/towns/villages/tents/etc.. and still make it "seem" LARGE. But dont even try to host a 256x256, or I'll get all the 56kers to come after you lol...:D

Precicely. Take Legacies for example - not as big of a map as you first think. I beleive it was 192x192 while seemed like a 300x300. Really small units and careful terrain made Legacies a big hit. The only thing keepin the filesize up on this one was the triggers and doodads. Keep your map size to a 192x192.

Wow, I never played Legacies... -.- (stupid fatal errors and lock-ups with TFT... -.-) but anyway... making the unit and doodad and building size smaller sounds like a really good idea to make the scene seem smaller.

Thanks for the comments. Backing down the size...

balls...

I have a 256x256 map with 6k doodads (all trees :| ), 250+ regions, and an average population of 800+ creeps if more than 4 players are in game. I have a threaded looping trigger running in the background that continuously checks the regions for player locality and then either creates, kills or does nothing with them. Pausing every 10 iterations for 0.3 seconds..

And I wondered why it lagged...

Any ideas on what I could do to trim down the latency (beyond removing the creeps and thread which I have already spent 2 weeks making more efficient).

Cata

DAMN! I spent forever doing terrain for the 256x256 map, now Im gonna have to redo it all. The funny thing is it barely seemed like enough for me lol. Oh well, this is turning into a real chore now instead of a fun pasttime.......

OMG that many trees? Thats insane. DUde, just cut down those damn forests in the middle but leave the the border ones so it looks pretty (just like democrats do) Also, you should never start a 256x256 map unless its single player.

Multiplayer RPG size is averaged at - 196x196

Multiplayer Maps in general - 96x96 to 128x128

Yeah, the biggest map I'd go for is 192x192. 256x256 not only takes way too long to make, but maps like that are often EXTREMELY hard to make look good because of so much terraining needed, and for that reason, they turn out to be very laggy in the long run. Also, there are 192x192 RPGs that take over 2 hours to beat, so imagine how a well-designed 256x256 would take to beat... anyway, it's not worth it for the size of the map and the patience needed.

just leave it then, or just crop it
your enjoyment should come first and foremost when making a map, unless you're getting payed or something

QUOTE: OMG that many trees? Thats insane. DUde, just cut down those damn forests in the middle but leave the the border ones so it looks pretty (just like democrats do).


I have no forests in the middle... it is all thin outline of jungle and swamps with the odd tree in the middle, or barren deasert with rocks.
I trimmed 3k off my trees earlier, and now you can see through 80% of my tree walls... so the creeps jump you randomly and you can't actualy ge to them

It's "supposed" to be an 8 player CTF map, with RPG elements, creeping to level up and aquire better items and units, before buying siege equipment to assault the enemy "fortress" and steal their flag. The map feels small (well, I know all of it), and is easy to explore... but I wanted people to have to journey to the enemies base, then run back through creep filled jungle to escape with the flag..

The ONLY thing that is the problem is lag... which i am still experimenting with. It does not exist in single player, nor to the host in MP. Seems to only be those connecting... so... i duno. Gona go test some stuff now.

Cata

People...PEOPLE...Use what the TFTWE's powers! Stop pissing me off and make CUSTOM DOODADS!!!:D :D :D :ggani:


I'm serious about that too, just make trees with a selection scale of 2.5-5 and such and it adds a "larger effect" and takes up more space AS WELL as making it much more interesting terrain, at least if you ask me. That's just a hint I'd use and also...

[glow=strength=4,color=firebrick]Highlight[/glow] a doodad and the hold the Ctrl key and then either press page up or page down whether or not you want the doodad to go up or down :D It's really kewl too and makes terraining even more fun and kewler!