FAQ entry

Keywords: All, map, Open Suite,

What is the standard procedure for creating a new map?

There are three different ways, depending on the type of the map you want to create.

  1. creating a completely new painted (png/jpg) map
  2. creating a modification of an existing painted (png/jpg) map
  3. creating a new tiled map

1. Creating a completely new painted (png/jpg) map

  1. ask a new map number on the dedicated reservation thread of the OG Forums; if you want to create a map larger than 3150*3000 px, please notice you ask for an “XXL” map number
  2. this unique number should be used as the filename of your new map (e.g. the picture: 99999.png and the map description: 9999_title_of_the_map.mapx)
  3. make the png map picture with your favorite image editor; you can use 24-bit (aka “true color”) color depth, but if your total file size is larger than 5 MB, it will be reduced to 8-bit (aka 256-color) format
  4. create a new scenario using your new map picture (OpenSuite » Scenario/Savegame » New Scenario)

    Creating a new scenario using your new map

  5. set the terrain types, add the special layers (roads, railway lines, built/painted facilities) and the terrain labels (names of the cities, rivers, etc.)

    Setting the terrain types

  6. export the new map description file (OpenSuite » Map View specific Options » Export as OG’s Mapfile…)

    Exporting the .mapx description file

  7. check and follow the current instructions of announcing and publishing your finished map on the first post of the post information about new maps thread of the OG Forums

Please check the detailed howto instructions about creating a painted (png) map for more technical details.

2. Creating a modification of an existing painted (png/jpg) map

  1. if the creator of the original map is active, please ask a permission to use her/his map; it’s not mandatory, but a nice gesture to respect the efforts of your fellow designers
  2. ask a new map number on the dedicated reservation thread of the OG Forums; if you want to create a map larger than 3150*3000 px, please notice you ask for an “XXL” map number
  3. this unique number should be used as the filename of your new map (e.g. the picture: 99999.png and the map description: 9999_title_of_the_map.mapx)
  4. make a copy of the old map picture (png) and description (mapx) with the new name
  5. edit the new map picture with your favorite image editor; you can use 24-bit (aka “true color”) color depth, but if your total file size is larger than 5 MB, it will be reduced to 8-bit (aka 256-color) format
  6. open the new (copied) .mapx description file with OpenSuite and change the map picture (OpenSuite » MAPX Editor » Load Picture file…)

    Loading the new map picture

  7. say “no” for the pop-up question

    Refusing to create a new .mapx file

  8. make the obligated changes on the map description

    Chaning the map description

  9. save the modified map description file
  10. check and follow the current instructions of announcing and publishing your finished map on the first post of the post information about new maps thread of the OG Forums
  11. now you can import your new, modified .mapx description file (using your new map picture) to any existing scenarios

Please check the detailed howto instructions about creating a painted (png) map for more technical details.

3. Creating a new tiled map

When you create a new tiled map, you don’t have to ask a new number. That’s because the tiled map description files aren’t necessary for playing a scenario, there is no map image file what the game should load from your hard drive or from the repository.

However, you can share your finished tiled map, which can be useful for other designers. If you want to share your tiled map, please follow our naming convention and use a filename like this: tiled_title_of_your_map.mapx. You can check in our all-in-one mapx package, which names are already used.

The way of announcing and publishing your finished tiled map is the same as described above (see the first post of the post information about new maps thread of the OG Forums.

No need to ask a permission to modify a tiled map, but if you want to share a modification of an existing tiled map, please give the credit to the designer of the original .mapx file. It’s not mandatory, but a nice gesture to respect the efforts of your fellow designers

Please check the detailed howto instructions about creating a tiled map for the technical details.