Index Librorum's Maps, assorted projects, and Gaea tutorials

[OnceHandsome]

ok got it working now to save the nodes to files...however now when I try to import new GAEA modified heightmap back into a my Map editor its says wrong file size

[OnceHandsome]

ok i think i got it....when you build the nodes you have to select the proper resolution of the map size +1 for it to import properly as a height map in the editor.....thanks for your help

[IndexLibrorum]

@oncehandsome Yea, you got to mark a node for export, and then set the filetype and resolution that you need. I'll see if I can make sure that information is clearly explained in the tutorials.

I don't consistently keep an eye on the forum, so if you have questions for me or need help w/ Gaea your best bet is to send me a message on discord.

@Inspexor Glad you like 'em! Definitely give mapping a try. We've got loads of resources to help you get started, and a decently sized group of people who are more than willing to give you a hand. Add me on discord if you wanna have a chat about Gaea or have questions etc.

[IndexLibrorum]

This once lush and verdant garden world hosted a classified UEF research facility, researching the first components of the Black Sun doomsday device. We do not know what happened, but all that is left now is a crater and the scattered remnants of the research complex, the planet razed to the ground. // CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. AI compatible.

For the 'Brigadier Fletcher' tournament I submit Project Vortex. The map was designed as a all-out navy brawl: every bit of terrain gained will come with another mex for you to claim. Small islands, many with mexes and/or chunks of reclaim are scattered across the map. Most of these islands are low enough that frigates will be able to shoot over them, although some larger ones have some cliffs and mountains.

The spawns are located on the top left and bottom right corners, with two players starting in the water. To start off, these water spawns get two hydros, but will then have to find dry land to expand their powergrid and build non-navy factories. The remaining corners provide some more reclaim, as well as larger islands that allow for some very aggressive forward factories.

Thematically, this map shows the result of a scientific disaster: all that remains of the research facility that was once present on this planet is a large crater in the center. What survived of the buildings from the research complex was blasted outwards, and later moved around by the water that ended up filling the crater. The effects on the region as a whole was disastrous: no life remains. Only the charred husks of what were once large forests teeming with life provide an indication that this was once a verdant garden world. Across the map you'll find many buildings that have since gotten stuck or washed ashore of the many islands. Some newer structures include UEF cranes and a civilian base, indicating that the UEF has started salvaging efforts.

The center of the crater remains a danger to this day, and it is not recommended that commanders are dropped into the deep.

[IndexLibrorum]

Something that might feature in a future map... ALIEN EGG.

[Reckless_Charger]

Does it hatch?

[deletethis]

@indexlibrorum said in Index Librorum's Maps, assorted projects, and Gaea tutorials:

The center of the crater remains a danger to this day, and it is not recommended that commanders are dropped into the deep.

...what happens if you do??

[IndexLibrorum]

@deletethis

...what happens if you do??

I will leave figuring that out as an exercise to the reader
Alternatively, a relevant quote from one of my favorite books:

“And so the First Under the Night came across a portal where great danger might lurk, and upon witnessing it halted and sought the council of Sve Noc. ‘O Night,’ said the First, ‘what wisdom do you offer?’ And so the Young Night answered thus: ‘Try a foot first.'”
– Extract from the ‘Parables of the Lost and Found’, disputed Firstborn religious text

@Reckless_Charger

Does it hatch?

Just a terrain piece! Be glad for it, I doubt whatever would be in an egg like that would be friendly.

[IndexLibrorum]

Several interesting updates!

Project Mesa HD

Project Mesa was the first map I ever made. It was also the first project I made in Gaea. Consequently, on both the map-making side and the Gaea side there was a lot of room for improvement.

So improvements were made! Released under the new name 'Project Mesa HD', the new map features several fixes to the terrain (which mostly focus on flattening and scaling the map to solve height-related issues), some changes to the mex layout, better reclaim, and much improved use of decals. Pictures at the end of the post.

I have one or two areas left that I can work on to further improve the visuals of this map and may update again in the future, but for now you can find Project Mesa HD in the mapping vault and in this month's 4v4 matchmaking queue.

A github repository for project Mesa assets and project files

I have released a github repository which contains a growing set of decals and textures related to the Project Mesa HD map. The textures and decals will soon become part of the main FAF repository, and thus become available for everyone to use through the FAF editor.

Along with these new mapping assets, I have included the Gaea project files that were used to create the map and assets. If you're interested in working with Gaea, you may want to have a look at how I've created this map and the decals.

---

[IndexLibrorum]

This newly discovered garden world would be a great place to start a new farming colony, commander. Secure it for us! // Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. This map is AI compatible.

Project Tumulus is a 5x5km map made for 1v1's. This map's relatively simple, featuring a decent amount of mexes, lots of reclaim to manually click, and a nice autumn theme on low rolling hills. A good fit for the 500-1000 1v1 bracket.

While there are enough rocks scattered across the map, in such places that you'll have to send your engineers to go out of their way to get them, most of the mass on this map is actually part of the tree groups. The higher rated players may find a challenge in making sure at least some of those tree groups remain intact clumps, or in making sure that no clumps survive on the other side of the map.

[snoog]

You really make beautiful maps Index

[IndexLibrorum]

@snoog Glad you like, thanks for the kind words

[Noble_Ice]

good maps, sadly i stopped playing faf

[IndexLibrorum]

@noble_ice Time to come back just for my maps

[Noble_Ice]

@indexlibrorum well you are tempting me but no. when balance despots fix cybrans and stop favoring uef i will come back.. i will just try mods like m28ai, but the maps are so good all of them.

[IndexLibrorum]

We need ice for our drinks, commander. Remove these enemies and secure that ice! -- Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Based on a map design by StaySane0.

Project Glacies is a 10x10km map made for at most 4v4. The map is a rework and redesign of a map originally designed by StaySane0, who was kind enough to give me permission to adjust his original concept. Changes involve significant changes to the heightmap, a redistribution of mexes and reclaim, as well as a complete overhaul of the textures and decals. Assets from my previous map Project Albus were used for the design of this map.

As with most of my maps, there is a good amount of reclaim spread out all over the map, with larger chunks of reclaim on the route most engineers will take to reach mexes. Those players with the extra APM to spare will find it rewarding to give the manual reclaim orders to their expanding engineers.

This map also features clumps of dense forests, which also contain a hefty amount of mass and energy. Like with Project Tumulus, keeping the tree clumps intact will make scaling your economy significantly easier. Some slots may find that an extra greedy build of starting with 2 factories and no mexes is just about possible if you pay enough attention at manually reclaiming the trees.