I think this is the best place to put it, since I'm not looking at a game system.
Anyway...
I'm in the process of creating a game and want to have a "random" feel to the land. I have the basic land masses created and I need to populate them with land forms. However, I don't know what kind of logic to use to create them.
Has anyone seen a sourcebook that tells how to create random land? Has suggestions for the probability of a land form being close to another?
I want to keep it "random" as the map is of considerable size (over 184,000 hexes, including 50% water).
Any help is appreciated!
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I think this is the best place to put it, since I'm not looking at a game system.
Anyway...
I'm in the process of creating a game and want to have a "random" feel to the land. I have the basic land masses created and I need to populate them with land forms. However, I don't know what kind of logic to use to create them.
Has anyone seen a sourcebook that tells how to create random land? Has suggestions for the probability of a land form being close to another?
I want to keep it "random" as the map is of considerable size (over 184,000 hexes, including 50% water).
Any help is appreciated!
I'm good with hand-drawn maps. I could probably whip up a blank map for you if you send me a link to they size hex paper you want.
I'm good with hand-drawn maps. I could probably whip up a blank map for you if you send me a link to they size hex paper you want.
Unfortunately, the map is about 2x2 sheets of plywood in size. And that's 26 pixel square hexes.
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Unfortunately, the map is about 2x2 sheets of plywood in size. And that's 26 pixel square hexes.
I'm good with hand-drawn maps. I could probably whip up a blank map for you if you send me a link to they size hex paper you want.
I can probably work something out...
Maybe I can give you a base to work from?
I can probably work something out...Maybe I can give you a base to work from?
I appreciate the offer, but I'll keep it in mind for now. The issue is that I need to transfer the information into a database, that's why I want the guidelines for random generation. However, if I can't figure it out, I'll let ya know! : )
This is yet closer.
I havnt looked back since I went to mapping on a D20 surface made up of triangles that break down to 125 miles per side. I random each triangle of the map on Microsoft EXCEL. Build a Table of Data and then apply the random result in the Draw function of Microsoft WORD.
This sounds close to what I'd like to do. Are you using just random mumbers for the triangles, or are you assigning them a land mass/form? Do you say that this triangle is primarily Forest, this is Mountain?
Again, thanks!
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I appreciate the offer, but I'll keep it in mind for now. The issue is that I need to transfer the information into a database, that's why I want the guidelines for random generation. However, if I can't figure it out, I'll let ya know! : )
I can probably work something out...Maybe I can give you a base to work from?
Sorry I couldn't help. Good luck, though!
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I havnt looked back since I went to mapping on a D20 surface made up of triangles that break down to 125 miles per side. I random each triangle of the map on Microsoft EXCEL. Build a Table of Data and then apply the random result in the Draw function of Microsoft WORD.This sounds close to what I'd like to do. Are you using just random mumbers for the triangles, or are you assigning them a land mass/form? Do you say that this triangle is primarily Forest, this is Mountain?
Again, thanks!
I roll for each land type and percentage of possible coverage, then I put that in a roll for land chart to determine (using the ratios) which triangle is dominated by which land type, then I break down the 4000x4000x4000 mile triangle into 125 mile triangles and I do a new random list based on what is the most dominant landform, then other assorted types...
Your d20 folds flat as five triangles up above 10 triangles up/down then five triangles down...I go through each.
I roll for each land type and percentage of possible coverage, then I put that in a roll for land chart to determine (using the ratios) which triangle is dominated by which land type, then I break down the 4000x4000x4000 mile triangle into 125 mile triangles and I do a new random list based on what is the most dominant landform, then other assorted types...
Your d20 folds flat as five triangles up above 10 triangles up/down then five triangles down...I go through each.
Let me see if I have this right.
For each triangular map, you determine the Percent Coverage and also a random Land Feature (ex, Water, Forest, Plain, Desert, Mountain, Swamp, etc).
After that is determined, you break down the map into a smaller subset (125 triangles) and assign a random Land Feature to each subset based on a weighted table favoring the dominant Land Feature (ex, Forest 60%, Plain 30%, Swamp 5%, Water 1%, Mountain 4%, Desert 0%).
I'd like to see if I'm on target with what you're saying. Even if I'm not, this will help tremendously with the issue that I'm encountering. My original intent was to use the 1e DMG's Random Land generation table to come up with this. However, I was approaching if from an individual "triangle" standpoint than the overall "over triangle".
Again, Thanks!
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"Um? What he Said!" Runs for cover...
I dont always go to the extreem of randoming every 125 mile triangle though. I often stop at the 4000 mile globe data and draw my continents and Colour in My oceans, etc. by hand (err! Its fun, yeah thats it. Fun, hehe!). I also do this to a large Triangle per A4 scale so I get a good regional map (My own Dragonshead Penninsula campaign fits two triangles one above the other - covering about 16 million square miles).
If you divide up a 4000 x 4000 x 4000 triangle of your globe d20 into 528 local area triangles of 125 x 125 x 125 mile, then you will be deemed insane but you will be able to plot the map of the world on your computer.
Frankly what is needed is an Atlas of Triangle maps taken to the 125 mile scale...
"Um? What he Said!" Runs for cover...
I get that a lot ; )
I dont always go to the extreem of randoming every 125 mile triangle though. I often stop at the 4000 mile globe data and draw my continents and Colour in My oceans, etc. by hand (err! Its fun, yeah thats it. Fun, hehe!). I also do this to a large Triangle per A4 scale so I get a good regional map (My own Dragonshead Penninsula campaign fits two triangles one above the other - covering about 16 million square miles).
In the end, it always looks better if done by hand. However, the map I created took long enough to make the land masses. I just need to fill in the land now.
If you divide up a 4000 x 4000 x 4000 triangle of your globe d20 into 528 local area triangles of 125 x 125 x 125 mile, then you will be deemed insane but you will be able to plot the map of the world on your computer.
Frankly what is needed is an Atlas of Triangle maps taken to the 125 mile scale...
Unfortunately, my map is 184,110 hexes on a 19x19 grid of 361 maps with 510 hexes on each.
I'll have to mess around with this idea. Maybe next time I'll combine this with the PDF suggested above to get more of a "realistic" approach.
Again, thanks for everyone's help!