Difference between revisions of "Game Variants"

From HIVE
Jump to navigation Jump to search
m (1 revision: StarEdit.net Wiki)
m (Added tutorial box)
 
(2 intermediate revisions by one other user not shown)
Line 6: Line 6:
  
 
To add a variant, simply click "Add" in the bottom right. Conversely you can delete a variant by clicking "Delete." Yes, really! Right-click the new "Untitled Variant" and choose "'''Default'''."
 
To add a variant, simply click "Add" in the bottom right. Conversely you can delete a variant by clicking "Delete." Yes, really! Right-click the new "Untitled Variant" and choose "'''Default'''."
 +
 +
{{TutorialsBox
 +
|contents = [[Map Publishing Tutorial]]}}
  
 
==General==
 
==General==
Line 26: Line 29:
  
 
==Attributes==
 
==Attributes==
 +
[[File:GameVariantsPlayersTab.png|400px|thumb]]
 
Under the "'''Attributes'''" tab, you can finally modify the details regarding this variant.
 
Under the "'''Attributes'''" tab, you can finally modify the details regarding this variant.
  
 
===(Game)===
 
===(Game)===
*'''Game Mode''': This lets you set the default game mode from 3 choices: "Public," "Private," and "Automated Match Making." By default, "Public" should be set unless you're doing private testing. Generally you can leave this at (None).
 
 
*'''Game Speed''': This lets you set the default value for the game's speed. You can also force players to play at a certain speed if you wish.
 
*'''Game Speed''': This lets you set the default value for the game's speed. You can also force players to play at a certain speed if you wish.
 
*'''Lobby Delay''': This lets you set the timer for your lobby delay. Keep in mind that ultimately 3 seconds are added to this number for the final countdown.
 
*'''Lobby Delay''': This lets you set the timer for your lobby delay. Keep in mind that ultimately 3 seconds are added to this number for the final countdown.
 
*'''Locked Alliances''': This option will force players to stick to their alliances so they cannot unally in game, based on your choice of "Yes" or "No."
 
*'''Locked Alliances''': This option will force players to stick to their alliances so they cannot unally in game, based on your choice of "Yes" or "No."
*'''Premade Game''': <span style="color:#FF0000">Unknown.</span>
+
''(Team setting used to be here, now it was moved to the Player Attributes tab)''
*'''Rules''': The only option is "Default," but there may be a way to add custom rules that can be selected.
 
*'''Teams''': This is where you can set the base amount of teams that will be shown in the lobby. If this is unlocked, players can add more teams than the amount you choose. Commonly people choose "Custom Teams" to build their own.
 
*'''Teams [Premade]''': Creates premade teams based on the value you choose.
 
  
 
===(Player)===
 
===(Player)===
*'''Color''': This allows you to set and lock specific colors to players.
+
At the very top, you choose:
*'''Controller''': This allows you to set the controller of each "Player."
+
*'''Teams''' (actually a game attribute) - Lets you chose number of teams, or some preset team options. You will propably want to use "X Teams" options, as others behave strangely (''X v X'' modes fail on even player count, custom teams displays ''Create new team'' tab in lobby). Locked option will lock and hide the team attribute from lobby.
*'''Difficulty''': This allows you to set the AI difficulty for each "Player."
+
Now each player has a set of attributes. There are 4 default attributes (color, difficulty(AI only), handicap and race), which can be hidden with the top-right list. Plus there are all your custom [[Game Attributes#Player Attributes|player attributes]] are displayed here, and they can be hidden from the game attributes window.
 +
Each player also belongs to one team, which is a special player attribute, and is set differently. The default attributes are:
 +
*'''Color''': Can be used to lock colors to some players, or to deny them usage of a specific color.
 +
*'''Controller''': This allows you to lock computer to some slot, or deny computer.
 +
*'''Difficulty''': Allows you to set the AI difficulty for each "Player". Affects only computer players.
 
*'''Handicap''': This allows you to set the value of the handicap of each "Player," and lock it if need be.
 
*'''Handicap''': This allows you to set the value of the handicap of each "Player," and lock it if need be.
*'''Observer Type''': This allows you to set the "Observer Type" of a "Player" between "Spectator" and "Referee." This doesn't have much effect on custom games unless you need one of these roles.
+
*'''Race''': This allows you to set the starting race of each "Player". If your map is not using races (each player is locked to Terran for example), it is a good idea to hide this attribute)
*'''Participant Role''': This allows you to set the "Participant Role" of a "Player" between "Participant" and "Watcher." This doesn't have much effect on custom games unless you need one of these roles.
+
The attribute modification table bottom-right allows you to set default values for each attribute, lock them and/or remove certain values. (For example you can remove ''Computer'' from controllers, if your map doesn't have AI)
*'''Race''': This allows you to set the starting race of each "Player."
 
*'''Team''': These "Team" attributes let you choose which "Players" fall into which default teams. If you use a predefined setup like "2 Teams," you can only put "Players" into one of two teams. If you choose "Custom Teams," you can put "Players" onto any team you'd like with any combination of teams.
 
**When placing players on custom teams, you will notice a number in brackets next to the team number (for example "Team 1[1]" or "Team 2[4]"). Essentially the bracketed number refers to the specific place on that team that you want that player to be. You can put all your players from team 1 into "Team 1[1]" and they won't be in a specific order. Or you could put one of them in Team 1[4] because you really need that person in the fourth slot. As far as I can tell this is mostly for aesthetic purposes.
 
  
 
==Warning!==
 
==Warning!==
 
Often players have issues publishing maps due to Game Variant conflicts. This is because they have set up options in the "Player Properties" as well as Game Variants. Unfortunately in order to publish your map and have Game Variants set, you can only set the player "Control" in the Player Properties. The rest has to be done through the Game Variants.
 
Often players have issues publishing maps due to Game Variant conflicts. This is because they have set up options in the "Player Properties" as well as Game Variants. Unfortunately in order to publish your map and have Game Variants set, you can only set the player "Control" in the Player Properties. The rest has to be done through the Game Variants.
 +
But beware! Game variants are inactive in ''Test Document'' mode, so for any options to work with map test (for example playing the correct race), you need to set them in Player properties, and them remove them before publishing your map.
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==

Latest revision as of 19:17, 10 May 2011

Game Variants are necessary settings in your map that allow it to be published. From the Game Variants, you can modify the player properties, set up teams, and even modify the lobby delay timer.

To access this window from the editor, go to "Map > Game Variants...."

In the bottom right of the window that popped up, uncheck "Use Default Variants." If you want to make a melee map, the "Default Variants" cleverly created various modes for you to choose from based on the amount of "Users" set in the "Player Properties." Since this is most likely a custom map, however, you will want to keep that unchecked.

To add a variant, simply click "Add" in the bottom right. Conversely you can delete a variant by clicking "Delete." Yes, really! Right-click the new "Untitled Variant" and choose "Default."


General

Under the "General" tab, you can set the name of your variant as well as a brief description. It seems like the description isn't actually seen anywhere in game, so writing something there is optional.

Game Type

Under the "Game Type" tab, you can categorize your map for the Battle.net map list, and you set the "mode" associated with this variant.

  • "Category: Unless you are making a "Tower Defense" or "Tug of War" map, this should remain at custom.
    • "Name: Here you would name the category of your map. If you are making an assault map, simply type in "Assault," or if you are making an arena map, you can put "Arena."
    • "Description:" Here you would briefly describe the category you named.
  • "Mode: Keep this as "Custom" (which as of patch 1.1.3 is the only available option).
    • "Name: Here you would name the category of your map. If you are making an assault map, simply type in "Assault," or if you are making an arena map, you can put "Arena."
    • "Description:" Here you would briefly describe the category you named.


  • "Max Team Size:" This value can remain at 12. This value represents the maximum number of players on each team, but since teams are defined in the "Attributes" tab, this won't affect you much.


Attributes

GameVariantsPlayersTab.png

Under the "Attributes" tab, you can finally modify the details regarding this variant.

(Game)

  • Game Speed: This lets you set the default value for the game's speed. You can also force players to play at a certain speed if you wish.
  • Lobby Delay: This lets you set the timer for your lobby delay. Keep in mind that ultimately 3 seconds are added to this number for the final countdown.
  • Locked Alliances: This option will force players to stick to their alliances so they cannot unally in game, based on your choice of "Yes" or "No."

(Team setting used to be here, now it was moved to the Player Attributes tab)

(Player)

At the very top, you choose:

  • Teams (actually a game attribute) - Lets you chose number of teams, or some preset team options. You will propably want to use "X Teams" options, as others behave strangely (X v X modes fail on even player count, custom teams displays Create new team tab in lobby). Locked option will lock and hide the team attribute from lobby.

Now each player has a set of attributes. There are 4 default attributes (color, difficulty(AI only), handicap and race), which can be hidden with the top-right list. Plus there are all your custom player attributes are displayed here, and they can be hidden from the game attributes window. Each player also belongs to one team, which is a special player attribute, and is set differently. The default attributes are:

  • Color: Can be used to lock colors to some players, or to deny them usage of a specific color.
  • Controller: This allows you to lock computer to some slot, or deny computer.
  • Difficulty: Allows you to set the AI difficulty for each "Player". Affects only computer players.
  • Handicap: This allows you to set the value of the handicap of each "Player," and lock it if need be.
  • Race: This allows you to set the starting race of each "Player". If your map is not using races (each player is locked to Terran for example), it is a good idea to hide this attribute)

The attribute modification table bottom-right allows you to set default values for each attribute, lock them and/or remove certain values. (For example you can remove Computer from controllers, if your map doesn't have AI)

Warning!

Often players have issues publishing maps due to Game Variant conflicts. This is because they have set up options in the "Player Properties" as well as Game Variants. Unfortunately in order to publish your map and have Game Variants set, you can only set the player "Control" in the Player Properties. The rest has to be done through the Game Variants. But beware! Game variants are inactive in Test Document mode, so for any options to work with map test (for example playing the correct race), you need to set them in Player properties, and them remove them before publishing your map.

See Also