This guide will take you through the steps to turn a standard skirmish map into an adaptive map, or how to set one up from the start, the method is the same for both apart from the first step, where renaming won't be necessary because you will name it correctly to begin with, your map name must start with Adaptive, For ease of identifying in the vault and to honour the author of the script, failure to do this will lead to your map being hidden by the vault mods.
¶ Change your map name
In my example my map is called Test Map, this will need to be changed to Adaptive Test Map here,
First, make a normal save which can be used as a backup, Then you will need to save your map using save as, Then right click in the files box and create a new folder and name it;
Adaptive test map
Then select the folder you have just created and click Select folder
when the editor saves, it will add the correct file path so it will look like this -- Adaptive_Test_Map.v0001 --
¶ Creating the lua files needed
Now switch to the markers tab and then to the adaptive tab,
And click create table file, A pop-up will appear asking to replace the script.lua click yes to this, if you check your map folder you should have all these files
¶ Setting up your options
Assigning mex and hydro to player spawn
By doing this when a player is not in that slot their resources won't spawn on the map,
First, make sure your army spawn ids are set up correctly (odds vs evens),
Then select the adaptive tab and select all the resource markers you want to add to that player, Then click the corresponding Army and repeat for all players,
Lines will appear showing you have done it correctly, If this is the only thing you want your adaptive map to do you can stop here, Read on if you want to explore the other options available.
¶ Assigning extra core mex
In this example, I want to be able to choose between 4 or 6 core mex, so I will add 2 extra mex markers per player and select them, then assign them to a player and tag them as core mexes,
The untagged ones will always spawn with the player, But the tagged ones will need to be selected from the options in the game lobby, to make them appear in the options when you host a game you need to edit the options.lua, I prefer to use Notepad++ (but regular Notepad works too), find this section of code and move it above the comment line that states
-- it should be above this line to use them --
{
default = 1,
label = "<LOC adaptive_core_mex_label> Core Mexes",
help = "<LOC adaptive_core_mex_2_help> Spawn 4 or 5 core mexes.",
key = 'core_mexes',
pref = 'core_mexes',
values = {
-- There are no additional translations for this option
{ text = "4", help = "<LOC adaptive_core_mex_key_4> Spawn 4 core mexes.", key = 1, },
{ text = "5", help = "<LOC adaptive_core_mex_key_5> Spawn 5 core mexes.", key = 2, },
},
},
In my example I would now need to change a couple of numbers and remove some text for it to show in the options with the right number of mex, Green boxes change from 5 to 6, And yellow boxes need to be deleted or the game will default to the text that it's referencing there,
These should be changed to match your map if necessary And can be changed on any of the options
Label and help,
Text and help in the values,
This process is the same for all options that are either on or off (Extra hydros, Extra mexes, Extra base Mexes) although you don't have to have them linked to the player if you don't want them to be dependent on a player
To change which option is the default option you will need to change the number after
-- Default = X -- to match the key number -- key = X -- then you need to open script.lua and find this line (Line 23)
local core_mexes = ScenarioInfo.Options.core_mexes or 1
and change the number to match the default number you chose in the options.lua,
It is the same process for setting all defaults so remember this process.
¶ Assigning expansion Mexes
In this example we will add expansion mexes so you will be able to choose between 4 options;
option key=1 : removes a+b+c
option key=2 : spawn a, removes b+c
option key=3 : spawn a+b, removes c
option key=4 : spawn a+b+c
Add the mexes you want to be your expansion mexes, then open the adaptive tab and tag them like this,
Red is 1, Green is 2, Yellow is 3, And tag them all to a player if you want them player dependent, Repeat for all players and the mex you want to be assigned, Now back to the options.lua and find this, and move it above the line
In this instance, all the text, help and labels are correct for what I am doing but if I needed to change anything it would be the same as above, this process will work for all options that have 4 choices (Middle mexes, Side mexes and so on)
¶ Optional civilian defences
In this example we will create some defences between our players that you can choose if there are no defences, T1, T2, T3 or wreckage of any of the tech levels, for this one we'll start by moving the options above the line in options.lua look for this
{
default = 1,
label = "<LOC adaptive_civ_def_label> Civilian Defense",
help = "<LOC adaptive_civ_def_label> Spawn civilian defenses at the middle plateau.",
key = 'optional_civilian_defenses',
pref = 'optional_civilian_defenses',
values = {
{ text = "<LOC adaptive_disabled> disabled", help="<LOC adaptive_civ_def_key_0_help> No civilian defenses.", key = 1, },
{ text = "<LOC adaptive_def_key_1> T1 Wrecks (PD+AA)" help="<LOC adaptive_civ_def_key_1_help> Spawn civilian T1 PD & AA Wrecks. Includes T1 Radar, T1 Power Generators & Energy Storage.", key = 2, },
{ text = "<LOC adaptive_def_key_2> T2 Wrecks (PD+TMD)" help="<LOC adaptive_civ_def_key_2_help> Spawn civilian T2 PD & TMD Wrecks in addition to T1.", key = 3, },
{ text = "<LOC adaptive_def_key_3> T3 Wrecks (PD+AA)" help="<LOC adaptive_civ_def_key_3_help> Spawn civilian T3 PD & AA Wrecks in addition to T1 & T2.", key = 4, },
{ text = "<LOC adaptive_def_key_4> T1 operational (PD+AA)", help="<LOC adaptive_civ_def_key_4_help> Spawn operational civilian T1 PD & AA. Includes T1 Radar, T1 Power Generators & Energy Storage.", key = 5, },
{ text = "<LOC adaptive_def_key_5> T2 operational (PD+TMD)", help="<LOC adaptive_civ_def_key_5_help> Spawn operational civilian T2 PD & TMD in addition to T1.", key = 6, },
{ text = "<LOC adaptive_def_key_6> T3 operational (PD+AA)", help="<LOC adaptive_civ_def_key_6_help> Spawn operational civilian T3 PD & AA in addition to T1 & T2.", key = 7, },
},
},
Now go back to the editor and switch to the unit tab and groups tab, Then create 3 groups in ARMY_17 named;
Optional_Civilian_Defenses_2
Optional_Civilian_Defenses_3
Optional_Civilian_Defenses_4
With Optional_Civilian_Defenses_2 group selected to switch to the units tab then click on find a unit which will open the unit browser then pick your T1 defences and place them, Then select the next group Optional_Civilian_Defenses_3, And repeat the last step but this time with T2 defences, And then repeat with next group for T3, You will also need to place a radar and power for some defences to work, You can place mobile units down but they will be Dumb though they won't move at all, And only attack if you get in range, The process is similar if you just want civilian bases, But you need to use the option labelled
-- Civilian Base -- and you only need one group named;
Optional_Civilian_Base_2
Make sure you change the text and helplines in the options.lua to match your map
¶ Crazy rush
This option will add a crazy rush mex to your player spawn (for the uninitiated crazy rush is where you place a mex down and the 4 spots around it turn into new mexes), This one is easy, Open adaptive tab and select one of the start mex assigned to a player and tag it as Crazyrush One Mexes that's it, The option for this should already be above the line in the options.lua
¶ Expanding map
This will allow you to define a start area, And then have it expand after either, A set time has elapsed or 80%/90% of mex have been built or if a player spawns in the expanded area, In this example we will add 2 players and place them in the expansion area, First we need to set up our areas, Switch to the map and areas tab and create a new area, Name it AREA_4
Choose the size you want your start area to be here (boxes match the arrows)
In my example I will be adding players you can skip this part if it's not relevant*, To add players place a blank marker and rename it to the next numerical army then switch to the armies tab and add armies, Then I will move the markers into the expansion area and add their start mex and tag them in the adaptive tab as before,
*Now we need to open options.lua and move the expansion options above the line and edit the helpline so it's relevant
If you want to change the default you need to change it here in the script.lua for this option
Next, we need to open script.lua and find this and remove them -- from the highlighted line
Then scroll down to the expansion part and change these from AREA_1 to AREA_4
so that the options for 80% or 90% mex built are only looking at the start area, not the whole expanded map area, The next part is for players added in the expansion you are done if this doesn't apply to your map, Now find this part and delete the red squares and change the blue square to the army numbers that are in the expansion and you are done.
¶ Seraphim jamming crystal
this will add a jamming crystal to your map which will create false radar signals, To do this open the group's tab and create a new group in ARMY_17 and name it;
Jamming
then switch to the units tab and place seraphim jamming crystal,
Then open options.lua and move the jamming part above the line and adjust the default if you want to (don't forget to change the default in script.lua to match)