Questions on creating a sandbox game

from Elemental Forums

In the manual, it says I can choose the various land mass (continents, islands, etc). But in the 'create new game' screen, I can't see the options to choose land mass.

 

The 'create new game' screen also shows that I can load a custom map. Currently there are 3 custom maps but when i click load, I cant see anything happening. How do I know the map is loaded? Does it mean when i load a custom map, the map is not randomly generated anymore? what if I loaded a custom map and want to go back to random generation, how do I do that? The manual doesnt say anything about custom maps too.

elemental
8,506 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

1) There currently is no land mass option (one of many things listed in the manual not in game :( )

2) When you load a custom map it does not show any change to the settings but if you just click "next" it will use the map you loaded.  I've never had it fail, but "having faith" it worked without feedback is a little confusing.

3) There isn't actually "random maps" when you start a new game it will default to loading 1 of X (not sure exact number for each size, large is I think 3 or 4 different maps) pre-generated maps, this does not include any of the ones you can load.

4) Once you load a map it will use that map for the game you start, unless you return to the main menu and click "New Game" then it will default to the randomly selected map function or you can load a map again.

 

I hope that answers all your questions.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Hmmm..

Seems that the manual team and the developers are not communicating?

Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

It was in the Beta at one point, I'm pretty sure I remember being able to choose islands etc, etc.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

Is it going to be implemented in v1.1? or will this option be removed in the manual.

Either option has to happen, or not Stardock can be sued for misrepresentation  :D

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

Sued for manual errata? Hahaha, where have you been the last 20 years of PC gaming...

 

Then again, barely anyone bother to read them anyways.

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

I agree most ppl do not read the manual.

But I actually did read the manual before starting my first game... Can I say I was disappointed...  :'(

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting chanbrothers, reply 6
I agree most ppl do not read the manual.

But I actually did read the manual before starting my first game... Can I say I was disappointed... 
End of chanbrothers's quote

 

You're not alone in that disappointment.  I read the manual after a few games though... and it made me want to cry as I explained here.

Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top
Quoting Kalin, reply 5

Sued for manual errata? Hahaha, where have you been the last 20 years of PC gaming...
 

Then again, barely anyone bother to read them anyways.

End of Kalin's quote

 

That's because manuals are such crap these days that they're not worth reading, because you won't find what you're looking for in them. If a game company is not going to make a manual that has good player-utility, then don't bother wasting paper (or .doc/.pdf space) making one. I hate having to waste hours of time sifting through dozens of useless posts in a forum trying to figure out how something works in a game that should've been covered in the manual to begin with. This is just poor quality on the game company's part.

Check out Dominions III, that's how manuals *should* be done: an A friggin +++ manual if I ever read one, all the way down to how modifiers work in blow-by-blow combat. It doesn't get any better than that for strategy game manuals. Other than a few misspellings, perfect. That's how all manuals should be made.

 

Quoting Dhraconus, reply 1

3) There isn't actually "random maps" when you start a new game it will default to loading 1 of X (not sure exact number for each size, large is I think 3 or 4 different maps) pre-generated maps, this does not include any of the ones you can load.
End of Dhraconus's quote

Why do they bother with 400 different continent names if there are only 4 different large maps? Every time I play a large map it has a different name, I have noticed recently that the land masses are starting to look the same.