Editor Observations, Bugs, Misunderstandings

[Isthatwise]

For my own entertainment I have put together a very crude working map and scenario depicting a meeting engagement between two armies contesting three objectives. The win conditions are to take all three objectives or the total elimination of the opposing army. I’ve had great fun testing various army compositions using the Armageddon codex as a guide. Whilst using the editor I made some observations which I’d like to share. I would be grateful if the Devs or any other Editor users on the forum could offer their views on the following:

Map Creation.
1. The editor has the option to add a "Pad image" underlying the map shown on screen. This is a great idea but the image is immediately obscured as soon you lay any terrain tiles on it making it impossible to use the image as a guide. Is it possible to adjust the transparency of the base terrain while laying tiles over an underlying map?
2. A similar problem occurs when you place Elevation or Zone markers. These disappear from view as soon as you switch back to placing terrain making it particularly difficult to place height related terrain items. Is there a way to keep the Elevation and / or Zone markers visible when placing terrain?
3. The Generat Tiles and Generate Tiles(current layer) functions are a bit of a mystery. I assumed it would fill the map with terrain tiles but it actually appears to place a second layer of terrain over any tiles you have already placed. This does change the appearance slightly but then prevents you from changing or laying further terrain or terrain items on top of it. I am not sure therefore how to use this function. Please explain how we can use this option.
4. X and Y coordinates are not shown on the map edge consequently you have to count the hexes to find the mid-point for example or where terrain tiles are identified as missing by the Validate Scenario function. Perhaps I am just being lazy but can the x and y hexes be numbered for coordination purposes?
5. The zoom function appears to be very erratic. I can zoom to 100% and 50% but the 33% function only works sporadically and the 25% zoom function does not appear to work at all.
6. There are a range of terrain options which do not have an obvious or intuitive use. Terrain features, Base Transitions, Strings and Map strings. Similarly a number of Terrain options are decorative but do not alter the underlying terrain when you might expect it too. Trenches for example. Could these be explained in a guide?

Scenario Development
1. I have checked the deployment box in Scenario Parameters but it does not seem to work. My scenario starts on turn 1 and does not give the deployment phase. Is this a bug?
2. During my first three test battles the AI was static and did not leave the set up zone. It would only react when my units came into view. Is this usual? I was able to change this by setting up some AI scripts in conjunction with the zones function. These triggered on turn 1 and told the AI to move from zone 1 to zone 2 which worked and got them moving. I also set a primary targets trigger. Is all this necessary to get the AI to move toward and take objectives in order to meet the victory condition? I couldn’t see similar triggers in the pre-made scenarios, unless I’ve missed them.

Final Note
I would like to emphasise that now the scenario is running even at this very basic level I have really enjoyed building and testing armies in a map of my own creation. It has become a game within a game. I have found using the Armageddon codex to inform unit choices does provide a balanced battle even leading to defeat on some occasions which is a good thing. I’m sure we will see some interesting scenarios and carefully crafted maps in the hands of more creative map makers.

I look forward to reading any responses to the above observations and would make a request to the Devs for a map making / scenario creation tutorial or step by step guide.

Cheers n Beers.

[zakblood]

would be nice to have a manual

[Kerensky]

I can't promise when exactly this (guide) will be arriving, but I'm hopeful it will come right on the heels of this upcoming patch. It is somewhat depending on what we get along with this patch, can't have one without the other!

[Kerensky]

Got a basic guide up:
http://slitherine.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=326&t=54961

If you still have questions now, let me know and I'll try to answer them!