Single Player Map Editor Initial Impressions
This thread was created to discuss the single player map editor. I am just as disappointed as everyone else with the lack of PvP map editor, but there are numerous threads about that. Please don't bog down this thread with your PvP map editor complaints.
So I was able to tool around a little last night and test out the map editor tools for making a single player map. My initial impressions are discussed below.
First, the good. The wonderful terrain editor from previous installments of the game is back and just as good as ever. I am a little disappointed with what initially appears to be a relatively limited theme selection (no desert or tropics), but it is thematically appropriate for the game. There are tons of texture options. Holes and water blocks are back. Also, the amount of objects available for placement is staggering. Waterfalls and tunnels are back. There exists an entire building block set within structures that includes various interior walls, floors, roofs, and ceilings to create your own buildings. Also there is a myriad of cool statues to choose. With the terrain and object options you really can make beautiful and detailed maps.
Next, the not so good. Their appears to be no way to create any story, dialogue, or custom objectives. I could not find a way to input custom text to set this up. There is an objective tool in the editor, but it just marks an area of interest on the player's map (that they can choose to completely ignore). There is no way to make an objective based map, such as destroy the four guard buildings prior to conquering the outpost or collect these objects or save the hostage prior to killing off all the enemies.
Finally, the ugly. The AI options are horrendous, aka, you have no AI options. There is no way to program a patrol path for AI. There is no way to control AI attack routes or behavior. There is no way to modify AI weapons, health, or intelligence. I can't even figure out a way to tell a guard to stay at his post in the event that the player is detected. If the player attacks a guard on one side of the map, all the guards from the other side of the map will cross the map and chase the player down mindlessly (at least in assault and outpost - I haven't tried excursion yet). There is no way to set the map up so that you can attack individual pockets of enemies without alerting all the enemies (if you are detected). This is simply not acceptable! The strength of the editor is entirely based on the AI abilities, and with such terrible AI options this editor will have no longevity.
Also, there is no way to trigger events (if condition a is met, ally AI will spawn and help player). There is no way to make any conditions (aka enemy 1 will only attack you if enemy 3-4 die). There is no way to make a condition like pull switches a-c to open door Z.
If I am wrong about any of this please correct me, but as it stands this editor is great for creating something beautiful but terrible for creating any interesting gameplay scenarios (not even including PvP), and gameplay scenarios are what's important!!!
Bad A.I. = Worthless SG IGE
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Manlius10A
This thread was created to discuss the single player map editor. I am just as disappointed as everyone else with the lack of PvP map editor, but there are numerous threads about that. Please don't bog down this thread with your PvP map editor complaints.
So I was able to tool around a little last night and test out the map editor tools for making a single player map. My initial impressions are discussed below.
First, the good. The wonderful terrain editor from previous installments of the game is back and just as good as ever. I am a little disappointed with what initially appears to be a relatively limited theme selection (no desert or tropics), but it is thematically appropriate for the game. There are tons of texture options. Holes and water blocks are back. Also, the amount of objects available for placement is staggering. Waterfalls and tunnels are back. There exists an entire building block set within structures that includes various interior walls, floors, roofs, and ceilings to create your own buildings. Also there is a myriad of cool statues to choose. With the terrain and object options you really can make beautiful and detailed maps.
Next, the not so good. Their appears to be no way to create any story, dialogue, or custom objectives. I could not find a way to input custom text to set this up. There is an objective tool in the editor, but it just marks an area of interest on the player's map (that they can choose to completely ignore). There is no way to make an objective based map, such as destroy the four guard buildings prior to conquering the outpost or collect these objects or save the hostage prior to killing off all the enemies.
Finally, the ugly. The AI options are horrendous, aka, you have no AI options. There is no way to program a patrol path for AI. There is no way to control AI attack routes or behavior. There is no way to modify AI weapons, health, or intelligence. I can't even figure out a way to tell a guard to stay at his post in the event that the player is detected. If the player attacks a guard on one side of the map, all the guards from the other side of the map will cross the map and chase the player down mindlessly (at least in assault and outpost - I haven't tried excursion yet). There is no way to set the map up so that you can attack individual pockets of enemies without alerting all the enemies (if you are detected). This is simply not acceptable! The strength of the editor is entirely based on the AI abilities, and with such terrible AI options this editor will have no longevity.
Also, there is no way to trigger events (if condition a is met, ally AI will spawn and help player). There is no way to make any conditions (aka enemy 1 will only attack you if enemy 3-4 die). There is no way to make a condition like pull switches a-c to open door Z.
If I am wrong about any of this please correct me, but as it stands this editor is great for creating something beautiful but terrible for creating any interesting gameplay scenarios (not even including PvP), and gameplay scenarios are what's important!!!
I made a previous post regarding concerns/questions about the SP IGE. One of those was the intelligence/manipulation of the A.I. Without that, the replay value is ZERO! Also, most maps now will simply turn into viewing ones. Spend countless hours making a SP map just so other mappers can come in to view it one time. Take into account, a lot of experienced mappers won't buy the game and you're left with enjoying the maps you created by yourself and few others. What makes it frustrating (as you have pointed out) is that the editor has so much potential. Let's hope in FC5 all the pieces come together. Thanks for the constructive and honest thread.