

Map:		Drumheller AB CA v1.0

Author:		jodark  ( jodark@shaw.ca )

Type:		Unique

Size:		22 x 13

Memory:  	Lots

Players:	2-6

Required files:

-tamechpi2004.ccx 
http://thepack.tauniverse.com/Maps.shtml

-Creon Features.hpi  util # 85
-MC WindyTrees.ccx   util # 160  (not required, but recomended)    http://www.planetannihilation.com/tamec/ta_util_findmaps.asp?sec=Features
 
		 
About the map:

Drumheller AB CA is based on a small Canadian Town where dinasaurs once roamed the earth.  The Red Deer River eroded the surrounding area creating the Drumheller Valley.  It is  similiar to the Grand Canyon in the U.S., only much smaller.

The map does not use an existing tileset, rather, it is the end product of months of tutorials for Bryce, AutoCad, PhotoShop, and Annihilator.  The terrain textures are all new and do not use a tileset, instead the map is derived from one huge height map created with PhotoShop which is then broken down into 24 smaller height maps and loaded into Bryce to create one ultra huge master map with 24 sub-sections.  The surface textures are created using Bryce and are applied to the sub-sections.  The bridges are drafted with AutoCad and imported into Bryce as 3D objects, where the textures are added and then they are placed on the master map. The sub-sections are rendered with Bryce to create the 3D appearce. The renderings are assembled with Annihilator and the PhotoShop height map is sized and added to give the map elevation.  The trees, buildings and resources are added with Annihilator and compressed into an hpi file for use by Total Annihilation.  

Although the map area is only 22 x 13 the hpi file is almost 30Mb, which is saddly the largest file size that annihilator will render.  This large hpi file size is because there are no repeating tiles, each section of the map is unique.  This map requires large amounts of ram (384Mb barely works) for proper play and for online play broadband is a must.

The map was created with both ai and online play in mind.  For online play it is best used for a 2 vs 2 or ffa with up to 4 players.  The 5th and 6th start postitions are added for challenging ai play and the resoures are plentiful so be prepared for a full use of one's abilities and resources in a difficult but stimulating battle. 

A big thank you to all those people out there that take the time to write tutorials, without them this map would not exist.  And a special thanks to weirdly for his time spent testing the map for online play and his height editing of the bridges, even though the data was lost before it could be used.

Enough said.  Go play!

jodark
     

