EaglePrince

Nice map, Floki. I don't know if I have told you that before, but you are one of those map makers that show how good Stronghold 2 editor is, and by the map you also show how this editor is not just a tool for making maps that people are going to play. To me it seems that, for you working with this tool is just like painting a picture. You are one of those map makers. And indeed, that is all about this map editor - if one wants to make a map quickly, and still to be nice as well, he will have a bad time, but if one is in the mood to make a good map he will enjoy working on it, and the result can be great. That's why I made that comparison. Here is my entry as well. EDIT: I didn't know that one can make sea waves going in different directions - onto the peninsula from different directions. I like how the direction of the waves changes smoothly. I didn't try that before. Just to be clear, I don't mean on the waves at the shoreline, I mean on the waves on the sea - the direction of the water. map for contest EaglePrince.zip

I was thinking about both of your ideas here, and yes, that would be really great! Only I wasn't writing the second one, but I will write down in the first post here concisely what are all the ideas we got.

Oh... Would your way also include cropping the map? If it would then it wouldn't help me with the map I'm currently working on. :( I later realized. that. It's not just that I have already started the map, but with positions of those four bridges I wanted to add would be impossible to do the task. Maybe only if I decided to build two high bridges, and the other two to replace with simple crossing across the river. Well, you can show me, but only if it wouldn't take to much of your time. :) The thing is that I would like to add at least two bridges like that into my map (preferably four), but I don't know if that is possible. The way I saw it in the article if one wants to build those bridges he needs to know where he wants to put them before actually making the map. In my case I would like to build those bridges around an island - to the north, south, west and east, while a compromise would be building those only in east and west.

By the way, I believe this topic should be made sticky, or perhaps merged with Mathew's topic, and renamed into Stronghold 2 map editor tricks, or something like that. It would be pity if at one point it went away on the second page or something like that, it should be visible, it's a real treasure for those who want to put those interesting stuff into their maps, but don't know how. :) Also, I'm looking for an article or a forum posts about making those stone bridges between cliffs - when a bridge is under another bridge. :) EDIT: http://www.stronghold-nation.com/article/65-bridges-over-canyons I have found it. :)

Thanks Chris! That sounds really great!:) I hope they would implement at least some of those things. If someone else have some ideas about what could be added in Stronghold 2 or Stronghold Legends, me could say it here. Hopefully they will listen.

Thanks, Chris! :) I am sure that if I asked this on various forums that we could collect lots of players who would like to see these things, but I should only add that for this we shouldn't try seeking for people only at Stronghold 2 forums, but in other forums as well. In my opinion, after Stronghold 2 and Stronghold 3 they have noticed that many like playing Stronghold with simpler economy, so they could bring a mod with simpler economy for those players. Besides this, all those additional options I have would be really great for most of players: multiplayer with AI lords, stuff that they introduced in Stronghold Legends (which as far as I know uses the same engine as Stronghold 2) such as auto-buy and auto-sell options, better looking moats like in Stronghold Legends, ability to save a multiplayer game, and using custom crests in multiplayer. Also, they could make the thing with crests somewhat different - for example, I can choose a shield which would be mine, and depending of what my color in the multiplayer game is, the color would change, meaning if I choose the red dragon on white shield, if I get to be the green player, I would have a green dragon on white shield. The game would just pick one of those eight shields. This would work perfectly with all those crests made by Firefly, while if one wants to use his custom crest in multiplayer he would need to make eight crests for each of eight colors, and one doesn't do it that way, the game would choose the default green shield for him if he is about to be the green player. All those things are something that were people asking for a long time, it would be great to see those. :) I hope they would make this possible. Also, if we were able to play multiplayer game with AI lords, maybe we could have multiplayer scenarios, but that may be going too far for now. :) This would be great because many players have never actually given a chance to Stronghold 2 because of rats, gong and crime. I like this concept, and it doesn't actually make the game any harder, but unfortunately that is the case with many players. If those players learned the game better they would have different opinion about it. And, once again - there are many awesome maps which make the game way more beautiful.

I am writing here as this is related to Stronghold 2, and after what I was told here. If they don't work on Crusader 2, maybe they could have a look into Stronghold 2. Many games have their HD versions and things like that released years after the original game release. In this case we miss: -AI lords in multiplayer (it doesn't matter to me if they don't attack all players, or things like that, it's just that it would be interesting to have fight with your friend against six Williams for example). -they could add few more kingmaker mods such as: no rates, no gong, no crime... which is of the things that drove away many potential players of the game. I like those things, but I think that Firefly could benefit from that. -they could also add a mod without honor. In Crusader 2 they just took this logic: "simpler it is, more players will like it". To some extent I believe that this is why more people play Crusader. When they see gong in Stronghold 2 they just say "what the heck is this". smile -they could add auto-buy and auto-sell options like in Stronghold Legends -they could make moats better looking - they way they look in Stronghold Legends at least. They have the experience from SHL, it should be easier for them those accomplish those two. -another thing they could give us is ability to save game in multiplayer, or maybe to have autosave as well. I believe this could be done easily - the one who hosts would make a save of the game on his machine, and when they want to continue they just come back, and all players need to remember who was player 1, who was player 2, etc... And when they are in their places the host just loads the game, and they can finish what they started. I say this as I realize that in Stronghold 2 everything is on the hosts PC (or something like that). -maybe they could even enable using custom shields in multiplayer games, so I wouldn't be the only one who would see my custom shields and banners. And one more thing. Now, years after the original release, we have seen how great Stronghold 2 maps can be, and now there are tons of maps and scenarios downloadable from here and from Stronghold Heaven. So - there are tons of maps, while the original release had few of them, and none of them is as good as The Chokepoint Island made by Tokamaps for example. There are lots of great maps, so: -the gameplay of Stronghold 2 is way better than the one is Stronghold 2 and Crusader 2, while with those suggestions I had it would be better in anyone's opinion. I mean, come on, Crusader 2 doesn't even have laddermen (correct me if I'm wrong, that is if I missed that they added those guys in a patch)... sad -they already have this game, so only some small additional work would be needed to accomplish this. -the graphics in the game is really good, in my opinion it's not that much behind those newer games. Plus, like I said, there are many awesome maps out there, so with those they could show to people that Stronghold 2 maps are not just "huge green plains like a carpet" - they have a great map editor by which stunning landscapes can be done. Sorry for making it too long maybe, I hope you will read this. smile I just think that they could give us those things that we miss in Stronghold 2 really easily, and if you're asking me, I would pay a DLC that would bring us those things. smile Just look at Rise of Nations: Extended Edition, that is basically the same game with few details added, better water reflection and stuff like that, while this what I wrote about would be completely extended edition which would fit every Stronghold fan! smile

Actually, that is why I created this tread... http://forums.stronghold-nation.com/topic/722-try-to-appeal-to-firefly-to-give-us-ai-in-multiplayer/ If they don't work on Crusader 2, maybe they could have a look into Stronghold 2. Many games have their HD versions and things like that released years after the original game release. In this case we miss: -AI lords in multiplayer (it doesn't matter to me if they don't attack all players, or things like that, it's just that it would be interesting to have fight with your friend against six Williams for example). -they could add few more kingmaker mods such as: no rates, no gong, no crime... which is of the things that drove away many potential players of the game. I like those things, but I think that Firefly could benefit from that. -they could also add a mod without honor. In Crusader 2 they just took this logic: "simpler it is, more players will like it". To some extent I believe that this is why more people play Crusader. When they see gong in Stronghold 2 they just say "what the heck is this". :) -they could add auto-buy and auto-sell options like in Stronghold Legends -they could make moats better looking - they way they look in Stronghold Legends at least. They have the experience from SHL, it should be easier for them those accomplish those two. -another thing they could give us is ability to save game in multiplayer, or maybe to have autosave as well. I believe this could be done easily - the one who hosts would make a save of the game on his machine, and when they want to continue they just come back, and all players need to remember who was player 1, who was player 2, etc... And when they are in their places the host just loads the game, and they can finish what they started. I say this as I realize that in Stronghold 2 everything is on the hosts PC (or something like that). -maybe they could even enable using custom shields in multiplayer games, so I wouldn't be the only one who would see my custom shields and banners. And one more thing. Now, years after the original release, we have seen how great Stronghold 2 maps can be, and now there are tons of maps and scenarios downloadable from here and from Stronghold Heaven. So - there are tons of maps, while the original release had few of them, and none of them is as good as The Chokepoint Island made by Tokamaps for example. There are lots of great maps, so: -the gameplay of Stronghold 2 is way better than the one is Stronghold 2 and Crusader 2, while with those suggestions I had it would be better in anyone's opinion. I mean, come on, Crusader 2 doesn't even have laddermen (correct me if I'm wrong, that is if I missed that they added those guys in a patch)... :( -they already have this game, so only some small additional work would be needed to accomplish this. -the graphics in the game is really good, in my opinion it's not that much behind those newer games. Plus, like I said, there are many awesome maps out there, so with those they could show to people that Stronghold 2 maps are not just "huge green plains like a carpet" - they have a great map editor by which stunning landscapes can be done. Sorry for making it too long maybe, I hope you will read this. :) I just think that they could give us those things that we miss in Stronghold 2 really easily, and if you're asking me, I would pay a DLC that would bring us those things. :) Just look at Rise of Nations: Extended Edition, that is basically the same game with few details added, better water reflection and stuff like that, while this what I wrote about would be completely extended edition which would fit every Stronghold fan! :)

Hopefully someone else would come knowing the answer as well. :) It makes sense to me that it makes completely as Stronghold 1 and Crusader 1, but we shall see.

Thanks, Chris! I shall make a kingmaker blank map (landscapes only), as I do have two ideas for kingmaker maps. One "downside" of those ideas is that both of them are about balanced maps - one completely balanced, and the other one would be completely balanced when played in teams of two. Still, it will be possible to make a good scenario as well on those maps. :) I hope I'll make it till Saturday. :)

I see this is going to be one fine scenario. :) It looks really good, while the scenario itself also seems indeed interesting.

I could give it a try. Would you send me on email? sw(dot)eagleprince(at)gmail(dot)com

Just one question... I can make this as a kingmaker map, and leave everything blank, right? Or this has to be a scenario? Hopefully, I could make it kingmaker, and later to convert the map into scenario map with no estates, events, etc?

Hi, what do you think about this idea? This is something almost all of us would want us to have! Stronghold 2 is the best game when we want to enjoy running our castles, and for that reason many of those who choose Stronghold 2 over Stronghold Crusader may not like competitive multiplayer games. Because of that when many of us, when they are about to play Stronghold 2 with their friends, want to play together against AI lords instead of playing against each other. Even if those AI lords would attack only one human player it would be enough for us to have fun, because right now if we want to play a game like this we can only start a game as enemies and fight against outlaws which is that challenging - one can easily kill them once he is able to train archers and spearmen. So, what do you think, would this be worth to try? I realize most of us don't believe they would come back to this game for this, but I don't think it would be to much work (for them) to do. There could be some limitations, but even with them it would mean us a lot. Just look at this forum or at Stronghold Heaven, I'd say that people come often to ask about Stronghold 2 AI Managed which unfortunately works only with 1.3.1 version, and I am sure that there are even more people out there who would love this, but which haven't spoken about this on a forum. Our ideas

Too bad to hear that... :( Well, maybe players could effect on them to make this for Stronghold 2 before doing another game, or something like that? I'm not putting any hope into that, but I'm just saying an idea. I believe that it would be an easy task for them.

Wow, now I see why Tokamaps told yesterday that I still have the time. :) Congratulations to both of you, guys. :) Unfortunately I did want to try it yesterday, but I was reading until late, and I was tired.

Hi. Can you tell does Firefly still work on Stronghold Crusader 2? I haven't played it recently, so that's why I ask. It's not that I have some issues with the game and now I come here crying "what the hell", or something like that. :) I just wanted to know if they still work on this one, or if they have moved on on other projects? It's been a while since the latest DLC was released, since November 2015, so that's one reason why I asked myself this. Another reason why I ask this is that I was thinking how many of us would love to have improved Stronghold 2 multiplayer! We would all love to be able to play Stronghold 2 multiplayer games with AI lords, and it would also be great if they enabled saving a multiplayer game. Maybe we could try to appeal to Firefly to make this possible. There is Stronghold 2 AI Manager which did this for 1.3.1 version, now none of us is able to the the same thing on their own, but who would be more competent to make this possible but Firefly? :) If you ask me, I would be fine with that if they sell it as a DLC, so if the host has this option all of us could enjoy it; or it could be another way as well. Chris, sorry if this should have been posted if Stronghold 2 subforum.

Hi, I may have asked something like this before, but I haven't found that on the forum, so in that case sorry for asking one same question again. I was thinking about buying Stronghold Collection from Steam, although I do already have Stronghold 1 and Stronghold Crusader 1 which I got as gifts after getting Stronghold 3 and Stronghold Crusader 2, but before I do that I want to ask this first. Does Stronghold 2 on Steam behave the same as Stronghold 1 and Crusader 1 on Steam? By that I mean on the fact that I am able to run Stronghold 1 and Crusader 1 without launching Steam, and I don't have the Steam overlay while playing those two (no matter if the Steam is running or not). Does it work the same way with Stronghold 2, and now when we mention Stronghold 2 - does it work the same way with Stronghold Legends too? This would make me playing Stronghold 2 with my family easier.

Glad to hear you two made it, though I won't make it to do it this evening... :( Still, I will try it later some time to see how I could have done. :)

It does look really interesting. I will have a closer look some time later. :)

Thanks for this great tutorial, and it does look really good in the end. :)

Thanks, Crusader. :) And thanks Chris, from what I've seen from mobile out looks great. :)

OK, I will ask everyone again later in a week. :)

No problem about that. :) By the way, maybe we could see when to make another gaming event? For Nigel it is better if we could play on working days, for me and Tokamaps weekends and working days work fine, so we can see if we could play on a working day. 21:00 is also a time that may fit all of us. When would you be able to play? :)

So in the end only Nigel and I played 1v1 game. It was interesting. Even though Nigel started badly we managed to compensate it somehow - I bought an estate close to him, so he could get it, and use it to develop faster. I had stronger economy in the end, so I just left my defensive troops in my castle, while I took those offensive troops and sent them upon Nigel's walls. He managed to survive the first attack with 50-60 swordsmen and about ten of my knights. Later after that I trained more knights, and I after fighting with his troops on the wall and inside his castle my knights managed to kill his lord. He was resisting very well, though I have feeling that in this game we both enjoyed not just the fighting part, but also the part in which we were developing our economies and building out defenses, and expending out territories too. :) Unfortunately we didn't make it to play with Tokamaps. I am sorry about that, we were trying to find a good map for us to play, though the first idea was to play Dolina Odmetnika. Tokamaps had other suggestions, he also tried editing one of his maps, but sadly it just took us too much time and in the end Tokamaps didn't stay with us to play, as he has an exam tomorrow. I am sure it would be even more fun with Tokamaps. I should also add, it's not that we only spent time on choosing a map, we also spent some more time because during all those trying something seemed to messed up with my game. As a temporarily solution Nigel and I later player one of the Firefly's maps. After that I tried moving those maps from the folder, and then it worked well. In fact, I also tried that before the game with Nigel, but I mistakenly did that with maps for Stronghold 1, as I was in hurry. :( Maybe it was something about maps, maybe it was something about the cache, we don't know, but it worked later... Tokamaps, I am sorry we didn't make it to play all together. I am looking forward for out next opportunity to play, but we need to take care of one thing. :) We need to deal what map to play before the game starts - while we make the event, here in this tread. This way we can save our time, it would be perfect if we were able to play those two hours instead of looking for maps and solving problems we could have dealt with before. :) I'd gladly play any of your maps, only those things need to get ready before we want to start the game. There can always be some unexpected issues, but if we plan everything else on time, then those issues would hopefully be solved sooner, and we would have more time to play. :) Don't get me wrong, I just want to say that we all needed to be better organized, and that will be the case in future - just like when we played the previous game. :) We knew what map we want to play, we noticed later that the game was crashing for some reason, then you remembered that it was about a mod you installed, and even with some time spent on this we had enough time for a glorious war. :)