Sierra Nevada V
A random map script for AOE3
by RF_Gandalf
Sierra Nevada is a new random map with versions for both AOE3 and The War Chiefs, for Single-player or Multiplayer use. This slightly rectangular map represents a desert area to the east, with a high central mountain range, and a greener wooded area of mountain foothills in the west. This is an all new design, with players all starting in the desert eastern portion. Resources are not standard - each player has only one nearby silver mine, there are only a few nearby treasures, and there are only two herds of deer, bison or antelope nearby. All of the other mines are gold mines and are located in the west across the mountain range, which has only 3 passes through to the other side. The west also contains more and larger treasures, lots of elk or deer, and plenty of forest. There is also plenty of wood located along both sides of the mountain range.
The map's only trade route runs north to south on the west side of the mountains. This map is somewhat larger than the standard ES maps.
The Native Americans can vary - in the desert east there can be Lakota or Comanche - 2 villages of one type per map; to the west are 2 -3 Nootka villages (player number dependant).
This script produces fair games for 2 teams of any number, or for a free-for-all. On the east side, players are arranged in a semicircle, so some players are naturally closer to the other team with several players. The map gives new strategy options for multiplayer games, with the need to expand to the west thru the mountains to control the resources there, the need to control the passes, the decison to rush or protect against rushes or expand west and boom. Teamwork in a 2v2 or larger game is really key to a victory. Dutch, with their superior ability to turtle, might be able to survive in a game without expansion west, but for all other civs the westward expansion is crucial.
To play this map in the original AOE3, the two files (Sierra Nevada V.xs and Sierra Nevada V.xml) must be placed in the folder: My Documents\My Games\Age of Empires 3\RM. Please do not place the files in the game's install folder - that will not work. When you start up a skirmish game in Single-player or Multiplayer, use the small blue 'Custom Map' button, which allows you to then select one of the random maps in that My Games folder from the drop-down window. The files will transfer in Multiplayer if your allies or opponents have not downloaded the files. Please do not edit the files or you will have compatability problems in Multiplayer.
Thanks to ES for providing the tools to make random map scripting possible. Hope you enjoy this unique combination of different gameplay and striking visual appeal!
Detail/Accuracy: 5
Very detailed and well balanced
Additional Comments:Thank you for yet another great map for vanilla! I just wish that the natives in the lush area of the map would be random instead of the same old club swingers.