Two RMS Maps, both of ‘Bayou’ – one at 4x the default size (originally & kindly enlarged by Buz in answer to my request), the other by Kyle Leach at 10x the default size, expanded in size with proportional content-expansion as well.
These two RMS Maps are identical to those done and shared by Buz ('RM map pack') & Kyle Leach (‘Big Map Pack’), with the exception of change in the lighting and atmosphere.
These Bayou maps have heavy ground fog and are considerably darker (lighting).
The effect is one which adds an atmosphere of early morning (Sunrise) in a very warm, humid, misty marsh or swamp.
One might almost ‘feel’ the heaviness of the air & the semi-tropical heat.
The closer in you zoom your view, the darker the lighting and the more diminished the foggy-haze. Conversely, the further out you zoom, the brighter the lighting but likewise, the heavier the cloak of fog.
I find this ‘environment’ quite an interesting challenge.
Recording a war fought on one of these Maps watched in playback is really quite a spectacle as well – particularly on a good, high-end system with good Graphics Card and adapter.
Many effects which simply aren’t noticeable in brighter, more illumined environments are here very distinct and pronounced; e.g. excess powder thrown from musket, rifle and gun barrels; muzzle flash and even the greater details of structure-fires, etc… (Even the smoke thrown from slow-burning powder has the tell-tale blue-ish tint...)
I find this environment very enjoyable as well as a good challenge and, in hope perhaps someone else may enjoy it also, I’m sharing it here with that in mind.
Please Do Note: Both of these are most-largely the Default RMS’s of ES, with the exception of the size increases mentioned above, respectively by Buz and Kyle Leach.
All I have done is modify the lighting & atmosphere.
To Install these files, place Both (or either) set(s) of files: big bayou_MornFog.xml & big bayou_MornFog.xs – and - bayou x4_MornFog.xml & bayou x4_MornFog.xs, together in your folder directory:
.. \My Documents\My Games\Age of Empires 3\RM
Please do Not Place them in your AoE III Installation Directory: -> C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Age of Empires III\RM
This will Not Work.
Note also that the File Names have also been modified to distinguish them from the others, so no need to worry about overwriting or backing-up any of the others prior to the installation of these.
When selected in AoE III from the Custom Maps drop-down list, they will appear in the list designated with the ending "MornFog."
Big Bayou MornFog
Bayou x4 MornFog
I’m neither looking for nor interested in any Rating for these – but comments are of course always welcomed …