Map Making

Map Making

Openfront maps are contributed by the community in the same way other source code contributions are made. If you are looking to suggest a possible map, but do not wish to implement it yourself, see the relevant discord channels

OpenfrontIO on Github

Workflow & Tutorials

Due to the game’s open-source nature, Map Making for OpenfrontIO is a low-barrier-of-entry way of contributing to the game in an impactful way. However, taking a map from concept to full release requires a number of steps, skills, and support from the development team.

To take a map concept from start to finish requires basic familiarity with the following tools, though none require extensive experience and can be learned as part of the process.

• Navigating and running applications from the command line.
• Graphics editing software
• Basic code-editing skills for modifying config files & adding license attribution
• GIT version control (this can be via command line, or any of the many GIT GUI tools)
• github pull request process

If you are already familiar with software development workflows, The map-generator readme is a good starting point

For a broader understanding of the specific workflow, the following guides summarize the process well:

• aPuddle (public, updated v25)
• Evan Video (youtube, updated v22?)
• Nikola123 (dev discord, updated v26)

Gameplay Impact from Map Design

• In-game, Terrain affects Pathfinding (where units go) and Combat Resolution (how fast they conquer and how many die). Attacks naturally flow around mountains through plains unless forced otherwise.
• Oceans, Rivers, and Lakes can impact Annexation requirements.
• Nations placement impacts overall spawn position and early / mid-game gameplay.
• As of v28 nation strength is no longer included in map files and nation balance is not part of the map making process

Color Tools

Color Palette XLS

A spreadsheet of the input -> output color mapping ranges for terrain (color)

• Discord CDN
• Author: aPuddle
• Version: v28

Color Palette file for GIMP

A GIMP color palette of the terrain colors from the previous XLS (.gpl)

• Discord CDN
• Author: aPuddle
• Version: v28

Color Palette file for Photoshop

The same color palette as an Adobe Color Swatch file (.aco)

• Google Drive
• Author: Unknown
• Version: v28

Windows Powershell (B&W -> Colorize)

• Discord CDN
• Author: aPuddle
• Version: Unknown

Unofficial Applications

Note that some of these projects may be work in progress, incomplete, or abandoned.

OpenFrontMapGenerator

A complete automated workflow for generating game-ready terrain maps from real-world data using QGIS and Python.

• Github
• Author: TsProphet94
• Version: v28

TheFiraffe3 Map Editor

• GitHub Pages
• Author: TheGiraffe3
• Version: Unknown
• Source: GitHub

Map Editor

Map editor that can be used to adjust nation placement. Note that you have to re-download the json after, and then remove the additional data that the map editor added (alongside regular formatting). There are also quite a few bugs, and it can mangle Nation flags. Always back up your files when using.

• Netlify
• Author: Unknown
• Version: Unknown

Openfront Map Generator

Web Application for procedurally generating openfront maps. Docs & App are in Japanese, using browser translate works fine.

• Github
• Author: Aotumuri
• Version: Unknown

Flag Standardizer

• Netlify
• Author: N0ur (?)
• Version: Unknown

Map Sources

The CREDITS.md file in the Openfront Repo shows all the existing sources that have been used for the game. Many of these data sources provide other maps with the same licenses.

World Map

• Google Drive
• Author: Openfront
• Version: v28

World Map Recolor tiff

• Google Drive
• Author: aPuddle
• Version: v28