For the people who generated/used Seed Maps

[Marcade]

Hi, I am new to this forum (although I 'know' Steven Hendrik's work Arrakis a few years back).

Since I am playing around as well now, with Dune maps and such, I have been reading through this forum about information. I also downloaded most things I could find about Dune, the graphics, the extracted seed maps.

However when I try using the seed map, I realize that some of the characters I find in the extracted seed map I cannot seem to figure out exactly what type it is.

For example, take the first 4 lines of a Seed Map:

 

))--+++-)))))))))))))----%^^^%%%%%%^^%))))))))))))%%)))))))$--rr))-+++--)))))))$)))))))))%^^%))))))%^^%%))))))))))))))))))))))rr))--+--)))))%%%^%%%))))))%^^%)))))))%^^^%)))))))))))))))))))))rr)))---)))))%^^^^^^^%%)))))%^%))))))))%^^%)))))))))))))))))))))rr

Now it is pretty obvious that ) is a sand tile and ^ is a rock tile. Now, for some reason % is ALSO a rock tile (why next to ^, also a % ? )

It is pretty obvious that - is spice and + is a spice dune .. But what is the $ ? rock? Why is it $?

Even though; my biggest problem is the ( .. I have seen some ('s which, in some cases should be rock (I think) and in other cases should be sand.

Has anyone actually have a correct explanation what exactly is what in these seed maps? Thank you in advance.

[Nyerguds]

I think every sand/rock edge has a different character for a different orientation of the sand and rock, simply beause it is a different tile used by the game too.

[Marcade]

Yes, you are right in the fact that ROCKS use % and $ for edges .. but then again SPICE has no alternate character for edges.

But eventually this is not a necessary character, unless you need an out of the ordinary edge; but checking the map there's nothing out of the ordinary when using a $ instead of a %

It's like a fuzzy logic map :D But I can deal with $ and % .. but not with the weird ( If I set ( to be rock, I have strange rock patches in the sand .. if I set it to Sand, I have strange sand patches in rock.

[Nyerguds]

you can always make a opy of it and use notepad to do a search and replace to make it more visible for yourself :P

[Marcade]

Of course I can 'ignore' or 'correct' it. But I am assuming these maps were generated by that tool that extracts them from a save file. (If I understood correctly).

So, assuming this tool knows what it's doing, there would be a reason why these strange characters are used.

Then again, these maps seem to be lacking sand dunes. Seems using screenshots to recreate the map; idea from that other guy; is not so crazy afterall .. just a hell of a lot work ..

[MrFlibble]

AFAIK, save for the lack of sand dunes, the maps generated by the latest version of the map extractor  are accurate. They don't use any extra characters for border tiles too, if memory serves. However, Olaf van der Spek seems to have lost the code of the tool, so I guess there won't be any updates to it soon. On the other hand, people from Dune Legacy claim to have successfully recreated the seed generator algorithm, so if they make it public, no more seed maps will be needed at all.

[stefanhendriks]

I know the seed generator so far could do spice and rock, but no sand dunes? There was something lacking.

If the Dune Legacy guys figured a way, we might get the source, it is still open source right?

[MrFlibble]

I guess so. I haven't looked into the project lately, so I don't know any more details.