DESCRIPTION
Note: a texture is at the moment failing to load for some reason (flatmap_noise.dds). Not sure when this will be fixed, the paper map is therefore not looking as intended, apologies.
Update: I have included a possible fix to the above issue, it involves modifying the game's shaders. If your game crashes or experience graphical glitches when it enters the world map view with this mod enabled, please let me know!
This is a comprehensive map mod that includes a bunch of changes to the vanilla map according to my personal needs.
Very similar to the "Revenge of the Political Map Mode" by Andy's Take:
This mod started off as a minor modification to Revenge but I have since started from scratch (from the vanilla files) using my own scripts.
Mods that remove the fog of war, clouds, are unnecessary with this mod as this mod also removes those effects. But just in case, put this mod above other mods in the launcher, so that it gets overwritten by ones below it.
I have not tested this mod together with other map mods, but let me know if you discover good combos or issues. Since this mod only modifies config text files and somewhat minor texture files, it should be compatible with mods that change the shape of the map.
This mod modifies folders and files in primarily the "map" folder. The folders with content modified are:
- borders
- city_data
- fog_of_war
- gradient_border_settings
- map_object_data
- textures
- water
- In the "borders" folder I have modified 2 files: border_country.dds and border_state.dds, giving country and state borders a somewhat different look (mostly darker), state borders are a bit wider and are more visible.
- In the "city_data" folder I have taken the liberty of modifying files concerning cities and effects spawned by cities (such as revolution or unrest smoke effects, smog, fireworks). I have disabled meshes for non-residential buildings (with exceptions, unique buildings for example) and changed the min, max values for residential buildings (affects how large cities get over time). The changes made here are primarily intended to increase the framerate when looking at the non-papermap, as I have identified those to affect the framerate a lot as the game progresses (bigger cities = worse performance, who would have thought).
- the "city_data" folder and its content included in this mod can be considered optional, you can delete this folder from the mod if my changes are undesired.
- In the "fog_of_war" folder I have simply included a modified "fog_of_war.settings" text file. This file disables clouds and the fog of war. Because I think those effects are ugly and they block my view.
- In the "gradient_border_settings" folder I have modified the "gradient_border_settings.txt" text file. This is a primary part of the mod and makes the map look the way it does.
- In the "map_object data" folder I have modified the "layers.txt" text file. This file handles which models to render on the map, such as trees, cities, static props. I have modified it so that cities appear at a lower zoom level, tried to make tree pop-up a bit more gradual rather than all of it appearing at the same zoom level.
- In the "textures" folder I have modified the "flatmap_noise.dds" this helps giving the papermap a flatter look and adds some granularity to the papermap surface.
- Lastly in the "water" folder I have modified the "water.settings" text file. I have only modified the water foam strength property in this file, because the foam turns into a pixelated noisy mess when I'm not fully zoomed in on the map.
- This mod also includes its own defines file ("aa_sgo_graphics_defines.txt") that changes some vanilla constants. This file can be deleted if you think the changes it includes are undesired (affects where country names can be rendered).
CHANGELOG
v1.0.4 - Released 2023-04-23
Added FX folder and 2 files in it (coloroverlay and pdxterrain.shader), potential fix to papermap not looking as intended.
v1.0.3 - Released 2023-04-23
Added FX folder and 2 files in it (coloroverlad and pdxterrain.shader), potential fix to papermap not looking as intended.
v1.0.2 - Released 2023-04-23
v1.0.1 - Released 2023-04-21
Trying to figure out how to structure the zip file
REQUIREMENTS
Victoria 3
Full game
FORUM LINKS