Editing Map Editor (section)

== Map Specifications ==
Map Specifications, accessible through Tools ->, as well as by pressing Ctrl+Enter, consist of various customizable map rules. 

=== General === 

The general map specifications specify:
* Map version. Note, that Map Editors cannot recognize other map versions than those they can save as; as a result, [[SoD]] Map Editor {{withmaped}} will only recognize [[RoE]]{{-wr}}, [[AB]]{{-wa}} and [[SoD]]{{-ws}} map versions. The [[HotA]] Map Editor {{withmapedhota}} will state the map version to be HotA, even if the last saved edit was done in an older map editor version. 
* Map [[Difficulty|difficulty]]. Note, that despite what the [[Difficulty]] page states, Easy, Normal, Hard, Expert and Impossible Map difficulty determine AI behaviour and are entirely separate from 80%, 100%, 130%, 160%, 200% (also known as Easy, Normal, Hard, Expert, Impossible) game difficulty, which primarily controls human and AI resources, AI growth and resource growth as well as the AI behaviour, but to a much lesser extent. Map difficulty is set here in the Map Specifications, while the game difficulty is set by the player when starting a scenario. 
* Allowed game Difficulty {{withmapedhota}}. The player will not be able to select other difficulty than one from the list. 
* Existance of the underground ("Two level map"). Note, that the Underground may be added or removed during the game. 
* Whether monster/plague weeks should be allowed {{withmapedhota}}. If disabled, all weeks will have no effect. 
* Whether the map is an Arena {{withmapedhota}}.As the Map Editor itself states: "An arena map is a map designed for a single fight of two heroes with a preliminary preparation. Such map must contain at least one combat place." The HotA Map Editor will warn the first time a map is set as an Arena; however, disagreeing with the message (to revert the change) has no effect and the message never reappears. 
* Hero experience level limit. Heroes will not be able to level up past that level. This option is unavailable in {{roe}}. See: [[Map Editor - Objects#Heroes]] for more information. 
* Combat round limit {{withmapedhota}}: This can be used to limit players from using strategies such as [[Harpy Hag]] kiting. The limit will apply to all battles, and once it's crossed, the attacking player will automatically lose. 
* Map name (max 30 characters; this field is required for maps to be visible in the game). 
* Map description (max 300 characters).

=== Player Specs ===

For each player present on the map (i.e. with at least one hero or one town), the following specifications can be applied:
* Has main town: This option seems to only have an effect on the AI behaviour and for generation of starting heroes. 
* Generate hero at Random Town: A random hero will be added to the map once the scenario is started, as the visitor of the main town. The random hero will be replaced by a chosen hero when selecting a scenario. Note, that the randomly generated hero is created ''after'' other random heroes on the map are assigned, and therefore if a player has one or more Random Heroes and has a random hero generated for them at their main town, they will only be able to customize one of the Random Heroes, and not the generated one, when choosing their starting town and hero. 
* Playability: A player may be both available for the AI and the Human player, or only for the AI. 
* Forbid hiring heroes {{withmapedhota}}: This option can be used to make the player unable to ever hire any heroes, including his own heroes if they surrender or flee combat. Use it with caution. 
* Behavior: This setting can be used to specify the behaviour of the AI player (by default it is random). For more information, see: [[AI Behavior]]. 
* Allowed Alignments: (by default "Random") state which Towns are available to the player. The Random town pool will only roll from the available towns. 

=== Teams ===

If teams are enabled, up to 7 teams may be set with each player belonging to one, chosen Team. Teams cannot be customized if there are less than 3 players on the map. 

=== Rumors ===

Rumors appear in the Tavern. If customized, the prepared rumors will take precedence over the generic ones. 

=== Special Victory condition ===

Special Victory condition may be set to one of the following:
* [[File:Defeat All Enemies.png]] None (therefore only the standard condition, Defeat all enemies, applies); 
* [[File:Acquire Artifact.png]] Acquire a specific artifact.<sup>1</sup> The specific Artifact can be the Grail, but it cannot be a Spell Scroll. The artifact does ''not'' have to exist on the map or be allowed in the Map Specifications. 
* [[File:Accumulate Creatures.png]] Accumulate creatures.<sup>1,2</sup> A chosen amount of a specific creature can be set. Note, that the mapmaker may not specify more than one creature type here. 
* [[File:Accumulate Resources.png]] Accumulate resources.<sup>1,2</sup> A chosen amount of one specific resource can be set. 
* [[File:Upgrade Town.png]] Upgrade a specific Town.<sup>2</sup> One Hall upgrade and one Castle level must be chosen. 
* [[File:Build a Grail Structure.png]] Build the Grail structure. The destination town for the Grail may be customized, or left as default - Any Town. Note, that if a player builds the Grail structure in a town other than the one chosen, the game won't end until only one player remains. 
* [[File:Defeat All Monsters.png]] Eliminate all monsters {{withmapedhota}}.<sup>2</sup> 
* [[File:Defeat Hero.png]] Defeat a specific hero. The hero must be present on the map or in Prison. Note, that if a player is the owner of the hero, either through hiring them or starting with them, they cannot win the game. If the hero is defeated by somebody else than the player (f.e. a Dragon Utopia), the game is not finished until only one player remains. 
* [[File:Capture Town.png]] Capture a specific town.<sup>1,2</sup> 
* [[File:Defeat Monster.png]] Defeat a specific monster.<sup>2</sup> The monster must be present somewhere on the map. 
* [[File:Flag All Creature Dwellings.png]] Flag all creature dwellings.<sup>1,2</sup>
* [[File:Flag All Mines.png]] Flag all mines.<sup>1,2</sup>
* [[File:Transport Artifact.png]] Transport a specific artifact.<sup>1</sup> The specific Artifact can be the Grail, but it cannot be a Spell Scroll. The artifact does ''not'' have to exist on the map or be allowed in the Map Specifications. The destination town must be customized. 
* [[File:Survive Until Time Expires.png]] Survive for a certain time {{withmapedhota}}.<sup>2</sup> After the chosen time, the first human player in player order (1-8) automatically wins. 
<sup>1</sup> For these victory conditions, the special victory condition may be set to also apply to computer opponents. 
<br><sup>2</sup> For these victory conditions, standard victory (defeat all enemies) can also be set. If it is not set, the game will go on until the special victory condition is met. 

Note, that special victory conditions for which applicability of the standard victory condition (defeat all enemies) ''cannot'' be customized (Acquire Artifact, Transport Artifact, Build a Grail structure) by default allow the standard victory condition. 

=== Special Loss condition ===
* [[File:Lose All Your Towns and Heroes.png]] None: The players lose when they lose all their towns and heroes, or they don't have any towns for a period of at least 7 days. 
* [[File:Lose Town.png]] Lose a specific town: The town must be specified. The first ''player'' (including AI) to lose this town loses the game. The town does ''not'' have to be under the control of any players for this condition to be set. If the town is neutral, conquering it for the first time will ''not'' result in a victory/loss. 
* [[File:Lose Hero.png]] Lose a specific hero: The first player (including AI) to lose this hero loses the game. Note, that the hero may be imprisoned. 
* [[File:Time Expires.png]] Time expires: The first human player to start their turn on the chosen date loses the game. 

=== Timed Events ===
An unlimited number of timed events can be added. Timed events automatically sort by date, but their order on a specific day can be customized, using "Move Up" and "Move Down" buttons. The following properties of events may be edited:

* General: 
** Event name: This name only appears in the Map Editor and can help the mapmaker organize their work. 
** Message: This message will play out to the players as the Event takes place. 
** Players to which it applies: Specific players may be added to ignore this event. At least one player has to be marked. 
** Apply event to human players: If ticked, the event will ''also'' apply to humans. 
** Apply event to computer players: If ticked, the event will ''also'' apply to AI. Note, that at least one of these two options has to be marked. 
** Day of first occurrence: The event will play on the chosen date. 
** Subsequent occurrences: If set to "Never", the event will not repeat. If set to a different value, the event will repeat every chosen time interval. Note, that repeating events take priority over other events lower down the list. 
* Resources: Here, resources given or taken from the player to which the event applies may be customized. 

Note that some timed events only apply to specific towns. See: [[Map Editor - Objects#Town properties]]

=== Heroes ===
The mapmaker can ban, enable and edit chosen heroes. This includes campaign heroes (such as [[Gelu]], [[Dracon]] or [[Frederick]], as well as banned-by-default heroes (such as [[Galthran]] in {{hota}}). 

==== Editing Heroes ====
For editing heroes placed on the map, see [[Map Editor - Objects#Hero properties]]. 

Heroes can be customized on the map as a whole in the following ways:
* General
** Name. 
** Experience (and Experience level {{withmapedhota}}). 
** Portrait. Note, that portraits ''can'' repeat between different heroes; on top of that, heroes may use campaign portraits. 
** Gender. This only changes the appearance on the map. 
** Always add skills {{withmapedhota}}: If set to true, the hero will gain extra skills from the additional experience customized above. 
** Hero can't gain experience {{withmapedhota}}: If set to true, the hero will not be able to gain any experience, no matter the experience level limit for the map. 
** May be hired by: The following players may hire this hero. Other players will not see the hero in the tavern, or in the Adventure Map [[Tavern]]. Note, that heroes in [[Prison]]s or [[Hero Camp]]s{{-wh}} may be hired, even if this option states otherwise.
* Biography. 
* Primary skills: These are the ''starting'' primary skills. Higher level heroes will be automatically levelled up, and therefore will have the appropriately higher primary skills. 
* Secondary skills: These are the ''starting'' secondary skills. See Primary skills. 
* Artifacts: Various artifacts, excluding the Grail and Spell scrolls {{withmaped}} (available in {{hota}}), may be added here. 
** Has spellbook. 
* Spells: These spells will appear in the hero's spellbook, provided he has one, at the beginning of the game. 

Note, that specialities and starting armies may ''not'' be customized. Therefore it is advised to customize a hero with the appropriate specialty to fit your desired hero.

=== Artifacts ===
Chosen artifacts may be banned here. They will not be ''randomly'' spawned as a reward or as a replacement for Random Artifacts. They may still be added to Heroes, Creature Banks, Seer's Hut rewards or placed on the map by the mapmaker. 

=== Spells ===
The mapmaker may ban chosen spells here (only in {{sod}} and {{hota}} Map Editor). They will not ''randomly'' spawn in Mage guilds or Spell scrolls and won't be accessible from artifacts such as Spell scrolls, [[Tome of Air|Tomes of elements]] or the [[Spellbinder's Hat]].  Adding them to a Mage guild manually won't work.

=== Secondary skills ===
Available secondary skills can be customized by banning or enabling chosen skills. Heroes who start with a banned skill will still be able to upgrade them, but other heroes won't be able to learn these skills, apart from the Universities (as long as they're customized to give the chosen skill), customized Scholars, Events and Pandora's Boxes. Witch Huts will automatically ignore banned skills when choosing a random skill to teach, and if customized to only provide a banned skill, will appear empty, with an appropriate message. 

{{Fanopinion|
For further support with the Map Editor, see [[Map Editor - Guide]]. 
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