Editing Template Editor (section)

== Template Settings ==

A template defines the structure and main features of a random map. One of them is randomly selected from the pack before map generation.

=== Special Weeks ===

This setting allows you to enable or disable the weeks and months of monsters (except when [[Deity of Fire]] is constructed), as well as the months of the plague. By default, special weeks are enabled.

=== Spell Research ===

This setting allows you to enable or disable spell research, which allows you to change spells in the Mage Guilds for a cost. It applies equally to all towns and players. By default, spell research is turned on.

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=== Rock Blocks ===

By default, zones will always stretch to cover the entire non-underground area of the map. RMG proceeds in two steps. First, zones are laid out without forcing all the space to be occupied. At this stage, zones tend to have regular, circular shapes, and do not cover the whole map: there are usually unoccupied cells next to the border and at the corners of the map. In a second step, all unoccupied cells are claimed by the nearby zones. As a result, these zones may expand significantly, regardless their size setting. When "rock blocks radius" option is enabled, some of the unoccupied cells are filled with obstacles, so they do not contribute to extend the playable area of the nearby zones. It results in zones that are more uniform in size and shape. The "rock block radius" setting controls the relative radius of the playable zone. Default value is 1.0. The smaller the value, the more cells are filled with obstacles, resulting in smaller playable zones, but with more regular shape. However, if the value is too small, the option will be automatically disabled.

For underground zones, a similar algorithm is always enabled, with a radius of 4.0. This value will be overwritten by "rock blocks radius" value, if enabled.

For templates with water content, water will be generated instead of obstacles. Water zones are not affected by rock block radius option.

Rock block radius can be tuned, by trial and error, to adjust zone sizes and/or zone size ratios. Note that a radius value will only be suitable for a given map size and a given template structure. If you change these, you may have to manually adjust the radius again.

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=== Zone Sparseness ===

When creating zones, RMG sets a reference square, and tries to ensure, as much as possible, that all zone shapes individually fit into it. Zone sparseness option allows to adjust the size of this reference square by a scaling factor. Default value is 1.0. If value is less than 1.0, zones will be constrained to individually fit into a smaller reference square, so they will tend to be more even and more circular and proportionally sized, but there will be less diversity in shapes and less randomness in placement. If value is more than 1.0, zone shapes will be less constrained, so there will be more randomness in shapes and placement, but zones will tend to be less circular and to have irregular sizes.

Zones sparseness can be tuned, by trial and error, to adjust zone sizes and/or zone size ratios. Note that effect depends on template structure, map size, and water content. So if you change those, you may have to manually adjust zone sparseness again.

=== Artifacts ===

This setting controls which artifacts can, or cannot, appear during the game. Banned artifact will not appear on the map, nor in any situation, including: as random artifact on map, as starting artifact, in map objects and Artifact Merchants, and as [[Seer's Hut]] quest artifact. Special artifacts ([[Spell book]], [[Spell Scroll]]s, [[War Machine]]s and [[Grail]]) are not affected by this setting. By default, the following artifacts are prohibited:

* All assembled artifacts (they can be assembled from component parts, but they can not be found on the map already assembled);
* [[Vial of Dragon Blood]], [[Armageddon's Blade (artifact)|Armageddon's Blade]] and the [[Horn of the Abyss (artifact)|Horn of the Abyss]];
* [[Recanter's Cloak]] and the [[Orb of Inhibition]];
* [[Sea Captain's Hat]], [[Necklace of Ocean Guidance]] and [[Boots of Levitation]], if the random map is generated with "water content: No".

Any artifact can be allowed or banned. Template settings always take precedence over default settings (regardless the water level). However, it should be noted that if spell [[Summon Boat]] or [[Scuttle Boat]] is banned, then the Captain's Hat is automatically banned. Also, [[Seer's Hut]] quest artifacts are automatically disabled on the map and exist only in a single copy.

At least one artifact must be allowed. If all artifacts are banned, the [[Blackshard of the Dead Knight]] will automatically be allowed. If all artifacts of a certain class are banned, then artifacts of other classes will be generated instead (except for [[Seer's Hut]] quest artifacts, which can only belong to "treasure artifacts" class).

=== Spells ===

This setting controls which spells can or cannot appear. Banned spells will not appear in [[Mage Guild]]s, [[Shrine]]s, [[Pyramid]]s, [[Spell Scroll]]s, [[Pandora's Box]] and [[Scholar (Adventure Map)|Scholars]], and will not be granted by Tomes of Magic and [[Spellbinder's Hat]]. But they will still be available as hero starting spells. In particular, note that if the hero [[Gem]] is allowed, her starting spell will always be [[Summon Boat]] if water content setting is "Normal" or "Islands", and [[Bless]] otherwise. Special spells ([[Titan's Lightning Bolt]] and creature abilities: Stone, Poison, Bind, Disease, Paralyze, Aging, Death Cloud, Lightning Strike ([[Thunderbird]]s), Dispel Good, Death Stare and Acid Breath) are not affected by this setting. By default, the following spells are disabled:

* [[Summon Boat]], [[Scuttle Boat]] and [[Water Walk]] if a random card is generated with water content: "None".

Any spell can be allowed or banned. Template settings always take precedence over default settings (regardless the water level). If [[Summon Boat]] or [[Scuttle Boat]] are banned, the Sea Captain's Hat it automatically banned.

At least least one spell of each level should always be allowed. If you ban all spells of a level, one of those will automatically be enabled:

* Level 1: [[Magic Arrow]]
* Level 2: [[Lightning Bolt]]
* Level 3: [[Fireball]]
* Level 4: [[Chain Lightning]]
* Level 5: [[Implosion]]

[[Pandora's Box]] and [[Spell Scroll]] types that contain only forbidden spells will be automatically banned.

=== Secondary Skills ===

This setting controls which secondary skills can be learned. Banned skills will not appear when a hero levels up, nor anywhere else on the map, including [[Witch Hut]]s, [[Universities]] and [[Scholar (Adventure Map)|Scholars]], but they will still be available as heroes starting skills. By default, the following skills are banned:

* [[Navigation]] if a random map is generated with a water level of "None".

Any secondary skill can be allowed or banned. Template settings always take precedence over default settings (regardless the water level).

At least four secondary skills should always be allowed. If less than four skills are allowed, the missing ones will automatically be taken from the beginning of the list.