Microsoft Age of Empires II : The Age of Kings Official Scenario Design Toolkit

by Schuytema, Paul; McPherson, Duncan; McCabe, Scott

• ISBN13: 9780782127713
• ISBN10: 0782127711
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-01-01
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc

Table of Contents

Foreword	xii
Introduction	xiv
How to Use This Book	xv
About the CD	xvii
PART I: Core Skills	1	(108)
Configuring Your Scenario	3	(16)
Configuring the Players	5	(5)
Diplomacy	9	(1)
Victory Conditions	10	(2)
Final Parameters	12	(7)
Options	12	(2)
Informing the Player	14	(5)
Map Making	19	(22)
Cartography 101	21	(12)
Random Maps	21	(5)
A Blank Slate	26	(7)
Interfacing with Reality	33	(8)
The Map with a Plan	33	(2)
Sweating the Small Stuff	35	(3)
Controlling the Flow	38	(3)
Populating Your Map	41	(16)
Placing Resources	43	(4)
Resource Units	45	(2)
Placing Units	47	(10)
Buildings	48	(3)
Units	51	(3)
Making the World Seem Alive	54	(3)
Triggers	57	(24)
Trigger Basics	59	(5)
Inside a Trigger	59	(1)
Setting up a Trigger	60	(3)
Testing Your Triggers	63	(1)
Simple Triggers	64	(12)
Object to Area	64	(1)
Destroy Object	65	(1)
Timer	66	(2)
Multiple Triggers: Destroy a Bridge	68	(3)
Multiple Triggers: Tricky Victory	71	(5)
A More Advanced Example	76	(5)
Customizing Visuals, Audio, and Campaign Structure	81	(10)
Custom Visuals	83	(5)
Scenario Backgrounds	83	(3)
Cinematics	86	(2)
Sound Effects	88	(3)
Thinking Like a Designer	91	(18)
Design Basics	93	(9)
Core Semantics	93	(3)
Player Psychology	96	(3)
The Craft of Design	99	(3)
Play Balancing	102	(7)
Static Scenario Elements	102	(2)
Dynamic Scenario Elements	104	(1)
Very Active Scenario Elements	105	(3)
Testing	108	(1)
PART II: Single-Player Scenarios	109	(40)
Design Synopsis and Planning	111	(10)
Laying the First Bricks	113	(4)
Researching History	114	(2)
Departing from History	116	(1)
Design Concerns	117	(4)
Conceptual Cartography	118	(2)
From Idea to Implementation	120	(1)
Single Player Scenario Creation	121	(12)
Set-Piece Scenarios	123	(3)
Escort Missions	123	(2)
Retrieval Missions	125	(1)
Siege Missions	125	(1)
Timed Scenarios	126	(2)
Timers and Set-Piece Scenarios	127	(1)
Limited Technology Scenarios	128	(2)
Creating Nomadic Tribes	129	(1)
Triggered Scenarios	130	(1)
The Need for Balance	131	(2)
historical Scenarios	133	(16)
Edward I Takes on Wales	135	(9)
Designing Your Scenario	136	(1)
Creating Your Map	137	(2)
Creating Triggers	139	(5)
From Viking Terrorists to Norman Conquerors	144	(5)
Designing Your Campaign	145	(1)
Creating Triggers	146	(3)
PART III: Multiplayer Scenarios	149	(52)
Design Synopsis and Planning	151	(12)
Multiplayer Basics	153	(5)
The Players' Perspective	153	(2)
Planning Multiplayer Scenarios	155	(1)
Victory Conditions	156	(2)
Design Concerns	158	(5)
Multiplayer Cartography	158	(3)
What Lies Ahead	161	(2)
Multiplayer Scenario Creation	163	(16)
Basic Multiplayer Scenarios	165	(8)
Make Some Friends, Kill Some Kings	168	(5)
From Square One to Endgame	173	(6)
Once Upon a Time	174	(1)
...And They All Fought Furiously Ever After	175	(4)
Specialty Scenarios	179	(22)
Nuts and Bolts	181	(8)
Scorekeeping	181	(5)
Tracking Player Performance	186	(3)
Scenario Approaches	189	(12)
Danger Spawn	189	(3)
Rat in a Maze	192	(3)
Capture the Kings	195	(2)
Runner and Blockers	197	(4)
PART IV: Computer Player Scripts	201	(52)
Script Overview	203	(12)
Core Principles	205	(5)
Script Interpreter Primer	206	(4)
A Short Example	210	(2)
Script Design Considerations	212	(3)
Neatness Counts	213	(1)
A Final Thought	214	(1)
Script File Tutorial	215	(38)
First Steps	217	(2)
File Basics	217	(1)
Layre in Action	218	(1)
Core Scripting	219	(13)
To Build or Not to Build	221	(3)
Protecting Your Realm	224	(4)
Researching	228	(2)
Put Your Knowledge to the Test # 1	230	(2)
Strategic Numbers	232	(8)
Controlling Villagers	232	(4)
Controlling Your Military	236	(3)
Put Your Knowledge to the Test #2	239	(1)
Timing Is Everything	240	(2)
How to Play the Market	242	(4)
Put Your Knowledge to the Test #3	245	(1)
The Layre Player	246	(7)
Goals	246	(1)
Core Building	247	(3)
A Look at the Logic	250	(1)
On to Your Own Adventures	251	(2)
Appendix A: Scenario Ideas	253	(6)
Single-Player Scenario Ideas	255	(1)
Multiplayer Scenario Ideas	256	(3)
Appendix B: About the CD	259	(9)
Applications	261	(3)
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings Trial Version	261	(1)
Age of Empires II A. I. Update	262	(1)
GoldWave v4.11	262	(1)
NoteTab Light v4.6	263	(1)
Paint Shop Pro v6.0	263	(1)
WinZip 7.0	264	(1)
Files You Can Use	264	(4)
Readymix Scenario Map Files	265	(1)
Trigger Example Files	265	(1)
Set-Piece Battle-Test Files	265	(1)
Scenario Backgrounds	266	(1)
Sound Effect Files	266	(1)
Example Scenario Files	266	(2)
Computer Player Script Files	268	(1)
Reference Material	268