[General] How large can i map get before people can't play it?

[Kaffeina]

Hello there,

I'm building a large RPG map and was wondering about the size of the map.
It's a 244 x 244 sized map with currently over 26000 doodads and it is not done yet, i'm maybe around 60 % done with the terrain.
So i was wondering how much more i can build before it will be to big or if i already is too large for players.

And sry for my bad english

- Kaffeina

 

[Bloodbath]

Actually you can reach 480 x 480

but it is not recomended to make your map bigger than 256 x 256
it will cause lags and random errors too

Unless your really know what your doing.

 

[IcemanBo]

bigger than 256x256 will cause random errors and lags

I think lags will strongly depend on how much stuff you put in your map in relation to the size.

But what do you actually mean with random errors?

 

[Gismo359]

And remember: the map cannot be hosted if its over 8MB in size. Without a modified game.dll, that is.

 

[Kaffeina]

Okay thanks! - Im actually not sure if the map is 244x244 because i remember that i choose the largest size (the 480x480), but havnt had any random errors yet.
So if it's a single player map you can run it when it's over 8MB ?

 

[Gismo359]

So if it's a single player map you can run it when it's over 8MB ?

The game wont allow you to host a map thats over 8MB in size in multiplayer, if try to play it in singleplayer there wont be a problem. If its intended for one player then the the size doesnt matter - it could, theoretically, be of any size.

 

[Kaffeina]

Im glad to hear that!
The map is currently at 224 MB and i'm not sure how big the map will be at the end but if there wont be any problems with it, i'll continue building it

 

[Ezekiel12]

There is a very real limitation of 2Gb. Wc3 also might start to be unable to handle the file long before that size, who knows.

 

[Veritas 117]

Im glad to hear that!
The map is currently at 224 MB and i'm not sure how big the map will be at the end but if there wont be any problems with it, i'll continue building it

Damn, I thought my campaign was big with 98 MB. I'm guessing there is a bit of custom music imported?

 

[Kaffeina]

Im sure i wont hit the 2 gb
But for now i'll just keep on building until the map starts to lag i think

 

[Kaffeina]

Damn, I thought my campaign was big with 98 MB. I'm guessing there is a bit of custom music imported?

It's the custom imported, but most of it is doodads. But i think the reason is that i have too many imports that i actually dosnt use soo..
And btw, loving your project! - Really nice terrain art you're doing there!

 

[Veritas 117]

Oh thanks. I have that problem too. I import something and use it and then find something better and replace it. One of these days I'll just have to delete the imports I'm not using. That should save some space.

So is there a thread for your project anywhere?

 

[deathismyfriend]

Map size can get to 480 x 480 and still work fine.

The download size can't be higher than 8mb or it will not be able to be played in multiplayer

 

[Eagle XI]

You can just enable local files, restructure accordingly, then can play it multiplayer too. That way your mapfile itself will greatly reduce in filesize since all imports are residing outside the map within a folder.(that needs to be seperately downloaded alongside the map however)

 

[Aeroblyctos]

Better not upload too much stuff or the loading time for each chapter can get too long.

You can just enable local files, restructure accordingly, then can play it multiplayer too. That way your mapfile itself will greatly reduce in filesize since all imports are residing outside the map within a folder.(that needs to be seperately downloaded alongside the map however)

Actually I'm interested about this. I have a campaign that has a long loading time. With this method I could reduce the loading time?

 

[Eagle XI]

AFAIK: Applying this to a multi-map will reduce the loading time, since imported materials will be read directly from the hd at start-up then accessed as needed and at creating game using your map only your custom trigger related stuff will be still extending the length. Albeit do not know about stuff like if triggers can be kept seperate outside and then hooked in as if a script as when they got needed, since those depend on the actual map data.

However ive never download or played a campaign that used local files, everything imported was always either in the maps or inside campaign's very own .w3n file similar as if been a .mpq
What i am saying is may be or not be entirely possible due to the way campaigns work...

 

[Aeroblyctos]

AFAIK: Applying this to a multi-map will reduce the loading time, since imported materials will be read directly from the hd at start-up then accessed as needed and at creating game using your map only your custom trigger related stuff will be still extending the length. Albeit do not know about stuff like if triggers can be kept seperate outside and then hooked in as if a script as when they got needed, since those depend on the actual map data.

However ive never download or played a campaign that used local files, everything imported was always either in the maps or inside campaign's very own .w3n file similar as if been a .mpq
What i am saying is may be or not be entirely possible due to the way campaigns work...

Is there any way to see?

 

[Kaffeina]

Oh thanks. I have that problem too. I import something and use it and then find something better and replace it. One of these days I'll just have to delete the imports I'm not using. That should save some space.

So is there a thread for your project anywhere?

i'm thinkin of doing the same after i'm finished with the map
Just uploaded the pictures now, you can check them out at my profile: http://www.hiveworkshop.com/forums/members/239115-albums7556.html