How to use a map

[Ravm]

Hi everyone first than ever thanks a lot for help me with mi problems and again i'm sorry for my english i'm latin american and i'm learning.

And now i'm here by a reason, i'm working in a multiplayer RPG, i started programing at 0 using Nodejs/WebSockets, now i have the basic functions like:

-Walk with a character
-Inventori,Status etc..
-Chat

But now i'm thinking in the maps, and i'm really confused about this, i mean a map must to have like all the size of the screen(window.width & window,height), but that's the problem, i don't know...

I mean, i have to make like 250 maps with that size, i mean, drawing or making on photoshop, or exist another method to make the map system, i don't know.

So if someone has worked with rpg and maps, please help me with this.

[Quetzacotl]

There are lot of ways to do map system. You can use tiles (images in example 32x32[px]) that you render next to another using 2-dimmensional array. You can use textures and decals. But in the first place you have to understand difference between game map and game view, separate it and then it will get clear to you ow to create map system that suits your game.  

[Ezelia]

Hi Ravm,

I'm working on a similar project, it's an isometric multiplayer RPG.

for my maps I use Tiled Map Editor, it support both isometric and top down maps , it can export maps to json format so you can easily parse them with JS.

the editor is available here : http://www.mapeditor.org/

 

 

hope it'll help

[Ravm]

Thanks everyone!, but i started to do my own map editor on the web.



But it's really interesting the Tile Map Editor, i'll check it, thanks !

[Ezelia]

I started like you by making a web map editor, but at a certain point it was clear that it'll take me all the time for my project, so I switched to Tiled.

if you have no real reason to make your own editor (make it available to everyone online?) then it's better to start with Tiled ... when you advance you can allways switch back to your own editor.

btw: I use Tiled but I convert the tmx maps to my own maps format

[Ravm]

yes, but i have time, my project is for 2 or 3 years(max), when i finish the map editor i'll relase it for everyone in this forum, but this works just with coordinates something like:

0,0 (Paint a selectedTile of your tileSet), 0,35 .... 35,0.

and i'm making functions to the restricted areas or events, but thanks for el advice

 

[Quetzacotl]

Don't waste time on making editor for everyone, indie developers can't afford that, if you make one, make it for yourself.